What is interventional radiology?

Interventional radiology refers to special image-guided procedures that allow minimally-invasive access to the body. The most common interventional radiologic procedure is angiography in which a catheter is introduced through a tiny hole in an artery (usually in the leg) and advanced through the arteries to the organ that is being evaluated. Angiography may be used to unblock vessels, deliver medications, and block blood supplies to tumors or other abnormal masses. Other common interventional procedures include image-guided biopsies, catheter placement, and drainage procedures.

What should I expect?

You will be asked to arrive at the medical center several hours prior to your scheduled procedure. Before the procedure, our staff will take a brief health history, monitor your vital signs, and may perform laboratory tests ordered by the radiologist. Your procedure will be done in a diagnostic imaging suite, using one or more imaging technologies to identify and target the area to be examined. There are several different types of interventional procedures, and yours will be explained to you prior to entering the imaging suite.

How should I prepare?

Your preparation is specific to the type of interventional procedure your clinician has recommended. Prior to your arrival at the medical center, you will receive specific pre-procedural instructions that may include restricting your diet and refraining from your medication.

How do I get the results?

After your interventional radiology procedure is complete, the TRG radiologists will review your study and report the findings to your ordering physician. Follow up with your physician for scan results and care plan.

What is a brain (or cerebral) aneurysm?

A brain aneurysm is a balloon-like pouch that develops from a weakened artery wall. Aneurysms are most frequently detected between the ages of 40 and 60 and are more common in women than men. Aneurysms have the risk of rupture and bleeding, creating complications that can be potentially life-threatening.

How is an aneurysm detected?

Aneurysms can be detected with imaging studies such as an MR angiogram (MRA), CT angiogram (CTA), or angiography. These studies are often ordered when your physician feels that there may be a vascular abnormality in your brain.

How is an aneurysm treated?

If an aneurysm ruptures or breaks, the treatment must be immediate. If an aneurysm is detected intact, it may be treated with a cerebral coil or surgery. There are certain aneurysms that physicians choose not to treat. If you or a family member have been diagnosed with an aneurysm it is important to discuss your treatment options with your physician.

What is aneurysm coiling?

Aneurysm coiling is a less invasive treatment. A catheter (small plastic tube) is placed in the artery in the groin. The catheter is guided through the artery network and directly to the aneurysm. Once there, a small coil made of platinum is threaded through the catheter into the aneurysm. The coil prevents blood from entering the aneurysm and protects it from rupturing.

What should I expect?

Prior to having your unruptured aneurysm treated, you will have a thorough consultation with our interventional neuroradiologist. Procedures will be discussed in detail and all of your questions will be answered during your consult. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. You will stay in the hospital overnight and go home the next day. You will be able to return to normal activity within a few days but may experience a headache or soreness in the groin after the procedure. Pain medication will be prescribed to keep you comfortable.

How should I prepare for the procedure and what should I expect?

You may not eat or drink anything after midnight the evening before your procedure. You will be instructed as to which medications you may take in the morning, and when to arrive at the hospital. After completing admission paperwork you will be sent to the special procedures area where you will have an intravenous (IV) line placed in your arm, and a catheter will be placed into your bladder. Fluids, antibiotics and anti-nausea medication will be given prior to your procedure. You will then be sent to the Interventional Angiography Suite. Here you will meet with our interventional radiologist and nurses/technologists trained in this procedure. You will be given sedation for relaxation and pain, but you will be conscious during the procedure.

First, the radiologist will place a small tube in an artery in your groin and perform an arteriogram ( X-ray study of the arteries ) by injecting a contrast agent into the arteries of your liver. After these arteries are identified, the catheter is directed into the branch of the artery supplying blood to the tumor and chemoembolization mixture is injected. Once this is completed, you are sent to your hospital room where you will lie flat in bed for six hours. More IV fluids are given to you overnight. Most patients are able to leave the hospital the next day.

Are there any side effects or complications?

Following the procedure, you may have varying degrees of pain, fever, and nausea. These symptoms may last a few hours to a few days, and are treated with medication. You may also notice slight hair loss, rarely noticed by anyone other than yourself. Serious complications from chemoembolization are rare. In less than 3% of the procedures, the liver tumor killed by the procedure may become infected and abscess. There has been one fatality in 100 procedures due to liver failure.

Will chemoembolization help me?

Chemoembolization is a treatment, not a cure. Approximately 75% of the patients will see improvement in their liver, and depending on the type of liver cancer, it may improve your chances of survival.