Why is it used?

Interventional radiologists conduct the procedure to monitor, detect, and treat any hidden disease in the patient’s body. Interventional procedures include a wide array of tests, biopsies, and scans. Each procedure treats several conditions by inserting catheters into the body from outside. The procedure is highly preferred and used to avoid conventional surgery.

How is the procedure performed?

As mentioned, interventional procedures include a wide array of imaging techniques like X-rays, scans, MRIs, CTs, and fluoroscopy. Each procedure has its dedicated machinery to take clear pictures as the radiologist either apply gel or inserts wire in your body. Many procedures include the insertion of thin tubes and tiny instruments into an artery or vein. The images received further decide the line of treatment.

What are the benefits?

There are several benefits of preferring interventional procedures over conventional open surgeries. Here are a few:

• In comparison to traditional open surgeries, interventional procedures are painless, minimally invasive, and do not consume much time. The risk of infection is also comparatively lower.
• Radiologists do not use general anesthesia. It is mandatory in case of open surgery but it is not the case with the interventional procedure. Instead of general, local anesthesia is used to relax the patient.
• The recovery rate of the interventional procedure is much faster. For example, a professional hysterectomy takes at least 2 weeks for a patient to recover completely. But, uterine fibroid embolization under interventional procedure takes only a few days to recover.
• The patient doesn’t necessarily have to stay in the hospital after the procedure. You can go home after a few hours and rest at home.
• Other than being painless and minimally invasive, interventional procedures provide you with better and more accurate results.

What are the risks?

In some cases, patients may experience bleeding.