Common Interventional Procedures at Somerset Campus

Most procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis or require only a short hospital stay. General anesthesia usually is not required, and risk, pain and recovery time often are significantly less than surgery.

Common Interventional Procedures

• Angiography – An X-ray exam of the arteries and veins to diagnose blockages and other blood vessel problems. During the procedure, a catheter is inserted into the blood vessel and contrast is used to make the artery or vein visible on an X-ray.
• Balloon angioplasty – Opens blocked or narrowed blood vessels, such as in patients with peripheral vascular disease (PVD). During the procedure, a very small balloon is inserted into the vessel and inflated.
• Biliary drainage and stenting – A stent is used to open up blocked ducts and allow bile to drain from the liver and gallbladder.
• Percutaneous Cholecystostomy – Used to drain the gallbladder, a needle is inserted into the gallbladder using ultrasound guidance under local anesthesia. The incision is enlarged and a soft catheter is placed into the gallbladder.
• Central venous access – During this procedure, a tube is inserted beneath the skin into the blood vessels to deliver medication or nutrients directly into the blood stream. Can also be used to draw blood.
• Chemoembolization – Delivers cancer-fighting agents directly to the site of a cancer tumor. Primarily used to treat cancers of the endocrine system, including melanoma and liver cancers.
• Embolization – Delivers clotting agents directly to the area that is bleeding. Can also be used to block blood flow to a problem area, in cases of an aneurysm or fibroid tumor in the uterus.
• Fallopian tube catheterization – During this procedure, a catheter is used to open blocked fallopian tubes.
• Gastrostomy tube – During this procedure, a feeding tube is inserted into the stomach for those unable to take sufficient food by mouth.
• Hemodialysis access maintenance – Uses angioplasty or thrombolysis to open blocked grafts for hemodialysis, a treatment for kidney failure.
• Needle biopsy – A diagnostic test for breast, lung and other areas of the body to test for abnormalities such as cancer or infection.
• Percutaneous nephrostomy drainage – A tube is inserted into the kidney to treat kidney stones or hydronephrosis.
• Stent – A small, flexible tube made of plastic or wire mesh used to treat a variety of medical conditions, including clogged blood vessels or other pathways that have been narrowed or blocked by tumors or obstructions. Stents also are used to treat urological conditions.
• Thrombolysis – During this procedure, "clot-busting" drugs are injected at the site of the clot to dissolve them.
• Angiojet – A specialized catheter used in mechanical thrombectomy to remove or retrieve clots.
• Uterine artery embolization – Used to stop life-threatening postpartum bleeding, potentially preventing hysterectomy. Also used to treat fibroid tumors (uterine fibroid embolization).
• Vertebroplasty/Kyphoplasty – During this procedure, a needle is inserted through the skin into crushed vertebrae, using bone cement to stabilize the fractured bone. During kyphoplasty, a balloon is used to raise vertebrae prior to insertion of cement.

To schedule a procedure, call 1-844-RWJ4YOU (1-844-795-4968).