Interventional Radiology
La Porte Hospital’s Diagnostic Imaging is at the forefront of Interventional Radiology. A brief list of interventional procedures offered include:
- Carotid stenting - A procedure in which a slender, metal-mesh tube, called a stent, is inserted which expands inside your carotid artery to increase blood flow in areas blocked by plaque.
- Laser treatment of varicose veins - The doctor puts a very small tube called a catheter into the vein. Once inside, the catheter sends out radiofrequency or laser energy that shrinks and seals the vein wall. Healthy veins around the closed vein restore the normal flow of blood. As this happens, symptoms from the varicose vein improve. Veins on the surface of the skin that are connected to the treated varicose vein will also usually shrink after treatment. When needed, these connected varicose veins can be treated with sclerotherapy or other techniques.
- Peripheral angiography - A method of diagnosing PVD (Peripheral Vascular Disease) in which a contrast agent (dye) is injected into the blood stream and followed by x-ray. Areas of blockage can easily be seen.
- Peripheral angioplasty/stenting - Minimally invasive procedures performed by an interventional radiologist to improve blood flow in the body’s arteries. The physician threads a balloon-tipped catheter—a thin, plastic tube—to the site of a narrow or blocked artery and then inflates the balloon to open the vessel. The balloon is then deflated and removed from the artery. Vascular stenting, which is often performed at the same time as an angioplasty, involves the placement of a small wire mesh tube called a stent in the newly opened artery. This may be necessary after some angioplasty procedures if the artery is very narrowed or completely blocked.
- Image-guided biopsy - A minimally invasive method of obtaining tissue from the body without the need for surgery. The interventional radiologist performs a needle biopsy guided by either ultrasound, CT, or MRI.
- Embolization including uterine artery embolization - Embolization is a minimally invasive means of blocking the arteries that supply blood to fibroids. Uterine artery embolization, or UAE, is an alternative to hysterectomy. Angiographic techniques (similar to those used in heart catheterization) are used to place a catheter into the uterine arteries. Small particles are injected into the arteries, which results in their blockage. This technique is essentially the same as that used to control bleeding that occurs after childbirth or pelvic fracture, or bleeding caused by malignant tumors.
- Vertebroplasty - An image-guided, minimally invasive, nonsurgical therapy used to strengthen a broken vertebra (spinal bone) that has been weakened by osteoporosis or, less commonly, cancer. Vertebroplasty can increase the patient’s functional abilities, allow a return to the previous level of activity, and prevent further vertebral collapse. It is usually successful at alleviating the pain caused by a compression fracture. Often performed on an outpatient basis, vertebroplasty is accomplished by injecting an orthopedic cement mixture through a needle into the fractured bone.
- Chemoembolization and radiofrequency ablation of liver tumors - Chemoembolization is performed by placing a catheter into the specific artery that supplies blood to the tumor. A chemotherapy drug is then infused and the section is plugged to stop further blood flow to the area. This is generally done on an outpatient basis and requires only sedation, not general anesthesia. Radiofrequency ablation is a similar process that uses radio waves to heat the tumor to kill it.
- Hemodialysis access and maintenance — Establishing and maintaining vascular access (site on the body where blood is removed and returned), for hemodialysis patients.
- Biliary drainage and stenting - Biliary drainage is a procedure in which a catheter is placed through the skin into the liver to drain bile. If there is a blockage in the biliary system, a stent may be necessary may be placed a few days after the drainage catheter to help hold open the biliary obstruction.
- Urologic procedures - The use of interventional radiology techniques to treat kidney stones, tumors and urological vascular complications.
- TIPS procedures - A transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is used to treat complications of severe liver diseases as a less-invasive alternative to surgery.
- IVC filter placement - IVC stands for inferior vena cava, a major blood vessel that returns blood from the lower body to the heart. An IVC filter is a small piece of metal that can be put into the inferior vena cava to prevent blood clots in the legs from going up to the lungs.
- Endograft repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms - An abdominal aortic aneurysm is a weakening in the wall of the abdominal portion of the aorta, which leads from the heart to the rest of the body and is the largest blood vessel. An endograft repair is a technique in which a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel that leads to the aorta with x-ray guidance. An endograft (a fabric tube) is inserted through the catheter and moved to the site of the aneurysm, where it is expanded, reinforcing the aorta and creating a stronger pathway for the blood. Blood flowing through the endograft no longer puts pressure on the walls of the aneurysm.
For questions or referral information please contact our Diagnostic Imaging department at (219) 326-2304.
DISCLAIMER: The information above is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment or diagnosis by a health care professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult his or her personal physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.