Interventional Radiology
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Interventional radiologists use their expertise in reading X-rays, ultrasounds and other medical images to guide small instruments such as catheters through the blood vessels or other pathways to treat disease through the skin. These procedures are typically much less invasive and less costly than traditional surgery. Examples of interventional radiology procedures include angiography, embolization, stent, and thrombolysis.
Crozer Healthoffers Interventional Radiology services at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Delaware County Memorial Hospital (DCMH) and Taylor Hosptial. Our state-of-the-art interventional radiology and vascular laboratories are located at DCMH and Crozer.
These laboratories are designed to offer easy access to the latest available technology in surgical and minimally invasive diagnostic procedures. Our physicians are skilled in the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease and other conditions. Click on the links below to learn more about what to expect, how to contact us and to meet our physicians.
Interventional Radiology Procedures
Interventional Radiology (IR) procedures are generally done under mild sedation. Intravenous contrast materials are used to help diagnose tumors, arterial disease and arteriovenous malformations. Interventional Radiology uses fluoroscopic, CT and ultrasound guidance to provide a "road map" to help guide a catheter to the diseased area without having to use invasive surgery.
Featured Procedure: Uterine Fibroid Embolization
Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), also known as uterine artery embolization, is a minimally invasive outpatient therapy to treat fibroid tumors. The procedure is completed through a tiny nick in the skin, usually in the groin area, and usually takes less than one hour. Some tests may need to be done prior to the treatment and some patients may need to stay in the hospital up to 23 hours.
Additional Procedures
Interventional radiology procedures are performed at Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Delaware County Memorial Hospital and Taylor Hospital. Following are common uses of interventional radiology:
Angiography: An X-ray exam of the arteries and veins to diagnose blockages and other blood vessel problem.
Balloon Angioplasty: Opens blocked or narrowed blood vessels by inserting a very small balloon into the vessel and inflating it.
Biliary Drainage and Stenting: A stent to open up blocked ducts and allow bile to drain from the liver.
Central Venous Access: Insertion of a tube to allow patients to receive medication or nutrients directly into the blood stream or so blood can be drawn.
Chemoembolization: Delivery of cancer-fighting agents directly to the site of a tumor.
Embolization: Delivery of clotting agents directly to an area that is bleeding or to block blood flow to an aneurysm or a fibroid tumor in the uterus.
Fallopian Tube Catheterization: A treatment for infertility - uses a catheter to open blocked fallopian tubes without surgery.
Gastrostomy Tube: Feeding tube inserted into the stomach for patients who are unable to take sufficient food by mouth.
Hemodialysis Access Maintenance: Use of angioplasty or thrombolysis to open blocked grafts for hemodialysis.
Microwave Ablation: A new treatment for tumors that uses microwave energy/heat.
Needle Biopsy: Diagnostic test for breast, lung and other cancers; an alternative to surgical biopsy.
Radio frequency (RF) Ablation: Use of radio frequency energy to cook and kill cancerous tumors.
Stent: A small flexible tube used to treat a variety of medical conditions.
Stent-graft: Reinforces a ruptured or ballooning section of an artery (an aneurysm) with a fabric-wrapped stent.
Thrombolysis: Dissolves blood clots by injecting clot-busting drugs at the site of the clot.
TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt): A procedure to improve blood flow and prevent hemorrhage.
Uterine Artery Embolization: A procedure of uterine arteries to stop life- threatening postpartum bleeding, potentially preventing hysterectomy. The same procedure is used to treat fibroid tumors.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization: A procedure of uterine arteries to shrink painful, enlarged, benign tumors in the uterus.
What to Expect
Procedures are done in a sterile environment in the lab, located on the 4th floor of the main hospital.
Pre-registration is required. Once the patient or doctor’s office calls us at 610-284-8311, our representative collects all the necessary information and provides all the pre-procedure prep work (including fasting instructions and, in some cases, an appointment with Pre-Admission Testing for blood work).
Depending on the procedure, the patient may need to meet with one of our doctors first, then all necessary testing and prep work will be scheduled.
Request an Appointment
To request an appointment at one of our locations, call 1-866-5-CK-XRAY (1-866-525-9729) 24 hours a day, seven days a week or complete our online Request Appointment Form.