|
Angiography |
An X-ray exam of
the arteries and veins to diagnose blockages and other blood
vessel problems; uses a catheter to enter the blood vessel
and a contrast agent (X-ray dye) to make the artery or vein
visible on the X-ray. |
|
Balloon
angioplasty |
Opens blocked or
narrowed blood vessels by inserting a very small balloon
into the vessel and inflating it. Used by IRs to unblock
clogged arteries in the legs or arms (called peripheral
vascular disease or PVD), kidneys, brain or elsewhere in the
body. |
|
Biliary drainage
and stenting |
Uses a stent
(small mesh tube) to open up blocked ducts and allow bile to
drain from the liver. |
|
Central venous
access |
Insertion of a
tube beneath the skin and into the blood vessels so that
patients can receive medication or nutrients directly into
the blood stream or so blood can be drawn. |
|
Chemoembolization |
Delivery of
cancer-fighting agents directly to the site of a cancer
tumor; currently being used mostly to treat cancers of the
endocrine system, including melanoma and liver cancers. |
|
Deep vein
thrombosis (DVT) |
A blood clot,
which most often develops in a leg vein. |
|
Embolization |
Delivery of
clotting agents (coils, plastic particles, gelfoam, etc.)
directly to an area that is bleeding or to block blood flow
to a problem area, such as an aneurysm or a fibroid tumor in
the uterus. |
|
Fallopian tube
catheterization |
Uses a catheter to
open blocked fallopian tubes without surgery; a treatment
for infertility. |
|
Gastrostomy tube |
Feeding tube
inserted into the stomach for patients who are unable to
take sufficient food by mouth. |
|
Hemodialysis
access maintenance |
Use of angioplasty
or thrombolysis to open blocked grafts for hemodialysis,
which treats kidney failure. |
|
Kyphoplasty
|
Procedure in which
a balloon is used to expand the compressed vertebral body,
resulting in the creation of a vacuum or cavity. Bone cement
is then injected into the fractured vertebral body under
direct radiological visualization. |
|
Needle biopsy |
Diagnostic test
for breast, lung and other cancers; an alternative to
surgical biopsy. |
Peripherally
Inserted
Central Catheter (PICC or
PIC line) |
A form of
intravenous access that can be used for a prolonged period
of time. |
|
Radiofrequency (RF)
ablation |
A minimally
invasive, targeted treatment in which a small needle -
attached to a device that delivers radiofrequency (RF)
energy - is inserted into a tumor. The RF energy is then
applied to heat and destroy the cancerous tissue. |
|
Stent |
A small flexible
tube made of plastic or wire mesh, used to treat a variety
of medical conditions (e.g., to hold open clogged blood
vessels or other pathways that have been narrowed or blocked
by tumors or obstructions). |
|
Stent-graft |
Reinforces a
ruptured or ballooning section of an artery (an aneurysm)
with a fabric-wrapped stent C a small, flexible mesh tube
used to "patch" the blood vessel. Also known as an endograft. |
|
Thrombolysis |
Dissolves blood
clots by injecting clot-busting drugs at the site of the
clot. |
|
TIPS (transjugular
intrahepatic portosystemic shunt) |
A life-saving
procedure to improve blood flow and prevent hemorrhage in
patients with severe liver dysfunction. |
|
Uterine artery
embolization |
An embolization
procedure of uterine arteries to stop life- threatening
postpartum bleeding, potentially preventing hysterectomy.
The same procedure is used to treat fibroid tumors and is
then called UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization). |
|
Uterine fibroid
embolization |
An embolization
procedure of uterine arteries to shrink painful, enlarged,
benign tumors in the uterus, also called UAE (Uterine Artery
Embolization). |
|
Vertebroplasty |
A procedure where
bone cement is percutaneously injected into a fractured
vertebra in order to stabilize it. |
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PROCEDURES &
TERMS