Interventional Radiology

Dialysis Patient Management

Article Sections
Overview	Urinary Tract Interventions
Vascular Interventions	Vertebroplasty
Non-Vascular Interventions	Uterine Fibroid Embolization
Dialysis Patient Management	Radiofrequency Ablation

Dialysis Patient Management

Dialysis fistula and grafts
A fistula or graft is a bridge between the artery and a vein that creates a high flow system needed for dialysis.

Dialysis shunt angiogram and angioplasty
Using different techniques such as balloon dilatation and clot removal, the life of a graft or fistula can be prolonged for many years.

Dialysis catheter placement
A central venous catheter with two lumens or ports, are threaded through the veins in the neck, upper chest or the groin to allow kidney dialysis to be performed. This can be done for both short and long-term catheters.

Peritoneal dialysis catheter
A catheter is placed in the abdomen to perform dialysis. This is alternative procedure to the more common hemodialysis.

Cancer Patient Management

Chemoembolization
This procedure is performed to reduce pain and discomfort in patients with primary or secondary liver cancers. During chemoembolization, chemotherapy drugs are injected directly into the artery that supplies blood to the tumor in the liver. The artery is then blocked off or embolized, with a mixture of oil and tiny particles. This helps to slow or control disease progression.

Plasmapharesis catheter placement
This procedure involves the placement of a central venous catheter used for stem cell transplantation in certain cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation.

Chest port placement
Used primarily for the delivery of chemotherapy drugs.
a port is placed under the skin for several years if necessary.

Radiofrequency ablation
A minimally invasive procedure used to treat tumors with radiofrequency energy. The energy is delivered to the tumor through a needle which is inserted into the tumor. To read more about this procedure, click here.

Hypertension Management

In certain individuals, hypertension is secondary to a blocked blood vessel
supplying the kidney. Using interventional techniques such as angioplasty
and stent placement, the blockage can be relieved which makes the
hypertension more manageable.
Feeding Tube Placement

Gastrostomy feeding tube - Doctors may recommend placing a gastrostomy tube in the stomach for a variety of conditions in which a patient is unable to
take sufficient food by mouth. During this procedure, the feeding tube is
inserted through a small nick in the skin and into the stomach using X-ray
guidance.