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Mesenteric angiography – Indications, Procedure, Result

Last updated: February 8, 2026 Medically reviewed by: RxHarun Orthopedic Specialist Doctor Reading time: 5 min read

Mesenteric angiography is a test used took look at the blood vessels that supply the small and large intestines.

Angiography is an imaging test that uses x-rays and a special dye to see inside the arteries. Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

How the Test is Performed

This test uses x-rays and a special dye called contrast to make blood vessels show up on the images.

This test is most often done in the radiology area in a hospital. You will lie on an x-ray table. You may ask for medicine to help you relax (sedative) if you need it.

  • During the test, you will be hooked up to various devices that monitor your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing.
  • The health care provider will shave and clean the groin area over an artery. A numbing medicine (anesthetic) is injected into the skin over an artery and a needle is inserted into an artery.
  • A thin flexible tube called a catheter is passed through the needle. It is moved into the artery, and up through the main vessels of the belly area until it is properly placed into a mesenteric artery. The doctor uses x-rays as a guide. The doctor can see live images of the area on a TV-like monitor.
  • Contrast dye is injected through this tube to see if there are any problems with the blood vessels. X-ray images are taken of the artery.

Certain treatments can be done during this procedure. These items are passed through the catheter to the area in the artery that needs treatment. These include:

  • Dissolving a blood clot with medicine
  • Opening a partially blocked artery with a balloon
  • Placing a small tube called a stent into an artery to help hold it open

After the x-rays or treatments are finished, the catheter is removed. Pressure is applied to the puncture site for 20 to 45 minutes to stop the bleeding. After that time the area is checked and a tight bandage is applied. The leg is most often kept straight for another 6 hours after the procedure.

How to Prepare for the Test

You should not eat or drink anything for 6 to 8 hours before the test.

You will be asked to wear a hospital gown and sign a consent form for the procedure. Remove jewelry from the area being imaged.

Tell your provider:

  • If you are pregnant
  • If you have ever had any allergic reactions to x-ray contrast material or iodine substances
  • If you are allergic to any medicines
  • Which medicines you are taking (including any herbal preparations)
  • If you have ever had any bleeding problems

How the Test Will Feel

The x-ray table is hard and cold. You may ask for a blanket or pillow.

You may feel a brief sting when the numbing medicine (anesthetic) is given. You will feel a brief sharp pain and some pressure as the catheter is placed and moved into the artery. In most cases, you will feel only a sensation of pressure in the groin area.

As the dye is injected, you will feel a warm, flushing sensation. You may have tenderness and bruising at the site of the catheter insertion after the test.

Why the Test is Performed

This test is done:

  • When there are symptoms of a narrowed or blocked blood vessel in the intestines
  • To find the source of bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract
  • To find the cause of ongoing abdominal pain and weight loss when no cause can be identified
  • When other studies do not provide enough information about abnormal growths along the intestinal tract
  • To look at blood vessel damage after an abdominal injury

A mesenteric angiogram may be performed after more sensitive nuclear medicine scans have identified active bleeding. The radiologist can then pinpoint and treat the source.

Normal Results

Results are considered normal if the arteries being examined are normal in appearance.

What Abnormal Results Mean

A common abnormal finding is narrowing and hardening of the arteries that supply the large and small intestine. This is called mesenteric ischemia. The problem occurs when fatty material (plaque) builds up on the walls of your arteries.

Abnormal results may also be due to bleeding in the small and large intestine . This may be caused by:

Other abnormal results may be due to:

Risks

There is some risk of the catheter damaging the artery or knocking loose a piece of the artery wall. This can reduce or block blood flow and lead to tissue death. This is a rare complication.

Other risks include:

  • Allergic reaction to the contrast dye
  • Blood clot that travels to the lungs
  • Damage to the blood vessel where the needle and catheter are inserted
  • Excessive bleeding or a blood clot where the catheter is inserted, which can reduce blood flow to the leg
  • Heart attack or stroke
  • Hematoma, a collection of blood at the site of the needle puncture
  • Infection
  • Injury to the nerves at the needle puncture site
  • Kidney damage from the dye

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this article a replacement for a doctor?

No. It is educational content only. Patients should consult a qualified clinician for diagnosis and treatment.

When should I seek urgent care?

Seek urgent care for severe symptoms, rapidly worsening condition, breathing difficulty, severe pain, neurological changes, or any emergency warning sign.

References

Add references, clinical guidelines, textbooks, journal articles, or trusted medical sources here. You can edit this area later with a custom field named _rx_references.

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Written by Dr. Harun Ar Rashid, MD - Arthritis, Bones, Joints Pain, Trauma, and Internal Medicine Specialist

Dr. Md. Harun Ar Rashid, MPH, MD, PhD, is a highly respected medical specialist celebrated for his exceptional clinical expertise and unwavering commitment to patient care. With advanced qualifications including MPH, MD, and PhD, he integrates cutting-edge research with a compassionate approach to medicine, ensuring that every patient receives personalized and effective treatment. His extensive training and hands-on experience enable him to diagnose complex conditions accurately and develop innovative treatment strategies tailored to individual needs. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Harun Ar Rashid is dedicated to medical education and research, writing and inventory creative thinking, innovative idea, critical care managementing make in his community to outreach, often participating in initiatives that promote health awareness and advance medical knowledge. His career is a testament to the high standards represented by his credentials, and he continues to contribute significantly to his field, driving improvements in both patient outcomes and healthcare practices. Born and educated in Bangladesh, Dr. Rashid earned his BPT from the University of Dhaka before pursuing postgraduate training internationally. He completed his MD in Internal Medicine at King’s College London, where he developed a special interest in inflammatory arthritis and metabolic bone disease. He then undertook a PhD in Orthopedic Science at the University of Oxford, conducting pioneering research on cytokine signaling pathways in rheumatoid arthritis. Following his doctoral studies, Dr. Rashid returned to clinical work with a fellowship in interventional pain management at the Rx University School of Medicine, refining his skills in image-guided joint injections and minimally invasive pain-relief techniques.