Vascular

Central lines/ports/dialysis access

Using conscious sedation within the outpatient or inpatient setting, short term or longer term IV catheter access can be provided with the lowest possible cost to the patient.

Fistulagrams/dialysis work

Patients who have dialysis fistulas or grafts can be seen by our department. In a minimally invasive manner, issues with narrowing or problems with the fistula can be diagnosed and treated.

IVC filter replacement

Patients with clot in the lower extremity veins are at risk for the clot moving to the heart and lungs, creating a life-threatening pulmonary embolus. The interventional radiologist can perform a 5-to-10-minute procedure where a filter is placed in the inferior vena cava, blocking the clots on the way to the heart and lungs. Once the patient’s clots resolve in the leg veins, the filter can be removed with a similar 5-to-10-minute procedure.

IVC filter removal

Patients who have recovered from their acute problem of clotting in the leg veins can be seen in our interventional radiology IVC filter removal clinic. Both temporary and permanent filters can now be removed to reduce the risk for future clot within the filter or within the lower extremity veins.

Port check or malposition

Ports can often be used for multiple years for treatment and blood aspiration. If an issue has occurred with the port over time, our department can check the port and often fix the problem in a minimally invasive manner without the need for removing the existing access.

Trauma/arterial embolization

The interventional radiology team is available around-the-clock for emergency consults involving life-threatening bleeding. Using a small incision in the leg or wrist, a small catheter is advanced into the affected artery in the body. With the use of X-ray, active/life-threatening bleeding can be stopped with coils or plugs with very low risk to the patient. Pseudoaneurysms, aneurysms, AV fistulas, and actively bleeding tumors can be treated in a similar manner. The patient is sent to the floor or ICU with a small bandage on the puncture site.

Vascular or lymphatic malformations

Patients can be born with or develop abnormal vessels or problems with their lymphatic system. These patients can be at potential risk for stroke, long-term heart failure and infection. These malformations can be treated in a minimally invasive manner using a small needle or catheter along with the use of sclerosing agents. The patient is discharged in the same day of the procedure or the next morning with a small bandage over the puncture site.

Venous sampling

Patients can develop problems with their parathyroid gland, adrenal glands, and pituitary glands. Often it is difficult for the surgeons to localize where the abnormality in the gland exists. Using X-ray guidance, the veins from the gland can be sampled to give the surgeon the specific location of the abnormality.

Venous/IVC recanalization

Patients who have had clots in the past may have scarred lower extremity veins or even scarring of their main vein to the heart, the inferior vena cava. Using catheters along with the placement of stents, these veins can be opened to improve blood flow from the legs to the heart. This can markedly improve lower extremity pain and swelling.