Interventional Radiology

Vascular Interventions

Central Venous Access

People with certain diseases or medical conditions sometimes require tubes or ports that can be placed into the body so that medications or nutrients can be received directly into the central bloodstream. A port is similar to a catheter except that it can remain in the body for a year or more. A central venous access catheter provides a simple, pain-free way for doctors or nurses to draw blood or administer medication or nutrients, sparring the patient of repeated needlesticks.

Embolization

This involves the delivery of clotting agents such as coils, plastic particles or gelfoam, applied directly to an area that is bleeding or to block blood flow to a problem area such as an aneurysm or a fibroid tumor in the uterus.

Angioplasty

This technique is used to open blocked or narrowed blood vessels using a very small balloon attached to a thin tube or catheter which is inserted into a blood vessel through a small nick in the skin using X-ray guidance. The balloon is then inflated to open the artery.

Stent placement

Stent is a small flexible tube made of a wire mesh used to treat a variety of medical conditions. When the blood vessels do not respond to angioplasty, a stent may be placed in the blood vessel. The interventional radiologist may also use the stent to hold open clogged blood vessels or other pathways that have been narrowed or blocked by tumors or obstructions.

Thrombolytic therapy

This treatment is used to open up blocked blood vessels caused by a blood clot. Thrombolytic drugs that dissolve clots are injected through a catheter to eliminate the clot and restore blood flow.

Venous sampling

A procedure in which a blood sample near the site of a
tumor arising from certain organs such as the pancreas and adrenal gland, can be obtained by using a catheter that is placed interventionally without performing surgery. This procedure helps determine the type or location of
the tumor.

IVC filter placement

An umbrella-shaped filter is placed in the abdominal vein (called inferior vena cava) to prevent clots from reaching the lungs.

Uterine fibroid embolization

This procedure is used to shrink painful, enlarged fibroids in the uterus. It is performed by placing a small catheter in the uterine blood vessels and blocking the blood flow to the fibroids by injecting them with small particles. To read more about this procedure, click here.

Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS)

This life-saving procedure is used to treat patients with portal hypertension often caused by liver disease such as cirrhosis or hepatitis. Portal hypertension is a condition in which the normal flow of blood through the liver is slowed or blocked by scarring or other damage putting the patient at risk for internal bleeding or other life-threatening conditions. Administration of this procedure can help improve blood flow and prevent hemorrhage in patients with severe liver dysfunction.

During the TIPS procedure, the doctor threads a catheter through a small incision in the skin near the neck and guides it to the blocked blood vessels in the liver. Using X-ray guidance, the doctor inserts a stent which creates a tunnel in the liver creating a channel for the blood to flow.