Angiogram/ angioplasty

Information for patients leaving hospital

This information is to help answer any questions that you might have now, and help you know what to expect after your operation and in the first few weeks after you return home. Please feel free to ask any of your nurses or doctors if you have questions whilst in hospital.

You can find further information regarding vascular illnesses at Circulation Foundation (opens in a new tab)/ British Society of Interventional Radiology (opens in a new tab).

Should you have any concerns after your discharge, please contact our vascular nurse specialists.

What is the difference between an angiogram and an angioplasty?

An angiogram is a special x-ray test of the blood vessels. The procedure is generally carried out using access via an artery in the groin. It is done to find out if your blood vessels are diseased. Blood vessels are not normally seen on a standard x-ray and therefore a special dye is injected, which produces detailed x-rays of the arteries. The x-ray picture of the dye injection creates a map of the blood vessels called an angiogram.

An angioplasty is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat an artery that has become blocked or narrowed. During the procedure a thin wire is passed through the narrow or blocked section of the artery. A small tube with a deflated balloon on the end is passed over the wire. When the balloon is in the right place, it is inflated opening up the blockage or narrowing by pressing it to the sides of the artery. The balloon is then deflated and removed from the artery. At the end of the procedure,

the small tube is removed from the groin and a doctor or nurse will either press on the artery in the groin for around ten minutes or use a special device to close the hole. This is to reduce the risk of bleeding and bruising.

What happened during the operation?

Your surgeon will have explained what your operation involved before and after your operation, and you should have been provided with written information from your consent form.

What happens after the procedure?

The nurses on the ward will carry out regular observations such as taking blood pressure, to ensure that there are no problems after the procedure. They will also look at the entry site in your groin. You will have to stay in bed for a few hours after the procedure. During this time, you should keep the leg that was punctured straight to reduce the risk of bleeding from the puncture site.

I am not sure about medicines after I leave the hospital

Please continue taking your usual medications unless you have been told otherwise. You may be started on a second anti-platelet agent (aspirin or clopidogrel) for three months

What about washing?

The next day you can have a shower but try to keep the skin site dry. If it gets wet, just pat it lightly down with a towel.

When can I go home?

You may be allowed to go home on the same day, or be kept in overnight, dependent on the time of your procedure and length of time needed for bed rest. You should not drive immediately after this procedure, therefore you should arrange for someone to take you home. You can resume normal activity two days after the procedure, but avoid heavy lifting for a further 24 hours.

What are the possible risks/ complications?

• Bruise - this may occur around the site where the needle has been inserted into the artery; this is relatively common and is normal. You may also be tender in this region for a couple of days.
• Haematoma - if there is bleeding from the areas where the catheter was placed, you may have an area where blood collects under the skin, called a haematoma. This lump usually clears up on its own.
• False aneurysm - rarely, a pulsating lump develops in the groin at the site of the puncture. This is due to ongoing bleeding from the artery after the catheter is removed. The swelling is called a false aneurysm, and can be treated with a small injection to seal the hole in the artery. Occasionally it requires an operation to fix.
• Infection - There is a small risk of the puncture wound becoming infected. This can be treated with antibiotics.
• Blood clot – very rarely the procedure can cause damage to the artery and lead to a reduction in blood supply, typically to the limb. This may require urgent surgery to correct and in a very small number of people can put the limb at risk.
• Vessel injury - if you have an angioplasty then the balloon can infrequently damage the wall of the artery where it is treated. This could lead to a tear, blockage or rupture and is usually manageable by inflating more balloons or placing a stent.
• Kidney damage – the dye used in the procedure can affect the kidneys and temporarily decrease their function. Typically, this only occurs in patients with poor pre-existing kidney function and is managed with fluids.

You may notice a small lump under the skin, at the puncture site. This lump may last for several weeks but will eventually disappear. However, if you have any concerns you should see your GP or contact the vascular specialist nurses (in hours).

Why have you told me to stop/ cut down my smoking?

Smoking is very bad for the health of your blood vessels; it damages the arterial lining, which allows the buildup of plaque that can cause blockages.

Giving up smoking is one of the best things you can do for your health.

I am struggling to give up smoking, where can I get some help?

There are many ways in which you can be helped to stop smoking. Please do not think you are on your own. See below for useful contact numbers – your GP practice is a good place to start.

Contacts for help to stop smoking

• Healthy You (opens in a new tab): a website offering a local 'stop smoking’ specialist service; you can contact them directly, or through your GP practice.
• Cambridge City and South Cambridgeshire: 01223 723022.
• East Cambridgeshire and Fenland: 0800 018 4304.
• Huntingdonshire: 01480 418693.
• The national NHS Stop Smoking Helpline: 0300 123 1044 or Quit smoking - Better Health (opens in a new tab)
• You can also pick up copies of the free 'Giving it up for life' booklet from the Information Centre at Addenbrooke's. This has a great deal of useful advice, attractively presented.

For further information

Do feel free to contact the Cambridge Vascular Unit Vascular Specialist Nurses on 01223 596382 or email Vascular Nurses if you have any questions or anxieties.

Privacy and dignity

Same sex bays and bathrooms are offered in all wards except critical care and theatre recovery areas where the use of high-tech equipment and/or specialist one-to-one care is required.