Angiography: Cost-Effective Options & Top Hospitals (Medical Tourism)

Angiography

Angiography is a minimally invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat blood vesselAngiography related conditions. Using this technique along with a suitable contrast material, one would be able to produce pictures of major blood vessels throughout the body.

A thin plastic tube, called a catheter, is inserted into an artery through a small incision in the skin. The catheter is guided to a specific area thet needs to be examined, A suitable contrast material is injected through the tube and images of the flow are captured using a small dose of ionizing radiation. Angiography is typically used to examine blood vessels in key areas of the body, namely Heart, Lungs, Neck, Abdomen, Kidney and Legs.

Aneurysms in the aorta, both in the chest and abdomen, or in other major blood vessels, atherosclerosis disease in the carotid artery, aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation inside the brain, atherosclerotic disease that has narrowed the arteries to the legs, disease in the renal artery etc are certain major diagnosis that can be done using angiography.

Surgeons use this technique while making repairs to diseased blood vessels (stenting), to detect injury to arteries, evaluate the details of arteries feeding a tumor prior to surgery etc. It also helps determine the extent and severity of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries identify dissection or splitting in the aorta in the chest or abdomen or its major branches, planning of a bypass surgery and in examining pulmonary arteries in the lungs to detect pulmonary embolism.

Different parts of the body absorb the x-rays in varying degrees. Dense bone absorbs much of the radiation while soft tissue, such as muscle, fat and organs allow more of the x-rays to pass through them. As a result, bones appear white on the x-ray, soft tissue shows up in shades of gray and air appears black.

When a contrast material is introduced to the bloodstream during the procedure, it clearly defines the blood vessels being examined by making them appear bright white.

BRIEF ABOUT THE PROCEDURE

This procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis.

An intravenous (IV) line is inserted into a small vein in your hand or arm.

A small amount of blood will be drawn before starting the procedure to make sure that your kidneys are working and that your blood will clot normally. A small dose of sedative may be given through the IV line to lessen your anxiety during the procedure.

The area of the groin or arm where the catheter will be inserted is shaved, cleaned and numbed with local anesthetic. The radiologist will make a small incision in the skin where the catheter can be inserted into an artery. The catheter is then guided through the arteries to the area to be examined. After the contrast material is injected through the catheter and reaches the blood vessels being studied, several sets of x-rays are taken. Then the catheter is removed and the incision site is closed by placing pressure on the area for approximately 10 minutes.

Benefits

Angiography helps confirm on the need for surgery. If surgery remains necessary, it can be performed more accurately.
Catheter angiography presents a very detailed, clear and accurate picture of the blood vessels. This is especially helpful when a surgical procedure or some percutaneous intervention is being considered.
By selecting the arteries through which the catheter passes, it is possible to assess vessels in several specific body sites. In fact, a smaller catheter may be passed through the larger one into a branch artery supplying a small area of tissue or a tumor; this is called superselective angiography.
Unlike computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance (MR) angiography, use of a catheter makes it possible to combine diagnosis and treatment in a single procedure. An example is finding an area of severe arterial narrowing, followed by angioplasty and placement of a stent.
The degree of detail displayed by catheter angiography may not be available with any other noninvasive procedures
No radiation remains in a patient's body after an x-ray examination
X-rays usually have no side effects in the diagnostic range

SOME ASSOCIATED RISKS

There is always a slight chance of cancer from excessive exposure to radiation. However, the benefit of an accurate diagnosis far outweighs the risk.
If you have a history of allergy to x-ray contrast material, your radiologist may advise that you take special medication for 24 hours before catheter angiography to lessen the risk of allergic reaction. Another option is to undergo a different exam that does not call for contrast material injection.
If a large amount of x-ray contrast material leaks out under the skin where the IV is placed, skin damage can result. If you feel any pain in this area during contrast material injection, you should immediately inform the technologist.
Women should always inform their physician or x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.
Nursing mothers should wait for 24 hours after contrast material injection before resuming breast-feeding.
The risk of serious allergic reaction to contrast materials that contain iodine is extremely rare and radiology departments are well-equipped to deal with them.
There is a small risk that blood will form a clot around the tip of the catheter, blocking the artery and making it necessary to operate to reopen the vessel.
If you have diabetes or kidney disease, the kidneys may be injured when contrast material is eliminated through the urine.
Rarely, the catheter punctures the artery, causing internal bleeding. It also is possible that the catheter tip will separate material from the inner lining of the artery, causing a block downstream in the blood vessel.

The other Radiology Procedures are:

HOSPITALS FOR ANGIOGRAPHY

Few Major Hospitals for Angiography are:

DESTINATIONS FOR ANGIOGRAPHY

Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Turkey and India are the most cost effective locations that offer up to almost 80% savings in comparison to the US.

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