Venogram Procedure What to Expect and FAQ

What is a Venogram?

Veno meaning these are related to the veins. Gram refers to a record or picture. A venogram is a procedure to make the veins visible for the doctor to see blood flow.

Venograms are used to diagnose and determine treatment options for a number of vascular diseases including but not limited to Deep Vein Thrombosis and Ilac Vein Compression.

What to expect?

Preoperative Clinical Evaluation

Detailed history needs to be obtained:

• Primary Medical History including risk factors such as high blood pressure
• Previous surgical history
• Social History including the use of tobacco products/nicotine-containing products
• Details about symptoms the patient is experiencing

Careful physical examination is mandatory

• Pulses in the affected extremity
• Temperature and color of the extremity
• Presence of slow healing or non-healing wounds/ulcerations
• Various examinations to rule out any other possible vascular conditions.

Initial Diagnostic Testing

• Duplex(Ultrasound) Study of the Extremity
• ABI readings in the lower extremities    

What to expect during this procedure?

This is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure requiring no hospital stay with a short recovery period. Most procedures allow patients to return to normal activity within a few days.

Medicine will be administered through an IV to keep you comfortable but awake. A local anesthetic is usually given in the area where a needle/sheath will be inserted into the vein.  The catheter is threaded through this needle. You will feel pressure/pain when the sheath punctures the skin. The sheath allows the procedure to be completed within the vein.

During the Venogram procedure, a dye will be injected through the sheath into the veins. The dye allows the doctor to view your veins on an X-ray monitor. You may experience a warm/burning sensation when in the region where the dye is injected.  You will be asked to stay still and not move so that the images that are taken will be clear so that areas of compression inside the vein to find the area is most compressed. 

Additional images may be taken with the use of a special catheter that has an ultrasound device on the tip. This is called IVUS(Intravascular Ultrasound) and is used to gather more detailed information about the amount of plaque or blockage inside the artery.

Once the area of compression has been identified several treatments are an option.

• Venoplasty:  A device with a small balloon on its tip is then inserted through the sheath into the vein in your leg or arm until it reaches the area of compression that needs to be treated. The balloon is inflated to open up the compression restoring efficient blood flow out of the legs. Then the balloon is deflated and removed from your body.
• Venous Stent placement:  A stent is a small metal/mesh tube that is inserted into the vein through the sheath then expanded to open the vein in the area of compression.  Once the stent is expanded it acts as a scaffold to support the vein and keep it open.  All stents are permanent once placed inside the vein. 

Lower level anesthesia: Patients receive minimal anesthesia delivery under constant monitoring. Transportation home will be required despite a lower level of sedation

Postoperative instructions

Refrain from any heavy lifting (i.e. no more than 10 pounds), straining, pushing or impact exercises (i.e. running, jogging, cycling) for the first 5 days. You may walk and climb steps so long as you do not have excessive bruising, swelling or pain at the puncture site. You may resume driving the next day after the procedure.

You will be discharged with a dressing over the puncture site. This may be removed in 3 days. There are no sutures or staples present at the puncture site. Please inspect the puncture site daily for the first few days and notify us for any significant changes. Bruising around the area may be present and may not appear until a couple of days after the procedure. If you notice bleeding or swelling at the puncture site, apply constant direct pressure over the area, and seek medical attention IMMEDIATELY.

Refrain from soaking in a bathtub, hot tub, or pool until puncture is healed.

Benefits of Venogram with CVM

Minimally invasive procedure that requires no hospital stay with a short recovery period.

• Most procedures allow patients to return to normal activity within a few days.
• Procedures in an outpatient setting allow for continuity of care and higher levels of individual patient care
• Procedures in an outpatient setting have lower rates of infection

Risks of Endovascular Procedures

Every procedure entails a certain level of risk. The advent of new technology including minimally-invasive vascular procedure and the experience of vascular doctors help minimize risk. Here is a list of possible risk factors that may arise.

Catheter-Related Risks

Any procedure that involves the placement of a catheter inside a blood vessel carries certain risks. These risks include damage to the blood vessel, bruising or bleeding at the puncture site, and infection. The chance of any of these events occurring is less than one percent.  Precautions are taken to prevent/lower the risk such as the use of sterile technique when performing the procedure and close monitoring during recovery to reduce the risk of bleeding.

Allergy to X-ray Contrast Material

Patients may have an allergic reaction to the x-ray contrast material used during endovascular procedures. These episodes range from mild itching to severe reactions that can affect breathing or blood pressure. Patients having procedures are carefully monitored by a physician and a nurse during the procedure and recovery process. Patients with a known allergy to iodine-based products and/or shellfish can be pretreated to reduce the risk of an allergic reaction. Medications to counteract allergic reactions are kept on-site in the outpatient setting.

X-ray exposure

Endovascular procedures are done under x-ray. Exposure levels usually are well below those where adverse effects on the patient or future children would be a concern.

Potential Adverse Effects on the Kidneys

Patients with a history of poor kidney functions are at higher risk of further damage. Blood work will be drawn to help identify patients at risk and levels will be monitored accordingly. IV fluids will also be given during and after the procedure to dilute the dye and filter the dye through the kidneys. CO2 may be used in cases where dye is contraindicated.

Medications to avoid

Medications such as Xarelto, Eliquis, Pradaxa, Coumadin (Warfarin), and injectable Heparin/Lovenox are potent blood thinners that can cause an increased risk of bleeding from the puncture site. We will give specific instructions to hold medications on a case-by-case basis.

If you take aspirin, Plavix, Cilostazol or Aggrenox, you may continue the use of these medications as prescribed and only hold the medication on the day of your procedure.

Diabetic medications will be adjusted and/or held on the day of the procedure.

Please provide updated medication information to your physician so that appropriate and accurate instructions may be provided to you. At our Vascular Surgery in Silver Spring, Maryland, we have the team and experience to help with all of your issues.

FAQ