A relatively new specialty of medicine that is constantly evolving – interventional Radiology – is a method that is characterized by minimal invasive medical procedures, less aggressive for the patient, and in many cases replaces conventional surgeries. It is directly linked to technology, as the physician uses the image of the ultrasound and computerized tomography to execute procedures inside organs.

Interventional radiology is greatly applied to diagnose and treat diseases, among which we can list: cerebral aneurism, uterine myoma, osteoporosis and many types of tumours. Especially for cancer patients, interventional radiology is of growing importance, both for the biopsy (collecting samples of tissues to conduct exams, without surgery) as well as in the quicker, safer and painless treatments.  

Not only does the patient count on all the Hospital Infrastructure at Clínica São Vicente, but they can also count on the experience of a team that pioneers in many treatment techniques of Interventional Radiology in Brazil. The procedures bellow are conducted here:

- Carotid angioplasty
- Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt
- Vertebroplasty
- Myoma Embolization
- Cerebral Aneurism Embolization
- Central Venous Access
- Endoprosthesis
- TIPS - Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt
- Vena cava filter
- Bile drainage
- Arteriography
- Percutaneous Nephrostomy
- Mechanical thrombectomy

Understanding the techniques

Vascular Interventional Radiology

It involves all the procedures that use arteries and veins as an access route for the catheter (a very thin and flexible tube), introduced through a small incision in the skin, with the aid of the angiography and computerized tomography equipment, to reach the sick organ.

One of the best known examples of this technique, and also a specialty of the Clínica São Vicente staff, is the Uterine Myoma Embolization. A Myoma is a type of benign node that is formed on the walls of the uterine quite commonly found in women aged 30 to 40 years. The embolization is an injection of small particles, the size of sand grains, with the purpose of interrupting the blood flow that feeds the myoma, thus causing a regression and solving the problem with success rates in 85% to 95% of the cases. With this treatment the patient avoids the inconvenience of traditional surgery, with which the myoma is removed (Myomectomy) or when the whole uterus is removed (Hysterectomy). The embolization procedure requires local anaesthesia and shorter recovery time.

For cases of liver cancer and some types of tumours that spread in the liver, the Hepatic chemoembolization is the indicated treatment technique. The same catheter system is used to inject a combination of chemotherapeutic medications, to eliminate the cancerigenous cells, followed by small particles to block the arteries that feed the tumour. This procedure does not heal the tumour, but studies show that in 70% of the cases it reduces the lesions, the pain, improves the quality of life and increases survival.

Interventional Neuroradiology

This specialty it directed to diagnosing and treating the brain, head and neck diseases, reached using a catheter or a thin and long tube that travels into the body through the blood vessels.

While treating the cerebral aneurism, the catheter reaches the site and functions as a conductor for very thin metal wires (the platinum microsprings) that occupy the area and isolate the aneurism through electrolysis that “welds” it and prevents blood from flowing in and breaking the lesion, solving the problem without needing to undergo surgery. The name of the technique is Cerebral Aneurism Embolization and Clínica São Vicente is one of the few hospitals in Brazil that perform this procedure.

Radiofrequency Ablation

One of the types of liver cancer, called hepatocelular carcinoma, commonly associated to cirrhosis and to the Hepatitis C virus, with a significant increase in its incidence in the population, and the specific treatment indicated for it is the Radiofrequency Ablation, another of the techniques in which Clínica São Vicente is a precursor in Brazil and a reference for physicians and patients. The method consists in introducing a needle that reaches the tumour and conducts an electric current, "burning" and destroying the cells affected by the cancer. The procedure is controlled using the images generated by the ultrasound, computerized tomography or the magnetic resonance.

Non-vascular Interventional Radiology

This is a minimally invasive technique that does not depend n the blood vessels as to access the treatment site. The physicians make an incision on the skin using needles that are directed using an X-Ray and computerized tomography, without the need for any cut. The spinal column, the second top cause of pain affecting both men and women, is definitely one of the parts of the body that most benefits from this technique.

Na example of where this technique is used with high success rates (approximately 80% to 90% of the cases) is in the treatment of fractured vertebras or fractures associated to diseases such as osteoporosis. For these patients, the most appropriate indication – after careful examination – is the Percutaneous Vertebroplasty, a procedure that injects orthopaedic cement straight into to vertebra, creating a solid block that gives support and eliminates pain, even on very elderly patients and those with an advanced osteoporosis condition. The patient can return to regular activities tow or three days after the intervention, with a quicker physical recovery and also improving the psychological disposition, as their regain independence and the functionality of their movements.

Clínica São Vicente is very experienced in using this technique – it was one of the first hospitals to perform Percutanoues Vertebroplaty to treat patients in Brazil.