About the Department of Interventional Radiology at Hospital Oberberg Waldbrol
The Department of Interventional Radiology at the Hospital Oberberg Waldbrol specializes in high-precision imaging tests and image-guided interventional therapeutic procedures. The department has at its disposal state-of-the-art technical equipment: the Siemens SOMATOM Definition Flash 256-slice CT scanner, digital angiography devices, digital X-ray systems, and ultrasound scanners. All diagnostic results are stored in a database in digital format. Imaging diagnostics are most often conducted on an outpatient basis, and therapeutic procedures are performed on an inpatient basis. The most popular intervention in the department is percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty with follow-up stent implantation. This therapeutic procedure can effectively eliminate vascular stenoses and obstructions, with access provided through femoral artery puncture. The department employs experienced physicians who have all the necessary resources at their disposal to provide patients with qualified medical care. The department is headed by Dr. med. Markus Spanagel.
In the field of radiology, the efficiency of medical services largely depends on the equipment, so the department regularly updates its technical base. For example, computed tomography is performed on the very latest device, the SOMATOM Definition Flash by Siemens. This is a high-class CT scanner with two radiation sources, which allows for obtaining images of the whole body in a matter of seconds. As a rule, the CT scanner is used in the diagnosis of suspected tumors, herniated discs, vascular malformations, and for monitoring patients after stroke.
The department offers well-developed digital X-ray diagnosis, which is used to examine the bones and joints, chest organs (lungs and heart), gastrointestinal tract, and urinary tract. The department's specialists are proud of their successful experience in the field of functional gastrointestinal diagnostics. The priority focus of the department's work also includes digital mammography, supplemented by sonography and ultrasound-guided biopsy.
As for the treatment, the most popular procedure in the department is percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty followed by stent implantation. The intervention is performed under imaging guidance with an approach through a femoral artery puncture. The endovascular procedure is performed using a special catheter with a built-in miniature balloon; the catheter is delivered under imaging guidance through the vascular channel to the area of blood vessel stenosis, after which the balloon is placed and inflated. As a result, the lumen of the affected blood vessel is dilated, and normal blood flow is restored. To prevent recurrent stenosis after balloon removal, a stent is also placed in the lumen of the blood vessel during the procedure; it expands and keeps the blood vessel open.
The department's doctors regularly perform lysis therapy (thrombolysis) and percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy to remove blood clots. Both interventional procedures are performed under imaging guidance using catheter-based techniques. The essence of the treatment is to inject an anticoagulant into the thrombosed area of the blood vessel. The blood clot dissolves under the local effect of the drug, and the blood flow normalizes.
The department's range of medical services includes:
- Diagnostic services
- X-ray scanning
- X-ray scanning of the skeletal bones
- X-ray scanning of the gastrointestinal tract
- X-ray scanning of the respiratory tract
- Ultrasound examinations
- Breast mammography and sonography
- Computed tomography of the heart, skull, chest, abdomen, spine, and upper and lower extremities
- Phlebography
- Angiography
- X-ray scanning
- Therapeutic services
- Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty followed by stent implantation
- Lysis therapy (thrombolysis) and percutaneous aspiration thrombectomy
- Drainage of abscesses in various locations
- CT-guided punctures
- Other diagnostic and treatment methods
Photo of the doctor: (c) Klinikum Oberberg GmbH