Kidneys and Dialysis

Management of

kidney failure and Chronic

Kidney Disease (CKD)

Using minimally-invasive procedures, interventional radiologists are able to relieve many urinary problems with less risk, less pain, and
less recovery time than traditional surgeries.

It is common to seek treatment from an interventional radiologist if you are experiencing a blocked urinary tract, chronic kidney failure/disease that requires either temporary or permanent dialysis, or even kidney cancer. Typically, these treatments take advantage of advanced imaging techniques, including ultrasound and fluoroscopy, to assess structures inside the body in real-time.

For dialysis patients, Interventional Radiology may play a crucial role in restoring blood flow in fistulas (a direct connection from an artery to a vein), or in detecting problems such as clots or narrowing of the veins. These interventions can prolong the patency of vascular access and improve the therapeutic outcomes for patients with CKD.

Common conditions include:

Blocked Urinary Tract

Urinary tract obstruction (obstructive uropathy) occurs when there is a blockage restricting normal urinary flow from the kidneys to the bladder. Blockages can be partial or complete, and occur in the ureters (the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder), urethra (where urine is stored and released) or bladder. Urinary tract obstruction can be caused by many factors, including kidney stones, polyps or blood clots in the ureter, tumors, muscle or nerve disorders, or prostate enlargement. Thanks to Interventional Radiology, there are multiple non-surgical treatment options for a blocked urinary tract.

Kidney Cancer

The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs responsible for cleaning your blood, removing waste, and producing urine. Though treatment options depend on the type of cancer, the severity, and the location of any tumors, interventional radiologists often use percutaneous thermal ablation to heat the tumor and destroy cancer cells providing a non surgical curative treatment option.

Chronic Kidney Failure/Disease Requiring Temporary or Permanent Dialysis

Chronic kidney disease is the gradual loss of kidney function over time. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs responsible for filtering waste and excess fluids from your blood. When the kidneys are unable to function properly, dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes, and waste can build up in the blood. Dialysis, or renal replacement therapy, is the process of removing those unwanted toxins and waste products from the blood. Interventional radiologists place tunneled or non-tunneled venous catheters and maintain existing arterial-venous fistulas/grafts patency by performing balloon angioplasty and de-clot procedures.