Pediatric Interventional Radiology

What Is Interventional Radiology?

Interventional radiologists use imaging guidance —like ultrasound, live x-rays or CT guidance— to perform minimally invasive procedures, which may result in less pain and allow for quicker recovery times for our patients. The pediatric interventional radiology (IR) division at Lurie Children’s performs a full range of therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. 

Lurie Children’s interventional radiology has three state-of-the-art procedure suites, and our team performs more than 4,000 minimally invasive, image-guided procedures annually. Your child will be treated by sub-specialty trained pediatric interventional radiologists specialized in treating infants and children of all ages.

Why Choose Lurie Children's?

Lurie Children’s Interventional Radiology team is a leader in innovative, minimally invasive care. As one of the first pediatric IR programs in North America, our experience and commitment to excellence have earned us a worldwide reputation.

Families from across the country and around the world choose Lurie Children’s for our advanced care and family-centered approach.

Procedures We Perform

Abscess drainage
Aneurysm coiling
Aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) sclerosis or ablation
Angioplasty
Arteriogram
Arteriovenous malformation embolization
Arthrogram
Biliary intervention
Biopsy
Botox injections
Chest Port placement
Chest tube placement
Cholecystostomy
Cryoablation
Dialysis catheter placement
Dialysis Fistula or Graft intervention
Embolization
Epidural blood patch
Esophageal dilation
Gastrojejunostomy (GJ) placement
Joint injections
Lumbar puncture
Lymphangiogram and thoracic duct embolization
Lymphatic malformation sclerotherapy
Microwave ablation
Nephrostomy placement
Osteoid Osteoma ablation
Paracentesis
Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement
Spine tumor ablation and embolization
Thoracentesis
Thrombectomy and thrombolysis
TIPS (Tranjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt)
Transjugular liver biopsy
Unicameral bone cyst (UBC) sclerosis and bone grafting
Varicose vein ablation
Venous malformation sclerotherapy

Our Interventional Radiology Team

The interventional radiology team at Lurie Children's is made up of doctors, advanced practice providers, nurses and technologists, all sub-specialized in pediatric interventional radiology.

Pediatric Interventional Radiologists

Shankar Rajeswaran, MD

Division Head, Interventional Radiology; Attending Physician
Associate Professor of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Joe B. Baker, MD

Attending Physician, Interventional Radiology
Assistant Professor of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Joseph R. Ness, DO

Attending Physician, Interventional Radiology
Assistant Professor of Radiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Darshan E. Variyam, MD

Attending Physician, Interventional Radiology
Assistant Professor of Radiology, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine

Pediatric Neurointerventional Radiologists

Donald R. Cantrell, MD, PhD

Attending Physician, Interventional Radiology
Assistant Professor of Radiology (Neurointerventional Radiology) and Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Ali Shaibani, MD, MBA

Chief of Neurointerventional Radiology in the Department of Radiology and Professor of Radiology, Neurological Surgery and Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Ramez N. Abdalla, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor, Interventional Neuroradiology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Sameer Ansari, MD, PhD

Professor of Radiology, Neurological Surgery and Neurology - Ken and Ruth Davee Department, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Advanced Practice Providers

Elizabeth Ambrose, APRN, MSN, FNP-BC

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Medical Imaging (Interventional Radiology)

Jannell Bichl, APRN-NP

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Interventional Radiology

Nursing

Our registered nurses all have a bachelor’s degree and come with past nursing experience in caring for critically ill patients. Our nurses hold national certifications in advanced adult and pediatric life support and have a passion for working with children.

Technologists

Our radiologic technologists are board certified by ARRT (American Registry of Radiologic Technologist) and are also required to have an advanced certification. Technologists are responsible for operating the imaging equipment, and helping with the positioning and care of the patient.

Our Research

View a list of our team's recent research publications below:

Make an Appointment

Call to make an appointment with one of our Interventional Radiology specialists.

312.227.5110

Our Location

Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

225 E. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.227.4000

Get Directions

What to Expect

Before your first clinic visit, we’ll request that any outside imaging be sent to our system for review. After our interventional radiology team has reviewed your imaging, we’ll schedule your clinic visit to discuss the procedure and answer any questions.

Most procedures are done under general anesthesia. The day before your procedure, you’ll receive a call with detailed instructions. Most patients go home the same day and return for a follow-up visit about 8 weeks later.