Interventional Radiology & Endoscopy

Through a combination of advanced imaging equipment and expert diagnosis, our veterinarians are now able to treat diseases of the heart, kidneys, urinary tract, lung and windpipe, certain liver disease with lower risk, less pain and a quicker recovery than with conventional surgical methods.

ACCESS is a leading provider of Interventional Radiology / Endoscopy procedures on the West Coast (and in the USA). Our interventional veterinarians lead the nation in experience with these world-class procedures to treat small animal ailments.

Veterinary Interventional Radiology

Interventional radiology (IR) involves the use of contemporary imaging modalities (primarily video x-ray, called fluoroscopy CT scans) to gain access to different structures of the pet’s body for diagnostic and therapeutic reasons.

Once a particular organ is imaged and a diagnosis made, our interventional specialists can use a variety of catheters, coils, stents, glue or other devices to remove masses, alter blood flow to organs, or safely deliver drugs directly to cancerous tissues.

Veterinary Interventional Endoscopy

Interventional endoscopy involves the use of endoscopes, small cameras which can be guided throughout the body via naturally existing orifices, often in conjunction with other contemporary imaging modalities, such as ultrasound or fluoroscopy. Guided by these images, the clinician can reach many parts of the body without the need for open surgery.

Endoscopy can be used in a variety of situation, such as biopsy, foreign body removal, feeding tube placements, bladder stone removal, and many more.

The Advantages of Interventional Radiology and Endoscopy

Interventional techniques have the potential to provide alternatives for our patients in whom conventional therapies are declined, not indicated, or associated with excessive morbidity, high cost, or poor outcome. Additionally, some of these techniques present treatment opportunities for patients with various conditions for which there may not be standard remedies.

Using these modalities, ACCESS provides non-surgical alternatives to many disease processes thereby decreasing mortality rates, minimizing anesthesia time, reducing hospital stays, lowering costs.

Interventional radiology and endoscopy procedures we perform:

Urinary Treatments:

• Antegrade urethral catheterization
• Cystourethrogram for diagnosis of urethral obstruction or rupture
• Cystoscopy
• Ectopic ureter ablation: available in both males and females
• Hydraulic occluder placement and maintenance
• Laser ablation of persistent mesonephric remnant (hymen)
• Laser lithotripsy for urethral and bladder stones
• Percutaneous cystotomy tube placement
• Sclerotherapy for idiopathic renal hematuria
• SUB (subcutaneous ureteral bypass) –in collaboration with our surgery department
• Ureteral stenting for stones/strictures/infection surgical or endoscopic placement
• Ureteral stricture/congenital malformation treatment
• Urethral bulking agent injections for incontinence refractory to medical management
• Urethral stenting for malignancy/strictures
• Urethral balloon dilation
• Voiding urohydropulsion

Respiratory Treatments:

• Biopsy and debulking of nasal, laryngeal, and tracheal tumors
• Bronchial/tracheal foreign body retrieval
• Nasopharyngeal stenosis balloon dilation
• Nasopharyngeal stenting for refractory/recurrent stenosis
• PleuralPort placement for chronic pleural effusion – in collaboration with our surgery department
• Thoracic duct and branch glue embolization for persistent chylothorax – in collaboration with our surgery department
• Tracheal stenting

Gastrointestinal Interventions:

• Capsule endoscopy
• Colonoscopy
• Duodenoscopy
• Endoscopic colonic mass debulking, biopsy, polypectomy
• Endoscopic duodenal mass debulking, biopsy polypectomy
• Endoscopic gastric mass debulking, biopsy, polypectomy
• Esophageal balloon (BE) tubes, indwelling treatment for esophogeal strictures
• Esophageal ballooning
• Esophageal feeding tube placement
• Esophagoscopy
• Gastrointestinal/GI endoscopy/biopsy
• Gastroscopy
• Low-profile gastrostomy tube replacement
• Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement (PEG tube)
• Rectal stricture treatment
• Surgical-assisted endoscopy of jejunum – in collaboration with our surgery department

Vascular Interventions:

• Vena Cava/Transcaval stenting for occlusions caused by thrombi or tumor