Interventional Radiology and Interventional Endoscopy techniques have been widely utilized in human medicine for the past 20-30 years. Following the trends in human medicine, there is an ongoing effort to adapt and develop minimally invasive techniques for the management of various problems facing veterinary patients. Interventional Radiology involves the use of advanced imaging methods (Fluoroscopy, CT, and MRI) to gain access to different anatomical structures. Interventional Endoscopy involves the use of endoscopes (small cameras) which can be guided throughout the body via naturally existing orifices. Minimally invasive procedures offer the advantages of smaller incisions, decreased pain, shortened anesthesia times and shorter hospitalization as compared to traditional open surgical approaches.
Applications of Interventional Radiology and Interventional Endoscopy techniques currently available at NorthStar VETS include:
Tracheal Stents for tracheal collapse and tracheal malformations
Nasopharyngeal Stent for nasopharyngeal stenosis (both benign and malignant etiologies)
Urethral Stents for benign and malignant urethral strictures
Ureteral Stents
Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt
Chemoembolization
Other services being offered by the IR/IE Service:
Percutaneous Cystolithotomy (minimally invasive bladder stone removal)
Hydraulic Occluder for refractory urinary incontinence
If you have questions or would like to review a potential case, please don't hesitate to contact one or all of the members of the Interventional Radiology/ Interventional Endoscopy Department:
Interventional Radiology (IR) refers to a subspecialty of radiology in which advanced imaging techniques are utilized to guide the delivery of materials for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Veterinary IR procedures and case management are typically team efforts and are part of an initiative at NorthStar VETS directed toward providing advanced therapies for companion animals in a minimally invasive fashion. This approach to treatment facilitates shorter hospital stays, decreased pain, and a more rapid return to function. This new service will be helpful in providing patients with more options and is currently only available at our hospital.
On November 8, 2011 we performed our very first Interventional Radiology Case:
Jake is a 12 year old neutered Australian Shepherd who presented to Dr. Justin Guinan in the internal medicine service with a history of straining to urinate and bloody urine. His signs were progressive to the point where he was only dribbling urine and his bladder was very large and uncomfortable. He was unable to empty his bladder completely despite many attempts.
On ultrasound his prostate was found to be asymmetrically enlarged and mineralized (often a sign of cancer). It was suspected that Jake had a urethral obstruction secondary to prostatic neoplasia. Below is an ultrasound picture of Jake's prostate. The little white dots are mineralization in his prostate that can be a sign of cancer.
Ultimately, prostatic cancer is fatal but many dogs can enjoy a good quality of life for 6-12 months. Jake's inability to urinate made his condition immediately life threatening. In order for Jake to live, he needed a way to have his urethra opened to allow him to urinate normally. More traditional methods might have included surgery to make an opening from his bladder through his side. This procedure is invasive and has the potential for many complications.
The interventional radiology team, comprised of two surgical specialists, Drs. Garrett Levin and Ben Staiger, and an internal medicine specialist, Dr. Kimberly Hammer, placed a stent in Jake's urethra that opened up his urethra and allowed him to urinate normally. The procedure was done non-invasively (no surgical incisions) and Jake went home the next day urinating with a normal stream. Below are picture diagrams of the stent and how it fits into the urethra (Infiniti Medical LLC)
First, Jake is placed under general anesthesia. Then a procedure called a contrast cystourethrogram is performed. This involves injecting a dye into the urethra and looking at the diameter of his urethra. The dye shows up black on the fluoroscopy. Below is a video of the contrast cystourethrogram. The large black balloon like structure is his bladder. The area where the dye leaks out is around his prostate and you can see there is very little dye in this area where his urethra is obstructed.
Based on one of the frozen images from this movie, measurements are taken of the urethra to determine what size stent to place.
