Interventional Radiology

Interventional Radiology

The Interventional Radiology section is responsible for non-neurological angiographic studies; biliary, GI and GU interventions; percutaneous biopsies and drainages with fluoroscopic, sonographic and/or CT guidance; and CT and MR angiography. The section also provides interventional radiology service for the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital. The section is staffed by four CAQ-accredited vascular/interventional faculty supported by a full complement of dedicated technical and nursing staff. The interventional area has state-of-the-art single and biplane digital angiographic equipment, a recovery room and facilities for short-term admissions.

PROCEDURES

About 3,500 procedures are performed annually in the Vascular and Interventional Radiology Section. The cases are performed at three locations, Vanderbilt University Hospital, Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital and One Hundred Oaks. Besides the standard vascular, diagnostic, and interventional procedures (angioplasty, thrombolysis, embolization, filter insertion, foreign body removal, etc.), the Vascular and Interventional Radiology Section is also responsible for biliary procedures (percutaneous transhepatic cholangiogram, biliary stenting, biliary stricture balloon dilatation and percutaneous stone removal) and interventional uroradiological procedures (percutaneous nephrostomies, uretheral stenting). The section also performs over 500 interventional oncology procedures such as chemoembolizations, radioembolizations and cryoabaltions.

An active liver transplant service at Vanderbilt University Hospital has led to the development of considerable hepatic interventional radiology procedures, particularly in the areas of embolization of primary and metastatic tumors and intrahepatic portosystemic shunting (TIPS). Vanderbilt University Hospital is also the Level I trauma referral for all of Middle Tennessee, providing patients with considerable experience in angiography for blunt and penetrating injuries.

FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT

Presently there are three angiographic suites in the Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences for cardiovascular procedures and neuroangiography. Cardiovascular procedures are performed in a Philips Poly A angiographic suite with C-arm capabilities for interventional procedures and DVI-S digital imaging. Invasive and non-invasive monitoring devices are utilized during numerous procedures, and an ECG-gated injector pump is available. The second angiography suite is a recently installed state-of-the-art system with ceiling-suspended C-arm, 1024 DSA and additional biplane filming capabilities plus video-recording and optical disk archiving. The third angiographic suite is principally for neuroradiology procedures, containing state-of-the-art Philips biplane 1024 digital angiography with two C-arms, a tilt table, video-recording and optical disc archiving and an additional remote work station. Biplane angiographic filming in this room is utilized for occasional abdominal or thoracic arteriograms performed by the Cardiovascular Section.

Two 1.5 Tesla MRI suites with cine and 3-D capabilities are located adjacent to the angiography section and are available for cardiovascular imaging investigations, both clinical and research oriented. The ultrasound section, with color Doppler vascular imaging, is also adjacent to the angiography section. Positron emission tomography has been installed for cardiovascular and neuroradiological functional and diagnostic imaging. Animal lab facilities with good research support personnel are available. Strong departments of basic science, biomedical engineers and physicists are also available for support in research interests.