Saturday, February, 11, 2012

Mesenteric arteriography

Table of Contents


You should not eat or drink anything for 6 - 8 hours before the test.

You will be asked to wear a hospital gown and sign a consent form for the procedure. Remove jewlery from the area being imaged.

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

How the test will feel

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 medication (anesthetic) is given. You will feel a brief sharp pain as the catheter is inserted into the artery, and some pressure as it is moved into place. Usually you will only feel a sensation of pressure in the groin area.

As the dye is injected, you will feel a warm, flushing sensation. You may have tenderness and bruising at the site of the catheter insertion after the test.


Why the test is performed

This test is done:

  • When someone has symptoms of a narrowed or blocked blood vessel in the intestines
  • To find the source of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract
  • To find the cause of ongoing abdominal pain and weight loss when no cause can be identified
  • When other studies do not provide enough information about abnormal growths along the intestinal tract
  • To look at blood vessel damage after an abdominal injury

A mesenteric angiogram may be performed after more sensitive nuclear medicine scans have identified active bleeding. The radiologist can then pinpoint and treat the source.

See: Endovascular embolization


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Review Date: 11/18/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, 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. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. 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)