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Services | Interventional Radiology

What is an Interventional Radiologist?
An interventional radiologist is a specially trained physician who can use various imaging modalities to guide instruments inside the body to the site of problems and treat various medical disorders without the necessity for surgery. The procedures performed by Interventional Radiologists are usually less traumatic, involve small incisions, less pain, shorter hospital stays, and shorter recovery times than conventional surgical procedures. If you have questions about our interventional radiology procedures, please feel free to CONTACT US (via e-mail). Also, you may email a Skagit Radiology Interventional Radiologist at desai@skagitradiology.com

For general information about various interventional radiology procedures, please visit: Radiologyinfo®

Here are a few of the procedures which are offered through Skagit Radiology:

  • Arteriogram and angioplasty/stent:
    This procedure is performed to assess and improve blood flow to various parts of the body, most commonly the legs. Patients undergoing this procedure are usually experiencing buttock, thigh, or leg pain, which occurs or gets worse
    during walking. During this procedure, a small incision is made, through which small catheters and wires are placed
    into the arterial system. Catheters are injected with contrast i.e., (dye), which provide an image of the blood vessels.
    If a blood vessel is narrowed, angioplasty balloons and metallic stents can be used to open up the vessels. These procedures usually do not require an overnight stay.

    For more information, visit: Radiologyinfo®

  • Uterine Fibroid Embolization:
    This is a new procedure which is gaining popularity amongst patients who wish to obtain relief from uterine fibroids,
    which are benign growths of the uterus. Fibroids can be associated with pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, bowel and bladder symptoms. During the uterine fibroid embolization procedure, an interventional radiologist makes a small incision and guides catheters and wires into the arteries which feed the fibroids, and injects small particles into those blood vessels, causing the fibroids to shrink. Patients undergoing this procedure have shown high rates of improvement in symptoms, and have had markedly lower rates of complications as compared to hysterectomy. This procedure is not appropriate
    for every patient with uterine fibroids, and should be discussed with your gynecologist as well as an Interventional Radiologist.

    For more information, visit:
    www.fibroids1.com
    www.ask4ufe.com
    www.radiologyinfo.org

  • Vertebroplasty:
    This procedure is used to treat patients with intractable back pain resulting from vertebral body compression fractures. During this procedure a needle is advanced through a small incision into the broken vertebral body, and bone cement
    is injected. Patients undergoing this procedure have experienced dramatic relief of back pain, which occurs shortly after the procedure.

    For more information, visit: Radiologyinfo®

  • Venous access:
    Interventional radiologists are able to insert catheters into the veins which can be used for injection of chemotherapeutic agents, antibiotics and other medications, as well as for dialysis.

    • For more information, visit: Radiologyinfo®

  • Radiofrequency ablation:
    During this procedure, the Interventional Radiologist inserts a needle through the skin into the body to eliminate small tumors in various organs such as the liver and lung. Treatment of these tumors previously required extensive surgical procedures with large incisions and long hospital stays. Radiofrequency ablation procedures usually require a one
    night hospital stay.

    For more information, visit: Radiologyinfo®

  • Removable Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement:
    This procedure is performed to prevent large blood clots from passing into the lungs (i.e., pulmonary emboli).
    Pulmonary emboli are associated with a high mortality rate. During this procedure, an Interventional Radiologist
    passes catheters and wires through a small incision and places a metallic filtration device in the inferior vena cava
    (a large vein in the abdomen), which acts as a barrier to large clots which might pass from the legs to the lungs. IVC
    Filters are now being made which can be removed at a later date.
  • Nerve root (epidural steroid) injection:
    This procedure involves the injection of pain relieving medications and steroids into a nerve root, and is used to
    control pain in various parts of the body, usually the lower back and legs.
  • Thoracentesis:
    During this procedure, a radiology practitioner uses ultrasound to guide placement of a small catheter or needle into
    a fluid collection surrounding the lung, and drains some of this fluid for relief of breathing problems and/or for
    diagnostic testing. The procedure is associated with a low complication rate. Some risks of this procedure include lung collapse, infection, bleeding, fluid in the lungs, and respiratory distress. This procedure is available at Skagit Valley Hospital, Island Hospital, and United General Hospital.
  • Paracentesis:
    During this procedure, a radiology practitioner uses ultrasound to guide placement of a small catheter or needle into
    a fluid collection within the abdominal cavity, and drains some of the fluid for releif of abdominal distention and/or for diagnostic testing. This procedure is associated with a low complication rate. Some risks of this procedure include
    damage to bowel or bladder, infection, bleeding, and low blood pressure. This procedure is available at Skagit Valley Hospital, Island Hospital, and United General Hospital.