Interventional Radiology

Overview

State-of-the-art imaging is used to guide minimally invasive techniques. This allows us to reach areas of the body, which challenge traditional surgical access as well as optimising recovery speed and comfort.

Bristol Vet Specialists perform such IR techniques as intravascular coil implantation to treat dogs with intrahepatic portosystemic (liver) shunts, and subcutaneous ureteral bypass system implantation to treat cats with upper urinary tract obstruction.

Other avenues include intra-arterial treatment of abdominal and nasal tumours, as well as placement of stents to address conditions of the trachea, nasopharynx and urethra.

These interventions demand superb imaging facilities and expertise, in addition to specific training that builds on, and complements, the traditional skills of specialist soft tissue surgeons. They involve either no incision at all or, in the case of intravascular procedures, a small skin incision over a blood vessel. Patients typically go home the next day.