UCSF Neuro Interventional Radiology: A day in the life
This is the Angio suite, we were told as were escorted to meet Dr. Hetts. It is a room buzzing with a team of people preparing the patient, operating room, and equipment for the upcoming surgery. Dr. Hetts greeted us and we found a seat, trying to avoid getting in the way during this busy time. We were introduced to some of the other people in the room and told that the first case was an aneurysm that had not ruptured, which Dr. Hetts would treat with a minimally invasive technique called endovascular coiling. This technique involved advanced imaging techniques and processing, a self expanding stent and coils that would arrange themselves to prevent blood flow into the aneurysm.
We asked Dr. Hetts who would be in the operating room and angio suite during the procedure. He said his fellow, the anesthesiologist, a nurse, the radiologic technologist and in this case some industry representatives would all be there with him. “It takes a village — a range of skill sets to treat people safely and effectively” he said.
The procedure began by the surgeon using a catheter inserted at the groin to reach the artery containing the aneurysm. The visualization tools included fluoroscopy, a type of x-ray that allows for 3D visualization of the aneurysm and surrounding vasculature. Following the catheter insertion, a stent was placed in the artery and finally the coils were placed by Dr. Hetts in order to restore proper blood flow and preventing blood to continue flowing into the aneurysm.The rest of the surgery went smoothly and the patient was awake just a few minutes after the end of the surgery.
Other observed procedures in the Neuro Interventional Radiology department included several angiograms. An angiogram is the gold standard for evaluating blockage in the arterial system. It involves iodine dye as a contrast agent and allows the medical staff to visualize the patient’s vasculature and determine their treatment. These visualization techniques have been key in preventing aneurysm ruptures, which can be fatal to the patient. Technology, ranging from the imaging techniques to the coils that are biocompatible and designed to prevent flow into the aneurysm, has become a very important part in allowing the “village” of people to continue treating patients as safely as possible.
