ANGIOGRAM

Definition
 Angiogram is an x-ray procedure that can be diagnostic and
therapeutic. An angiogram detects blockages using x-rays
taken during the injection of a contrast agent(iodine dye).
 A coronary angiogram is a procedure that uses x-ray
imaging to see coronary vessels. During a coronary
angiogram, a type of dye that’s visible by an x-ray machine
is injected into the blood vessels of the patient’s heart. The
x-ray machine rapidly takes a series of
images(angiograms),offering a detailed look at the inside of
the blood vessels. If necessary, the doctor can perform
procedures such as an angioplasty during coronary
angiogram.
Pre-procedure nursing inteventions
 Obtain informed consent.
 Ask for allergies to sea food, iodine or radio-opaque dye.
 Keep the patient at NPO for 6-8 hours for solid and 4 hours
for liquid diet to prevent vomiting and aspiration during
procedure.
 Monitor and record height, weight, vital signs and peripheral
pulses for the purpose of calculating the amount of dye.
 If prescribed; prepare insertion site, provide pre- procedure
medications and insert an IV line.
 Inform the patient that:
 Local anesthesia may be used before catheter insertion.
 He/she may feel fatigued due to the need to lie still and quiet on a table
for a long time.
Post- procedure nursing interventions
 Monitor vital signs, cardiac rhythm, peripheral pulses and the
color, temperature , and sensation of the extremity distal to
insertion site atleast every 30 minutes for 2 hours initially.
 Notify the physician in case of chest pain and dysarrhythmia.
 Monitor the pressure dressing for bleeding and hematoma. If
bleeding occurs apply pressure and inform the physician.
 Monitor for nausea , vomiting , rash and other signs of
hypersensitivity of the dye.
 Immobilize or keep the affected extremity straight at least for
8 hours.
 Encourage fluid intake to promote renal excretion of the dye
if not contraindicated.
Cont’d
 Notify the physician if the patient develop or
complained of the following signs and
symptoms;
a. extremity becomes cool, pale or cyanotic
or loss of peripheral pulse.
b. severe pain, numbness and tingling
sensation.
c. bleeding and hematoma.