Interventional and Diagnostic Radiology

• Abscess Drainage

Using imaging guidance, a needle or catheter is placed through the skin into the abscess, an infected collection of fluid, to remove or drain the infected fluid. It offers faster recovery than open surgical drainage.

• Arterial Embolization

This procedure reduces or blocks the blood flow to the liver through the hepatic artery, where cancer in the liver is mainly fed, leaving the healthy liver cells unharmed

• Biliary Interventions

Biliary interventions treat blockages, narrowing and/or injury of the passages between the liver, gallbladder and small intestine called bile ducts. Bile is produced in the liver and stored in the gallbladder where it can be released into the small intestine to aid in digestion. If the bile ducts become blocked, it may lead to inflammation or infection also known as sclerosis cholangitis. Biliary interventions may remove gallstones, drain excess bile or place a stent within a bile duct to treat your condition and restore the flow of fluids.

• Gastrostomy Placements

This is a procedure is where a feeding tube is placed through the skin and stomach wall either endoscopically, with a small scope, or radiologically.

• Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placements / Retrievals

For patients that don’t respond to or can’t be given convention medical therapy, like blood thinner, IVC filters can trap large clots to keep them from reaching the heart or lungs. IVC is a large vein in the abdomen that returns blood from the lower half of the body to the heart and these filters reduce the risk of blood clots in the lower region traveling to the heart or lungs.

• Paracentesis / Thoracentesis

If fluid builds up in the chest making it difficult to breath, a thin needle can be inserted using ultrasound to drain the excess fluid (Thoracentesis). The same procedure can be used to reduce fluid in the abdominal cavity (Paracentesis) which causes pain and pressure on internal organs.

• Nephrostomy and other Kidney Interventions

If the tube that passes urine from the kidney to the bladder, the ureter, becomes blocked, an opening can be created between the kidney and the skin to temporarily drain the urine that is blocked through a thin plastic tube attached to a drainage bag. This is necessary for proper kidney function and to protect from damage.

• Port Placements

To make treatments easier if you are receiving chemotherapy, blood transfusions, antibiotics or any other intravenous fluid, a narrow, long, hollow tube made of soft plastic (port) may be placed into the vein.

• Uterine Fibroid Embolization

Fibroid tumors of the uterus many times cause pressure, pain and heavy bleeding. UFE uses x-ray guidance to deliver a blocking agent through a small tube (catheter) to the uterus and fibroids to stop blood flow and cause them to shrink.