Before your procedure

Follow any instructions you are given on how to get ready. This includes any directions you’re given for not eating or drinking before the procedure.

Tell your healthcare provider if you:

• Are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding

• Are allergic to X-ray dye or other medicines

• Have had any recent illnesses

• Have any medical conditions

Tell your healthcare provider about any medicines you are taking. You may need to stop taking all or some of these before the test. This includes:

• All prescription medicines

• Herbs, vitamins, and other supplements

• Over-the-counter medicines, such as aspirin or ibuprofen

• Illegal drugs

During your procedure

• You will change into a hospital gown and lie on an X-ray table.

• An area of skin over the insertion site will be cleaned. Medicine may be put on the skin to numb it.

• An IV (intravenous) line is put into a vein in the prepared area.

• X-ray dye is injected through the IV into the vein.

• A band or tourniquet may be put on your arm or leg. This controls the speed of blood flow.

• You will be asked to keep still while X-rays are taken. The healthcare provider will tell you when you can move.

• The IV will be removed. The insertion site will be bandaged.

After your procedure

• Drink plenty of water to help flush the X-ray dye out of your body.

• Care for the insertion site as directed.

• Call your healthcare provider if you have fever or redness, pain, or swelling at the insertion site.

Possible risks

All procedures have some risk. Possible risks of venography include:

• Infection or bruising around the catheter insertion site

• Damage to the blood vessel

• Problems because of X-ray dye, including allergic reaction or kidney damage

• Exposure to X-ray radiation, which is usually kept to a low and safe level

• Inflammation of the vein, called phlebitis

• Blood clotting occurs, or gets worse (deep vein thrombosis or DVT)

• Skin damage because of fluid leaking from the insertion site