Mesenteric arteriography

Find a health topic using the A-Z index:

| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z

Definition

Mesenteric arteriography is an x-ray examination that looks at the blood vessels that supply the abdominal area, including the small and large bowel.

Alternative Names

Abdominal arteriogram; Arteriogram - abdomen

Why the Test is Performed

The arteriography is done after an endoscopy (a procedure using an illuminating instrument to examine the internal organ) cannot locate the source of bleeding in the intestinal system or other studies prove inadequate in evaluating neoplasms (abnormal growths). It may also be used to evaluate vessel damage after an abdominal trauma.

If a site of active bleeding is identified, metallic coils or special chemicals and foams can be placed into the feeding (source) artery, in order to block it off and prevent further bleeding. Similarly, vessels feeding cancers may be blocked to help reduce tumor size prior to surgery and chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

How the Test is Performed

This test is done in a hospital. You will be asked to lie on an x-ray table. The groin area is cleansed, a local anesthetic is given, and a needle is inserted into the artery. The catheter (a long, narrow, flexible tube) is inserted through the needle and into the artery. It is then threaded through the main vessels of the abdomen and chest until it is properly placed into a mesenteric artery.

This procedure is monitored by a fluoroscope (an x-ray machine that projects the images on a TV monitor). The contrast medium is then injected into the vessels via the catheter, and the x-ray pictures are taken.

The catheter is kept open by flushing it periodically with a saline solution containing a drug called heparin, which will keep the blood in the catheter from clotting. Your pulse, blood pressure, and breathing are monitored during the procedure. After the x-rays are taken, the needle and catheter are withdrawn.

Pressure is immediately applied to the puncture site for 10-15 minutes to stop the bleeding. After that time the area is checked and a tight bandage is applied. The leg should be kept straight for an additional 4 hours after the procedure.

How to Prepare for the Test

Your food and fluids will be restricted 8 hours before the test is done. Inform the health care provider if you are pregnant and if you have any bleeding problems. Report any allergic reactions to x-ray contrast material or iodine substance and any other allergic reactions you have had.

You must sign an informed consent form. You will be given a hospital gown to wear and asked to remove all jewelry. You may be given a sedative or pain pill before the procedure.

How the Test Will Feel

The x-ray table is hard and cold, but you may ask for a blanket or pillow. There is a sting when the anesthetic is given. This does not numb the artery, so there will be brief sharp pain as the catheter is inserted.

There is a feeling of pressure as the catheter is advanced. As the dye is injected there is a warm, flushing sensation. Tenderness and bruising at the site of the injection may occur after the test.

Risks

There is the possibility of significant risk. A reaction to the contrast medium can occur. There is some risk of the catheter damaging the artery or knocking loose a piece of the artery wall which can cause tissue ischemia (reduced blood flow) or infarction (blockage of flow with eventual tissue death). This is rare, however.

Blocking off a bleeding artery can lead to damage in other blood vessels, possibly causing organ failure and death. A clot or bleeding at the puncture site may partially block the flow of blood to the leg.

There is low radiation exposure with a mesenteric arteriogram. X-rays are monitored and regulated to provide the minimum amount of radiation exposure needed to produce the image. Most experts feel that the risk of x-rays is smaller than other risks taken every day. Pregnant women and children are more sensitive to the risks of x-rays.

Considerations

Mesenteric arteriograms may be performed after more sensitive nuclear medicine bleeding scans have identified active bleeding. The radiologist can then search in the region of bleeding to identify, and then embolize (occlude) the source.

What Abnormal Results Mean

The study may reveal bleeding in the upper or lower GI (gastrointestinal) system, abnormal cells, vessel rupture from injury, and cirrhosis.

Additional conditions under which the test may be performed include angiodysplasia of the colon.

