Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Interventional radiology is a type of medicine where doctors use real-time imaging—like X-rays or ultrasounds—to treat conditions inside the body without major surgery. Instead of large cuts, they use tiny tools like needles and thin tubes (called catheters) to reach the problem area through just a small nick in the skin.

For example, if a blood vessel is blocked, an interventional radiologist can guide a tiny tube into it and use a small balloon to open it—watching the whole thing on a screen. These procedures are usually less painful, have shorter recovery times, and can often be done without an overnight hospital stay.

IR is often used as a first-choice treatment, especially when surgery isn’t needed or other options haven’t worked. It’s a safe, effective way to treat many conditions with less stress on your 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.