A carotid angiogram is an X-ray test using iodine dye and a camera to examine blood flow in neck arteries leading to the brain. It can detect blockages, aneurysms, tumors, or holes restricting blood flow. Risks include allergies, catheter damage, and X-ray radiation exposure.
A carotid angiogram is an X-ray test that uses iodine dye and a camera to examine how blood flows in the major neck arteries that lead to the brain. A carotid angiogram can be an outpatient or inpatient procedure, typically taking one to three hours to complete.
An angiogram of the neck is done to find blockage of the arteries that carry blood to the brain. A blockage can lead to a stroke or heart attack. It is also a useful test to determine why you are experiencing symptoms such as severe headaches, slurred speech, memory loss, numbness, dizziness, poor balance or double vision, particularly if a blockage is causing your symptoms. A carotid angiogram can also detect if there is an aneurysm, tumor or hole that is restricting or preventing adequate blood flow to the brain.
Before undergoing an angiography, it is important to inform the doctor if the patient is pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, the dye used in the test contains iodine; therefore, any iodine or shellfish allergies should be reported. Also, some people with asthma, hay fever, or kidney problems should consider whether an angiogram is right for them.
Usually, a radiologist completes a carotid angiogram. After numbing the area, she will insert a catheter into the artery above the elbow or in the groin. The catheter is the guide to the area of interest. Using a camera or fluoroscope, the radiologist will then inspect how the catheter moves in the artery. Also, an iodine dye is injected through the catheter which makes the area in question appear in stark contrast in X-ray photos.
Many people may wonder what it feels like to have a carotid angiogram. Initially, you will feel a quick pinch from the local anesthetic. As a result, most people feel no pain when the catheter is stimulated in the artery. Once the dye is added to the catheter, many people feel a warm sensation for several seconds. When it’s time to remove the catheter, you may feel a little pressure and some tenderness where the catheter was.
As with any medical procedure, there are some risks. The primary concern with a carotid angiogram is an allergy to the dye iodine. Also, there is a slight risk that the catheter will damage the artery or displace some of the clotted blood or other materials from the artery wall. Finally, there is a risk of cell damage from exposure to X-ray radiation, although this risk is minimal for most people.
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