Venography & Venous Stenting

Quick answer

A venogram is an X-ray test that shows the veins in your legs. Contrast dye goes in through a vein in the foot, then pictures are taken to look for a clot or a narrowing. It takes about thirty minutes. If a vein turns out to be narrowed, the fix is a stent to open it back up. If your kidneys are a concern, we can use CO2 instead of iodine dye.

When a vein is clogged, blood flow is affected, risking potential health concerns. A peripheral venogram, also known as an iliac vein venogram, is an invasive diagnostic test used to provide images of the veins in the legs. The primary purpose is to detect deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or to structurally identify veins. Based on the test results, our physicians may determine the need for venous stenting, a minimally invasive procedure, to widen the narrowed vein, resulting in healthier blood flow.

Venous Stenting Diagram

Venography

Venous Stenting

What can I expect from a peripheral venograph?

A contrast dye will be injected into a vein, often in the patient’s foot. X-ray pictures are taken of the veins to determine if there are any DVT’s or abnormalities. The procedure takes approximately 30 minutes.

How should I prepare?

Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before the test. You may take your morning medications with a sip of water, unless your doctor gives you different instructions.

What if I have kidney disease? Can a venogram be performed?

Our doctors can do CO2 venography instead of Dye (Iodine Dye). CACVI is equipped with CO2 venography which is safe and effective way to do venogram in kidney disease patient. CO2 doesn’t affect your kidney.

What is venous stenting?

Stenting is the process of placing a stent. A stent is a tiny wire mesh tube made of medical-grade stainless steel or cobalt alloy metal. Stents expand against blocked or narrowed vein walls and are left their permanently. They act as a scaffold to keep veins open. In most cases, surgeons place venous stents in larger, central veins, such as those found in the legs, chest or abdomen.

How is venous stenting performed?

Venous stenting involves the administration of a fine angioplasty catheter into the affected vein. Utilizing advanced imagery technology, one of our physicians will carefully guide the angioplasty catheter where the vein is at its most narrow. A wire will a ballooned tip will be inserted through the catheter where it will widen the narrowed vein, resulting in healthier blood flow. The physician will then remove the angioplasty balloon and insert a catheter with a closed stent on it. He will then place the stent in the vein, which pushes against the walls of the vein, serving as a support to keep it open.

This procedure is minimally invasive, which will not require any extensive incisions.

What can I expect following my venous stenting procedure?

A blood-thinning medicine may be prescribed to you to prevent blood clots and to aid in proper blood flow until the treated area heals. Each patient will have follow-up appointments with our physicians to monitor your recovery process.

What our patients say

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Michael Prae

A little blonde Russian woman named Natasha asked me to post about her renal procedure. It was done by Dr. Khorsandi at CACVI. They took absolutely amazing care of her and went above and beyond to treat her terribly high blood pressure. They lasered her renal artery. After the procedure it wouldn’t stop bleeding so they ended up staying w her at the center until 9pm. That’s when they finally had to call the ambulance to move her to E.R. All of the staff were incredibly professional and their care was second to none. Dr. Lala promised her that her high blood pressure would go away. It has and now she’s throwing out all her old med’s just like Lala promised. This group of Doctors is like no other. If you have any of these cardiac issues then you’ve found your saving grace. No need to look any further. They were incredibly patient and helpful in every medical way possible. Natasha has found a new way of living. Without her terrible pounding migraines she had on a daily basis. 5 stars all the way. They deserve all the praise possible. They provided a miracle. Thank you Dr’s Lala & Khorsandi.

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Nick Derian

On behalf of my father, a patient of CACVI, I wanted to acknowledge and praise the entire team of this organization for its outstanding surgical expertise and knowledgeable/warm supporting staff. We had gone through countless recommendations that all claimed there was only one last option for treatment, amputation. That news is devastating for anyone to hear, and resulted in my father having little faith that the quality of his life would ever be the same... All that changed the moment we had our first interaction with this organization. The care, knowledge, and most importantly hope that there was still options if we acted fast was single moment that turned this entire nightmare around. Thank you CACVI for being the single most important piece to solving my father's health crisis. Dont think twice, make the appointment and atleast go meet and see them-- for us it was the moment that changed the trajectory of our situation forever for the better.

