Interventional Radiology
Saint Joseph Health System offers innovative treatment options that focus on patient-centered care. Interventional Radiology is one such option where physicians perform minimally invasive, image-guided procedures, offering an alternative to traditional surgeries, resulting in reduced recovery times, minimized risks, and enhanced patient outcomes.
What is Interventional Radiology?
Interventional Radiology (IR) is a subspecialty of radiology focusing on minimally invasive treatments guided by imaging techniques. At Saint Joseph Health System, we utilize advanced technologies such as ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI to diagnose and treat diseases across a variety of organ systems. This approach significantly reduces the physical impact on patients, allowing for quicker recovery and minimizing the risks associated with large surgical interventions.
Benefits of Interventional Radiology
- Minimally Invasive: Most procedures require only small incisions, reducing discomfort and risk of infection.
- Quick Recovery: Patients can often return to daily activities within days, thanks to the reduced invasiveness of IR procedures.
- Safer Alternatives: By avoiding large incisions and general anesthesia, IR offers a safer treatment option with fewer complications.
Because interventional radiology uses minimally invasive image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat diseases in nearly every organ system, it can help with many conditions, including:
- Vascular diseases: Treatments for peripheral arterial disease (PAD), including angioplasty and stenting, are very common. PAD affects a significant portion of the elderly population and can lead to severe complications if not managed properly. Additionally, we use interventional radiology to achieve and maintain vascular access, including chest ports for chemotherapy and dialysis access, and placement of inferior vena cava (IVC) filers and reconstruction of IVC and the iliac vein.
- Cancer: Procedures like ablations and embolizations are frequently used to manage various types of cancer, including liver and kidney cancers. These treatments are often employed for patients who may not be suitable candidates for traditional surgery and can include prostate artery embolization and varicocele emolization. We also perform hemodialysis procedures to maintain fistulas and grafts.
- Uterine fibroids: Uterine artery embolization is a preferred treatment for symptomatic fibroids, particularly for women who wish to avoid surgery like hysterectomy. It's a widely utilized procedure due to its effectiveness and minimally invasive nature.
- Liver diseases: Management of complications from cirrhosis, such as portal hypertension and ascites, is common, especially given the prevalence of liver diseases globally.
- Wound healing: Due to circumstances like infection, edema, or poor circulation, wounds may become chronic and not respond to traditional treatments. IR supports wound healing with venous and arterial treatments.
- Back pain: Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are frequently performed to relieve pain and stabilize spinal fractures, commonly due to osteoporosis.
- Deep vein thrombosis (DVT): Interventional radiology treatments for DVT, including thrombolysis, are critical in preventing serious complications such as pulmonary embolism.
Our Expertise
The IR team at Saint Joseph Health System is not just participating in this medical revolution; we're leading it. Our integrated approach combines IR with comprehensive care plans, ensuring personalized treatments that cater to the specific needs of our patients. We're committed to utilizing the latest technology for precision in diagnosis and treatment, enhancing patient outcomes.