Vascular/Arterial Interventions are a range of minimally invasive procedures performed by interventional radiologists to diagnose and treat conditions affecting the blood vessels, specifically arteries. These procedures are used to treat narrowed, blocked, or damaged arteries due to conditions like atherosclerosis, arterial stenosis, or vascular malformations. They also address conditions like peripheral artery disease (PAD), varicose veins, and aneurysms without the need for open surgery. Using image-guided techniques such as angiography, ultrasound, or CT scans, interventional radiologists can access blood vessels through small incisions (or no incisions) and use tools like balloons, stents, or embolic agents to treat the underlying issue.
Minimally Invasive: These procedures require only small incisions or sometimes no incisions at all, leading to faster recovery and less pain compared to traditional surgery.
Precision and Safety: Real-time imaging allows for precise targeting of the problem area, minimizing risks to surrounding healthy tissue and organs.
Lower Risk: Vascular/arterial interventions generally carry a lower risk of complications such as infection, bleeding, or scarring compared to open surgery.
Quick Recovery: Many of these procedures are outpatient, allowing patients to go home the same day or after a short stay in the hospital.
Effective for a Wide Range of Conditions: Vascular interventions can treat conditions such as blockages, aneurysms, and varicose veins, making it a versatile approach for vascular health.
Angioplasty involves inserting a balloon catheter into a narrowed or blocked artery. The balloon is inflated to widen the artery and restore blood flow. A stent, a small mesh-like tube, is often placed in the artery to keep it open and prevent further narrowing.
Aneurysm Repair (Endovascular Aneurysm Repair or EVAR):This minimally invasive procedure treats aortic aneurysms by inserting a stent graft through a catheter into the femoral artery to reinforce the weakened area and prevent rupture.
Varicose Vein Treatment (Endovenous Laser Treatment - EVLT):EVLT uses laser energy to close off varicose veins. A catheter is inserted into the vein, guided by ultrasound, and the laser energy heats and collapses the vein, causing it to be absorbed by the body.
Embolization for Vascular Malformations or Bleeding:Embolization uses embolizing agents (coils, particles, or glue) injected through a catheter to block blood flow in abnormal or damaged vessels, such as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) or in cases of bleeding.
Dialysis Access (Arteriovenous Fistula Creation):For patients undergoing hemodialysis, a catheter creates an arteriovenous (AV) fistula to provide easy access to the blood vessels for dialysis treatments.