Cerebral Arteriography

Cerebral Arteriography

Cerebral Arteriography is a medical procedure which allows the visualization of the blood vessels that lead to or are located inside a patient’s brain. Normally, these can not be clearly seen on x-ray pictures, as the surrounding bone tissue blocks the x-rays; however, with the aid of this procedure, physicians are able to visualize the structure and details on the blood vessels. The images obtained with the aid of this procedure are called cerebral angiograms or arteriograms. These allow the detection of such abnormalities as aneurysms, stenosis, thrombosis (blood clots formed inside the blood vessels), arteriovenous malformations (abnormal connections between veins and arteries) or occlusion (blood vessel narrowing).

Cerebral Arteriography is also performed for the detection of other conditions, which affect or cause a displacement of the blood vessels in the brain. Examples of such conditions include edema, tumors, vasospasm (an occlusion of the vessel caused by a spasm), herniation (a dislocation of the tissue in the brain, resulting due to pressure caused by bleeding, swelling or other conditions), hydrocephalus (brain fluid) or increased intracranial pressure.

Also, it is possible to use Cerebral Arteriography in order to locate clips that have been placed on blood vessels during surgical interventions in the past; this also allows the evaluation of the vessels after the procedure, which is why cerebral angiograms are commonly taken after such procedures as part of the monitoring program. In some cases, the doctors will prefer to use non-invasive methods to monitor the patient’s condition; for example, they may use techniques such as CT scanning. However in some situations the results obtained through such procedures are not satisfactory or the observations may not allow them to clearly assess the situation. In such cases cerebral angiograms are performed to clarify the situation and obtain further details.

In many cases, patients scheduled for brain surgery will undergo this procedure so that the surgeons may observe the situation in detail, allowing them full insight on the problem. Health care professionals may direct the use of such angiograms for reasons other than those listed here as well.

Cerebral Arteriography Description

Cerebral Arteriography may only be performed in a clinic or a hospital facility, properly equipped for such procedures. This medical procedure does not take long – generally less than one hour to complete, and the patient recovers within 2 to 6 hours. It is strongly recommended that the patient does not ingest any food for 6 hours before the procedure, and that he or she only drinks clear liquids. The skin on the insertion site may need to be shaved as part of the preparations for the procedure. The patient may be administered medication to help manage anxiety.

The patient is place din a lying down position under the x-ray machine, and local anesthesia may be applied. The Cerebral Arteriography procedure involves the insertion of a catheter into the patient’s body through one of the large blood vessels – typically through the carotid artery or the femoral artery, or less frequently, through the brachial artery located in the patient’s arm. The most commonly used point of entry is the femoral artery due to it being easier to access. This procedure is typically performed by a health care professional specialized in heart and circulatory problems. Once inserted, the catheter is threaded painlessly through the blood vessels until it reaches the designated area, and a contrast dye is injected into the bloodstream causing the blood vessel to become opaque in the x-ray pictures, allowing proper observation of the arteries, veins, capillaries as well as of the blood flow through the vessels.

The entire process is monitored from the beginning, by taking x-ray pictures as the catheter advances towards the target area. Also, the patient’s condition is kept under observation by regularly checking his or her heart rate and blood pressure. Once the catheter is in place, the entire cerebral structure can be observed, allowing the examining health care professionals to detect any abnormalities present. At this point, the Cerebral Arteriography procedure has been completed and the catheter is removed. The x-ray images are stored away for later viewing, and the patient is allowed to recover. If he or she wishes to return home, they may do so, but it is recommended that a member of the family drives them safely home.

Cerebral Arteriography Related Medication

The Cerebral Arteriography procedure involves the injection of contrast agents in the patient’s bloodstream, in order to make the blood vessels appear clearly on the x-ray pictures. Contrast agents are substances opaque to x-rays. The most commonly used contrast agent is Ioversol, a pharmaceutical preparation based on Iodine. Iodine-based products are not recommended for use in certain situations. Patients that are suffering from asthma or infections and patients that are allergic to Iodine or other contrast agents may not be administered this product, and as such they may not be able to undergo Cerebral Arteriography.

Patients are strongly advised to refrain from ingesting any food less than 6 hours before the procedure. In order to avoid dehydration, the patients should consume clear liquids in large quantities, both before and after the procedure; the supervising health care professional will provide each patient with specific information regarding the liquids that they should consume and in what quantities. Also, the supervising health care specialist will decide upon the radiopaque agent that will be employed and the exact dosage, based on a number of case specific factors. The contrast agent may only be administered by a specialized health care professional during the Cerebral Arteriography procedure.

Local anesthetics may be administered to the patient before the catheter is inserted, and after the procedure ends the supervising physician may direct administration of pain relieving medication. There are several medicines which may be used prior to, during and after this procedure. The medicines that will be employed as part of the cerebral catheterization operation, as well as the medication dosage and the administration schedule will be determined by the doctor after he or she takes into account all the factors that may influence the patient’s condition.