I.V. Local anesthetic. Alcohol solution with wipes. Angiographic catheter with automatic injector. Fluoroscope or radiograph. Intravenous infusion of glucose and water is started in a vein.
Skin is cleaned with antiseptic.
The anesthetic is administered. You will feel a brief, stinging sensation as anesthetic is injected. You may also feel pressure when the main blood vessel supplying blood to the leg is examined, but the local anesthetic minimizes pain when the needle is inserted into the artery. The procedure does not begin until you are numb. The needle punctures the artery.