At Weill Cornell Medicine, the Department of Interventional Radiology offers a wide range of services to help women, transgender, intersex and non-binary patients achieve optimal health for pelvic pain, uterine conditions, infertility and other conditions affecting the female reproductive organs.
If you are struggling with the symptoms related to uterine fibroids, pelvic congestion syndrome or chronic pelvic pain, you do not need to live in discomfort. The interventional radiologists at Weill Cornell Medicine are here to help you with minimally invasive treatment options.
Convenient, individualized care: Our physicians offer personalized care, tailoring your treatment to your medical history, lifestyle and wellness goals. We are especially skilled in minimally invasive procedures, which eliminate the need for open surgery and allow for shorter and less painful recovery times.
As a patient, you will receive around-the-clock coverage, as well as access to in-person, video or phone consultations. We strive to get our patients in quickly with minimal wait time.
Multidisciplinary care from leading experts: Weill Cornell Medicine is a leader in the field of interventional radiology, with a long tradition of expertise, innovation and leadership.
When you choose Weill Cornell Medicine, you have access to a network of doctors and specialists. Often, we work as part of a team of specialists, which may include radiologists, urogynecologists, gynecologists and other specialists. This ensures that you receive the most expert and comprehensive treatment possible.
Weill Cornell Medicine also partners with NewYork-Presbyterian, one of the top hospital systems in New York City and the U.S.
At Weill Cornell Medicine, interventional urologists use advanced imaging techniques to help diagnose and treat health conditions, including:
● Uterine fibroids: Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that usually appear between age 15 and 50. They can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged periods and pelvic pain.
● Pelvic pain: Chronic pelvic pain is defined as pain lasting greater than six months that is non cyclical. This has many potential causes, including varicose veins in the pelvic organs or pelvic congestion syndrome.
● Fallopian tube blockage: Occasionally, fallopian tubes may become plugged or narrowed. Such blockages do not allow eggs to pass from the ovary to the uterus, resulting in infertility.
● Adenomyosis: Adenomyosis is a condition that occurs when the cells that normally line the uterus grow into the muscular tissue of the uterine wall. The uterine wall becomes thicker, which can cause pain. The entire uterus may also enlarge.
At Weill Cornell Medicine, our team offers the most advanced and comprehensive treatments available, including:
Uterine fibroid embolization: Uterine fibroid embolization is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat fibroid tumors of the uterus. It is also called “uterine artery embolization.”
During this procedure, a catheter (long, thin tube) is inserted into a small cut in an artery in your thigh or wrist. Your interventional radiologist uses imaging technology to guide the catheter to the arteries that supply the fibroids with blood.
Your interventional radiologist will then use the catheter to deliver small particles, about the size of a grain of sand, into the blood vessel to stop blood flow. This stops blood from flowing to the fibroids, causing them to shrink and improving your symptoms and quality of life.
Uterine artery embolization for adenomyosis treatment: During this procedure, a catheter is inserted into a small cut in an artery In your thigh or wrist. Your interventional radiologist uses imaging technology to guide the catheter to the arteries that supply the uterine tissue causing the adenomyosis.
Your interventional radiologist will then use the catheter to deliver small particles into the blood vessel to stop blood flow. This stops blood from flowing to abnormal vessels in the uterine wall, causing blood to flow to other, healthier vessels. This will improve your symptoms and quality of life.
Pelvic pain treatment: Our interventional radiologists are able to perform a wide variety of treatments for chronic pelvic pain. If varicose veins are found in the pelvic organs, they can be embolized. During this procedure, your interventional radiologist will block blood flow to the affected veins by either inserting a small, metal coil or injecting medication using a catheter. By blocking blood flow to the affected veins, blood flows to other, healthier veins. This improves your symptoms and quality of life.
Fallopian tube recanalization: Fallopian tube recanalization (FTR) is a minimally invasive procedure to clear blockages in the fallopian tubes. Using imaging technology, a catheter is guided through your cervix and into one fallopian tube. Contrast dye is inserted with the catheter so that your interventional radiologist can see the blockage or narrowing clearly. Your interventional radiologist will then use another catheter or small wire to open the fallopian tube. If needed, the other fallopian tube will be examined and opened.
Whether you visit us virtually through a video visit or you see us in person, you can be assured that we will deliver the highest standards of care with compassion.
The physicians at the Weill Cornell Medicine Department of Interventional Radiology offer patients the highest level of safety and care. As a top-ranked academic medical center, you have access to our extensive network of specialists who provide seamless care throughout your treatment — to promote long-term physical and mental health.
Interventional radiology procedures generally do not receive general anesthesia. Instead, your care team will generally numb the incision area with a local anesthetic to minimize discomfort. Then, an intravenous (IV) line will deliver sedation, which will make you more comfortable and relaxed during your procedure. Some patients fall asleep during the procedure.
Your sedation level will depend on your specific procedure, age and medical condition:
● Minimal sedation: You will be drowsy but able to talk.
● Moderate sedation: You may fall asleep and be unaware of your surroundings for some of the procedure.
● Deep sedation: You will be asleep but will breathe on your own. You will have very little memory of the procedure.
Most procedures require a minimum recovery of four hours in our care (this is called an “outpatient procedure”). For other interventional radiology procedures, you may need to stay one night in the hospital before being discharged. Your care team will inform you of your expected recovery time prior to your procedure.
You will not be able to drive after your procedure. Be sure to arrange for someone else to accompany you to your procedure and take you home.
The length of time varies by procedure. Most interventional radiology treatments are minimally invasive procedures, which offer several benefits:
● Shorter procedures than traditional surgery
● Less exposure to anesthesia
● Smaller incisions
● Quicker recovery after the procedures
Most procedures require three healthcare professionals:
● Interventional Radiologist (MD)
● Radiology nurse
● X-Ray technologist
On occasion, a medical student and/or resident may be present
● Bring all medications in their labeled containers with you on the day of your procedure
● Blood work is required prior to most procedures
● Please ensure that you have not had anything to eat or drink after midnight the night before your procedure
● Shower or bathe the evening before or the morning of the procedure
● Please leave jewelry and other valuables at home; we are not responsible for items that you bring into the hospital
● Plan on being at the hospital for at least 4 hours
● Plan on resting for 12 hours post procedure
● Do not drink alcohol 48 hours before or after your procedure
● You MUST have a responsible adult to drive you home
● Do not operate a vehicle or heavy machinery for the remainder of that day after the procedure
You will receive instruction when scheduling the procedure and one to two days before the procedure that explains your medication and food restrictions. Our standard protocol when anticipating sedation is to not to eat or drink for eight hours before the procedure. You may have clear fluids (such as water) up to two hours before. If you eat anything less than eight hours, your procedure may be cancelled.
If you have a contrast allergy, there are medications that can be prescribed for you to take prior to your procedure to help protect you against your allergy. These medications can help block your body’s response to an allergen.
Because interventional radiology procedures are minimally invasive, the pain is much less than with traditional surgery. However, it is possible to experience minimal pain at the insertion site. Our care team will be sure to help manage your pain so that you feel as comfortable as possible.
Our office has a team of schedulers that can assist you in scheduling your procedure. The schedulers can be reached at (646) 962-5757.
While radiation does have safety concerns, your interventional radiologist will be specially trained in the safe use of radiation and on how to minimize the risks associated. Interventional radiologists use federal guidelines on the recommended safe doses to use during specific treatments.