Interventional Radiology

Vascular and interventional radiologists use state-of-the-art-imaging systems (such as X-ray, ultrasound or CT) at North Mississippi Medical Center to use imaging to guide small instruments (such as catheters) into the patient’s body to treat disease or aid in diagnosis.

Interventional Radiology procedures are designed to minimize the potential for more invasive surgical procedures because small incisions are made, lessening pain, risks of infection and recovery time. Because of a minimalistic approach, most procedures are performed on an outpatient basis. General anesthesia usually is not required. 

Procedures 

• Angiography – Helps diagnose blockages and other blood vessel problems.
• Balloon angioplasty – Opens blocked or narrowed blood vessels.
• Biliary drainage and stenting – Opens blocked ducts to allow bile to drain from the liver.
• Central venous access – Allows medication or nutrients to go directly into the bloodstream or blood can be drawn through a tube inserted beneath the skin into blood vessels.
• Chemoembolization – Delivers cancer-fighting agents directly to the cancer tumor’s site.
• Embolization – Delivers clotting agents to an area that is bleeding or blood flow to a problem area.
• Epidural steroid injections - Alleviate chronic low back and/or leg pain.
• Facet injections - Temporarily “block” pain in the neck and back from inflammation or irritation of joints in the spine.
• Fallopian tube catheterization – Treats infertility by opening blocked fallopian tubes.
• Gastrotomy tube – Alternative for patients who are unable to eat food by mouth through use of a feeding tube inserted into the stomach.
• Hemodialysis access maintenance – Opens blocked grafts for hemodialysis, which treats kidney failure.
• Needle biopsy – Diagnostic test for lung and other cancers.
• Stent – Flexible wire or plastic tube used to open clogged blood vessels or other pathways blocked by tumors or obstructions.
• Stent-graft – Reinforces ruptured or ballooning section of an artery.
• Thrombolysis – Dissolves blood clots by injecting clot-busting drugs at the clot’s site.
• TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) – Improves blood flow and prevents hemorrhage in patients with severe liver dysfunction.
• Uterine artery embolization – Stops life-threatening postpartum bleeding.
• Uterine fibroid embolization – Shrinks painful, enlarged benign tumors in the uterus.
• Verteroblasty – Strengthens a broken vertebra (spinal bone) that
  has been weakened by osteoporosis or, less commonly, cancer.