Interventional Radiology covers procedures done under imaging guidance (CT Scan, Cath Lab/Ultra Sound) as an alternative to open surgery. These include blood vessel blocks: A block in the blood vessels in the neck can lead to stroke. Blood vessels in the leg can get blocked due to diabetes/smoking leading to gangrene. A block to the blood vessels in the kidney may result in high BP and renal failure. Previously re-establishing blood flow in these cases involved surgery. Now thanks to Interventional Radiology they can be carried out with local anesthesia.

Opening Procedures

Here’s how: We insert a catheter in the groin blood vessel and direct it to the affected area. Using imaging guidance, we then navigate beyond the obstruction and insert a stent to restore blood flow.

Strokes

It’s important to catch the stroke in time. Once the stroke happens it is too late. The warning signs are subtle: sudden stuttering; weakness of hand or leg, which recovers in a few minutes; transient loss of vision. If any of the symptoms persist the patient must visit the doctor. If we find that there is more than a 70% narrowing of the blood vessel, angioplasty or stenting can be done which is an alternative to open surgery.

Advantages: The procedure is done only under local anesthesia.

You can avoid a big incision (and incision related problems).

You will have only a small puncture through the groin.

Shorter hospital stay and quicker recovery.

Peripheral Arterial Disease in the Legs

Symptoms: Pain while walking and eventually while resting too. Small wounds which won’t heal leading to gangrene (either for diabetics/smokers /or those with high cholesterol levels).

If you have these symptoms – you can avoid open surgery with stenting. You can avoid amputation through regular check ups with your diabetologist.

 

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