Interventional Radiology Procedures
AllianceHealth Durant uses minimally invasive interventional radiology procedures to treat a wide variety of medical conditions. Trained physicians use X-ray and other imaging technologies (MRI, CT and ultrasound) to guide small wires or catheters (thin, flexible tube) with specialized instruments to treat affected areas of the body. These procedures only require a tiny incision where the catheter is inserted into an artery, so it results in less blood loss, less pain and a quicker recovery for patients.
Angiography and angioplasty
A diagnostic angiogram is used to examine the inside of arteries and veins to detect blockages or narrowing of the vessels. In angioplasty, a catheter fitted with a balloon device is guided to the affected area to expand the walls and restore blood flow, or a laser can be used to break up the blockage. In some cases a stent (mesh tube) is placed in the artery to hold it open. Angioplasty can be used to treat everything from heart disease and circulatory problems to ischemic stroke.
Cardiac catheterization procedures
Interventional cardiologists use a variety of minimally invasive catheter-based techniques to treat heart disease, including angioplasty and stenting to unblock clogged arteries and veins, radiofrequency ablation to treat arrhythmias, and coronary atherectomy to remove hardened plaque from a blocked artery. Doctors use diagnostic exams such as nuclear medicine scans, angiograms and echocardiograms, to examine the heart muscle, valves, veins and arteries for heart disease.