When people think of radiologists, most would relate it to image scanning like x-rays, CT scans, ultrasound, MRI, and PET scans, all of which are medical equipment designed to diagnose a myriad of illnesses.
It can detect torn muscles, tumors, broken bones, infections, blocked vessels, pregnancy, infections, trauma, and other foreign objects in the body. While it’s a powerful diagnostic tool, it’s also a well-coveted procedure that can treat conditions using radiologic techniques. This is called intervention radiology (IR), a minimally invasive, sub-specialty that can treat illnesses like cancer.
How Do IR Procedures Work?
Instead of putting patients under the knife during a surgical procedure, IR uses small catheter tubes and wires to open target areas in the patient’s body. Individuals suffering from an enlarged prostate, for instance, can undergo Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE). It relies on small needles to shrink the artery, eliminating any blood clots that can compromise your heart health.
Other Health Concerns that can Benefit from IR Procedures
IR procedures can also ease deep venous thrombosis by using imaging from a catheter to open the narrowing along the veins. It can also break up blood clots found in the lungs due to pulmonary emboli, allowing patients the option to improve blood flow to the heart without resorting to stressful procedures like bypass surgery.
Other ways IR procedures can play a pivotal role beyond diagnostics include treating aneurysms by inserting a stent graft to reline the blood vessel or control bleeding using a balloon to block the traumatized blood vessel.
Beyond matters of the heart and blood, IR can also take an important part in pain management therapies as radiologists can use image-guided injections, biopsies, and more to remove cells for further analysis.
Why Choose IR Procedures?
IR procedures are not as established as traditional surgery, but it’s an innovative method that can risk the development of complications and encourage faster recovery. It’s the best choice for patients who want to have shorter stays in the hospital, especially since its minimally invasive nature makes it possible to get back on their feet with little-to-no downtime.
The Bottom Line: The Evolution of Radiology and the Role of Radiologists in the Future of Healthcare
Interventional radiology (IR) procedures are an innovation in the healthcare industry as it strives to replace invasive surgeries, striving to treat a myriad of conditions without putting patients under too much stress.
It’s a faster way to recover from illnesses and are often more accessible thanks to its affordability, making it a new addition that can revolutionize the quality of healthcare moving forward.
How Can We Help?
Here at Garden State Medical Group, our professionals strive to provide holistic care so patients can have access to integrative and functional treatment options. In this case, we can help create comprehensive guidelines that can protect your lungs from the detrimental effects of wildfire smoke.
Not only do we aim to understand the clinical aspects of your condition, but we also look into the biological and behavioral factors that impact your well-being. Check out our site and see what our primary care clinic in NJ can do to improve your health!