This is an outpatient procedure that is used for opening up narrowed or blocked arteries. During the procedure, you will be moderately sedated (twilight sedation) so that you can relax during the process.

In most cases, you will be breathing on your own and answering questions. But, some people don’t remember the procedure. The procedure will start with the doctor inserting a catheter into your peripheral artery which is mostly the femoral artery present near the groin. This is done by injecting a small amount of dye. This dye will be flowing through the artery and the doctor will get a visual of the blood flow and blockages through an X-day video. This procedure, known as Angiography, is the gold standard to evaluate arterial blockages.

In case the artery is blocked, the doctor will start performing peripheral angioplasty in which a balloon catheter is placed into the artery for opening the blocked artery. In order to ensure that the artery stays open and the blood flow is continued, the doctor might insert a stent. The stent is a mesh tube that can stay in the artery for a long time in order to prevent it from closing.

Regardless of whether you have to undergo an Angiogram or an Angioplasty, the procedure won’t take more than 2 hours. Also, since it is an outpatient procedure, you will only have to spend a couple of hours after the procedure at the hospital to recover and then you can go back home to heal.

In order to perform the Peripheral Angiogram, the doctor will have to make a small incision using surgical tools. However, since it is an outpatient procedure, you won’t be administered general anesthesia or have to stay at the hospital for the night. This is an exploratory procedure that is performed to get an understanding of the insides of your body and make the appropriate treatment plan.

Once the catheter is removed from the body, the doctor will apply pressure to the site in order to decrease the bleeding. Then, you will be transferred to the recovery room where the medical staff will ensure that the bleeding stops efficiently. You will be sent home after that. Once the procedure is completed, it is recommended that you drink a lot of water (at least 6 glasses) to ensure that the dye is flushed out of your kidneys. This can take about 48 hours.

It is recommended that you perform little to no activity for 2 to 8 hours after the procedure to ensure proper healing. However, the exact recovery time will depend on the number of blood vessels that were involved in the procedure as well as the extent of the procedure.

At the site of the catheter, you will see some bruising. This is normal and will heal in about a week. While you are healing, check for any bleeding, swelling, or increased pain at the insertion site or in the legs. You should not perform any strenuous activities and take on added pressure by bending, squatting, or lifting things that weigh more than 20 pounds. But, you have to stay active during the recovery period. Short 10 minute walks will help improve your blood flow.

While your wound is healing, you should avoid immersing yourself in hot water like in a pool or tub as it will make the site vulnerable to infection or bleeding and slow down the healing process.

In case the doctor inserted a stent, your recovery period might last about 8 weeks.

Your doctor will provide you with complete instructions set. You can also contact them for any questions on recovery.

Here are the benefits associated with Peripheral Angiogram:

• A detailed and accurate diagnosis.
• In some cases, the balloon angioplasty will be enough for relieving blockages present in the arteries of the legs or arms.
• Since it uses X-rays, there is no radiation left behind and there are no side effects.
• Peripheral Angiogram can be accompanied by other treatments like stent placement.
• Get an understanding of the source of the pain that you are experiencing.
• It is a painless procedure. However, when the doctor is administering contrast dye, you might feel a hot sensation like a hot flash.
• You will only have to stay at the hospital for a few days and will be discharged on the same day.
• Since it is a minimally-invasive procedure that requires a small incision, it has a relatively shorter recovery time.

After the Peripheral Angioplasty procedure, you will see some discoloration or bruises near the area where the doctor inserted the catheter. When you apply pressure on the same site, you might feel some soreness or a small lump. There might also be a small amount of discharge. However, the lump won’t get bigger.

Just like any other procedure, you have to stay in contact with your doctor after Angioplasty. You have to watch the area where the doctor inserted the catheter. In case the puncture wound turns, gets painful, becomes bigger, or starts draining a thick brown/yellow material, even when you don’t apply pressure, you should talk to your doctor. A painful lump is a sign that there is something wrong with the puncture hole. It might be leaking blood or not healing properly.

You should also contact your doctor if you have a high fever or you are experiencing swelling in the leg.

You have to follow your doctor’s instructions on the right activity level for you. There are two-fold post-procedure instructions that you need to follow.

• The first one is to take care of yourself by taking all the prescribed medications and making some lifestyle changes. This includes improving your diet, exercising, and quitting smoking.
• The second one is to make a follow-up appointment with your doctor. In this appointment, the doctor will examine whether the catheter insertion site is healing properly or not.