Interventional Radiology & Interventional Endoscopy (IR-IE)

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A first of it's kind in Australia

This is an exciting and emerging area of veterinary medicine that focuses on procedures for pets that are ‘minimally invasive’, i.e., not traditional open surgery.

Our dedicated interventional radiology department is the first of its kind in Australia. We use a combination of endoscopy (tiny cameras), fluoroscopy (continuous x-ray), CT scan and ultrasound to view areas of the body, then with specialist instruments, laser fibers and tools that fit within our endoscopes, we can correct many diseases without the need for a scalpel blade.

This is certainly the movement in human medicine and we are not far behind in the veterinary world. Often we collaborate with human specialists for some advanced procedures.

A stent is a tube that can be placed within a blocked canal, duct or blood vessel to relieve obstruction and restore function. We use stents in weakened airways (collapsing trachea), in the urinary tract that is blocked due to stones, scarring or cancer or in major vessels to repair liver shunts or bypass blood clots. Each stent is highly specific for its purpose which means we have to be heavily stocked and ready to go.

Our laser equipment allows us to operate internally to repair urinary tract problems such as ectopic ureters, open tight airways, or ‘debulk’ tumor tissue or polyps. An ectopic ureter is a condition typically in female dogs that leads to urine leakage as the ureter bypasses the bladder where urine should be stored. Traditional surgery has higher complication rates, less chance of successful outcomes, and prolonged recovery time. With laser surgery via an endoscope, we can get them in and out in one day.

We are now able to treat some inoperable tumors, particularly of the liver, with specialised chemicals directed down the vessels that supply the cancer. This stops blood supply to the cancer and can deliver chemotherapy at the same time, which means your pet won’t have the typical side effects. At VSOS, we pride ourselves on being leaders in veterinary interventional radiology. We have invested in the latest equipment to diagnose internal injury and disease, and we can perform several procedures including:

  • Cystoscopic-assisted laser ablation (CLA) of ectopic ureters for urinary incontinence.
  • Laser-assisted turbinectomy (LATE) for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS).
  • Urethral bulking for urinary incontinence using collagen
  • Ureteral stent placement for blocked ureters.
  • Percutaneous cystolithotomy (PCCL), minimally invasive removal of bladder stones.
  • Stone basket retrieval for bladder and urethral stones.
  • Percutaneous Transvenous Coil Embolisation (PTCE) for intrahepatic shunts (IHPSS).
  • Tracheal and / or bronchial stents for collapsing airways
  • Nasopharyngeal stenosis stenting
  • Flexible urethroscopy in male dogs.
  • Transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE) of inoperable liver tumours.
  • Prostatic arterial embolisation (PAE) for prostatic and bladder cancers.
  • Vascular stenting for major blood clots and tumours to restore blood flowand many more exciting procedures on the horizon.
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World Class Care

As a vet, of course you want to provide the best surgical care for your patients. But it’s not always possible for you to make the big investment in the latest technology for your small practice.

And interventional radiology is a considerable cost. What’s more, you need specialist skills to utilise the machinery successfully.

That’s why you can rely on the VSOS team. We have the expertise and the latest interventional radiology equipment in our state-of-the-art hospital to give your patients the best specialist care they need.

VSOS is a trusted partner for vets all over Sydney because we genuinely partner with you in providing interventional radiology treatment to your patient.

We involve you in the care from the outset and work in partnership with you to deliver the right specialist care and recovery for your patients.

Patient stories

“Karina, and all of the vet nurses and vet specialists at VSOS, have such incredible empathy."
On the hardest day of Jimmy Barnes' life, the VSOS team was there.

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