Interventional Radiology

Interventional radiologists at USA Health in Mobile, Alabama, use image-guided procedures to help diagnose and treat patients in a minimally invasive manners.

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Interventional Radiology at USA Health

Radiology helps physicians see what’s happening inside a patient’s body. Interventional radiology is a sub-specialty of this field that goes beyond merely capturing images to actually treating patients by using some of the same advanced imaging technology.

With fluoroscopy, CT scanning, CT fluoroscopy, and ultrasound, our team provides minimally invasive therapies to patients facing many different diagnoses. Most of these procedures are "same day" procedures, and patients are able to go home the same day or the following morning. With these less invasive procedures, patients face fewer risks and shorter hospital stays compared with traditional surgery.

Conditions Commonly Treated With Interventional Radiology

USA Health interventional radiologists successfully treat patients with some of the following conditions:

Arterial & Veinous Disease

Our interventional radiologists treat various arterial and venous diseases such as vascular malformations, post-thrombotic syndrome, and varicose veins. Blood clot removal and stenting for stenosis are also performed. Additionally, we perform IVC filter placements and retrievals to prevent blood clots from reaching the heart and lungs.

Kidney Disease

We use ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance to place catheters for dialysis and maintain arteriovenous grafts (AV grafts). For renal angiomyolipomas (benign kidney tumors), we perform arterial embolization to block growth and reduce bleeding risk. Additionally, we manage dialysis access issues, using fistulograms, balloon angioplasty, and stents to restore function and perform declotting when necessary.

Liver Disease

We perform procedures like creating a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) to reroute blood flow and reduce bleeding. We also offer drainage procedures like paracentesis and thoracentesis for fluid accumulation. For ongoing fluid buildup, semi-permanent drains can be placed for at-home use. Additionally, we treat gastric varices with balloon occlusion retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) to prevent life-threatening bleeding in patients with liver disease.

Cancer

Our interventional radiologists use biopsies to diagnose cancer and offer minimally invasive treatments like embolization, ablation, and targeted therapies, ensuring less pain and faster recovery, often with no incisions. We also treat tumors in the liver, kidneys, lungs and bone with microwave, cryoablation, and radiofrequency ablation to destroy cancer cells or tissue with extreme hot or cold conditions.

Pain Management

To manage chronic back pain, we collaborate with back specialists to offer therapies like facet blocks. We also perform spinal augmentation (vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty) to strengthen bones and ablations for cancer-related spine pain. Additional treatments include epidurals, intercostal blocks for chest pain, and celiac blocks for abdominal pain.

Men’s Health

For patients with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), we offer prostate artery embolization, a minimally invasive procedure that improves urinary symptoms without causing sexual side effects. We also provide varicocele embolization to treat enlarged veins in the scrotum, helping preserve and improve fertility.

Women’s Health

We offer uterine artery embolization (UAE) as a minimally invasive alternative to hysterectomy for treating fibroids and adenomyosis. By partially blocking blood vessels to the uterus, UAE relieves symptoms with faster recovery times. We also treat pelvic congestion, a condition causing chronic pelvic pain due to enlarged veins.

Bile Duct and Gallbladder Issues

When drainage is needed in organs, but a patient may not be a candidate for surgery, we use minimally invasive techniques to place biliary drains or stents and cholecystostomy tubes to relieve blockages in the bile ducts and gallbladder.

Infections

For patients with infections or abscesses, we can use minimally invasive techniques to place drainage tubes which help decrease hospital length of stay.

Stomach Issues

For long-term feeding needs, we can place feeding tubes directly into the stomach or small bowel.

Minimally Invasive Interventional Radiology Procedures

The interventional radiologists at USA Health have extensive experience treating patients and performing minimally invasive procedures across multiple specialties.

Minimally invasive procedures are as effective as surgery with less risk, less pain, and faster recovery. They are typically outpatient procedures.

Uterine Fibroids

Using tiny catheters to block blood vessels supplying fibroids, we can shrink them and stop symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding. 

Scrotal Varicoceles

Swollen veins in the scrotum can cause pain and affect fertility. Using microcatheters to block these veins is an effective, minimally invasive alternative to surgery, with a quick recovery. 

Venous Insufficiency

Poorly functioning veins can cause leg symptoms like swelling, fatigue and varicose veins. Injections and ablations can close these veins and reduce symptoms.

Benign Prostate Hypertrophy

For men with an enlarged prostate, we use microcatheters to block blood vessels, shrinking the prostate and improving urinary symptoms. This procedure is as effective as surgery, with faster recovery and minimal risk of incontinence or sexual dysfunction.