What is it?

DSA is a way of taking images of arteries, veins and organs of the body using complex computerised x-ray equipment. This usually requires an injection of a special ‘dye’ to highlight the blood supply to the legs, heart or other organ. The ‘dye’ is a clear liquid which shows on x-rays due to its high density. This 'dye' is harmless and will pass out of your body in your urine over the hours following your test.

What will happen during my test?

During your test you will be cared for by a team of healthcare professionals which may include a Consultant, radiographers, nurses and ECG technicians. You will be asked to lie on an x-ray couch and made as comfortable as possible. The doctor who will be doing your test will explain everything to you so you know what to expect. Your heart rate and pulse will be monitored throughout the test by one of the nursing team. The x-ray equipment is capable of moving through 360 degrees in any plane and will take a series of complex x-ray images which will be manipulated and enhanced by the radiographer.

Will it hurt?

The procedure should not be painful, but pain relief can be provided if required. You may feel some initial discomfort following the injection of local anaesthetic. Sedation can be given if you are particularly nervous, but this is not normally necessary.

How long will it take?

This depends on the test you are having done. It could be anything between 30 minutes and 3 hours. The DSA staff will be able to tell you in more detail as the test progresses.

How will I get my results?

The doctor carrying out your test may discus his initial findings with you at the end of the test. However, it is often necessary to discus these finding with your Consultant to determine how this may affect your treatment. Your consultant will discus this with you when he next sees you.

In traditional angiography, we acquire images of blood vessels on films by exposing the area of interest with time-controlled x-ray energy while injecting contrast medium into the blood vessels. The images thus obtained would also record other structure besides blood vessels as the x-ray beam passes through the body. In order to remove these distracting structures to see the vessels better, we need to acquire a mask images for subtraction. The mask image is simply an image of the same area without contrast administration. So, using manual darkroom technique, clear pictures of blood vessels are obtained by taking away the overlying background.

In DSA, the images are acquired in digital format through the computer. With the help of the computer, all images would be recorded into the computer and subtracted automatically. As a result, we can have a near-instanteous film show of the blood vessels alone after x-ray.

Can someone stay with me while I have my x-ray?

No. Regulations require us to restrict the number of people present during x-ray procedures. There will be a nurse looking after you during your test who will reassure you and answer any questions you may have.

Will I have to stay in hospital afterwards?

After your test you will be monitored carefully to check for any complications. You should normally be allowed home later the same day or the following day if you have been admitted specifically for this test. The final decision as to when you will be allowed home is with the doctor that is looking after you.