Interventional Radiology

Angiography

Do I have to stay in hospital?

You will be admitted to a bed, but may not have to stay overnight
You will have to stay between five or six hours after the test, but most people can then go home

What is the test for?

This test is used to look at your blood vessels in great detail
Most people are having the blood vessels of the brain looked at
We are sometimes looking at blood vessels in the neck or spine

Will I be awake?

Yes, most brain angiograms are done awake
We can talk to you and make sure you are alright
We do not use sedation. Sedatives can make it look like something is not right, and can be dangerous
Some people ask their GP to prescribe them a tablet to take before the test if they are very nervous

How long will it take?

Most brain angiograms take about an hour
Spinal angiograms can take one to two hours

What are the risks?

The most common problem is bruising at the groin
Rarely people have a mini stroke (less than 1 in 100), which goes completely within 24 hours
Very rarely (less than 1 in 1000) people have a stroke
Allergic reaction to the X-ray dye is very uncommon in angiography

Please call 0151 556 3680, to let us know if:

You are diabetic
You have kidney problems
You have had a reaction to X-ray dye in the past
You are on drugs to thin your blood e.g. warfarin, clopidogrel
You could be pregnant

Arteriovenous malformation (AVM) treatment

An arteriovenous malformation (AVM) is an abnormal connection between the high pressure arteries and the low pressure veins. This can be found accidentally when a patient has a scan for another reason. Some AVMs present with brain haemorrhage, epilepsy, or other symptoms. Planning treatment is very complex, as it can involve surgery, radiotherapy, and something called embolisation. Embolisation is performed in the Neuroradiology Department.

Cerebral aneurysm treatment

Aneurysms are bulges in the walls of blood vessels. They can be associated with problems such as brain haemorrhage, and pressure on the brain or nerves. If it is felt they need treatment, this is usually done in the Neuroradiology Department.

Mechanical thrombectomy treatment of acute stroke

A stroke is caused by a blockage in one of the arteries that supply blood to the brain. When the blood supply to the brain has been blocked it does not receive the oxygen and nutrients it needs and can become irreversibly damaged.

Mechanical thrombectomy is an emergency procedure to remove the blood clot and return the blood flow to your brain. This procedure ideally needs to be done within 6 hours of stroke onset although this may be longer in some people.

The procedure is performed by an Interventional Neuroradiologist who uses special equipment, such as a small wire mesh (stent retriever) or a small suction device, to remove the clot and return the blood flow to the brain. The procedure usually takes 12-15 minutes but, in some cases, can take longer.

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