Procedures

Procedures Performed by Interventional Radiologists

Vascular Procedures

• Angiography: This is a dynamic type of X-ray of the arteries and veins to find blockage or narrowing of the vessels, as well as other problems.
• Angioplasty: The doctor puts a small balloon-tipped catheter into a blood vessel. Then the doctor inflates the balloon to open an area of blockage inside the vessel.
• Embolization: This is a procedure in which a substance or coil is administered through a catheter into a blood vessel to stop blood flow through that vessel. This can be done to control bleeding.
• Intravascular Ultrasound: This is an ultrasound used to see inside a blood vessel to find problems.
• Stent Placement: A tiny mesh coil (stent) is placed inside a blood vessel at the site of the blockage. The doctor expands the stent to open the blockage.
• Thrombectomy: A thrombectomy is an interventional treatment to remove blood clots in an artery or vein to help restore blood flow through your blood vessel.

Oncology Procedures

• Biopsy: This is an image-guided, minimally invasive procedure to retrieve a small tissue sampling to assist in cancer diagnosis and treatment.
• Chemoembolization: This is a liver cancer treatment using microscopic beads infused with a chemotherapy drug that are injected directly into the artery that supplies blood to the tumor in the liver. The artery is then blocked off or embolized.
• Cryoablation: This is a process in which extreme cold is used to freeze and kill abnormal cancerous and precancerous cells.
• Microwave Ablation: This is a treatment that uses high temperatures to destroy cancer cells and tumors. Ablation refers to the removal or destruction of tissue, while microwave refers to the way energy is generated to heat the tissue.
• Y-90: This is a liver cancer treatment using radioactive microscopic beads that are injected directly into the artery that supplies blood to the tumor in the liver. The artery is then blocked off, and the tumor is treated with very localized radiation.

Other Interventional Radiology Procedures

• Dialysis Access
  • This requires a traditional catheter insertion for dialysis treatment.
  • Wavelinq catheter - minimally invasive percutaneous dialysis fistula creation

• Kyphoplasty: This is a vertebral augmentation procedure to treat spine fractures and stop pain.
• Infection Treatment: This is a process that drains infected fluid through small needles and tubes.
• Paracentesis: A small needle is inserted into the abdomen to remove fluid build-up. This is usually performed when medication is not effective.
• Thoracentesis: A small needle is inserted between the lungs or chest wall to remove excess fluid in order to improve breathing.
• Foreign Body Removal: This is a procedure in which a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel to remove a foreign body in the vessel.
• Kidney and Bladder Drainage: Tubes are placed for urine to drain from the kidney and bladder.
• Liver and Gallbladder Diseases: A drain is placed in the gallbladder and liver to remove bile. This may help patients with advanced liver disease.
• Needle Biopsy: A small image-guided needle is inserted to retrieve tissue for biopsy.
• Fine Needle Aspiration: A small needle is inserted and guided by ultrasound imaging to get a liquid specimen.
• IVC Filters Placement and Removal: A small filter is placed into the inferior vena cava (IVC), which is used to catch blood clots that may spread to the lungs.
• Injections:
  • Arthrograms: This is a procedure that assists providers in diagnosing joint problems. A contrast dye is injected into the patient’s joint before having an MRI scan or other imaging test.
  • Joint Injection: This is a procedure that involves injecting steroids into or near a joint to reduce inflammation and pain.

Call (985) 230-6790 to schedule an appointment.

If you are a provider and need to send an Interventional Radiology order, please fax it to (985) 230-6792.