THERAPEUTIC USES OF INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY
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By: Yasmeen Dhaher
Interventional radiology is a minimally invasive and image guided diagnosis as well as treatment of various diseases, many of which are life threatening. Venous thromboembolism, one of the diseases which has significantly high mortality rates according to statistics which suggest that 60,000-100,000 Americans die of Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. With 10 to 30% of people dying within one month of diagnosis.(1) Therefore due to the frequency of venous diseases and its influence on quality of life quality, we chose to draw attention to the interventional radiological procedures that can provide fast and complete recovery from venous thromboembolism if applied in time. The most important radiological interventions applied in the venous system are: ●Interventional radiological invasive treatment of massive pulmonary embolism. ●Treatment of acute lower extremity deep vein thrombosis. ●Treatment of deep vein stenosis (balloon dilatation, stenting). Inserting a temporary or permanent vena cava filter. ●Embolization of enlarged, inadequate venous networks (varicocele, embolization of large haemorrhoidal veins, embolization of dilated gastric, perigastric venous networks). ●Development of TIPS (transjugular intrahepatic shunt system shunt). ●Embolization of arteriovenous malformations. ●Sclerotization, laser treatment of superficial veins, varicose veins.(2) The indication that allows the use of interventional radiological techniques is massive pulmonary embolism which is decided according to clinical classifications or the previously used Greenfried and Erbel-Meyer severity grouping, depending mainly on the severity of dyspnoea, tachypnea, syncope and chest pain, reduction in systemic blood pressure. In the treatment of cardiac embolism with interventional radiology catheterization, we should primarily alleviate the severe hemodynamic catastrophe, which can be achieved most rapidly by cleavage and mechanical removal of thrombi (Figures A and B). The method can dramatically reduce the pressure in the pulmonary artery, which is critical to the success of therapy in gaining time. By rapidly relieving pressure, the patient is prevented from hearing in the acute first few
