From a preventative side, all these risk factors need to be looked into and, wherever possible, favorably reversed. It requires hospitalization for 8 to 24 hours. The procedure itself takes between 10 to 20 minutes. Following angiography it is necessary to stay in bed for 6 to 7 hours to allow for adequate healing of the puncture site. These complications usually occur more commonly in people who have diabetes, kidney failure, congestive heart failure, advanced vascular disease, and heart failure.
Cardiac catheterization is performed using a contrast material which has iodine in it.
People allergic to iodine can usually be prepared with adequate medications a day in advance, thus minimizing the risk of any allergies. Blood thinning medications other than aspirin or Ticlid may need to be held off for a few days prior to angiography. Angiography is performed under local anesthesia with a gentle sedative. Angiography is traditionally performed through the femoral artery which is accessed via the groin. However, angiography can as easily be performed through the branchial artery in either arm.