Unless you have required it, you probably have not heard about interventional radiology. However, this subspecialty enables radiologists to use different imaging-assisted procedures to identify and cure various conditions, including, spider veins, varicose veins, and other vascular concerns. Leading interventional radiologist Dr. Andrew Doe takes pride in offering top-quality care in a patient-centric setting to patients in and out of Houston, Texas. Continue reading to learn more about interventional radiology and its benefits over conventional radiology.
What Exactly Is Interventional Radiology?
Interventional radiology is a medical specialty that employs various imaging techniques to get images of the human body’s interior. Your interventional radiologist interprets these images to identify illness and injury and conduct various interventional medical treatments.
IR is also known as image-guided therapy since your radiologist will utilize an imaging technology such as Ultrasound, CT scan, fluoroscopy, or MRIs to guide them when they administer interventional procedures like obtaining a biopsy, inserting catheters, treating tumors, and more.
What Distinguishes Interventional Radiologists from Other Radiologists?
In addition to capturing images of your body, interventional radiologists can conduct minimally invasive surgical treatments to identify and treat various illnesses. Your IR specialist undergoes more advanced training than your regular or Expert Radiologist, completing a two-year fellowship besides the four-year med school and residency program.
What Are The Advantages of IR over Open Surgery?
Open surgery needs huge incisions made through muscle, multiple skin layers, and other tissue to access the intended location. For numerous conditions, IR delivers successful surgery outcomes without damaging the body. Interventional Radiology reduces the danger of bleeding during and after an operation, infection, and other surgery-related concerns.
Furthermore, most IR procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, sparing you the added stress of an overnight hospital stay. IR often enables patients to resume normal activities considerably quicker than conventional procedures without cuts and other surgical effects like tissue bruising.
Interventional Radiology also provides exceptional accuracy during vein therapies, biopsies, and other procedures, which might be difficult to achieve with conventional techniques. Even though it cannot substitute all surgical procedures, IR provides exceptional diagnostic outcomes and successful therapy for numerous disorders that previously required substantial surgery.
What Conditions Can Be Diagnosed And Treated With IR?
At Alate Health, Dr. Doe and his team utilize advanced digital imaging to diagnose and treat various concerns, including:
- Spider and varicose veins
- Peripheral or coronary artery disease
- Deep vein thrombosis (blood clotting)
Among the specific IR processes Dr. Doe offers include:
- Angioplasty to unblock clogged arteries
- Atherectomy to eliminate plaque deposits
- Stenting to keep artery wall integrity following angioplasty
- Thrombolysis/ Thrombectomy to dissolve or remove blood clots
- Fine-needle drainage and aspiration of cysts, seromas, and hematomas
- Fine-needle biopsy of worrisome masses and tumors
Additionally, you can access preventive care in the form of vascular screenings to assess your vascular system’s condition. Dr. Doe performs this screening using non-intrusive ultrasound imaging and Doppler investigation to assess the directional flow and spree of blood via your veins.
Interventional Radiology offers numerous benefits over conventional radiology therapy. At Alate Health, you can access the best IR procedures and treatments, thanks to the skills and expertise of Andrew Doe, MD. If you want to explore the benefits of Interventional Radiology, schedule an initial consultation today through mobile or book online.
