Department of Radiology
Whinney Heys Road
FY3 8NR Blackpool Lancashire

Tel: 01253 6635
Fax: 01253 306621

How to Find Us

Head of Department
Dr. Roger Bury
Telephone: 01253 903615
Fax: 01253 909999

Blackpool Victoria Hospital
Ultrasound
01253 306645
Nuclear Medicine
01253 303919
CT/MR Scanning
01253 306619
Barium/Fluoroscopy
01253 303545
Mammography
01253 306984

Fleetwood Hospital
 X-ray & Fluoroscopy
01253 306004
Ultrasound
01253 303146

Clifton Hospital
 X-ray
01253 657010
Ultrasound
01253 306645

Information for Patients

Click on the appropriate link for more information about our special investigations.

 

 

 






Interventional - Arterial Stenting

Interventional radiology uses images (x-ray, fluoroscopy, ultrasound or CT) to target treatments.  Treatments are minimally invasive, reducing the need for open surgery, thus reducing the time you need to stay in hospital.  Your scan is carried out by an interventional radiologist.  He or she uses catheters and small instruments which are often fed through blood vessels to treat areas in other places of the body. 


During angioplasty, a small wire mesh tube called a stent may be permanently placed in the newly opened artery or vein to help it remain open. There are two types of stents: bare stents (wire mesh) and covered stents (also commonly called stent grafts).

Vascular stenting is commonly used to treat conditions that involve a narrowing or blockage of arteries or veins throughout the body.

You will be admitted to a ward prior to the treatment and may need to stay in hospital overnight.

We typically recommend that you do not eat or drink anything except water for six hours before the procedure.  You can drink water up to 2 hours before the procedure.  Take all medication as normal, however if you are taking medicines such as blood thinners (warfarin, aspirin or clopidogrel), these may need to be altered around the time of your scan. 

Contact your GP or please feel free to telephone us if you have any questions or concerns about your medications. 

If you are an asthmatic or suffer from angina please bring your inhaler(s) and medication with you.

 

 

The following investigations involve exposure to x-rays.  X-rays consist of a type of radiation known as ionising radiation.  The doses that are used in medical x-rays are very low and the associated risks are minimal.  We keep the doses as low as possible and make sure that the benefits of having the x-ray outweigh any risk.  Furthermore, the contrast dye that is used contains iodine, which some people are allergic to.  If you have had an allergic reaction to x-ray contrast in the past of if you have a known allergy to iodine, please let us know.  The contrast dye can affect kidney function, but a pre-procedure blood test will be performed to assess your kidneys' function.

As with all skin-piercing procedures, wound infections are possible.

 

You will be positioned on the examining table and will be connected to monitors that track your heart rate, blood pressure and pulse during the procedure.

A radiographer will place a cannula into a vein in your hand or arm so that sedative medication can be given intravenously. Moderate sedation may be used.

The area of your body where the catheter is to be inserted will be shaved, sterilized and covered with a surgical drape. The area will be numbed with a local anaesthetic. Once numbed, a very small skin incision is made at the site.

A sheath is first inserted into the artery. Guided by x-rays, the catheter is then inserted through the skin and manoeuvred through the artery until it reaches the site of the blockage. Once the catheter is in place, contrast dye will be injected and images will be taken of the blocked artery to help identify the site of the blockage.

With x-ray guidance, a guide wire will then be moved to the site. A stent, which is a small, flexible tube made of plastic or wire mesh to support the damaged artery walls may be placed.

At the end of the procedure, the catheter will be removed and pressure will be applied to stop any bleeding. The opening in the skin is then covered with a dressing. No sutures are needed.

After the exam, you can eat and drink straight away, but a few hours of bed rest (typically 3-4 hours) is necessary. Typically, we prefer that our patients do not shower for at least 24 hours and do not drive or do any form of strenuous exercise for 48 hours after the procedure.