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UCLA Interventional Radiology

UCLA Interventional Radiology
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    • Aneurysm and Dissection
    • Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
    • Biliary Leak
    • Biliary Obstruction
    • Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
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    • Angiography
    • Angioplasty and Vascular Stenting
    • Arterial Thrombolysis
    • Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration
    • Biliary Drainage
    • Biopsy Percutaneous
    • Chemoembolization
    • Cyst Aspiration/Sclerosis
    • Dialysis Fistula/Graft Interventions
    • Drainage Percutaneous
    • Embolization
    • Gastrostomy and Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement
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    • Transjugular Liver Biopsy
    • Tumor Ablation
    • Uterine Fibroid Embolization
    • Varicocele Embolization
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UCLA Interventional Radiology

Treatments & Procedures

Treatments & Procedures

Treatments & Procedures

  • Angiography
  • Angioplasty and Vascular Stenting
  • Arterial Thrombolysis
  • Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration
  • Biliary Drainage
  • Biopsy Percutaneous
  • Chemoembolization
  • Cyst Aspiration/Sclerosis
  • Dialysis Fistula/Graft Interventions
  • Drainage Percutaneous
  • Embolization
  • Gastrostomy and Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement
  • Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
  • Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement and Removal
  • Lung Biopsy
  • Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
  • Pulmonary Angiography and Embolization
  • Radioembolization (Y90)
  • Stent Graft Placement
  • Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)
  • Transjugular Liver Biopsy
  • Tumor Ablation
  • Uterine Fibroid Embolization
  • Varicocele Embolization
  • Vascular Access Procedures
  • Venous thrombolysis and recanalization
  • Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
  • Angiography
  • Angioplasty and Vascular Stenting
  • Arterial Thrombolysis
  • Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration
  • Biliary Drainage
  • Biopsy Percutaneous
  • Chemoembolization
  • Cyst Aspiration/Sclerosis
  • Dialysis Fistula/Graft Interventions
  • Drainage Percutaneous
  • Embolization
  • Gastrostomy and Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement
  • Genicular Artery Embolization (GAE)
  • Inferior Vena Cava Filter Placement and Removal
  • Lung Biopsy
  • Prostate Artery Embolization (PAE)
  • Pulmonary Angiography and Embolization
  • Radioembolization (Y90)
  • Stent Graft Placement
  • Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS)
  • Transjugular Liver Biopsy
  • Tumor Ablation
  • Uterine Fibroid Embolization
  • Varicocele Embolization
  • Vascular Access Procedures
  • Venous thrombolysis and recanalization
  • Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
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  4. Angioplasty and Vascular Stenting

Angioplasty and Vascular Stenting

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Treatment for:

PAD (peripheral arterial disease), narrowing or blockage of the arteries supplying the arms and legs

Why it’s done:

Atherosclerosis causes narrowing or blockage of the arteries supplying the legs, or more rarely, the arms. Blockages of these arteries can cause claudication (pain with walking), rest pain (pain occurring at rest), or tissue loss (gangrene or an open wound, usually on the foot or ankle). Opening these blockages and restoring blood flow can reverse these problems.

How it’s done:

The artery is accessed with a small puncture, and the area of blockage is crossed using specialized wires and catheters. The blockage is then opened using balloon inflation (angioplasty), flexible metallic tubes (stents), or by directly removing the atherosclerotic plaque (atherectomy).

Angioplasty-and-Vascular-Stenting-original.png

Level of anesthesia:

Conscious sedation

Risks:

Bleeding, infection, damage to the artery wall (rupture or dissection). Clot or plaque can break off during the intervention and pass down toward the foot, limiting flow (distal embolization). In most cases, these complications can be recognized and treated during the procedure. Rarely, open surgery or even amputation may be required.

Post-procedure:

Several hours of lying flat, then discharge home. Anticoagulation or anti-platelet agents may be used to help keep the treated arteries open.

Follow-up:

Doppler ultrasound and clinic visit is typically performed several weeks after the procedure to confirm that the artery remains open and that symptoms have improved. Continued follow-up depends on the individual case.

For More Information:

For more information or to schedule an appointment with one of our IR physicians, please call 310-481-7545.

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