Image guided procedures in radiology use imaging technologies such as ultrasound, CT, or MRI to help doctors perform minimally invasive procedures such as biopsies and injections. The imaging allows doctors to be more precise, which often means less pain and faster recovery for the patient.

Percutaneous ablation is a type of treatment using either heat or cold to destroy cancer cells. During ablation, an electrode (probe) is used to target cancer cells. The heat or cold effect produced by the probe heats or cool cancer cells and destroys them. This procedure is particularly effective in treating some liver, lung and kidney tumours that are difficult to reach or cannot be treated with conventional surgery.

The doctor puts a small filter into the inferior vena cava (IVC). This is a large vein in your abdomen. The filter catches blood clots that may go into your lungs.

The doctor puts a small needle into almost any part of the body, guided by imaging techniques, to take a tissue biopsy. This type of biopsy can give a diagnosis without surgery. An example of this procedure is called the needle breast biopsy.

The doctor puts a catheter into a blood vessel to remove a foreign body in the vessel.

The doctor puts a feeding tube into the stomach if you can’t take food by mouth.

The doctor puts a substance through a catheter into a blood vessel to stop blood flow through that vessel. This can be done to control bleeding or treat pseudoaneurysm or aneurysm.

Read about implantable ports (portacath or subcutaneous port) here

Uterine artery embolisation or UAE is now a well established minimally invasive treatment option for women with uterine fibroids and adenomyosis. The procedures involve using particles to block the blood vessels that provide blood flow to the fibroid or adenomyosis in the uterus. The particles are guided through a tiny tube inserted by an Interventional Radiologist via the patient’s groin artery. With the blood supply cut off, the fibroids or adenomyosis will shrink. More information can be found on our website, www.irwellington.co.nz

Prostate artery embolisation or PAE is a very new treatment which is gaining wide recognition both in the UK and around the world as a viable alternative to traditional surgery for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia. Several completed and ongoing research trials have shown outcomes from PAE which are superior to drug treatment and often as good as surgery whilst the complication rate is lower than surgery. If you are interested in seeing whether PAE is suitable in your case, we can recommend local Urology Consultant colleagues, with whom we work closely in our PAE programme, to see you to ensure it is the right treatment for you. The PAE procedure is done in an Interventional Radiology suite under local rather than general anaesthesia thus improving recovery times. It is a highly technical imaging based minimally invasive ‘pin-hole’ procedure. It takes around 2 hours but usually you can go home on the same day. It is normally pain free and you are transferred to the recovery ward afterwards.

A varicocele is a common benign cause of a swelling or lump in the scrotum; it is an abnormal enlargement of the veins around the testicle. These veins drain blood from the testicles back to the heart. The vessels originate in the abdomen and course down through the groin as part of the spermatic cord on their way to the testis. Treatment is usually undertaken for two main reasons; persistent symptoms troubling the patient or to assist in treatment of infertility. One of the treatment options is embolisation of the gonadal vein. This is done by an Interventional Radiologist as a day case under local anaesthetic. It is minimally invasive, where a small catheter is inserted in the groin vein and via this access the gonadal vein is embolised using either coils or glue. Recovery period is quick. Patients can expect to resume their full range of normal activities the following day.

Geniculate artery embolisation (GAE) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat chronic knee pain, particularly in patients with osteoarthritis who haven't responded to other treatments or are not candidates for knee replacement. The procedure involves using a catheter to selectively block small blood vessels supplying the painful area of the knee, reducing inflammation and pain. What it is: GAE is a type of interventional radiology procedure that targets the blood supply to the knee joint. How it works: A thin tube (catheter) is inserted into an artery (usually in the groin) and guided to the genicular arteries (arteries that supply the knee joint). Tiny particles (embolic agents) are then injected through the catheter to block these arteries. Why it's used: GAE is primarily used for chronic knee pain caused by conditions like osteoarthritis, where the joint lining is thickened and inflamed. By reducing blood flow to this inflamed area, GAE aims to alleviate pain and improve function. Benefits: GAE can be a good alternative to knee replacement for patients who are not suitable for surgery or who prefer a less invasive treatment. It also has a relatively short recovery time and is typically performed on an outpatient basis

Haemorrhoid artery embolisation (HAE) is a minimally invasive procedure that treats bleeding internal haemorrhoids by interupting the blood supply to the haemorrhoidal tissue. This is achieved using small coils or particles introduced through a catheter into the blood vessels feeding the haemorrhoids. What it is: HAE is a non-surgical treatment option for internal haemorrhoids, particularly for those that bleed frequently or are unresponsive to other treatments. It involves stopping the abnormal blood flow to the rectal arteries that supply the haemorrhoids. The goal is to reduce the size of the haemorrhoids and alleviate symptoms like bleeding. How it works: An interventional radiologist uses a catheter and imaging guidance (like fluoroscopy) to access the blood vessels supplying the haemorrhoids. Small coils or particles are released from the catheter into the target vessels, blocking the blood flow. Over time, the blocked haemorrhoids shrink and bleeding is reduced. Benefits: Minimally invasive: It's a less invasive procedure compared to traditional haemorrhoid surgery, with a lower risk of complications and shorter recovery time. Effective: HAE has a high success rate in reducing bleeding and improving haaemorrhoid symptoms. Outpatient procedure: It's typically performed on an outpatient basis, meaning patients can go home the same day. Considerations: Not suitable for all: HAE is generally recommended for internal hemorrhoids, especially those with recurrent bleeding.