Discuss any recent illnesses, medical conditions, allergies and medications you’re taking, including herbal supplements and aspirin with your Envita IR Physician.

Stop taking aspirin and vitamin E at least five days before the procedure.

You may be advised to stop taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or blood thinners several days prior to your procedure.

You should have nothing to eat or drink after midnight the night before the procedure.

However, you may take your routine medications with sips of water. If you are diabetic and take insulin, you should talk to your doctor as your usual insulin dose may need to be adjusted.

Prior to your procedure, your blood may be tested to determine how well your kidneys are functioning and whether your blood clots normally.

Women should always inform their physician and x-ray technologist if there is any possibility that they are pregnant.

Arrange for someone to drive you home following the procedure.

You should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing to your exam. You may be given a gown to wear during the procedure.

Take all your usual prescriptions. Do not skip them unless instructed by your Envita IR Physician.

You will be admitted to the Envita IR Clinic on the morning of your procedure and be assessed by the interventional radiologist before the procedure begins.

Prior to your procedure, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be performed.

You will be positioned on the procedure table.

You may be connected to monitors that track your heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level and pulse.

A nurse or technologist will insert an intravenous (IV) line into a vein in your hand or arm to administer a sedative. This procedure may use moderate sedation. It does not require a breathing tube. However, some patients may require general anesthesia.

The area of your body where the catheter is to be inserted will be sterilized and covered with a surgical drape.

A very small skin incision is made at the site.

Using image-guidance, a catheter (a long, thin, hollow plastic tube) is inserted through the skin to the treatment site.

A contrast material then is injected through your IV and a series of X-rays are taken to locate the exact site of bleeding or abnormality. The medication or embolic agent is then injected through the catheter. Additional angiograms are taken to ensure the embolic agent is correctly positioned and that any bleeding is controlled.

When the procedure is complete, the catheter is removed and pressure is applied to stop any bleeding. Sometimes, your doctor may use a closure device to seal the small hole in the artery. This will allow you to move around more quickly. No stitches are visible on the skin. The tiny opening in the skin is covered with a dressing.

Your IV line is removed before you go home.

The length of the procedure varies from 30 minutes to several hours depending on the complexity of the condition.

The procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis. The patient may require mild oral pain medications for relief of discomfort after the procedure. Pain is most significant during the first three days.

In some cases, a hematoma around the puncture site may appear. This is quite normal, but if it becomes a large bruise then there may be a risk of it getting infected (less than 1% of cases) in which case you may require antibiotics.

Most women resume light activities two to three days after the procedure and most patients are able to resume their normal level of activity in five to ten days.

It is usual for patients to experience some pelvic cramps following the embolization for a few days, but this will gradually improve after the first 24 hours and can usually be controlled with pain relief medication.

There is a very slight risk of an allergic reaction if contrast material is injected.

Any procedure that places a catheter inside a blood vessel carries certain risks. These risks include damage to the blood vessel, bruising or bleeding at the puncture site, and infection. The doctor will take precautions to mitigate these risks.

There is always a chance that an embolic agent can lodge in the wrong place and deprive normal tissue of its oxygen supply.

There is a risk of infection after embolization, even if an antibiotic has been given.

In very rare circumstances (1% of cases) one of the coils may dislodge and move to another location during the procedure or at a later date. Removing the coil may quickly correct this.

Contact your Envita Physician if you have any signs of infection.