Venogram: How It Is Done

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How It Is Done

A venogram usually is done in a hospital X-ray department by a radiologist and an X-ray technologist. A nurse may also be present.

Take off all jewelry and metal objects before the test. You will need to take off all or most of your clothes. You will be given a gown to use during the test. You may be asked to urinate just before the test begins.

Arm, pelvis, or leg venogram

You will lie on an X-ray table. A tilting X-ray table is usually used when studying the legs. Safety straps will help you lie still if the table is tilted.

For a leg venogram, you will be asked to relax the leg and keep it still during the X-rays. An elastic band will be put around your leg or ankle to make the veins of the foot fill with blood. The dye will be put in a vein (IV) on the top of your foot.

If the veins in your pelvis are studied, the dye may be placed in a vein in your groin. For an arm venogram, the dye will be put into a vein on the top of your hand or in your arm.

After the dye is put in, a series of X-rays is taken of each section of the arm or leg or pelvis. Your arm or leg may be placed in several different positions so that X-rays from different views can be taken. If your doctor is placing an intravenous (IV) line, X-rays will be taken as the line is put in to help guide it to the correct position.

After the X-rays are taken, your arm or leg will be raised. A sterile salt solution (saline) may be put into the vein to help flush out the dye. Heparin, a blood thinner, may be put into the vein to prevent a blood clot. A small bandage will be placed on the IV site. Drink extra fluids after the test to help flush the dye out of your body.

This test usually takes 30 to 45 minutes.

Kidney venogram

You will lie on the X-ray table and a numbing medicine (local anesthetic) will be put in the skin in your groin area. A small, thin tube (catheter) is put into the femoral vein in your groin. The catheter is guided through the blood vessels into the vein of one kidney and then the other. Blood samples may be taken from each kidney for more tests. The dye is put through the catheter into each vein and X-rays are taken. The dye may also be put into the large blood vessel (inferior vena cava) in your belly to check the blood flow in it. After the X-rays are taken, the catheter is removed and a bandage is put on the IV site.

The test takes about 1 hour. When it is done, you will need to rest in bed for 2 to 3 hours. You will get IV fluids to flush the dye out of your body. You will usually be asked to drink lots of fluids for the next 24 hours.

Last updated:	September 11, 2007
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS
Reviewed By:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine, Paul D. Traughber, MD - Radiology
Editors:	Susan Van Houten, RN, BSN, MBA, Tracy Landauer