Interventional radiology (ir)-:-

INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY (IR)-:-

What is Interventional Radiology?

In interventional radiology (also called IR), doctors use medical imaging to guide minimally invasive surgical procedures that diagnose, treat, and cure many kinds of conditions. Imaging modalities used include fluoroscopy, MRI, CT, and ultrasound. At UVA Health System, these radiologists work in the department ofvascular and interventional radiology

Interventional radiologists make small incisions, usually in your abdomen, and use needles and catheters to treat conditions inside your body. Medical images are used to guide their catheters through your blood vessels, arteries, and organs. Cool, right?

If you were to be in the room during a typical IR procedure, you’d see the patient lying on an operating table with a specialized X-ray camera–a fluoroscope–above them. The radiologist would be wearing necessary protective coverings, a blue gown, and a mask. They would be guiding needles and wire-looking medical equipment through the patient’s body while looking at the medical images projected on the screen. It’s amazing how they can use medical images to see exactly where their equipment is located and how to maneuver inside the body without making any major incisions.