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What is Interventional Radiology and Embolisation?

Interventional Radiology (Minimally Invasive Image Guided Surgery) is a very modern medical speciality. Consultants in Interventional Radiology use many of the different imaging and scanning facilities available (eg Ultrasound, Fluoroscopy, CT, Angiography) to offer a range of minimally invasive procedures for patients.

Increasingly, Interventional Radiology can offer an alternative to conventional open surgery. Most Interventional Radiology procedures are done under local anaesthetic (giving quicker recovery times than after general anaesthesia). Very often, Interventional Radiology procedures can be done as day case procedures or alternatively only need a relatively short hospital stay. This means the impact on the body is usually reduced compared with traditional surgery and patients can usually return to normal activities more quickly (including return to work).

This is often convenient and preferred by many patients. Since most procedures start with passing a needle through the skin to the target it is sometimes called pinhole surgery.

Interventional Radiology is a relatively new specialist area in Medicine which has developed alongside the significant advances in imaging technology made in the 1970s and 1980s. Techniques, technology, approaches and research have all exploded subsequently so that now, many traditional surgical techniques have an equivalent minimally invasive treatment as an option for patients. This can offer advantages for patients and doctors alike.
There is hardly any area of medicine where Interventional Radiology has not had some impact on patient treatment. For example, patients can have angioplasty and stenting of narrowed arteries rather than surgical bypass, certain tumours can be treated with embolisation (blocking the blood supply) rather than being surgically removed, dilated (aueurysmal) arteries can be treated with stent-grafts rather than open surgery, some patients suffering a stroke can have the clot removed from the brain using catheter based techniques, symptomatic patients can have their prostate shrunk with non-surgcical techniques and uterine fibroids can be embolised rather than removed at hysterectomy. The indications are myriad and ever increasing with the benefit of up to date research evidence.

Numerous well known Interventional Radiologists are recognised as exceptional innovators; the speciality is at the cutting edge considering new technologies to treat disease conditions which traditionally may require major surgical procedures which themselves have significant complication rates or recovery period.

The essential skills of an Interventional Radiologist are in diagnostic image interpretation and the manipulation of fine catheter tubes and wires to navigate around the body under imaging control.

Interventional Radiologists are doctors who are trained in Radiology and Interventional Therapy; no other medical specialty possesses this unique combination of skills.

Links

British Society of Interventional Radiology (BSIR)

BSIR – What is Interventional Radiology?

  • Uterine Fibroids
  • Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
  • Adenomyosis
  • Pelvic Congestion Syndrome
  • Varicocoele
  • Male Infertility
  • Prostatism
  • Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Abdominal Aortic aneurysm
  • Radiology & Scanning
    • Ultrasound
    • CT
    • MRI
  • Interventional Radiology and Embolisation

Thank you for your kindness and understanding during this difficult period of my life. I am truly grateful for the treatment I have received and thankful I am in such safe hands.

I was terrified of the invasiveness of the procedure and being awake but your gentleness and skill meant I felt nothing. I saw my consultant yesterday and she agreed that a fine job had been done. I am so grateful.

I found Dr Harding’s manner during the consultation to be informative and reassuring. He asked me lots of questions but also answered my questions clearly explaining the MRI images to me and giving me the confidence to proceed with the fibroid embolization procedure. During the procedure, Dr Harding and his team put me at ease, so much so that I nearly fell asleep.

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Practice manager
07817 268570
help@thehardingclinic.co.uk

Nuffield Health Warwickshire Hospital
The Chase
Old Milverton Lane
Leamington Spa
CV32 6RW

01926 427971

BMI The Meriden Hospital
University Hospital Site
Clifford Bridge Road
Coventry
CV2 2LQ

02476 647000

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