Less Invasive Treatments
Interventional Radiology
An exciting part of the radiology
practice is the subspecialty of Interventional Radiology. While Diagnostic
Radiology involves diagnosis of disease using all forms of medical
imaging, Interventional Radiology uses imaging methods to direct
therapies in a minimally invasive manner that would otherwise require
surgery. This lowers the associated risks of certain treatments
and shortens recovery times. The number of procedures performed by
these subspecialists is ever growing.
One of the earliest interventional procedures,
developing out of the performance of diagnostic angiography (an exam
used for making detailed pictures of and diagnosing conditions of the
blood vessels throughout the body), is angioplasty. This
involves using a special balloon to open up narrow blood vessels.
Cardiologists use this method to treat severe narrowings in the coronary
arteries of the heart as an alternative to bypass surgery.
Specially trained radiologists perform this procedure throughout the
remainder of the body, opening up blockages to the arteries of the legs,
kidneys, even the brain. In addition to angioplasty for vessel
narrowings, special medications and devices are used to dissolve
blood clots, and stents can be placed to keep narrow sites
from closing down again.
In addition to the ability to open abnormal blood vessel
blockages, a technique called embolization is used therapeutically for
several purposes. This includes selectively blocking the blood flow to
abnormal growths such as uterine fibroids, sealing up dangerously
expanded blood vessels like brain aneurysms and arteriovenous
malformations (AVM), and stopping bleeding from a severe pelvic
injury or abnormal blood vessels in the intestines. Additionally, special
techniques including laser are used for treatment of varicose veins.
>>more about uterine fibroid treatment
>>more about varicose vein treatment
Drainage procedures are performed using CT and
ultrasound for precise targeting and aspiration of breast cysts,
abdominal abscesses, or abnormal accumulations of fluid in the chest,
abdomen, or pelvis.
Special stent grafts can now be placed in a
minimally invasive method for treatment of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
(AAA). >>more about AAA treatment
Painful collapsed vertebrae in the spine due to
osteoporosis can now be effectively and safely treated by injection of
bone cement in a procedure called Vertebroplasty.
>>more
Tumors in the liver can be treated using
Chemoembolization, the infusion of
chemotherapy directly to the site of the tumor, allowing higher dose to the
tumor and less to the patient, thereby minimizing chemotherapy side effects. For other appropriate
patients, a technique called Radiofrequency (RF) Ablation can be used to
thermally destroy tumors in the liver.
Other procedures performed allow drainage of a
blocked kidneys, rerouting of blood flow in patients with severe liver
disease, or creation of special access to the circulatory system for
treatment of patients with conditions such as severe infections or
kidney failure.
The Interventional Radiologist has had a significant
impact on health care in the modern age to the great benefit of their
patients.
Interventional radiological procedures are performed by SDI
Radiologists at St. Joseph's Hospital.
|
