An arteriogram, also referred to as an angiogram, is a study of the
arteries in the body. Any vessel in the body can be studied in these
exams. Common things to be looked for in an arteriogram are narrowed
vessels, aneurysms, tumors, and clots. These same conditions can be
studied in the veins of the body; these studies would then be referred to
as venograms.
Generally speaking, no. 9 out of 10 exams in Interventional Radiology
involve sedation and/or injection of contrast media to visualize the
vessels. For both of these things, you need to have an empty stomach at
least 6-8 hours before your exam.
Most exams involving arteries and veins have a recovery time of at least
6 hours. At the end of that time, since you most likely had sedation or a
puncture into your vessels, you will not be able to drive. Therefore,
please make sure you have someone who can drive you home. In some
instances, interventions such as balloon angioplasty or stenting of arteries
require an overnight stay in the hospital.
Shellfish contains Iodine; x-ray contrast also contains Iodine. In most
cases the CT scan can be performed, but consult your physician before
scheduling.
Most scans take about 10 minutes or less. Depending on the type of exam,
you may be required to drink contrast before the test, which will require
more time.
A bone scan is a nuclear medicine test that allows the doctors to see the
skeleton in one picture. It is best used to define the anatomy such that,
if there are any concerns about the bone, it can be seen.
A stress test will allow the doctors to look for arteries in the heart
that may be blocked. The test will be done in a resting phase as well as an
exercise phase which may require the patient to walk on a treadmill.
A MUGA scan (multigated acquisition scan) is a nuclear medicine scan that
evaluates the pumping action of the heart. It may be ordered by your doctor
before starting any cancer treatment because the chemotherapy drug can
weaken the heart wall muscle.
Most nuclear medicine tests require an injection, a wait time, then a
scan time. Expect to be in the Radiology Department for 2–3 hours for a
nuclear medicine test.
No. Although the metal in the pacemaker is not a concern for the MRI
scan, the effects of the magnet will turn the pacemaker off. Please tell
your doctor if you have a pacemaker.
No, the PET scan works directly from the amount of glucose or sugar we
have in our bodies, and as we eat the levels of sugar will increase in the
blood and will interfere with the scan result.
The initial part of the PET scan involves the injection of a radioactive
isotope and you will have to wait for an hour before the scan will be done.
One of the key points for PET scans is that the patient needs to rest
before the scan to allow for the body to be as normal as possible in
relation to muscle activity.
A PET / CT is a combination of both CT and a PET scan that are performed
at separate times and will yield separate results. The CT scan will be
performed just like any other CT with the patient having to drink contrast
and have an injection. The PET image will be joined or fused to create an
overlay effect.
During the time the patient is waiting they are emitting radiation and
anyone around the patient is being exposed to this effect. Care should be
taken for any family member that may be or think they may be pregnant.
This depends on the procedure. The physician requesting the procedure
for you should be able to answer this question; however, any procedure
that will require sedation requires the patient not eat solid foods for
at least eight hours prior to the procedure and have no clear liquids for
a minimum of two hours prior to the procedure. So to be on the safe side
and to prevent any delays in your procedure, follow these guidelines.
Typically we want our patients to take their medications, especially
if they are blood pressure medications or heart medications. However, if
you are diabetic and take insulin please hold your insulin if you are to
be NPO (nothing to eat or drink) prior to the exam or procedure. Also if
you are to have a contrast study and you take metformin (glucophage)
please hold the glucophage the day of the exam and for 2 days following
the exam and tell your local physician so he or she can have follow-up
lab work done as needed. Other medications that require special
attention are anticoagulants (blood thinners) such as heparin, coumadin,
and lovenox. These medications require special instructions; if you are
taking one of these medications, please notify your physician prior to the
exam to ensure you are given the correct information.
For certain procedures we do provide what is considered moderate
sedation; however, this is determined prior to the procedure by the nurse
practitioners and the physicians. Not all procedures require sedation,
however all patients receiving sedation must have a responsible adult
with them to drive them home following the procedure and the recovery
time.
The recovery time varies based on the procedure and the amount of
sedation given. The minimum recovery time for a patient receiving
sedation is one hour depending on the procedure and the maximum recovery
is typically six hours pending no complications. Some patient may be
admitted to the hospital following certain procedures for observation
purposes.
For more information, visit
RSNA
RadiologyInfo. This link is maintained by the Radiological Society of
North America (RSNA) and the American College of Radiology (ACR). The
site provides information on various radiology procedures and equipment,
which you can search by procedure, body system, or patient group.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
4301 W. Markham St., Little Rock, AR 72205
Radiology Department Main Office: (501) 686-5740
Appointment Questions: (501) 686-5750
Outpatient Appointment Questions: (501) 686-6190
MRI and CT: (501) 686-6033
Mammography: (501) 526-7300
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