Interventional Radiology

At Atlantic Health System’s radiology departments, we offer interventional radiology – a non-surgical alternative to treat conditions that typically require surgery, including tumors, fibroids and gallstones, among others. It is often used in conjunction with other imaging techniques, such as fluoroscopy.

Most interventional radiology procedures are performed on an outpatient basis or require only a short hospital stay. General anesthesia is usually not required and pain and recovery time may be significantly reduced.

Our staff of board-certified, fellowship-trained interventional radiologists, radiology registered nurses and radiologic technologists is highly experienced in providing the most minimally invasive, targeted treatments.

Treatments include:

Angiography: – an X-ray that uses a catheter and a contrast agent or X-ray dye to visualize arteries and veins
Angioplasty: – widens narrowed blood vessels through the use of a small inflatable balloon
Biliary interventions: – uses stents or small, mesh tubes to treat blocked or narrowed bile ducts
Biopsies: – removes small tissue samples for diagnostic purposes
Central venous or vascular access: – delivers medication and nutrients directly into the blood stream through a tube inserted in a vessel; also known as portacath, tunneled dialysis, permcath and peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)
Gastrostomy tube: – provides nutrients directly to the stomach of patients who cannot eat through their mouth
Hemodialysis access maintenance: – uses a small balloon catheter to open blocked grafts so that hemodialysis or kidney failure treatment can be performed
High blood pressure treatment: – prevents renal hypertension by using a small balloon catheter to open arteries in the kidneys
Inferior vena cava (IVC) filters: – placed in major blood vessels to prevent blood clots from traveling to the lungs
Internal bleeding treatment: – locates areas of internal bleeding and injects a clotting substance through a catheter to stop it
Percutaneous nephrostomy catheters: – used to drain the kidneys, often to relieve an obstruction
Fluid drainage system: – enables patients to drain recurrent fluid collections in the lungs or abdomen from home
Radiofrequency ablation: – destroys cancerous tumors using radiofrequency energy
Thrombolysis: – dissolves blood clots by injecting drugs at the site
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS): – a channel placed in the liver to treat esophageal bleeding or the collection of abdominal fluid
Uterine fibroid embolization: – a minimally invasive alternative to hysterectomy to treat symptomatic uterine fibroids
Varicocele embolization: – a procedure used to relieve pain, pressure or infertility caused by an enlarged vein in the scrotum
Vena cava filter: – dissolves blood clots before they reach the lungs or heart by inserting a tiny, cage-like device into a vessel
Y90-yttrium: – treats tumors of the liver by injecting radioactive materials into the artery that supplies blood flow to the affected area