Extremity Angiography & Intervention

Extremity angiography is used to visualize the arteries in any of the extremities (hands, arms, feet, and legs). Dye is injected into one or more arteries to make them visible using fluoroscopy, live X-ray images viewed on a TV monitor that show blood flow in the area.

Extremity angiography helps identify and locate areas where blood vessels are closed or narrowing. Generally, a catheter (a small, narrow tube) is inserted in the groin area into the artery after a local anesthetic is used. The catheter is then threaded into the artery.

If a narrowing of the artery is found, the patient may be a candidate for angioplasty (repair of the artery using a tiny catheter with a balloon attached to the end).