Interventional Radiology & Image-Guide Medicine Procedures
KEY PROCEDURES
- Arterial Procedures
- Biliary Procedures
- Hemodialysis Management
- Laser Treatment of Varicose Veins
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization
- Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair using EVAR (endovascular aneurysm repair), a minimally invasive alternative to the abdominal aortic aneurysm open surgical repair
- Varicocele Embolization
- Treatment of Liver Disease, including:
- Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts for Cirrhosis to allow blood to move through the liver
- Hepatic Artery Chemoembolization for Tumors, which shuts down blood flow to the tumor, eventually resulting in disintegration
- Role in liver transplantation
- Non-resectable liver tumors using radioactive beads
- Inferior Vena Cava (IVC) Filter Placement for Deep Vein Thrombosis
- Pediatric Interventional Radiology
- Renal Procedures
- Treatment of Liver Tumors
- Venous Procedures
- Miscellaneous Procedures
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- What is interventional radiology?
- What is a vascular interventional radiologist?
- What is the difference between interventional radiology and diagnostic radiology?
- How long will the test take?
- Do interventional procedures hurt?
- Will I be put to sleep?
- How long will I be in the hospital?
- Should I take my daily medications?
- How and when will I receive my results?
What is interventional radiology?
Interventional radiology is a specialty of radiology in which radiologists diagnose and/or treat diseases without surgery by guiding tiny tubes through your body's arteries and organs using X-rays and other radiologic equipment to guide them. This allows radiologists to deliver medications directly to the organ site, open blocked blood vessels, drain an obstructed kidney, obtain biopsies and perform many other procedures.
Interventional radiologists specialize in the use of fluoroscopy, computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound to guide passage through the skin by needle puncture, including introduction of wires and catheters for performing procedures such as biopsies, draining fluids, inserting catheters, or dilating or stenting narrowed ducts or vessels.
What is a vascular interventional radiologist?
A vascular interventional radiologist is a physician who performs minimally invasive procedures for a wide variety of diseases.
What is the difference between interventional radiology and diagnostic radiology?
Interventional radiology seeks to make changes in the body by using electromagnetic or radiation to treat disease. Diagnostic radiology seeks to see how the body is functioning to discover if something is wrong.
How long will the test take?
This entirely depends on the exam to be performed. Preparation time takes from 30 minutes to one hour. Recovery time is can last from one hour after sedation to six hours following arteriograms. Some patients require overnight hospital admission.
Do interventional procedures hurt?
The pain that can occur with vascular interventional procedures is controlled with the use of conscious sedation (medication given to a patient who remains awake.
Will I be put to sleep?
One advantage of the minimally invasive approach used by interventional radiologists is the fact that most procedures can be done without requiring overnight admission into the hospital. Most procedures are performed with local numbing medicine at the skin site where the catheter or needle enters. Often, sedation medicine is given through an IV to make patients more comfortable and relaxed, but not asleep.
How long will I be in the hospital?
Most procedures do not require admissions longer than 23 hours for observation. Some exceptions apply depending on the general health status of the patient.
Should I take my daily medications?
Morning medications should be taken with a little water.
How and when will I receive my results?
You will need to contact your referring physician for your results. Referring physicians will be notified immediately if results are critical. Results that are not critical will be available in your physician's office within 24 hours.
Schedule an Appointment
For more information, call Emory HealthConnectionSM at 404-778-7777 or 1-800-75-EMORY from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. EST (Monday-Friday).
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