What is the procedure for Liver Angiogram?

A description of what a patient can expect when having a liver angiogram and what it is all about can be found at the emedtv website.

• The Basic Liver Angiogram

First of all, the patient will be asked to lie down. After administrating a local anesthetic, a catheter, or a thin tube, is then pushed through the Femoral Artery in the upper leg area, the groin, into the major blood vessels supplying the liver.

Following this, a contrast dye is injected into the liver through this tube. A series of X-rays is then taken while the dye spreads. The X-rays are then studied to see if any abnormalities are present.

• Liver CT-Angiogram

Occasionally, this process is followed by the patient being taken into another room, where, after injecting contrast dye again, a CT scan will be performed. Unlike most general CT scans, a CT angiogram is usually performed within a hospital setting.

As well as the local anesthetic, the patient may also be given a sedative to ensure that they remain relaxed and comfortable during the procedure. If the patient is known to have abnormal blood clotting, they may also be given a transfusion of either fresh frozen plasma or platelets.

• Duration

Liver angiograms usually take around an hour, while CT angiograms are obviously going to take longer to allow for the performance of the CT scan. Once the results from both X-rays and the CT scan have been examined, the patient will be informed of the conclusions drawn from them and their meaning.

As a whole, it is a straightforward procedure and the patient is usually able to go home within a very short time; unless of course the procedure is performed as part of ongoing tests or treatment requiring a hospital stay.