Our ServicesInterventional Radiology

Introduction
Interventional radiology is a rapidly evolving branch of radiology.The advantages of interventional radiology over traditional type of surgical operations include: less painful procedure to the patient, more rapid recovery, no scar or very small scar, less expense for the procedure and above all equivalent therapeutic effect. Take the example of ultrasound guided drainage of abscess in the liver. In this procedure, the pus is aspirated and a small catheter, the size of a spaghetti noodle, is placed in the abscess cavity and the catheter will be put out a few days later when the abscess resolves. There are various types of procedures with wide range of applications. They include:

1. Diagnostic:
Core biopsy of masses.
Fine needle aspiration cytology (biopsy) of masses.

2. Palliative measures:
Drainage of ascites, pleural effusion or other body fluids.

3. Therapeutic uses:
Nephrostomy.

PTBD (percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage).
Percutaneous dilatation of ureteric or biliary stricture.
Percutaneous removal of renal stones
(PCNL - Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy)

Only a small wound is needed to make a tract for percutaneous stone removal from nephrostomy. This has replaced previous major surgical operation which even involved the rib resection for stone removal. Percutaneous removal of bile duct stones Create a tract under fluoroscopy before removal of bile duct stone through endoscopic means so that we can actually visualize the stone during its removal.

4. Vascular Interventional Radiology:
Embolisation : to occlude the bleeding vessels or tumour vessels.
Percutaneous Angioplasty : Dilatation of stenotic segment in blood vessel.
Injection of chemotherapeutic or radiotherapeutic agents during angiography.

Pre-operative preparation:
Majority of patients needs to be admitted. Patients' preparation include:
1.Evaluation of blood clotting status prior to the procedure.
2. Clinician-in-charge will explain the details of procedure to the patient. Patients need to sign consent form for the procedure.
3. If the patient needs IV contrast, his/her allergic history will be taken.
4. Nil by mouth 4 hours prior to procedure.
5. Patients need to bring prior patient’s films.

Analgesia:
Patient might experience pain during the puncture or dilatation procedure.
• Local anesthesia is given at the puncture site.
• Analgesia will also be given before, during or after the procedure if necessary.
• Under special circumstances, general anesthesia may be used e.g. in children.

Aftercare:
1. Observation: Short period of hospitalization may be necessary in majority of cases.
2. Follow up wound or catheter care.

The procedures describes above are generally safe.
The following complications can arise in rare occasions:
1.Infection of the wound.
2.Post procedural infection or bleeding.
3.Pneumothorax after needle puncture of the lungs.