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Seattle, Washington, March 06, 2007 /PRNewswire/ — Research presented this week at the Society of Interventional Radiology's 32nd Annual Scientific Meeting highlighted: DVT Treatment – A new treatment for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) combines a clot-dissolving drug with a clot removal device, thus improving the breaking up and dissolving of a clot, which is then vacuumed out of the vein and into a catheter. This technique removes blood clots in the body faster, and reduces patient risk for pulmonary embolism and disability. Two million Americans develop DVT each year, a condition widely publicized following the death of NBC correspondent David Bloom in Iraq in 2003. Male Infertility – Among infertile couples, one out of three men have a varicocele, an enlarged vein in the scrotum and/or testicle. In a seven year study of 918 patients, nonsurgical embolization closed off the faulty vein so it no longer enlarged with blood, immediately alleviating the symptoms. The treatment was effective in 98 percent of the patients, offers a lower recurrence rate and much quicker recovery than surgery. Although widely available, this procedure is largely unknown and underutilized in the United States. Neck Pain – A new approach to cervical spinal steroid injections can reduce neck pain for patients with bulging discs or arthritis, as well as patients who continue to have pain after neck surgery. In addition to being an effective treatment for 83 percent of the patients studied, the approach was found to be safer than an alternative method or surgery without significant risk of paralysis and could become the gold standard for reducing patients' neck pain. Renal Cancer and Benign Bone Tumors – Interventional radiologists can deliver treatments for cancer directly to tumors without significant side effects or damage to nearby normal tissue, dramatically improving a patient's quality of life. Cryoablation, a procedure which actually freezes kidney tumors, offers patients with renal cell carcinoma a less traumatic treatment that can be repeated as needed. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a nonsurgical, outpatient treatment for benign bone tumors (osteoid osteomas) both destroys the tumor and eliminates debilitating pain—patients also avoided surgery, bone grafts and rehabilitation. Carotid Stenting – A second large study confirms the growing body of evidence that carotid stenting with embolic protection is safe and effective for patients at the highest risk for stroke. This treatment uses a stent with a connected small filter, known as embolic protection, to catch debris that might break loose during the procedure, thus minimizing procedure-related stroke. This research substantiated the low adverse event rates reported previously in the SAPPHIRE trial. Traumatic Aortic Injuries – According to two new studies, repairing a thoracic aorta with a stent-graft is minimally invasive, less traumatic and has a much lower risk of paralysis. The procedure does not require general anesthesia and patients have less problems with infection because there is no large chest incision. PAD Treatment Prevents Amputation – Research shows that angioplasty and stenting can prevent amputation and restore blood flow in the lower extremities of patients with severe critical limb ischemia and gangrene (tissue loss). The blockages were caused by peripheral arterial disease (PAD), "hardening of the arteries," the same disease which can lead to heart attack and stroke. At eighteen months, the tiny arteries below the knee remained open, with a ninety-one percent success rate, thus preventing amputation Interventional Radiologists Interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments. They offer the most in-depth knowledge of the least invasive treatments available coupled with diagnostic and clinical experience across all specialties. They use X-rays, MRI and other imaging to advance a catheter in the body, usually in an artery, to treat at the source of the disease non-surgically. As the inventors of peripheral angioplasty and the catheter-delivered stent, interventional radiologists pioneered minimally invasive modern medicine, and provide treatments that offer less risk, less pain and less recovery time compared to open surgery. More information can be found at www.SIRweb.org.

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Credits:	MultiVu
URL:	http://www.prnewswire.com/mnr/SIR/27024/
Tags:	27024 aortic benign bone cancer carotid dvt infertility injuries interventional multivu neck nonsurgical pad pain radiology renal society stenting traumatic treatments tumors

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