Interventional Radiology Services in Lutz, Florida

The Interventional Services at the St. Joseph's Hospital North has a unique dual-lab set-up where we perform diagnostic Cardiac Catheterization and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI), as well as diagnostic and interventional radiology procedures.

What are interventional radiology procedures?
These procedures replace open surgical procedures, and include clinical and imaging based diagnosis. They are minimally invasive procedures, so are generally easier on the patient because they involve:

  • No large incisions
  • Less risk
  • Reduced pain
  • Shorter recovery times

Interventional Team at St. Joseph's Hospital-North
Our interventional radiology (IR) team includes board certified radiologists that are fellowship trained in percutaneous interventions using guided imaging. They are certified by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

We also have specially trained vascular surgeons performing these less invasive procedures in our IR suites. Our IR staff is highly trained and provides state-of-the-art comprehensive patient care.

Interventional Procedures We Perform
At St. Joseph's Hospital-North, we perform the following interventional procedures:

  • Arthrogram
  • Arthrocentesis
  • Angioplasty: Arterial/ Venous/ AV graft &/or shunts
  • Biliary drain/tube change
  • Biliary stent placement
  • Biliary tube cholangiogram (Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiogram)
  • Biliary stone removal
  • Biliary: Transjugular intrahepatic portal systemic shunt (TIPS)
  • Biopsies (CT/Image guided)
  • Blood patch
  • Central Line placement/repositioning
  • Chest tube placement
  • Chemo embolizations
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Discogram
  • Drain placement/removal
  • Epidural steroid injection (ESI)
  • Facet block injection
  • G- tube placement/exchange
  • Hemodialysis cath placement/removal
  • Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter insertion/retrieval of embedded IVC filters
  • Lumbar puncture
  • Mediport placement/check
  • Myelogram
  • Percutaneous Nephrostogram/Nephrostomy tube placement/removal
  • Peripheral angiogram
  • Peripheral angioplasty and stenting
  • Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) insertion/exchange
  • Nerve root injections
  • Radiofrequency ablations
  • SI joint injections
  • Suprapubic catheter insertion
  • Thrombolytic therapy for blood clots
  • Thoracentesis
  • Uterine fibroid embolization
  • Venogram
  • Vertebroplasty

How do I schedule an interventional procedure?
Most patients will receive instructions from their primary care physician or a specialist to have an interventional procedure. Once you have the prescription, you can call us at 813- 443-7447 and schedule your procedure. Then you can expect:

  • One of our pre-op nurses will call you for a brief phone interview/ assessment prior to your scheduled appointment.
  • You will receive instructions about how to prepare for the procedure, and our nurses will go over the preliminary questionnaire with you. We record this information in our Electronic Medical Records (EMR); it is available to your doctors once you are admitted for the procedure.
  • Depending on the procedure, your preoperative labs can be performed in your physician's office, outside outpatient laboratory facility or here in the hospital.

What should I expect the day of the procedure?

  • After you leave the Admitting department, you will be directed to the Pre-op area. We have private rooms where your nurses will prepare you for your procedure. Your family members or loved ones can stay with you at this time.
  • Your physician will come to see you and explain all aspects of the procedure to you. You will have the opportunity to ask any questions or concerns that you may have related to the procedure.
  • Once you are ready, one of our Interventional Radiology nurses will take you the procedure room. The rooms are very calming, with picturesque murals on the wall to help you relax. While there are a number of machines and technology in the room, please do not be anxious. All of that technology is there to help you. You will meet the rest of the IR team, who will be assisting the physician throughout the procedure. We will be explaining each step of the way to help you anticipate on what to expect during and after the procedure.
  • Your family can wait for you in the waiting room. We have cell phones that we give to families, who want to go the café or gift shop while waiting. We will call you as soon as the procedure is over.
  • After the procedure, we will take you to the Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) or back to the Pre-op area, where you will recover. Our nurses will closely monitor you during this recovery period.
  • Depending on the procedure, you can expect to stay 4-6 hours after the procedure. Some patients may stay overnight for observation per the physician's orders.

After the Procedure

  • One of our nurses will call you post-procedure to see how you are doing. We will be glad to go over the discharge instructions with you and answer whatever questions you may have regarding the procedure.
  • Your referring physician will be receiving a copy of the procedural report.
  • Depending on your physician, a follow-up office appointment may be scheduled.

Learn more about interventional radiology services at BayCare.