The interventional radiology and endoscopy team is now able to provide many procedures including urethral stenting, ureteral stenting, tracheal stenting, and anything else you can think of. Please contact any one of us if you have a case that you think you would benefit. If you are a pet owner and think our pet may have a condition that our team could help with, please have your veterinarian contact us to discuss your pet's condition further.
Did you know that both humans and animals carry around a first aid kit that is used every day to heal minor bumps, bruises, cuts and more serious injuries? These cells are called "adult" stem cells and can be found throughout the body. Adult stem cells are found in all tissues (fat, muscle, bone marrow, and brain) and have the ability to self renew and become different cell types. The most common source for harvesting adult stem cells in veterinary medicine is fat.
The cells patiently wait in the body for a signal to be deployed. They will then rush to the scene of the injury and begin the healing process. Though the body is a healing machine and we have the capability to heal naturally with our own stem cells, from time to time, some injuries or diseases become chronic and fail to really heal. Sometimes the body will simply settle for creating an ugly scar or walking off the injury just to get back to life. A perfect example of this compromise is arthritis: where the body accepts the inflammation and joints still function despite the increased levels of pain.
An injury like this slowly degenerates to the point where it causes severe pain and becomes dysfunctional. This is when you would take your pet to the veterinarian or go to the doctor and generally get prescribed medications to help you live with the chronic pain and inflammation. Before stem cell therapy, this was the only option available.
But, today, more than 1,700 dogs and 3,600 horses in the United States have been treated for tendon, ligament, and joint problems over the last six years with their own stem cells! More than 70% of these pets have had significant improvement in their quality of life and can return to running, jumping, swimming, or whatever physical activity their lifestyle might demand.
NorthStar VETS is proud to be on the frontier of advanced veterinary medicine by offering adult stem cell therapy to dogs and cats. Adult stem cell therapy can be used for the treatment of osteoarthritis, polyarthritis, tendonitis, and fracture repair. Since pets donate their own stem cells, therapy is extremely safe with less than 1% of patients having an adverse reaction. Your beloved pet with bad arthritis can be treated with their own stem cells at NorthStar VETS.
Joy Weinstein, DVM, DACVS, Garrett Levin, DVM, DACVS and Laura Culbert, DVM, DACVS have received advanced training utilizing adult stem cell therapy and are currently available for consultation regarding stem cell treatment at NorthStar VETS.
If you have questions or would like to review a potential case, please don't hesitate to contact one or all of the members of the Interventional Radiology/ Interventional Endoscopy Department:
Interventional Radiology (IR) refers to a subspecialty of radiology in which advanced imaging techniques are utilized to guide the delivery of materials for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Veterinary IR procedures and case management are typically team efforts and are part of an initiative at NorthStar VETS directed toward providing advanced therapies for companion animals in a minimally invasive fashion. This approach to treatment facilitates shorter hospital stays, decreased pain, and a more rapid return to function. This new service will be helpful in providing patients with more options and is currently only available at our hospital.
Did you know that both humans and animals carry around a first aid kit that is used every day to heal minor bumps, bruises, cuts and more serious injuries? These cells are called "adult" stem cells and can be found throughout the body. Adult stem cells are found in all tissues (fat, muscle, bone marrow, and brain) and have the ability to self renew and become different cell types. The most common source for harvesting adult stem cells in veterinary medicine is fat.
An injury like this slowly degenerates to the point where it causes severe pain and becomes dysfunctional. This is when you would take your pet to the veterinarian or go to the doctor and generally get prescribed medications to help you live with the chronic pain and inflammation. Before stem cell therapy, this was the only option available.
NorthStar VETS is proud to be on the frontier of advanced veterinary medicine by offering adult stem cell therapy to dogs and cats. Adult stem cell therapy can be used for the treatment of osteoarthritis, polyarthritis, tendonitis, and fracture repair. Since pets donate their own stem cells, therapy is extremely safe with less than 1% of patients having an adverse reaction. Your beloved pet with bad arthritis can be treated with their own stem cells at NorthStar VETS.
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