2006-10-26 09:14:37 · 19 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Heart Diseases
I had one about a year ago. I was quite nervous too. There is a lot of conflicting data in these answers here I see.
They will give you a little something to relax. It will not put you to sleep, just relax you a little.
The area they go into, in your groin will need to be shaved of hair, they usually do both side just in case the doctor has difficulty going in 1 side & has to use the other one. They will scrub the area with disinfectant just before.
The small, small catheter they place is into the femoral artery in your groin (usually, it can also be put into the brachial artery in your arm). There is pressure but not a lot of pain with insertion of the catheter, they also use a local anesthetic at the site.
When they place the dye in through the catheter you will feel a warm flushed feeling throughout your body. It's really strange but they warn you when it's coming. They dye shows up on xray so they can see the vessels of your heart and the chambers. They can evaluate for any blockages in arteries you may have.
Afterward they place direct hand pressure to the area for 10 or 15 min to stop any bleeding. It is really important to lie still or however they tell you to lie afterwards. The catheter is put into a large artery which if started bleeding can be dangerous, sometimes the bleeding could happen just inside at the site where they went in, we call this a hematoma, if it gets too big they may have to drain it. I'm just telling you the POSSIBLE complications.
Depending on what they find and what they do to correct anything they find you may stay only 2 hours after like I did or as long as overnight if they cleaned out they inside of a vessel or placed a stent in a vessel to allow for better blood flow. If you stay 6 hours or overnight you will have restriction on activity. I had a small reaction to the dye, which is also common. I just had a few hives but they gave me Benadryl and I was fine. If you are allergic to Iodine or shellfish it is very important to tell them before hand, they will need to give you medications so there is no reaction or they may not be able to do it.
I went home after 2 hours and had to lie down for they rest of day, they really don't want any undue stress to the area, even sitting. I had to take 3 days off work because I am a nurse and they didn't want any heavy lifting or moving heavy objects ( I lift & move heavy patients every day). You may be different. The first 2 days the spot they went in did not hurt at all, for the next 3 or 4 it hurt a little and there was a little bruise. It is very important to follow all aftercare instructions they give you and to notify them if there is bledding, redness, discharge, or if you develop fever. It could be s sign of an infection at the site. It is alos important to drink extra fluids after the test to help wash the dye out of your system.
Overall, it was no big deal but every one is different and every hospital & doctor is different in thier practice with such tests. Good Luck I hope that helped.
2006-10-27 23:33:32 · answer #1 · answered by BONNIE C 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes. It is really a safe and painless procedure. Your Aorta in the thigh is punctured and a camera on a flexible line is inserted and it can be guided wherever they like. You can have them put you into near sleep so you don't know what's going on, or you can stay awake (no pain) and see what the cardiologists are seeing.
They may wish to perform an angioplasty to open up a plugged artery or insert a stent if that doesn't work.
When they are finished, a bandage is placed over the puncture that was made in the artery and a weight is applied for about 4 hours. This is necessary to stop the bleeding and is probably the most uncomfirtable part of the procedure. Really, its a piece of cake and you have no need to worry or be frightened.
Best wishes
2006-10-26 16:29:49 · answer #2 · answered by ironduke8159 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Yes, I have and it is nothing to worry about. I watched mine being done on a monitor. Doesn't hurt and you just have a slight sensation of movement.
You must have had an angiograph first though otherwise they don't know you need a angiogram, it's exactly the same procedure.
2006-10-26 16:19:28 · answer #3 · answered by tucksie 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've had two done and also had follow-ups where stents were implanted.
An interesting experience watching it all on a TV screen.
No pain involved but there is a risk of the artery not closing properly which is why they keep you lying still for a few hours afterwards. Depending on where they go into you [in my case it was my upper thigh] there may be a bit of bruising which will go away in a week or so.
Nothing to get youself uptight about. Best wishes.
2006-10-27 07:27:17 · answer #4 · answered by Pit Bull 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have gone through this procedure twice. It was a piece of cake. The first time, I was worried but the second time I wasn't at all. You won't be in any pain at all and they give you medication to make you relax. I too watched it on the screen. It was really interesting although I was pretty sleepy. Don't worry, you'll do fine!
2006-10-26 20:44:12 · answer #5 · answered by HTIQC 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have not had one but have seen many done. It is a simple procedure. The surgeon will put a tube in your groin and take it via the blood vessels to your heart. Here he will be able to do various tests to find out how the heart is working and to find any problems. You will be awake but probably slightly sedated (sleepy). Its a fairly safe procedure, all you have to do is keep still. After you will have to rest for a while (depends on hospital but usually around 12 hours). You may have a sore groin and brusing after.
2006-10-26 16:20:07 · answer #6 · answered by huggz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No Problems - enjoy the opportunity for a lie down! The most uncomfortable part of a procedure that isn't painful is the pressure on your groin at the end - althought I was warned about this, it wasn't too bad. Good luck - you'll be fine.
2006-10-26 16:30:23 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Angiogram is easy-peasy...the cardiologist talks to you whilst he is performing this proceedure. The most important thing is thatyou go with a positive thought...these heart doctors perform over 5000 a year, to them its like putting a thread through the eye of a needle...my cardiologist joked with me all the way through. he even asked me about my sex life...I responded with , no probs their doc, the two nurses who are assisting you gave me the ride of there life...the whole theatre roared with laughter.
2006-10-26 22:29:10 · answer #8 · answered by Le Baron 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thoroughly enjoyed mine.Great fun watching the dye run through your veins and artieries. The worse bit for me was coughing about three hours after it was done and the puncture wound in my femural artery opened up. Spouted blood everywhere. Meant a night in hospital.
2006-10-28 03:32:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
hey ive had an angiogram they are okay really and truly. they put this iodine dye through your veins and u can feel the warmth surge through your body. theres nothing to it - it doenst hurt at all.
please be brave - and im not a brave person at all
its simple and easy and quick
2006-10-26 16:27:45 · answer #10 · answered by shariwharton 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