Interventional Radiology
Interventional Radiology is the operating room of the Radiology Department.
Interventional Radiologists specialize in procedures to test (biopsy) internal organs, open blocked arteries and veins, drain abscesses and cysts and treat many other conditions and disorders. In many interventional radiology procedures, patients are treated on an outpatient basis and are back to their normal routines quickly.
With its commitment to high quality patient care and using leading-edge technology, St. Luke's Interventional Radiology offers interventional radiologists a number of advanced imaging features including the ability to produce revolutionary three-dimensional images of vessels within the body. This imaging equipment offers patients advantages such as reduced exam time, less radiation and contrast media, and more precise imaging for better diagnoses and treatments.
St. Luke’s University Health Network is recognized as a GE Healthcare Super Show Site for key pieces of imaging equipment. Recently, the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved the General Electric (GE) Innova 4100 interventional radiology system, which was tested in clinical trials exclusively at St. Luke’s Radiology Department, and provides physicians with exceptional image clarity, ten times the dynamic range and a 37 percent larger field of view with less X-ray dosage than current systems. St. Luke’s was the first in the world to offer the Innova 4100 system to patients. Health care professionals from around the world visit St. Luke’s to see the equipment and learn about how it benefits patients. Interventional radiology procedures can be a safe alternative to some major surgical procedures.
Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE)
Uterine Artery Embolization is a simple, non-surgical procedure that eliminates or dramatically shrinks uterine fibroids. Recovery usually requires just an overnight hospital stay. The procedure, an alternative to a hysterectomy, relieves the excessive bleeding and pain caused by fibroids. Studies show that 78 to 94 percent of women who have the Uterine Artery Embolization procedure experience significant or total relief of heavy bleeding, pain and other symptoms. Experienced physicians at St. Luke’s Hospital have been successfully performing Uterine Artery Embolization procedures for many years.