Procedures/After Procedure Care
Our interventional radiologists in IGT perform minimally invasive procedures both separately and alongside members from other departments in the hospital. Some of the procedures our interventional radiologist perform include:
Abscess Drainage
Abscess drainages are performed to remove pus from an abscess in the body, in order to relieve pain, reduce infection and help the area heal. Click here for more information.
Abscess Drainage: Caring for your child at home after the procedure.
Angiogram
Angiograms are diagnostic exams performed in order to see arteries, which are blood vessels carrying blood away from the heart to different organs. They are usually done to identify a problem, e.g. blockage, narrowing, dilatation, abnormality or leakage. Click here for more information.
Angiogram: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Angioplasty
An angioplasty is performed when there is a blockage in a blood vessel in order to widen the vessel and improve blood flow.
Angioplasty: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Arthrogram
Arthrograms are performed to assess an injury inside the joint (e.g. shoulder, knee, wrist, ankle). Both an X-ray and MRI scan are performed to provide images of the joint. Click here for more information.
Arthrogram: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Bone Ablation
A bone ablation is performed to treat and relieve pain of a benign bone growth. Heat cold or laser can be used. Commonly a laser fibre through a special needle is used to apply heat and burn the abnormal area.
Bone Ablation: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Biopsy
Biopsies are performed with a special needle in order to take small samples of an area to be examined under the microscope by another doctor (pathologists). This examination can help the doctor gain more information about the child’s body and determine the best course of treatment. Some biopsies include bone biopsy, kidney biopsy, liver biopsy, lung biopsy, and thyroid biopsy.
Bone Biopsy: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Kidney Biopsy: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Liver Biopsy: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Lung Biopsy: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Thyroid Biopsy/FNA: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Botox injections into the Salivary Glands
Botox injections into the salivary glands are usually done to block the stimulating message from the nerve to the gland, and therefore decrease the amount of saliva produced. The effects of the Botox are only temporary, meaning that eventually the glands will produce normal amounts of saliva again. Click here for more information.
Botox Injection into Salivary Glands: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Botox Therapy for Spasticity in Children
Botox therapy for spasticity is performed to help relax the muscles, thereby increasing mobility and relieving pain. The Botox blocks the stimulating message from the nerve to the muscle, preventing the muscle from contracting. The effects of the Botox are only temporary, meaning that eventually the muscles will contract again. Click here for more information.
Botox Therapy for Spasticity in Children: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Cecostomy Tube (C-tube)
A cecostomy tube is a thin plastic tube that is placed in the large intestine to help with bowel evacuation.
Central Venous Line (CVL)
A CVL is a long, thin flexible tube that is inserted into one of the large veins leading to the heart. It is usually placed in a patient that requires intravenous (IV) therapy over a long period of time. Click here for more information.
CVL Insertion: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
CVL Removal: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Chest Tube
A chest tube is a soft flexible tube that is placed into the space around the lung to drain fluid or air that could affect the child’s breathing.
Embolization
An embolization is performed to treat certain types of vascular malformations, called arterio-venous malformations and sometimes venous malformations. During this procedure, the doctor injects a chemical or a small device that stops the blood flow through the malformation. Many patients with arteriovenous malformations will need multiple embolization procedures over months to years. Although they will not be cured by this treatment, it can help some patients. Surgery may be required in addition to embolization to treat arterio-venous malformations.
Endovenous Laser Ablation
An endovenous laser is used in order to close a vein, thereby preventing blood flow inside. The laser passes inside the vein causing heat, scarring, and closure of the vein. This can help in the treatment of a few venous malformations and a few children with varicose vein-related problems.
Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT): Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Esophageal Dilation
Esophageal dilations are performed to expand areas of narrowing in the esophagus, which cause difficulties in swallowing. During this procedure, the doctor inflates a tiny balloon in the esophageal stricture. Click here for more information.
Esophageal Dilation: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube) / Gastrojejunostomy Tube (GJ-Tube)
A G-Tube is a tube that is connected from the tummy wall directly into the stomach, while a GJ-Tube is connected through the stomach to the small intestine. G and GJ-Tubes are inserted to provide proper nutrition to children who are unable to get enough nutrition by mouth. Click here for more information
Visit the Tube feeding learning hub for more information about G/GJ Tube care and maintenance.
Joint and Tendon Steroid Injections
Joint and tendon steroid injections are performed in children who experience arthritis or inflammation in their joints or tendons. This form of treatment relieves pain, inflammation, and swelling in the affected area. Click here for more information.
Joint and Tendon Injection: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Lumbar Puncture
A lumbar puncture is a procedure where a sample of spinal fluid is taken between the bones of the lower spine using a small needle.
Lumbar Puncture: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Myelogram
Myelograms are performed to give doctors a visual image of the spine, spinal cord and surrounding structures to determine if there are any problems in this area.
Myelogram: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Nephrostomy Tube
A nephrostomy tube is a small flexible tube that is placed in the kidney to drain urine when there is an obstruction to the normal flow of urine.
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC)
A PICC is usually placed in patients who require medicine, IV fluids or frequent blood work over a period of weeks. It is a long, soft, thin flexible tube that is inserted into the vein of a patient’s arm (sometimes leg for babies) and connects to a large vein leading to the heart. Click here for more information.
PICC Insertion: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
PICC Removal: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Port
A port is a device placed completely inside the patient’s body. This device is used in patients who require IV therapy intermittently over a long period of time. There are two parts: one is the port chamber, which lies just under the skin, where the needle is inserted when it is being used; the second part is the long, soft, thin flexible tube that attaches to the port chamber and is inserted to a vein leading to the heart. Click here for more information.
Port Insertion: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Port Removal: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Sclerotherapy
Sclerotherapy is performed to treat certain types of vascular malformations, called venous and lymphatic malformations. During this procedure, the doctor injects a sclerosing chemical into the malformation causing inflammation and scarring with eventual shrinkage of the malformation. Many patients will require several injections over a few months to complete the sclerotherapy treatment.
Sclerotherapy: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Varicocele Embolization
Varicocele is an enlargement of the veins in the scrotum. Varicocele embolization is performed to block these veins and redirect blood flow.
Varicocele Embolization: Caring for your child at home after the procedure
Venograms
Venograms are diagnostic exams performed in order to see veins, which are blood vessels carrying blood to the heart. They are usually done to identify blockages, collaterals or study the venous anatomy.