Why is angiography usually considered only when necessary for surgery or urgent patient management?

Angiography is generally considered only when necessary because it often yields nondiagnostic results in certain situations. While angiography is a powerful imaging technique used to visualize blood vessels and can be incredibly useful in diagnosing and managing vascular diseases, there are instances where the imaging may not provide clear or useful information to guide treatment decisions.

In cases where angiography is performed but does not show clinically relevant findings, this can lead to unnecessary procedures, increased healthcare costs, and additional risks to the patient from exposure to contrast agents and radiation. Hence, clinicians tend to reserve angiography for situations where its diagnostic yield is expected to be high, ensuring that the procedure leads to beneficial outcomes for the patient.

Other considerations, such as the cost-effectiveness, the necessity of patient preparation, and the capability to provide real-time images, are valuable but do not encapsulate the fundamental reason why angiography is approached with caution. These factors contribute to the overall assessment of the procedure, but the potential for nondiagnostic outcomes is a primary reason guiding the decision to utilize angiography judiciously.