Conditions Treated
About Our Services
The interventional radiologists at AAR specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments performed using imaging guidance. Interventional radiology is a rapidly growing area of medicine. The minimally invasive techniques used by interventional radiologists are an advance in medicine that often replaces open surgical procedures. They are generally easier for the patient because they involve no large incisions, less risk, less pain and shorter recovery times.
Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Dialysis
Feeding Tube Placement
Liver Disease
Male Infertility Caused by Varicocele
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Uterine Fibroids
Varicose Veins
Venous Access Catheters
Vertebral Compression Fractures
Dialysis Access Management
Treatment of Failing and Failed Grafts
Patients undergoing dialysis for kidney failure may develop narrowing and blockage of their dialysis access grafts. Interventional radiologists can open up failing or failed grafts using a combination of clot-dissolving drugs, clot-busting tools, angioplasty and stents. These techniques may allow for a longer use of a graft, avoiding the need for surgical revision. In addition, interventional radiologists can place catheters directly into the veins of renal failure patients to use for dialysis.
Placement and Maintenance of Dialysis Catheters
Patients undergoing dialysis for kidney failure may use catheters to provide access for dialysis. Interventional radiologists can place catheters directly into the veins of renal failure patients to use for dialysis. The catheters may be designed for either temporary (short-term) or tunneled (long-term) use. The interventional radiologist places these catheters under direct imaging guidance to provide accurate placement. If a catheter fails, an interventional radiologist can repair or replace the catheter using a combination of techniques including clot-dissolving drugs and angioplasty.
Feeding Tube Placement
Gastrostomy
Patients who are unable to eat or take in sufficient nutrition by mouth (due to a wide variety of disorders) may benefit from placement of a gastrostomy (feeding) tube into the stomach. Other patients whose stomach outlet is blocked may need a gastrostomy tube to help drain (decompress) the stomach. When performed by an interventional radiologist, the tube is inserted through a small nick in the skin and advanced into the stomach under X-ray guidance; this requires only local anesthesia, avoiding the need for uncomfortable and expensive endoscopy (insertion of a large tube down the throat). The patient can then be fed through the tube directly into the stomach.
Jejunostomy
Patients who have blockage of their stomach may require placement of a feeding tube (catheter) directly into the jejunum (small bowel) in order to provide food. When performed by an interventional radiologist, a feeding tube is inserted through a small nick in the skin and advanced into the jejunum (small bowel) under X-ray guidance. This avoids the need for either endoscopy (insertion of a large tube down the throat) or surgery. The patient can then be fed through the tube directly into the jejunum.
Liver Disease
TIPS Procedures
Portal hypertension is a condition in which the normal flow of blood through the liver is slowed or blocked by scarring or other liver damage such as cirrhosis. Patients with the condition are at risk of internal bleeding or other life-threatening complications. Often the main symptom is ascites, a build-up of fluid in the abdomen. Interventional radiologists treat portal hypertension without surgery, using a procedure called TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt). The doctor threads a thin tube (catheter) through a small incision in the skin near the neck and guides it to the blocked blood vessels in the liver. Under X-ray guidance, the doctor creates a tunnel in the liver through which the blocked blood can flow. The tunnel is held open by the insertion of a small metal scaffold, called a stent. TIPS usually provides prompt relief of symptoms, such as bleeding and ascites.
Bile Duct Drainage
Some patients, such as those with liver cancer, stones in the bile duct, or those who have had an injury of the liver, may develop blockage of the bile ducts that prevents bile from draining from the liver. Patients can experience pain, jaundice (yellow skin) or infection. The interventional radiologist places a small tube (catheter) through the skin and into the liver to drain the bile. Sometimes, a small metal scaffold (stent) is placed in the liver to keep the blocked area open.
Venous Access Catheters
People with a wide range of diseases or conditions require Central Venous Access Catheters (CVAC). These are tubes that are inserted beneath your skin so there is a simple, pain-free way for doctors or nurses to draw your blood or give you medication or nutrients. When you have a CVAC, you are spared the irritation and discomfort of repeatedly being stuck by needles. Some types of CVAC that you may hear of are: Groshong catheters, Permcaths, Mediports or Hickman catheters. Once surgery was required to insert these tubes. Today these procedures can be done without surgery by an interventional radiologist on an out-patient basis.