What is interventional radiology?
Interventional radiology uses images to help perform minimally invasive procedures. The images provide road maps to enable interventional radiologist to guide instruments through the body to the area of interest. A live X-ray, or fluoroscopy, is used in these procedures, which are usually done with needles or other instruments.
What is interventional radiology used for?
Common examples include venous access, angiograms (both body and neuro) and treatment such as esophageal dilations, angioplasty and stent placements.
What can we expect?
- Your child may need to be sedated. Please know you must be present to give your consent for your child's sedation. Learn more about sedation and how to prepare for your child's medical imaging procedure.
- Because exams are performed in a sterile environment, our nurses and technologists will help your child into the procedure room. You are asked to wait outside the procedure room.
- Older children may be asked to change into hospital scrubs.
- To prevent infection, your child's body part to be examined is cleaned, then prepped with sterile towels.
- In some cases, to better see organs and/or blood vessels, radiologists require the use of a contrast (a liquid that shows up on the image.)
How long does it take?
Exams can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours.
What happens after the exam?
Your interventional radiologist will have talked with you, based on the specific procedure, about what your child can and cannot do after the exam.
A nurse will monitor your sedated child in the recovery room. Children wake at different times. It is common for children to sleep up to two hours after sedation medicine is given.
During this time, a nurse will give you instructions on what to expect next.
Test results may be available to your child's doctor within 24 hours.
What technology/scanners are used?
A Philips bi-plane interventional suite and the Siemens single plane interventional suite.