Interventional Radiology

What is Interventional Radiology (IR)?

Interventional Radiology is a sub-specialty of radiology which uses imaging-guided minimally invasive techniques to diagnose and treat a large variety of medical conditions. Interventional Radiology offers an alternative to the surgical treatment of many conditions and can even eliminate the need for hospitalization, in some cases. Interventional Radiology procedures involve the precise insertion of small specialized devices inside the body (such as catheters or guidewires) through tiny skin incisions using fluoroscopy, ultrasound, CT or MRI for guidance. Patients are kept as comfortable and as pain-free as possible with local skin anesthesia and (if needed) medications by vein.

ARTERIAL (Arteries):
Arteriography (all non-coronary)
Angioplasty (PTA)/Stent placement (peripheral)
Angioplasty (PTA)/Stent placement (renal/visceral/subclavian)
Embolotherapy
Atherectomy (removal of plaques)
Thrombolysis (clot dissolution)
Intracranial Thrombolysis (for stroke treatment)
Stent Grafts

VENOUS (Veins):
Venography
Angioplasty (PTA)/Stent
IVC Filter placement (permanent or retrievable)
Dialysis access interventions
Intravascular foreign body retrieval
Thrombolysis (clot dissolution)
TIPS (hepatic shunt)placement

VENOUS ACCESS:
Central Venous Catheter Placement (central lines)
Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC)
Tunneled Catheters
Ports

Gastrointestinal (GI):
Gastrostomy (tube placement)
Transgastric jejunostomy (tube placement)

Genitourinary (GU):
Nephrostomy (tube placement)
Suprapubic cystostomy (tube placement)
Antegrade ureteral stent placement

BILIARY
(Gallbladder/Bile Duct):
Cholangiography (gallbladder exam)
Cholecystostomy (for gallbladder drainage)
Biliary Drainage Biliary stent placement

SPINAL PROCEDURES:
Epidural Steroid Injections
Facet Injections
Nerve Root Injections
Percutaneous Vertebral Augmentation (vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, sacroplasty)

PAIN PROCEDURES:
Celiac Plexus Block/Neurolysis
Lumbar Sympathetic Block/Neurolysis
Lumbar Puncture (spinal tap)

BIOPSY PROCEDURES:
(CT/US/ Fluoroscopy guidance)
Thoracic/abdominal/pelvic
Musculoskeletal (bone, muscle, bone marrow)
Breast (stereotactic, vacuum assisted, ultrasound-guided, MRI-guided)
Head/neck Transjugular
Liver Biopsy

DRAINAGE PROCEDURES:
(CT/US/Fluoroscopic guidance)
Abscess/collections/cysts (including cyst ablation/pneumothorax)
Thoracentesis (removal of fluid from chest)
Paracentesis (removal of fluid from abdomen)
Pericardiocentesis (removal of fluid from around the heart)
Lumbar Puncture

ONCOLOGY PROCEDURES (tumor ablation procedures):
Radiofrequency Ablation
Cryoablation
Chemoembolization

Patient Preparation

Patient preparation varies for the different interventional procedures. Instructions will be discussed at the time you schedule your appointment. Please refer to Schedule an Appointment for information about who to contact regarding your specific exam preparation.

Exam

With the exception of pain procedures and breast biopsies, all Interventional procedures are performed by South Sound Radiologists at SSR’s affiliated hospitals. When scheduling a procedure, be sure to check with your referring doctor to see where your exam has been referred.

Schedule an Appointment!

Has your doctor given you an order or referral for an interventional procedure? Call South Sound Radiology’s Scheduling Specialists at (360) 493-4646 to schedule breast biopsies and pain procedures.

For all other procedures, contact one of the following locations (depending on where your referral was sent) to schedule an appointment and review exam preparation instructions.

Providence St. Peter Hospital: 360-486-6250 Capital Medical Center: 360-704-4758

Because these procedures are not performed at our office location, online scheduling through SSR is not available.

More Information?

For more information about these and other interventional procedures, visit RadiologyInfo.org or sirweb.org.