Pulmonary angiography

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Pulmonary arteries

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Tell your health care provider:

• If you are pregnant
• If you have ever had any allergic reactions to x-ray contrast material or iodine substances
• If you are allergic to any medications
• Which medications you are taking (including any herbal preparations)
• If you have ever had any bleeding problems

The x-ray table is hard and cold, but you may ask for a blanket or pillow. You may feel a brief sting when the numbing medicine is given and a brief, sharp, stick as the catheter is inserted.

You may feel some pressure as the catheter moves up into the lungs. The contrast dye can cause a feeling of warmth and flushing. This is normal and usually goes away in a few seconds.

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You may have some tenderness and bruising at the site of the injection after the test.

The test is used to detect blood clots (pulmonary embolism) and other blockages in the blood flow in the lung. Most of the time, your health care provider will already have tried other tests to diagnose a blood clot in the lungs.

Pulmonary angiography may also be used to help your doctor diagnose:

• AV malformations of the lung
• Congenital (present from bith) narrowing of the pulmonary vessels
• Pulmonary artery aneurysms
• Pulmonary hypertension -- high blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs

Review Date: 11/18/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by Shabir Bhimji, MD, PhD, Specializing in General Surgery, Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Midland, TX. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).