IGT (Image-Guided Therapy)
Image-Guided Therapy (IGT) uses imaging techniques, such as X-rays, ultrasound, CT scans, and MRI, to guide minimally invasive procedures. The multidisciplinary staff working in the Image-Guided Therapy Centre includes interventional radiologists and fellows, interventional neuroradiologists, anaesthesiologists, surgeons, clinicians, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, medical radiation technologists and other support staff (e.g., administration, database, hospital support staff). These health-care providers are skilled and experienced in delivering safe and effective procedures for our paediatric population.
What to expect
- You and your child will check in with the receptionist at the front desk then wait in the waiting area.
- The clinic nurse will then call you and your child into the clinic and perform a health assessment on your child, which includes checking vital signs (temperature, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood pressure) and weight.
- You and your child will be provided with a detailed description of the procedure and an overview of your child’s expected course in the hospital.
- If your child requires general anesthesia or sedation, fasting instructions will be reviewed. If other consultations with other health-care providers are needed you will be notified.
- The interventional radiologist will discuss the risks and benefits of the procedure, answer any questions, or concerns you may have related to it, and obtain informed consent.
Procedures
IGT sees over 6000 patients annually and performs various interventional procedures. VIew AboutKidsHealth to learn more about each of our procedures.
- Abscess drainage
- Abdominal drainage
- Chest tube insertion using image guidance
- Tunnelled chest tube insertion for long term drainage of pleural effusion
- Angiography
- Angiography +/- stenting
- Cerebral Angiogram
- Endovascular intervention for acute ischemic stroke
- Intra-arterial chemotherapy for retinoblastoma
- Endovascular embolization
- Embolization of bleeding vessels
- Thrombectomy +/- Thrombolysis
- Arthrography
- Joint and tendon injections
- Ablation of lesions within the liver or kidney
- Ablation of osteoid osteoma (laser or cryoablation)
- Botox injections into salivary glands
- Botox injections (intramuscular) for spasticity in children
- Esophageal dilatation
- Gastrostomy and Gastrojejunostomy tube insertions, management and removal
- Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography
- Biliary dilatation +/- stenting
- Lumbar puncture
- Lung tattooing
- Myelogram
- Nephrostomy insertion
- Bone biopsy
- Kidney biopsy
- Liver biopsy (percutaneous)
- Liver biopsy (trans jugular)
- Lung biopsy
- Thyroid biopsy/FNA (fine needle aspiration)
- Skin and muscle biopsy
- Spinal biopsy
- PICC insertion and removal
- CVL insertion and removal
- Dialysis catheter insertions (tunnelled and non-tunnelled)
- Port insertion and removal
- Endovenous laser therapy
- Sclerotherapy of vascular anomalies
- Embolization of vascular anomalies
- Embolization of Pulmonary AVMs
- Treatment of Complex Vascular Anomalies
- Varicocele embolization
IGT research & education opportunities
We offer extensive research and educational opportunities within our department. For more information, visit the DIR Education & Research page.