Interventional radiology uses state of the art imaging to offer patients a minimally invasive alternative to surgical treatment.
Interventional radiology utilises ultrasound, CT (computerised tomography) and fluoroscopy to perform many different procedures.
The Interventional Suite and its recovery area are located at the Radiology Department, level 3, at the end of the corridor.
Our Team
Our interventional team consists of consultant radiologists, specialist radiographers and imaging nurses.
Our interventional consultants are
- Dr Alex Chapman (Interventional Lead Consultant)
- Dr Allan Irvine
- Dr Robert Davies
- Dr Shirish Prabhudesai
The radiographers are led by our Superintendent and Deputy Superintendent.
The imaging Sister is Marites Lomibao.
Commonly Performed Procedures
These include:
- Angiography: Imaging the blood vessels to look for abnormalities with the use of contrast media.
- Angioplasty/Stent: Opening of narrow or blocked blood vessels using a balloon; may include placement of metallic stents.
- Balloon Kyphoplasty: Insertion of balloon devices into the crushed vertebra - find out more.
- IVC Filter: Metallic filters placed in the venous system to prevent migration of deep venous thrombus (DVT).
- Nephrostomy Tube Insertion: Placing a catheter directly into the kidney to drain urine in situations where normal flow of urine is obstructed.
- Thrombolysis: Treatment aimed at dissolving blood clots.
- Verterbroplasty/Kyphoplasty: Injection of bone cement inside fractured vertebrae.
- Line Insertion: Vascular access and management of specialized kinds of intravenous devices ie PICC and Hickman lines, Porta-cath.
- Biopsy: Taking of a tissue sample from an area of interest for pathological examination.
- Embolisation: Blocking abnormal blood vessels (e.g., for the purpose of stopping bleeding) including uterine artery embolisation for percutaneous treatment of uterine fibroids, and Varicocele Embolisation.
- Hysterosalpingogram: To investigate the patency of the Fallopian tubes.
- Biliary Intervention: Placement of catheters or stents in the biliary system.
Information Leaflets
Fibroid Embolisation / Uterine Artery Embolisation
This leaflet tells you about having fibroid embolisation. It explains what is involved and what the possible risks are. It is not meant to replace informed discussion between you and your doctor, but can act as a starting point for such discussions. If you have any questions about the procedure please ask the doctor who has referred you or the department which is going to perform it.
Fibroid embolisation is a relatively new way of treating fibroids by blocking the arteries that feed the fibroids (uterine arteries), making the fibroids shrink. It is an effective alternative to an operation ... read more
Fistulogram, Fistuloplasty, and Venoplasty
This leaflet tells you about having a fistulogram, fistuloplasty or venoplasty. It explains what is involved and what the possible risks are. It is not meant to replace informed discussion between you and your doctor, but can act as a starting point for such discussions. If you have any questions about the procedure please ask the doctor who has referred you or the department which is going to perform it.
This is an examination of the blood vessels that make up your fistula. A small needle is placed in your fistula and dye (contrast agent) is injected. This dye provides an image (like a map) of the blood vessels that would otherwise be invisible on X-ray. The interventional radiologist interprets the images ... read more
Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty
These are complex procedures which are designed to treat collapse of the vertebral bodies of the spine, termed vertebral compression fractures (VCF), which can be caused by osteoporosis or by tumour. If the collapse is acute, painful and does not respond to medical treatment then you may be a candidate for a procedure using these techniques, the principal purpose of which is pain relief achieved by stabilising the fracture with bone cement. In kyphoplasty some vertebral height may be restored as well. Another advantage is that treatment of one collapse reduces the likelihood of a second one occurring at an adjacent level ... read more
Percutaneous Nephrostomy
This leaflet tells you about having a percutaneous nephrostomy. It explains what is involved and what the possible risks are. It is not meant to replace informed discussion between you and your doctor, but can act as a starting point for such discussions. If you have any questions about the procedure please ask the doctor who has referred you or the department which is going to perform it.
A nephrostomy is a procedure in which a fine plastic tube (catheter) is placed through the skin into your kidney to drain your urine. The urine is collected in an attached drainage bag ... read more
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC)
A PICC is a very fine flexible tube measuring 50-60cm in length. It is placed in a vein in the arm and threaded up into a large vein outside the heart. The PICC is made of silicone or polyurethane with a rounded tip. The PICC can have either 1 or 2 internal tubes called lumens and are defined as single or dual lumen PICC(s). The treatment prescribed determines which is used ... read more
Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiogram (PTC) and Drainage
This leaflet tells you about having a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC) and drainage. It explains what is involved and what the possible risks are. It is not meant to replace informed discussion between you and your doctor, but can act as a starting point for such discussions. If you have any questions about the procedure please ask the doctor who has referred you or the department which is going to perform it.
A percutaneous biliary drainage is a procedure in which a small plastic tube (drain) is inserted into the liver through the skin to drain the bile. It is sometimes combined with taking a picture of the bile ducts to see where the blockage might be. This is known as a percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram (PTC) ... read more
Thrombolysis
Thrombolysis is the breakdown of blood clots with the use of drugs. Once a clot starts to form in a blood vessel, it may continue and block the whole vessel. While an operation may be necessary to remove the clot, it is also possible to dissolve the clot by directly injection a special ‘clot-busting’ drug into the artery or vein. This can lead to a great improvement in blood flow and may avoid the need for an operation. Sometimes an underlying narrowing is revealed in the blood vessel once the clot has dissolved and it may be possible to treat this by angioplasty (balloon) or stent insertion at the same time ... read more
Varicoceles
A varicocele is a dilated or varicose vein in the scrotum (the loose skin around the testes). It usually occurs on the left hand side and is found in approximately 10% of men. Usually varicoceles are asymptomatic, but symptoms such as pain, particularly with prolonged standing or sitting and atrophy (shrinkage) of a testicle are recognised associations. There is also a link with infertility; in 30% of infertile couples the male partner has a varicocele.
All veins have valves to prevent the backflow of blood. A varicocele occurs when the valves in the vein draining the testis become incompetent, allowing back pressure to build up in the venous system. As veins have thin muscular walls this pressure makes the veins dilated or varicose, thus causing the varicocele.
The diagnosis of a varicocele is relatively straightforward; if large the appearance of the scrotum has been likened to a bag of worms. Ultrasound examination is also used to detect smaller varicoceles ... read more
Vascular Angiogram or Balloon Angioplasty
An angiogram is a detailed x-ray of your blood vessels using small injections of a clear dye called contrast. This will show up any blockages or a narrowing that you may have.
An angioplasty is the treatment of any narrowing in your blood vessels using a balloon to stretch open a narrowing. Sometimes the doctor will use a stent to keep the blood vessel open. A stent is a wire mesh tube that props up the inside of the artery ... read more