a month ago Tarzana Read on Google

Matt Golad

I’m 41 years old, and I have something called May-Thurner’s Syndrome. However, it wasn’t until I saw Dr. Vasim Lala a couple years ago that I was diagnosed with it. May-Thurner’s syndrome is when the main veins that split off into your legs is compressed by the main arteries that split off into your legs. The result is that the blood that should be coming back up through the leg veins pools at your ankles. My whole life until I was diagnosed, I was lethargic. My legs felt heavy. I started to develop purple bruising around my ankles in my twenties. I started to get varicose veins on my calves. I thought this was normal. I was living on “hard mode” and didn’t know it. If I was on my feet for extended periods of time, my legs would swell a lot. I thought maybe I need to lose some weight. When I started teaching a few years ago, I would be on my feet 6-8 hours a day. One day, I got home, and my left leg was so swollen my wife was concerned I had a blood clot. I went to the emergency room, and thankfully it was just superficial. I temporarily went on blood thinners and was recommended to see Dr. Lala. He changed my life. I’d shown my purpling ankles to GP’s. They’d seen my varicose veins. But none if them put all the signs together until I saw Dr. Lala. He diagnosed me with May-Thurner’s syndrome and recommend we put stents in my veins to prevent them from being compressed by the arteries. So we did the surgeries. Out patient procedures. My legs stopped swelling a lot. I started wearing compression socks. I had to be on blood thinners for a year, but eventually I was able to stop taking them which was great. But I still had varicose veins in my legs because they had widened from the blood pooling in them for years. I’ve had two ablations per leg since them, which closes the affected veins, and I’ve got a new lease on life. My legs feel lighter. They don’t swell nearly as much. The varicose veins have disappeared. Now, I’m lighter on my feet. I’m not lethargic. There’s a pep in my step. I have one more ablation each being scheduled. I’m thankful for Dr. Lala and his incredible team at CACVI for their diagnosis and treatment. It truly changed my life.

4 months ago Tarzana Read on Google

PAK SHIP ALL

On August 27, 2025, I had my leg Angio done with Dr. K. who is best of the best. Amazing Doctor and extremely knowledgeable. The nurse who helped me, JULIAN she has a very kind heart. She has a lot of knowledge and made me feel extremely relaxed. She went above and beyond her responsibilities. It seems God made her to be kind and caring for all the patients. I salute her and look forward to having same nurse for procedure in my other leg. I came home with a big Smile. Thank you Thank you Thank you

10 months ago Tarzana Read on Google

Ready to Find Out What is Causing Your Vein Symptoms?

A venography remains one of the most effective ways to diagnose deep vein thrombosis, detect blood flow problems, and uncover other abnormalities that may not appear on routine tests. Still, this procedure may not be suitable for everyone, especially people who have kidney failure and other severe conditions. That is why it is important to speak with a healthcare provider before taking this test.

If you suspect you have any type of vein problem and want to know the cause, CACVI is here to help. Backed by more than 30 years of experience, our medical team is in the best position to accurately diagnose your condition and guide you toward the right treatment. Schedule a free consultation today.

FAQs

Our expert medical team gathered the most common questions patients ask about venograms so you can understand exactly what to expect. If you don’t see your question here or want a more detailed explanation, you are welcome to book a free consultation to get personalized guidance for your situation.

What Are the Risks and Safety Considerations of Peripheral Venography?

Even though a peripheral venography is generally safe, there is a small risk of allergic reactions to the contrast dye. Some people may experience bruising, vein irritation, or mild discomfort at the injection site. In rare cases, kidney issues can also occur, especially in patients with existing kidney diseases.

How is Recovery After Peripheral Venography?

Recovery is usually quick, and most people can resume their normal activities shortly after the test. You may experience some mild soreness or bruising at the injection site but this typically goes away in a few days. It also helps to drink plenty of water because it helps your body flush out the contrast dye.

Why Would Someone Need a Venogram?

A venogram is ordered when doctors need a clearer view of your veins. It may also be used before surgeries or to guide treatments like thrombectomy. Essentially, it gives a detailed map of your veins to support accurate diagnosis and treatment planning.

Is a Venogram Painful?

Most people describe the procedure as mildly uncomfortable but not painful. You might feel brief pressure during the IV insertion and a warm sensation as the contrast dye moves through your vein. These feelings are temporary and pass quickly. The rest of the procedure is generally well-tolerated.

Are You Sedated for a Venogram?

Because the procedure is a quick and minimally invasive one, sedation is not necessary. However, your provider may use a local anesthetic to numb the injection area. Sedation is only used in special cases or if a patient has significant anxiety.

Is a Venogram a CT Scan?

No, a venogram is not a CT scan. It is an X-ray procedure that uses contrast dye to visualize your veins in real time. However, a CT venogram is a different type of test that uses CT imaging with contrast to assess veins in certain areas of the body.

Dr. Moinakhtar Lala and Dr. Mehran J. Khorsandi of CACVI

Dr. M Lala, Dr. Mehran J. Khorsandi and Dr. V Lala

Meet Your Specialists

The Center for Advanced Cardiac and Vascular Interventions (CACVI) is led by Dr. M Lala, Dr. Khorsandi, and Dr. V Lala, who have over thirty years of practice with over 15,000 vascular and cardiac procedures performed. Our physicians are determined to provide each patient with experienced, compassionate care as they work diligently to improve your health.