Interventional radiology uses images to help perform minimally invasive procedures. The images provide road maps that help the interventional radiologist guide instruments through the body. A live x-ray, or fluoroscopy, is used in these procedures, which are usually done with needles or other instruments.

Interventional radiology is used for venous access, angiograms (both body and neuro) and treatment such as esophageal dilations, angioplasty and stent placements.

What to Expect

Your child may need to be sedated. Please know you must be present to give your consent for your child's sedation. Learn more about sedation and how to prepare for your child's medical imaging procedure.

Because exams are performed in a sterile environment, our nurses and technologists will help your child into the procedure room. We ask that you wait outside the procedure room.

Older children may be asked to change into hospital scrubs. To prevent infection, your child's body part to be examined is cleaned and prepped with sterile towels.

In some cases, to better see organs and/or blood vessels, radiologists use a contrast (a liquid that shows up on the image.)

Exams can take anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours.

After the Exam

Your interventional radiologist will talk with you, based on the specific procedure, about what your child can and cannot do after the exam.

A nurse will monitor your sedated child in the recovery room. Children wake at different times. It is common for children to sleep up to two hours after the sedation medicine is given.

During this time, a nurse will give you instructions on what to expect next.

Test results may be available to your child's doctor within 24 hours.

One Patient's Story

When their daughter, Kennedy, was diagnosed before birth with a blood vessel malformation in her brain known as an arteriovenous malformations or “AVM” during an ultrasound scan, Heather and Brian Danner were frantic to find an expert to treat her. Read Kennedy's story.