Angiogram?

[corky]

Hi Folks,
I am new, I would like to hear how a normal Angiogram goes. When I mean normal I mean I would like to know the progression of an every day angiogram. I will explain: I had my first and only angio on August 19th, the day before I had repair of Aortic Ascending Aneurysm.
The angio was done by a cardiologist I had visited once before. He came in the tech had accessed the femoral artery on my right side. The doc stood on my right. I believe he inserted at least 6-8 different catheters. His hands, which rested on my side, (gloved) got colder and colder and colder. I could hear technicians suggesting different sizes and shapes of catheters. I asked him to narrate, he asked if it wouldn't make me more nervous, I said no..........I was just about to tell him ONE more catheter and you are outta here. When he accomplised the end of the procedure. He was quite relieved, he even thanked my for being patient.............I just think he was nervous, and outta control. How do the regular angiograms go?

Tanks, Corky

 

[Ross]

The normal angiogram goes like this:

1. They sterilize the area where the cath is inserted.

2. They make you lay there until you have to pee.

3. They take there good old time about allowing you to relieve yourself.

4. They take you into the cath room and drape you up sterile fashion.

5. Doctor comes in and numbs the area of cath insertion.

6. The cath is performed, depending on if it's just a run of the mill, it should only take about 20 to 30 minutes.

7. Depending on how they stop the bleeding, you'll either be laying there for 6 hours motionless and trying to figure out how your supposed to pee or they'll do one of those new seal jobs where you'll be up and out within an hour or two.

Normally it isn't a big deal. Sounds like someone was extemely nervous on the last one. Maybe they were afraid of weakening the aneurysm area and having it rupture?

 

[Nancy]

Hi Corky-

Welcome to the site. This is a wonderful place and there are people with many different experiences.

My husband has had several caths, no problems. He's had them in the groin, in the arm, and in the neck, he also had HeartPort surgery with a cath during the operation.

Do you know how many caths this doctor has done? If he's experienced, it's possible that you might have some arterial anomaly and required a smaller catheter than most, and he just kept trying smaller and smaller ones, or more flexible ones. But that's just a guess.

When you see your cardiologist, why not ask about what transpired?

It is also possible, like Ross said, that he was afraid of causing an injury to your aneurysm and was trying to find a catheter with just the right navigation feel.

 

[LUVMyBirman]

E-Speed. Non-Invasive cath.

E-Speed. Non-Invasive cath.

Hi Corky,

I just put this up under another thread. As I understand. There is one unit in IL and two in CA. As I see you are in CA...hopefully you can find one close to home and do the "non-invasive" proceedure. I am all for it. They really bruised the heck out of my entire thigh last time.

All the best

http://www.surgicenteronline.com/hotnews/35h307364.html

 

[fyrfytr]

Hey Corky,
Welcome to this Great Site. I have had 7 angiograms and they are really no big deal. You are normally in and out the same day.
Like Gina said if you can find a hospital that is doing that new procedure sounds like that would be the way to go. Hope everything goes OK.

Dave
________________________________
Surgery: 4/21/03
Aortic Aneurysm Repair
AVR, with a St. Jude Mechanical
Heart Center of the Rockies

 

[terry40]

Hi Corky

Hi Corky

Welcome,

I've had 3 angiograms/cardiac caths, via groin, the last one hurt a bit by the entrance site, probably scar tissue.

Ross is on target with how it feels except that rush of heat when they release the dye, feels like you peed yourself, It's always cold in room where they do invasive procedures, keeps the germ population down. I'm sure with aneurysm they were being ever so careful not to rupture it, getting just the right size tubing to get into your aorta and get a good picture.


Other than the cath, How are you recovering, after one month post-op???

Terry

 

[ALCapshaw2]

Corky,

You can read the Cardiologist's cath report by going to the Medical Records Office and requesting to see the report. Generally, there is NO charge to just read the records, but they usually do charge (by the page) for copies ($1 per page at my hospital).

I've never counted the number of different catheters used (and I've had plenty of caths). They generally take about 20 minutes,
then 30? minutes with a large C clamp applied above the insertion point, and a pressure bandage.

'AL'

 

[hensylee]

No, Corky, I don't think your dr was nervous. If the techs were suggesting changes, they were seeing something that told them to change the catheter to another one. This can be a touchy situation with the wrong catheter, so just be glad they made changes as needed.

When mine was done, they put in a wee plug at the entry area and I didn't have to lay there for 4-6 hours with a weight on me, as some do.

 

[rcatalano]

When you say the tech accessed your femoral artery, do you mean he inserted the port? I've had 2 caths, about 14 years apart. Both times the cardiologist is the one who messed with the femoral artery. Otherwise, it sounds pretty normal. I know cath in August was very quick - the cardiologist has done thousands. He still swapped out a few catheters and talked with the techs about what size to use.

The last one they also used a collagen plug to close up the wound, only required 4 hours on my back. I was out of the hospital by 2pm.

 

[medtronic of borg]

caths

caths

Ito have had 7...but not all of them went well. It has come along way since my youth. I have had them run as short as 30 mins to 2hours. Once they went up all four sites that they can use. I even went through a cut down back in the days the wisdom was, children don't experience pain. The procedure I am refering to is illegal to perform today. The next one I was to have I was eighteen. They had a 45986 of a time getting me to sign the paperwork. I did so when he wrote out on paper and signed , that he would not perform a cutdown!!! Only then did I give them the green light. It was nothing to the one 12 year before.