Interventional Radiology
Interventional radiology is a rapidly evolving branch of radiology. The advantages of interventional radiology over traditional types of surgical operations include the following:
- Less painful procedure
- More rapid recovery
- No scar or very small scar
- Less expensive
One example is an ultrasound guided drainage of an 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. The catheter will be pulled out a few days later when the abscess resolves.
There are various types of procedures with a wide range of applications.
Diagnostic
- Core biopsy of masses.
- Fine needle aspiration cytology (biopsy) of masses.
Palliative Measures
- Drainage of ascites, pleural effusion or other body fluids
Therapeutic Uses
- Nephrostomy
- PTBD (percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage)
- Percutaneous dilatation of ureteric or biliary stricture
Only a small wound is needed to make a tract for percutaneous stone removal from nephrostomy. This has replaced previous major surgical operations, which sometimes even involved a rib resection for stone removal. During the percutaneous removal of bile duct stones, a tract is created under fluoroscopy to access the bile duct stone through endoscopic means. This allows us to visualise the stone during its removal.
Vascular Interventional Radiology
In embolisation, vascular interventional radiology is utilised to block bleeding vessels or those supplying tumours. Percutaneous angioplasty involves the dilation of narrowed segments in blood vessels, while angiography can be used for the injection of chemotherapeutic or radiotherapeutic agents.
Interventional Radiology FAQ
- Your blood clotting status will be evaluated, and an explanation will be given by the clinician-in-charge of the details of the procedure.
- You will then need to sign a consent form.
- If you need an IV contrast for the procedure, your allergy history will be taken.
- You will also need to bring any prior films that might have been taken.
- No food or drink should be taken four hours before the procedure.
- You might experience some pain during the puncture or dilatation procedure. In such cases, a local anaesthesia can be given at the puncture site to alleviate the pain.
- If necessary, an analgesic will also be given before, during or after the procedure.
- Under special circumstances (children, for example) general anaesthesia may also be used.
You will be under observation, and a short period of hospitalisation may be necessary. Follow-up wound or catheter care will also be provided.
Although rare, some patients might experience the following complications:
- Infection of the wound
- Post-procedural infection or bleeding
- Pneumothorax after needle puncture of the lungs.
Happy Valley
- Address:
- 1/F, Li Shu Pui Block,
Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital,
2 Village Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong
- Service hours:
-
Consultation by Appointment
- Tel.:
- (852) 2835 8900
- Email:
- [javascript protected email address]
- Fax:
- (852) 2892 7530
- WhatsApp:
-
(852) 6052 2185
(For non-emergency cases)
Island East
- Address:
- 7/F, Li Shu Fong Building,
5 A Kung Ngam Village Road, Shau Kei Wan, Hong Kong
- Service hours:
-
Consultation by Appointment
- Tel.:
- (852) 2917 1270
- Email:
- [javascript protected email address]
- Fax:
- (852) 2892 7407
- WhatsApp:
-
(852) 2917 1270
(For non-emergency cases)