Email to a Friend

Typical mistypes for Mesenteric arteriography
nesenteric arteriography, kesenteric arteriography, jesenteric arteriography, mwsenteric arteriography, mssenteric arteriography, mdsenteric arteriography, mrsenteric arteriography, m4senteric arteriography, m3senteric arteriography, meaenteric arteriography, mezenteric arteriography, mexenteric arteriography, medenteric arteriography, meeenteric arteriography, mewenteric arteriography, meswnteric arteriography, messnteric arteriography, mesdnteric arteriography, mesrnteric arteriography, mes4nteric arteriography, mes3nteric arteriography, mesebteric arteriography, mesemteric arteriography, mesejteric arteriography, mesehteric arteriography, mesenreric arteriography, mesenferic arteriography, mesengeric arteriography, mesenyeric arteriography, mesen6eric arteriography, mesen5eric arteriography, mesentwric arteriography, mesentsric arteriography, mesentdric arteriography, mesentrric arteriography, mesent4ric arteriography, mesent3ric arteriography, mesenteeic arteriography, mesentedic arteriography, mesentefic arteriography, mesentetic arteriography, mesente5ic arteriography, mesente4ic arteriography, mesenteruc arteriography, mesenterjc arteriography, mesenterkc arteriography, mesenteroc arteriography, mesenter9c arteriography, mesenter8c arteriography, mesenterix arteriography, mesenteriv arteriography, mesenterif arteriography, mesenterid arteriography, mesenteric zrteriography, mesenteric srteriography, mesenteric wrteriography, mesenteric qrteriography, mesenteric aeteriography, mesenteric adteriography, mesenteric afteriography, mesenteric atteriography, mesenteric a5teriography, mesenteric a4teriography, mesenteric arreriography, mesenteric arferiography, mesenteric argeriography, mesenteric aryeriography, mesenteric ar6eriography, mesenteric ar5eriography, mesenteric artwriography, mesenteric artsriography, mesenteric artdriography, mesenteric artrriography, mesenteric art4riography, mesenteric art3riography, mesenteric arteeiography, mesenteric artediography, mesenteric artefiography, mesenteric artetiography, mesenteric arte5iography, mesenteric arte4iography, mesenteric arteruography, mesenteric arterjography, mesenteric arterkography, mesenteric arteroography, mesenteric arter9ography, mesenteric arter8ography, mesenteric arteriigraphy, mesenteric arterikgraphy, mesenteric arterilgraphy, mesenteric arteripgraphy, mesenteric arteri0graphy, mesenteric arteri9graphy, mesenteric arteriofraphy, mesenteric arteriovraphy, mesenteric arteriobraphy, mesenteric arteriohraphy, mesenteric arterioyraphy, mesenteric arteriotraphy, mesenteric arteriogeaphy, mesenteric arteriogdaphy, mesenteric arteriogfaphy, mesenteric arteriogtaphy, mesenteric arteriog5aphy, mesenteric arteriog4aphy, mesenteric arteriogrzphy, mesenteric arteriogrsphy, mesenteric arteriogrwphy, mesenteric arteriogrqphy, mesenteric arteriograohy, mesenteric arteriogralhy, mesenteric arteriogra-hy, mesenteric arteriogra0hy, mesenteric arteriograpgy, mesenteric arteriograpby, mesenteric arteriograpny, mesenteric arteriograpjy, mesenteric arteriograpuy, mesenteric arteriograpyy, mesenteric arteriographt, mesenteric arteriographg, mesenteric arteriographh, mesenteric arteriographu, mesenteric arteriograph7, mesenteric arteriograph6, esenteric arteriography, msenteric arteriography, meenteric arteriography, mesnteric arteriography, meseteric arteriography, meseneric arteriography, mesentric arteriography, mesenteic arteriography, mesenterc arteriography, mesenteri arteriography, mesentericarteriography, mesenteric rteriography, mesenteric ateriography, mesenteric areriography, mesenteric artriography, mesenteric arteiography, mesenteric arterography, mesenteric arterigraphy, mesenteric arterioraphy, mesenteric arteriogaphy, mesenteric arteriogrphy, mesenteric arteriograhy, mesenteric arteriograpy, mesenteric arteriograph, emsenteric arteriography, mseenteric arteriography, meesnteric arteriography, mesneteric arteriography, mesetneric arteriography, mesenetric arteriography, mesentreic arteriography, mesenteirc arteriography, mesenterci arteriography, mesenteri carteriography, mesenterica rteriography, mesenteric rateriography, mesenteric atreriography, mesenteric aretriography, mesenteric artreiography, mesenteric arteirography, mesenteric arteroigraphy, mesenteric arterigoraphy, mesenteric arteriorgaphy, mesenteric arteriogarphy, mesenteric arteriogrpahy, mesenteric arteriograhpy, mesenteric arteriograpyh, mmesenteric arteriography, meesenteric arteriography, messenteric arteriography, meseenteric arteriography, mesennteric arteriography, mesentteric arteriography, mesenteeric arteriography, mesenterric arteriography, mesenteriic arteriography, mesentericc arteriography, mesenteric arteriography, mesenteric aarteriography, mesenteric arrteriography, mesenteric artteriography, mesenteric arteeriography, mesenteric arterriography, mesenteric arteriiography, mesenteric arterioography, mesenteric arterioggraphy, mesenteric arteriogrraphy, mesenteric arteriograaphy, mesenteric arteriograpphy, mesenteric arteriographhy, mesenteric arteriographyy, etc.