“ACIBADEM SISTINA” - INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY REGIONAL LEADING CENTER

04/10/2024

 Acibadem Sistina Hospital has grown into the only comprehensive center for interventional radiology in the Balkans, where all types of vascular and non-vascular interventional procedures, as well as all types of interventions for oncology patients, are performed in one place. What makes the center unique is the possibility all thermal ablative techniques to be performed in one place: radiofrequency, microwave and cryoablation.

The Interventional Radiology Department that performs all procedures is composed of highly qualified experts in the field of radiology with an emphasis on interventional radiology and is fully dedicated to the treatment of patients. The team is led by Ass.Prof. Aleksandar Gjoreski, MD, PhD, an interventional radiologist who is also a pioneer in performing large number of interventional radiological procedures in our country.

"We are proud to say that today in Acibadem Sistina a single and comprehensive center for interventional radiology operates where virtually all interventional procedures are performed, from biopsies and ports, through drainage procedures, ablations, esophageal and biliary stenting, thyroid ablation, embolizations , chemoembolizations, peripheral stenting of arteries and veins, TIPS, portomesenteric interventions up to neurointerventions such as endovascular treatment of brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations/fistulas, thrombectomy, treatment of spinal fistulas, etc. Patients have the opportunity to get literally everything in one place, from quick and precise diagnostics to quality treatment. " says Assoc. Dr. Gjoreski.

CRYOBLATION- TUMOR DESTRUCTION WITHOUT SURGERY

One of the latest ablative procedures that is performed with high quality in the hospital is cryoablation. It is a method in which tumor cells are destroyed by freezing the tissue. A thin needle is inserted into the tumor under computed tomography, MRI, ultrasound or fluoroscopy, and then the needles are connected to a special device and produce extremely low temperatures directly in the tumor tissue from -20 to -40, thus creating death of tumor cells, while the surrounding tissue remains healthy.

"Through several cycles of freezing and melting the ice, the tumor cells die and this allows us to target tumors in a minimally invasive way and in complex localizations in the body such as: kidneys, lungs, liver, bones, soft tissues, and in certain cases also on the pancreas. In certain cases, cryoablation is also used in the treatment of benign diseases, such as peripheral arterio-venous malformations and hemangiomas, desmoid tumors and endometriosis. Indeed, we are unique with cryoablation both in the country and in the region, because this is a modality that is not available even in Albania, Kosovo, Serbia, Bulgaria. I am proud of our department and the interventional radiology team, which consists of doctors, technologists, nurses, nursing assistants, who in a very short period of time mastered this technique and today it is a routine procedure for us... says Dr. Goreski.

NEURO INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY

The Interventional Radiology Center also successfully performs neuro-interventional procedures that achieve minimally invasive or endovascular treatment of abnormalities of brain blood vessels, which may cause hemorrhagic or acute ischemic stroke.

“Acibadem Sistina”, the only one in the country, meets all the conditions to be a comprehensive center for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. We have fast and most sophisticated diagnostic equipment available 24 hours a day, experienced treatment medical staff including intravenous thrombolysis, mechanical thrombectomy and intensive care. All this in one spatial unit and a multidisciplinary team of neurologists, neuroradiologists, radiologists, anesthesiologists, neurosurgeons, cardiologists, etc. The adequate personnel, material and organizational conditions enable the fastest flow from the onset of symptoms to the final treatment, which according to world standards should not take more than an hour, or from arrival at the emergency center to the treatment itself, sometimes even 30 minutes," says Dr. Gjoreski.

The hospital performs all types of minimally invasive treatments of brain aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and fistulas, stenoses and thrombosis of brain and neck arteries and venous sinuses, as well as spinal interventions, tumor embolizations and head and neck bleeding. What is particularly important to note is that the treatment of hemorrhagic strokes caused by vascular abnormalities is performed within the first 24 hours involving an experienced team of neurosurgeons and intensive care professionals.

RADIOFREQUENCY ABLATION OF NODES IN THE THYROID GLAND – NEW TREATMENT IN "ACIBADEM SISTINA"

Microwave or radiofrequency ablation is a novelty in the treatment of thyroid gland nodules worldwide, and recently the Acibadem Sistina Hospital has been a pioneer in performing it. To perform radiofrequency ablation of thyroid gland nodules, there must be strictly set indications, which are, first of all, a biopsy that is negative for malignancy, then the size of the nodule and its location, the discomfort.

The thyroid nodules ablation is also suitable for patients who are at increased risk of complications during surgical intervention, such as the elderly or those with more serious comorbidities. The procedure is suitable for patients who want to avoid surgery, thus avoiding complete anesthesia and hospital admission. This procedure is less invasive, thus allowing faster recovery and low risk of complications. The final decision on whether to use ablation as a method is made by a multidisciplinary team of specialist for thyroid gland, interventional radiologist and surgeon specialist in thoracic surgery.

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