Overview Interventional radiology (IR) is a medical specialty that performs various minimally- invasive procedures using medical imaging guidance, such as x-ray fluoroscopy, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or ultrasound. IR performs both diagnostic and therapeutic procedures through very small incisions or body orifices. Diagnostic IR procedures are those intended to help make a diagnosis or guide further medical treatment, and include image-guided biopsy of a tumor or injection of an imaging contrast agent into a hollow structure, such as a blood vessel or a duct. By contrast, therapeutic IR procedures provide direct treatment—they include catheter-based medicine delivery, medical device placement (e.g., stents), and angioplasty of narrowed structures The main benefits of interventional radiology techniques are that they can reach the deep structures of the body through a body orifice or tiny incision using small needles and wires. That decreases risks, pain, and recovery compared to open procedures. Real-time visualization also allows precision guidance to the abnormality, making the procedure or diagnosis more accurate
Acute stroke – mechanical thrombectomy.
Sub arachnoid hemorrhage – (bleeding in brain) due to ruptured blood vessels – aneurysm coiling and flow diverter placement.
Arteriovenous malformation
Preoperative embolization of tumor.
Carotid and intracranial arterial angioplasty / stenting.
Dural Arteriovenous fistula embolization.
Carotid cavernous fistula embolization
Spinal dural AV fistula.
Aortic And Peripheral Interventions
Aortic stent grafting for ruptured and unruptured thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysm
Stent grafting in aortic dissections.
Pericardial Tapping
Critical limb ischemia– angioplasty and stenting of the affected vessels (iliac, Femoro – popliteal and below knee arteries).
Acute limb ischemia – thrombolysis.
Embolisation of AVM.
Embolisation of pseudoaneurysms.
Deep vein thrombosis – IVC filter placement and pharmacomechanical thrombectomy and stenting of veins.
May thurner syndrome – angioplasty and stenting of iliac veins.
Ablation of Varicose veins
Central vein angioplasty and stenting.
Microwave ablation of tumor
Hemoptysis – bronchial artery embolization.
Pulmonary AVM and Rasmussen’s artery embolization
Guided thoracentesis with introlink catheterization
Microwave ablation of tumor
Trans arterial chemo embolization of liver tumor
Trans arterial radio embolization
Guided parasitosis
PTBD (biliary drainage) and stenting
Portal vein embolization
TIPSS (transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt), DIPPS (Direct intrahepatic portosystemic shunt)
Trans jugular liver biopsy.
Hepatic vein stenting
Portal Vein embolization
Bleeding gastric varices embolization – BARTO, PARTO, CARTO
Prostatic artery embolization for BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy)
Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia – celiac artery / Mesenteric artery angioplasty and stenting.
Post trauma pseuoaneurysm / bleeder embolization
Visceral arterial aneurysm / pseudoaneurysm embolization
Renal AV fistula and pseudoaneurysm embolization
Renal tumor embolization , ablations.
AV fistuloplasty
Central vein stenosis – angioplasty and stenting
Permcath placement – chronic tunneled hemodialysis catheter placement.
Percutaneous nephrostomy (PCN) placement.
Antegrade ureteric stenting
Uterine fibroid embolization
Uterine AVM embolization
Pelvic congestion syndrome
Fallopian tube recanalization
Amniotic Fluid Sampling
Guided Parasyte Interlimb Catheterization
Prostatic artery embolization for BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy)
Pre operative embolization of vascular tumours.
Epistaxis – embolization of internal maxillary artery.
Carotid cavernous fistula embolisation.
Intra arterial Chemo Infusion for retinoblastoma.
Spinal tumour / hemangioma preoperative embolisation
Post trauma pseudoaneurysm embolization
Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.
ablation of osteoid osteoma
Sclerotherapy of hemangiomas
Embolization of ABC
Vertebral biopsy
Picc line / central line / chemo port insertion
Guided FNAC of thyroid nodule
Microwave ablation of tumor
Interventional radiology (IR) is a medical subspecialty which uses real-time medical imaging to guide procedures inside the body. Often referred to as “surgery without knife”, during IR doctors uses small instruments or catheters to reach the target area. An interventional radiology hospital in Thrissur may offer these techniques for selected conditions.
No, it’s not. Both can treat complex medical problems inside the body, but the techniques, tools and approaches are different. IR is done through a pinhole puncture while traditional surgery requires larger open incisions. They also differ in the recovery time with IR having faster recovery timelines.
Vascular interventional radiology deals with certain problems involving blood vessels, including blockages, abnormal vessels, and bleeding. Imaging helps the doctor guide instruments accurately to the area being treated.
Yes, interventional radiology has a major role in cancer treatment. In selected cases, it can help doctors take tissue samples, deliver treatment to a targeted area, or manage cancer-related complications. The specific procedure depends on the type and location of the cancer.
It depends on the procedure but in majority of the cases you will be awake, but you will be highly relaxed and comfortable. Some require sedation while others are performed under local anaesthesia. An interventional radiologist in Thrissur will explain what the plan is and how the discomfort can be managed.
Some patients can return home relatively soon, while others need monitoring, or a hospital stay. Recovery depends on the type of procedure, the condition being treated, and your general health.
It happens through a collaborative evaluation process called shared decision making. The factors considered are your diagnosis, imaging results, existing health condition, and treatment options. Interventional radiologists work with other specialists to finalize what the most effective care would be.
