Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Interventional radiology is a type of medicine where doctors use special tools and images like X-rays or ultrasounds to treat diseases inside the body without doing big surgeries. Instead of making large cuts, they use small needles or thin tubes called catheters to get to the problem area.

For example, if someone has a blocked blood vessel, an interventional radiologist can insert a tiny tube into the blood vessel and use a balloon to open it up, all while watching on a screen. This way, patients heal faster and don’t need to stay in the hospital as long.

It’s like being a doctor who uses pictures to fix problems inside the body!

At North Star Vascular & Interventional, we offer minimally invasive treatment for the following conditions:

• Peripheral artery disease
• Deep vein disease
• Varicose veins
• Cancer – liver cancer, colon cancer
• Uterine fibroids
• Pelvic congestion syndrome
• Benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate)
• Varicoceles
• Chronic hemorrhoids
• Thyroid nodules
• Giant liver hemangioma
• Spine fractures caused by osteoporosis
• Knee pain caused by osteoarthritis
• Plantar fasciitis

Traditional surgery requires an incision in the skin for the surgeon to access the area of the body being treated. The surgeon then uses special instruments like scalpels and orthopedic hardware to perform the treatment. IR procedures are performed from inside the body, usually through the vascular system (arteries and veins) using special catheters and tiny devices. The procedures are guided by medical imaging, such as X-ray and fluoroscopy. As a result, there is a shorter recovery, less pain and less overall trauma to the patient.

No, but they require just as much education and training. Some interventional radiologists may also be vascular surgeons, but they have had extensive training in each area to be qualified to perform both imaging-guided procedures and surgical procedures.

Other than the potential for slight discomfort or bruising on the skin where the catheter is inserted into the body, you will not experience pain during an IR procedure. Because of this, general anesthesia is not required. In many cases, moderate sedation is administered during IR procedures to help patients feel calm and comfortable.

No, anesthesia is not used for IR procedures. Moderate sedation is often used to calm the patient and to help them feel more comfortable during the procedure.