If you may have blood vessel disease, your doctor may have recommended angiography. An angiography is used to diagnose and treat blood vessel disease by giving your physician a direct view of the blood vessels in your body. Diseases diagnosed and treated by angiography include:
- Aneurysm
- Atherosclerosis
- Thrombosis
When you undergo an angiography, radiographic contrast dye is injected through a thin, flexible catheter into your blood vessel allowing your physician to see problematic areas. Angioplasty is done as an outpatient procedure. The team in the Lakewood Regional Medical Center Vascular and Intervention Radiology (VIR) Lab will use light sedation to keep you relaxed and comfortable. You can expect the procedure to last 6-8 hours.
The team can combine a traditional angiography with advancements in technology.
CT Angiography
CT angiography combines the technology of a CT scan with an angioplasty. The result is you get a non-invasive angiography that usually takes 10-15 minutes to complete. A CT angiography can often be used in place of a traditional angiography. With CT angiography, you can expect:
- Non-invasive blood vessel assessment
- Faster procedure time
- Less risk to you
- Possible detection of additional problems outside of the vessel that a traditional angiography would miss
Your doctor will be able to discuss with you whether you should have a traditional angioplasty or a CT angioplasty.
Philips Allura X
Philips Allura X is a system flexible enough to allow for vascular and non-vascular diagnosis and interventions. With Philips Allura X, your physician gets immediate access to all relevant information about your health. With this system, you can have several procedures done including:
- A peripheral angioplasty
- Stent placement
- Embolization
- Stenosis measurement
- Vascular vessel analysis
Through the Philips Allura X system, you get the benefits of enhanced resolution and speed. Speak with your doctor to determine if the Philips Allura X system is right for you.
For more information or to be connected to an imaging specialist, call (800) 580-3668.
