Consultant, Intervention Neuro Radiology & Intervention Radiology

A medical subspecialty, Interventional Radiology utilizes minimally invasive imageguided technique to diagnose and treat nearly every organ system. The objective of interventional radiology is to minimize risk to the patient and improve health outcomes.

Interventional Radiology Services
Embolisation
Chemoembolisation
Ablation
Balloons and stents
Day case or short admission procedures

There are many advantages of Interventional Radiology Procedures:
Less / no pain
Less morbidity / complications
Does not close the door for conventional surgeries
Can be combined with other treatments like chemotherapy

The procedure offers the most in depth knowledge of the least invasive treatments available using needles, wires and catheters to deliver treatments through a pinhole with minimum morbidity and less recovery time compared to conventional surgical procedures. The interventional radiologists use XRay, CT and other imaging to advance instruments in the body such as in an artery to treat the disease at the source. Many conditions that once required surgery can be treated less invasively by interventional radiologists. These treatments offer less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to open surgery.
Interventional Radiologists are image guided therapy clinicians who are specially trained in image interpretation and minimally invasive treatments of a wide variety of conditions across multiple specialties. Interventional Radiologists can deliver treatments for various cancers, fibroids, back and joint pain, varicose veins, arterial diseases, kidney and bile duct disease to name a few.

Interventional Techniques
Embolisation: Catheter based technique using coils, particles or glue to block tumour vessels or acute bleeding.
Chemoembolisation: As above but using local targeted high dose chemotherapy to treat tumours.
Ablation: Needle or catheter based technique using thermal energy forms like radiofrequency, microwave or cryo to treat tumours or varicose veins.
Balloons and Stents: Techniques to open up a blocked tube like an artery, vein, bile duct, ureter, colon or oesophagus.
Needle Biopsy and Drainage: Core biopsy for pathological sampling or for draining thoracoabdominal collections and abscesses.
Other Techniques: Clot retrieval or lysis, caval filters, aneurysm stents, sclerotherapy etc.

Advantages
Day case or short admission procedures
Less / no pain
More cosmetic pinhole / spot dressing surgery
Less morbidity / complications
More rapid return to work
Does not close the door for conventional surgeries
Can be combined with other treatments like chemotherapy

Conditions that can be treated include
Most uterine fibroids
Rest pain and claudication
Ischaemic diabetic foot
Varicose veins
Male varicocele and pelvic congestion syndrome
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Recurrent haemoptysis, GI bleeds
Back pain
Curative treatment for small kidney, lung or liver tumours
Local control for larger tumours
Venous access and ports
Renal dialysis access
Bile duct and ureteric blocks
Complications of portal hypertension