Venogram

What is a venogram?
* A venogram is a procedure that looks at your blood vessels (veins) by injecting x-ray dye and taking x-rays.

Why do I need a venogram?
* Your doctor has found a problem with the blood flow, through your veins, back to your heart.

Who will perform the venogram?
* One of our specially trained interventional radiologists.

What can I expect before the venogram?
* You will be seen in our clinic by one of our doctors and/ or nurse clinicians, who will obtain a health history, perform a brief physical exam, explain the procedure, and answer your questions.
* You will have blood drawn.
* You may to have a CT (computed tomography) scan and/ or ultrasound exam.
* You will have an IV (intravenous catheter) started on the day of your test.
* You will sign a consent form.

What can I expect during the venogram?
* You will be attached to a monitor so that IV medicine can be given to relax you.
* The doctor will numb the skin with a special medicine through a needle. He will insert a small tube into the vein he needs to view.
* The doctor will inject x-ray dye and take x-rays.
* You will feel a warm sensation from the dye.
* The doctor will view your x-rays on a TV monitor. This will help the doctor decide what is causing the problem.

What can I expect after the venogram?
* You will return to our recovery area.
* After your venogram , your IV will be taken out and you can go home.
* If the vein was fixed, you will be admitted to the hospital overnight. You will be observed closely for bleeding and proper blood flow through the vein.

What are the risks of having a venogram?
* Bleeding at the puncture site.
* Infection at the puncture site.

What are the benefits of having a venogram?
* So your doctor knows the exact reason why the blood is not flowing properly back to your heart.

What are the alternatives to having a venogram?
* The venogram is the best test.