Revolutionising Modern Treatments with Interventional Radiology
Dear readers, I am Prof. Dr. Aykut Recep Aktaş. My specialisation is Interventional Radiology, and I must emphasise that I am absolutely not a Urology specialist. In today's world, advancements in medicine are progressing at a breathtaking pace, and Interventional Radiology is one of the branches at the forefront of this progress. This field, which enables the treatment of many diseases with minimally invasive methods guided by imaging, offers patients less traumatic and faster recovery processes, bringing a new dimension to modern treatment approaches.
Compared to traditional surgical methods, these treatments, performed with smaller incisions or no incisions at all, using only needle entries, have become an effective and reliable alternative for treating many diseases. This means less pain for patients, shorter hospital stays, and a quicker return to daily life.
A Modern Alternative to Traditional Surgery
Interventional Radiology is a medical branch that involves diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed inside the body, guided by medical imaging (ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance, angiography). This allows for millimeter-level precision in reaching the target, focusing only on the diseased tissue and preventing damage to surrounding tissues. This minimally invasive approach also allows patients to avoid the risks of general anaesthesia in many cases.
A Wide Range of Health Solutions
The application area of Interventional Radiology is quite extensive. Ablation methods for cancer treatment (tumour burning or freezing), opening blocked vessels (angioplasty) and stent placement, and treatment of arterial aneurysms are significant parts of this field. Especially in the treatment of liver, kidney, lung, and bone tumours, ablation methods performed under local or regional anaesthesia, without the need for open surgery, significantly improve patients' quality of life.
The Treatment Process: A Detailed Look
Modern treatment methods applied with Interventional Radiology offer a personalised and controlled process for patients. For example, the treatment of fibroids while preserving the uterus with fibroid embolization, non-surgical treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia with prostate artery embolization, or vertebroplasty performed for spinal fractures are just some of the many procedures carried out with this approach. Before each procedure, a detailed medical evaluation of the patient is performed, and the exact location and size of the disease are determined using appropriate imaging methods (such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance).
The treatment process typically involves the following steps: Firstly, local anaesthesia is administered to ensure patient comfort; sometimes, light sedation may also be preferred. Under imaging guidance (usually real-time fluoroscopy or ultrasound), a thin catheter or probe is advanced into the body through a very small incision on the skin or just a needle puncture. These specialised instruments are guided to the target site of the disease, where energy-based treatments like radiofrequency ablation, microwave ablation, cryoablation, or substance-based treatments like embolization (blocking blood flow to cut off supply) are applied. The patient is closely monitored during and after the procedure. In most cases, patients can be discharged a few hours after the procedure or return to their normal lives after a short hospital stay.
The Future of Medicine is Shaped Today
Interventional Radiology has become an indispensable part of modern medicine due to its minimally invasive nature, precise targeting capabilities, and rapid recovery advantages. With technological advancements, innovations in this field continue unabated, offering effective solutions to many conditions previously thought untreatable. With our mission to improve patients' quality of life and offer more comfortable treatment options, we eagerly anticipate the future potential of Interventional Radiology.
To stay informed about current developments in this field and to learn more about personalised treatment options, Detaylı bilgi için Prof. Dr. Aykut Recep Aktaş ile iletişime geçin.