The interesting thing about Michael's angiogram is that Dr. Daley went through the wrist! Apparently, that was Dr. Daley's third time going through the wrist vs. other major arteries. The advantage of doing the angiogram through the wrist is to allow the patient mobility after the procedure. He did have some bruising at the wrist, which is to be expected.
Michael was given a pain killer/sedative prior to the procedure. Although uncomfortable, he says a biopsy is similar yet different to the angiogram. With the biopsy, the freezing is uncomfortable and the needle goes in the neck. Another short needle is used to freeze the surface and a second needle is used to freeze deeper tissue. There is a lot of pressure going into the artery - as if a size two catheter is entering a size one artery where as with the angiogram, Once the catheter got past the elbow, he says he could not longer feel it inside the artery. Yikes!
The angiogram was approximately 45-60 minutes in length. A machine was used to highlight the dye & tools inside the body. A large x-ray machine was above Michael's head. It was mobile x-ray machine used in order to see different parts of the patient's body. Upon completion, a pressure bandage is put on to keep the artery from bleeding.
After the procedure, Michael went to the sixth floor to recuperate [day surgery area] where he slept for a good chunk of the afternoon and eventually left the hospital around 5:30. He kept the pressure bandage on that night. Michael says his wrist looked like it has a shaving nick now where the entrance site was. There is also bruising halfway up the forearm where the catheter ran up the artery.
All in all, he says it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be!
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