Milpark

Interventional radiology

Interventional radiology is a medical super-specialty that includes various minimally invasive procedures using imaging guidance. Interventional radiologists diagnose and may treat a variety of conditions with these procedures that reduce the need for surgery. These procedures, performed under the guidance of fluoroscopy, CT, or ultrasound, use state-of-the-art equipment and the latest techniques to navigate small instruments such as catheters and needles through blood vessels and organs. They may be done under sedation or local/general anesthetic in our interventional radiology suite. 

Our practice has a dedicated interventional team of highly specialised radiologists, radiographers, and nursing staff. Many interventional procedures are complex and not without risk. Patients can contact us directly to discuss questions and concerns. Radiologists take special care to explain the procedure and the necessary post-care with each patient, ensuring that they are comfortable and understand what it entails.

We offer the following services:

General intervention

  • Abdominal, tumour, vascular and uterine fibroids embolisations
  • Arrow drain insertions
  • Ascitic and pleural drainage 
  • Bronchial artery embolisations 
  • Core biopsies and fine needle aspirations
  • Dacrocystographies
  • Hip, shoulder, and sacro-iliac joints infiltrations
  • Nephrostomies 
  • Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram drain insertions 
  • Peripherally inserted central catheter lines (PICC)
  • Pigtail insertions
  • Sialograms
  • Stent insertions

Hepatobiliary intervention

  • Liver abscess drainage
  • Liver and tumour embolisations 
  • Liver biopsies
  • Percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage 

Neurointervention (brain and spine)

  • Caudal epidural infiltrations 
  • Facet joint infiltrations 
  • Lumbar punctures 
  • Myelograms
  • Nerve root infiltrations  
  • Venous sinus stenting 
  • Vertebroplasties 

Subspecialty neurointervention 

  • Aneurysm coiling
  • Arteriovenous malformation embolisations (AVM)
  • Carotid cavernous fistula embolisations (CCF)
  • Chronic subdural haematoma embolisations 
  • Diagnostic cerebral and spine angiograms 
  • Dural arterial venous fistula embolisations (DAVF)
  • Idiopathic intracranial hypertension stenting 
  • Spinal vascular pathology embolisations
  • Stroke intervention – mechanical thrombectomies 
  • Tumour embolisations 
Interventional radiology

Please note:

  • Patients are responsible for obtaining authorisation for radiology procedures. Please contact us for assistance.
  • Emergency cases will be prioritised and may cause some time delays.
  • Women must inform their referring clinician and the radiographer on duty if there is any possibility that they may be pregnant.
  • Patients must bring all previous X-ray images and reports from other institutions on the day of their procedure.
  • Depending on the type of procedure, patients may be asked to change into a hospital gown.
  • At the time of the booking our staff will give patients clear instructions regarding any preparations required prior to the procedure.
    • Specific blood tests and fasting may be required for interventional radiology procedures.
    • Patients must inform the radiologist or radiographer if they have existing medical conditions, any allergies (especially iodine), or are taking blood thinning medication. Special preparations will be required prior to the procedure.
    • Procedures may be done under sedation or local/general anaesthetic for which prior arrangements need to be made. Patients who have had sedation or anaesthesia are not allowed to drive themselves following the procedure and must arrange transport.
    • The type of procedure will determine whether patients need to stay in our recovery room for observation, or be admitted to Milpark Hospital’s day ward, general ward or ICU after the procedure.  

Frequently asked questions

Advantages include: less invasive than surgery and potentially, faster recovery time, fewer complications, lower risk, and less pain than surgery.

Yes, but interventional pain management is not a treatment for all pain-related conditions. Interventional radiology procedures that involve injecting corticosteroids and long-acting anaesthetic into specified areas, may successfully treat chronic pain. 

An angiogram is a diagnostic procedure visualising the blood flow in the body. This procedure may detect abnormalities and blockages in blood vessels by using imaging, and contrast media.