This procedure is used to map the flow of blood around the body in an attempt to diagnose blockages or other complications, most notably in coronary arteries but also in the eyes to test for retinal disorders that have caused the vessels to collapse, as can be the case with diabetes.

The procedure is also used to trace blood flow in the brain in the case of aneurysms, in the lungs where blood clots may have occurred and within the lymphatic system where the drainage may be blocked, inflamed or cancerous.

Procedure information
Angiograms involve the introduction of a trace radioactive element into the network in question - almost always the blood supply - to create a contrast with the rest of the tissue for mapping the flow within a particular area of the body that may not be functioning properly.

This can either be done as a still or moving image. In the case of a coronary angiogram, a catheter is introduced into an artery in the leg or arm, depending on which area must be mapped. An x-ray image can then be obtained.

The width of blood flow at any given point in the circulatory system allows the identification of any blockages that may be restricting or blocking normal function. The procedure is therefore not a treatment, but a diagnostic method to confirm the extent of a condition which is usually related to the performance of the heart.

Recovery time
Given the very small incision that is used and the short half-life of the trace radioactive element introduced into the body, the recovery period is usually slight. Patients can expect bleeding and bruising localized at the point of incision, but bleeding will last a matter of minutes rather than days and bruising is usually short-lived and minor.

No other side effects or complications are usually felt although the procedure is usually a precursor to a much more invasive operation designed to treat the affliction identified in the angiogram.