Department of Interventional Radiology - Marienhaus Hospital St. Elisabeth Neuwied

About the Department of Interventional Radiology at Marienhaus Hospital St. Elisabeth Neuwied

The Department of Interventional Radiology at the Marienhaus Hospital St. Elisabeth Neuwied offers all the possibilities of modern imaging diagnostics and specializes in effective image-guided therapeutic procedures. The department strictly adheres to radiation protection standards. Doctors work with state-of-the-art equipment, which provides them with highly accurate images with minimal radiation exposure to the human body. The specialists successfully perform therapeutic interventional procedures, the most popular of which are balloon angioplasty for the treatment of vascular stenosis and obstruction and embolization for cancer treatment. In collaboration with spinal surgeons, the department's doctors perform CT-guided blocks to treat chronic back pain. The department's medical team consists of 40 employees. All physicians are highly qualified experts and have vast experience. The medical facility cooperates closely with all departments at the hospital, providing patients with modern imaging diagnostic procedures. The department has a certificate from the German Society for Vascular Surgery and Vascular Medicine (DGG) and has ISO certification in the field of image-guided endovascular treatment. The department is headed by PD Dr. med. Götz Lutterbey.

Imaging examinations are an integral part of the diagnostic protocol for most diseases. In addition to classical X-ray, ultrasound, and fluoroscopy, the department offers high-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, digital subtraction angiography, etc. It is noteworthy that the department is the only medical facility in the region where an open MRI system for whole-body MRI is available. When using it, the patient is not placed in a closed tunnel of the MRI system, as in the course of a classical MRI. This is especially important for patients with claustrophobia, as the diagnostic examination in a closed tunnel may be very stressful for them. The department's specialists also perform image-guided biopsies and punctures. Before the examination, the doctor informs the patient about the procedure, its duration, and whether any restrictions should be observed before the diagnostic procedure.

As for the treatment, the key focus is on endovascular procedures for vascular occlusions and stenoses, as well as malignant tumors. The most effective method for eliminating vascular stenosis is balloon angioplasty. The procedure involves the insertion of a catheter with a special balloon into the affected blood vessel through an approach in the femoral or radial artery. The doctor positions the balloon in the pathological area of the blood vessel under imaging guidance and inflates it, thereby expanding the lumen of the blood vessel and normalizing blood flow. In most cases, stent implantation complements balloon angioplasty. This is a manipulation in which a stent (a miniature structure shaped like a frame) is placed in the lumen of the blood vessel to prevent recurrent vascular occlusion. As a rule, balloon angioplasty and stent implantation are performed under local anesthesia, but in rare cases, general anesthesia may be required. 

Tumor embolization is also a routine interventional procedure in the department. This type of treatment is recommended for patients with primary and secondary tumors in the liver, lungs, kidneys, uterus, and prostate. The therapeutic technique can be used either as a standalone approach or as a complement to surgery. During embolization, an interventional radiologist delivers a special catheter through a puncture in the femoral artery to the artery supplying the tumor and closes its lumen with emboli (special tiny particles), as a result of which the tumor is deprived of blood supply and dies. The department's specialists also perform chemoembolization, an alternative embolization method using emboli containing chemotherapy drugs. This procedure not only deprives the tumor of blood supply but also affects the tumor locally with chemotherapeutic agents, thus significantly enhancing the therapeutic effect.

The department's range of medical services includes:

• Imaging examinations
  • Classical and digital X-ray scans
  • Fluorography
  • Ultrasound examinations
  • Computed tomography (CT)
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Digital subtraction angiography
  • CT-guided biopsy and punctures
• Interventional therapeutic procedures
  • Balloon angioplasty followed by stent implantation
  • Embolization
  • Chemoembolization
  • Mechanical (thrombectomy) and drug (thrombolysis) treatment methods for thrombosis
  • CT-guided pain management for chronic back pain
• Other diagnostic and therapeutic options