Arteries
Arterial Procedures in Interventional Radiology (IR)
Many of our procedures in Interventional Radiology begin by gently accessing an artery. From this single, small entry point, we can guide advanced tools through your blood vessels to treat conditions anywhere in the body. We will discuss various techniques we use in this minimally invasive approach, which is the foundation of how we help you get better with less pain and a shorter recovery time.
Angiogram (Angiography)
What is it?
An angiogram is like taking a live “movie” of your blood vessels. We gently thread a very thin, flexible tube (called a catheter) into an artery, usually in your wrist or groin. A special dye (contrast) is injected through the tube to make your arteries show up clearly on an X-ray screen. This helps us see if there are any blockages or other issues.
What part of the body is it for?
We can look at arteries anywhere in the body, from your head down to your toes.
What are the benefits?
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Minimally invasive: We only need a tiny nick in the skin, not a large cut.
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Not surgery: It’s a great alternative to open surgery.
- Accurate: It gives us a very clear picture to find the exact problem.
What are the risks?
This procedure is very safe. There is a small chance of some bruising or bleeding where the tube was inserted, a minor infection, or a slight injury to the blood vessel. All of these are uncommon and can almost always be managed easily.
Angioplasty and Stenting
What is it?
If we find a narrowed or blocked artery during an angiogram, we can often open it up right away. We use a catheter with a tiny balloon at the tip. We guide it to the narrow spot and inflate the balloon to gently widen the artery and improve blood flow.
Often, we also place a stent—a small, flexible metal mesh tube—to act like a scaffold and hold the artery open for good.
What is it used for?
- Opening blocked arteries in the legs (Peripheral Artery Disease or PAD).
- Treating narrowed arteries in the neck that supply the brain.
What are the benefits?
- Minimally invasive: No large incisions needed.
- Local anesthesia: You are awake, but the area is numbed so you won’t feel pain.
- Faster recovery: You can usually go home sooner than with traditional surgery.
What are the risks?
The risks are similar to an angiogram, including minor bleeding or infection. There’s a small chance the artery could become narrow again later, which might need another procedure.
Clot-Busting Treatment (Thrombolysis)
What is it?
This is a treatment for a dangerous blood clot that is suddenly blocking an artery. We use a catheter to deliver strong clot-dissolving medicine directly to the clot. We use X-ray guidance to make sure the medicine goes exactly where it’s needed.
Think of it like: Using a very targeted delivery system to unclog a plugged pipe.
Embolisation
What is it?
Embolisation is a way to carefully block off a specific artery. It’s like turning off the water supply to a single faucet in your house. After the angiogram shows us the way, we use the catheter to place tiny particles, glue, or coils into the artery that is causing a problem. This stops the blood flow to that exact area.
What is it used for?
- To stop bleeding: After an injury or to stop a bleed inside the body.
- To treat tumors: By blocking the artery that feeds a tumor, we can “starve” it of nutrients, causing it to shrink. We can even deliver chemotherapy medicine directly to the tumor through the catheter.