Interventional Radiology (IR) is sometimes referred to as Image Guided Surgery as we use imaging technology (such as x-ray, CT or ultrasound) to look inside patients and perform minimally invasive procedures. It is commonly confused with key-hole surgery but in fact the holes we make are even smaller than key-hole surgery and is therefore sometimes called pin-hole surgery as we operate through a hole the size of a large needle. The vast majority of procedures can be performed under local anaesthetic or sedation with only a very few complex cases requiring a general anaesthetic.
Interventional Radiologists first train as radiologists to learn how to use and interpret the imaging technology but then undertake further specialist training in minimally invasive image guided surgery to then integrate the two roles.
Interventional Radiology has existed for many years with the first procedure performed in 1964 by Charles Dotter who dilated the main blood vessel in the leg with a series of dilators in a patient with gangrene. The procedure allowed more blood to get to the foot and it healed without the need for surgery. We now use inflatable balloons to do this procedure and there are many other procedures which have been developed over the years which can help avoid major open surgery.
Interventional Radiology procedures usually involve guiding a needle into the body using ultrasound or CT and accessing a particular organ (liver, kidney, stomach etc) or a vessel (artery or vein), then guiding a wire and catheter through the needle into that area. Using a real-time x-ray camera, the wire and catheter can then be guided through the body to perform whatever procedure is required.
Interventional Radiology can be divided into 4 main subgroups:
1. Vascular Intervention (Arterial) – procedures involving the arteries throughout the body such as angioplasty (balloon dilatation of narrowed blood vessels) or embolisation (blocking off blood vessels to tumours or when someone is bleeding internally).
2. Vascular Intervention (Venous) – procedures involving the veins such as inserting lines into veins, inserting filters to prevent clot travelling around the body (IVC filters) or using devices to suck clot out of blocked veins (thrombectomy).
3. Non-vascular Intervention – procedures not involving the blood vessels such as unblocking kidneys (nephrostomy) or the liver (PTC), injecting cement into collapsed bones (vertebroplasty) or inserting feeding tubes into the stomach (RIG).
4. Interventional Oncology – procedures performed for the diagnosis or treatment of cancer such as tumour ablation (killing tumour cells by inserting a needle into a tumour and heating it up) or injecting chemotherapy coated beads into tumours to kill them (TACE).
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON BLOOD TESTING DUE TO COVID-19
If you are experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, e.g. fever, loss of taste or continuous new cough, please DO NOT attend for a blood test.
Earlier this year, the Government revised the guidance on Shielding for CEV patients. All those who have been identified as CEV have been advised to follow the same guidance as everyone else, whilst potentially thinking about extra precautions you could take to reduce your chance of catching COVID-19.
Taking into account this guidance, and the evidence that most patients have now resumed having their blood tests at their usual preferred location, UHCW will no longer be providing the Shielding phlebotomy service from Monday 13 December 2021. You will need to make arrangements to get your blood tests done, as you did prior to the pandemic at locations across Coventry and Warwickshire at www.uhcw.nhs.uk/bloodtests If your specialist has requested a blood test which is due to be taken prior to Monday 13th December, you can expect it to take place at a ‘Pop-up’ clinic, as before. Any blood tests required after this date will need to be a booked appointment.
You can keep up to date with the latest advice from the Government and from UHCW on the following website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19
Click on the map for information about phlebotomy clinics in Coventry. You can book an appointment online at the locations in red.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Booking an appointment helps patients, their carers and family members to plan their hospital visit better, helping to reduce clinic waiting times and enabling patients to be seen much more quickly.
Location: Outpatients Department, on the ground floor. Opening hours: 8am-4.45pm, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays).
Children under 16 years old will need to book online here.
Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test, click on the ‘Book Online’ button above. Patients from Rugby and the surrounding areas are able to access the Friends Blood Taking Unit at the Hospital of St Cross.
Referrals for blood tests can be from GP's, practice nurses or from hospital consultants. Patients are also able to leave other samples, such as urine, which have been collected at home, at the hospital's Pathology Reception.
Location: Near Brookfield House, just off North Road - map here. Opening hours: The blood taking clinic sessions for adults and children are listed below:
Monday -Friday 7am-4:45pm Appointment only
Wednesday Evening 5pm-7pm Suspended due to COVID
Saturday Morning 7am-10pm Suspended due to COVID
April 2020 NEW - This Clinic is now by appointment. Please book an appointment before attending for a blood test. Click on the ‘Book Online’ button above.
Address: Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry CV1 4FS Location: Access is via the main doors, the Phlebotomy team are in Area A. Opening hours: Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays). 8am–4.45pm
Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)
Specialist Tests - There are a small number of specialist tests where blood needs to be taken on a hospital site as the sample must be transferred to the laboratory rapidly for the test to be undertaken. Click here for a list of these specialist tests and to find out more.