Vascular and Interventional Radiology (VIR) is an innovative branch of medicine that specializes in the minimally invasive treatment of medical problems using imaging for guidance.

OIA’s specially trained vascular and interventional radiologists use their expertise in reading x-rays, ultrasound, CT scans and other diagnostic imaging to see inside a patient’s body to pinpoint where the problem is and map out how to get there without open surgery. Then, via a small nick in the skin and using imaging for guidance, they direct tiny instruments such as catheters through the blood vessels or other pathways in the body to treat disease, tumors or other conditions directly at the source.

At the forefront of 21st century medicine, vascular and interventional radiology procedures often provide effective alternatives to traditional surgery. They are much easier on the patient because they involve no large incisions and result in less pain, lower risk and shorter recovery times. Many VIR procedures can be done on an outpatient basis with only local anesthetic and mild sedation.

Angiography & Venography These specialized x-ray exam procedures use the injection of contrast dye to increase visibility of blood flow. Angiography looks at the arterial blood vessels while venography tracks blood flow through the veins.

Angioplasty & Stent Placement Balloon angioplasty and vascular stenting are minimally invasive procedures performed to inflate and hold open narrowed blood vessels to improve blood flow.

Cancer Treatments Advanced interventional oncology treatments for primary and metastatic disease include chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation and diagnostic biopsy of tumors.

Gastrostomy/Feeding Tube A procedure used to insert a feeding tube into the stomach of a patient who is unable to take sufficient food by mouth.

IVC/Blood Clot Filter Inserted through a small incision and placed in the inferior vena cava in the leg, IVC filters prevent blood clots from breaking loose and reaching the heart.

Liver Intervention In treating liver disease, the placement of a biliary drainage stent allows bile to drain from the liver. TIPS improves blood flow and prevents hemorrhage in patients with poor liver function.

Needle Biopsy Image guidance directs a small needle to remove a piece of tissue from an affected organ or surrounding tissue to help diagnose a disease process, cancer or infection.

Nephrostomy A nephrostomy catheter placed through the skin of the kidney drains urine from the upper urinary tract.

Pain Therapy Advanced pain management is offered through interventional treatments such as joint aspiration and injection, epidural/facet injections and others.

Spine Intervention Interventional treatments of the spine include myelograms which detect spinal cord injury and disease; and epidural/facet injections for pain management. See the vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty page for treatment of compression fractures.

Stroke Intervention Interventional stroke prevention and treatments options target the site of the problem by dissolving blood clots, opening narrowed carotid arteries or treating ruptured blood vessels in the brain.

Uterine Fibroids A non-surgical treatment for uterine fibroids called uterine artery embolization (UAE) blocks blood flow to the fibroids—killing the tissue, shrinking the tumors and relieving symptoms. It can be an alternative to hysterectomy.

Varicose Veins A non-invasive therapy called endovenous ablation or vein ablation treats varicose veins in the lower extremities.

Venous Access Catheter This soft plastic tube is inserted beneath the skin to administer medications or nutrients directly into the blood stream or to facilitate blood draws.

Vertebroplasty & Kyphoplasty For pain relief and stabilization of compression fractures of the spine, vertrebroplasty injects medical bone cement into fractured vertebra. In kyphoplasty, orthopedic balloons correct collapsed vertebra.