(from www.sirweb.org)

IR delivers reduced risk, less pain, and shorter recovery times.

Interventional radiology (IR) or Angiography, is the minimally invasive, image-guided treatment of medical conditions that once required open surgery.

By harnessing the power of advanced imaging (ultrasound, X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and other innovative methods), interventional radiologists can see inside your body and treat complex conditions—even cardiovascular disease and cancer—less invasively and with unprecedented precision. The result? IR can reduce the length of hospital stays, minimize potential complications and save lives.

Today, interventional radiology is synonymous with modern medicine. Interventional radiologists are on the front lines of clinical advances and use of the latest image-guided technologies. They are board-certified physicians who are trained in both radiology and minimally invasive therapies. Interventional radiologists work across the body to deliver minimally-invasive treatments for a variety of conditions.

In modern medicine, IR procedures have replaced the need for surgery in many situations. IR procedures can typically be performed without general anesthesia, without scars, and with much shorter recovery time and return to normal activities. In many situations, IR procedures also carry significantly lower risks than with traditional surgery.

The Jerusalem Vascular Anomalies Clinic utilizes the most advanced imaging equipment and cutting-edge technology available, in order to help you get better. Led by Dr. Farkas, the clinic boasts 4 fellowship-trained, attending IR physicians who are devoted fully to the field of IR. We have been trained in the most prestigious institutions in the world, including Harvard Medical School, University of Pennsylvania, and University California-San Francisco.

We perform well over 3,000 minimally-invasive procedures per year, and see close to 1,000 patients in our clinic per year. We believe in patient-centered medicine, where your comfort is at the center of every decision we make.  We also know that being sick and having an invasive procedure are scary and stressful.

We believe that all members of our team are integral to your care, and make sure that every one of our staff members, including our secretaries, technologists, nurses, and physicians are dedicated to caring for you with the utmost compassion and empathy. We also believe in the value of training the next generation of IR physicians and prioritize the training of IR residents and fellows, as well as visiting physicians.

We are involved in clinical research in order to help advance the field of IR, and believe that continuous learning for all of our staff is essential. We regularly present information at national and international medical conferences.  In short, we believe that the combination of our dedicated and highly-trained staff, cutting-edge technology, extensive experience, and devotion to your health, makes us the best IR department in the country.

Most IR procedures do involve the use of ionizing radiation (XRAYs) in order to “see inside” your body. With modern machinery and radiation reducing techniques, the amount of radiation that you are exposed to during an IR procedure is usually minimal, similar to flying on an airplane or having a chest XRAY. Special radiation precautions are taken when treating children or women of child-bearing age.

IR is at the forefront of modern medicine, and offers patients the opportunity to be treated with unprecedented precision, with minimal risk, and with rapid recovery times. IR is, however, a relatively new field in medicine, and the number of highly-trained IR physicians in Israel is quite small. The general public, and even many physicians are not aware of all that IR physicians have to offer their patients.

Please call 02-564-5634 and ask for an appointment in Dr. Farkas’s private clinic in Jerusalem. Please bring any prior records or imaging studies (on an original disc from the place where the imaging study was performed) on the day of your visit. Your visit is likely covered in full or in part by your kuppa or medical insurance. Our scheduling coordinator will be happy to explain the details.

Once you are seen in Dr. Farkas’s clinic and are determined to be a candidate for an IR procedure, the procedure will be scheduled with our scheduling coordinator. Typically an appointment can be given within a few weeks time. Most procedures are covered by your kuppat cholim. You will have the option of doing the procedure via “sharap” which allows you to guarantee that Dr. Farkas (as opposed to another physician in the department) performs your procedure. Doing the procedure via “sharap” is generally covered by private insurance and involves a co-payment if done via kuppat cholim. Our scheduling coordinator will be happy to explain the details.

Most procedures  take about 1 hour, during which you may be partially sedated (partially asleep). You will then go home about an hour  after the procedure. Most patients can expect to return to normal activities within 1-2 days.

Depending on your condition and the type of procedure you had performed, your physician will determine what type of follow up you need. Follow up clinic visit can be arranged at 02-564-5634.

If you have difficulty breathing or acute swelling of your arms or legs after an IR procedure, you should go immediately to the nearest emergency room. For non-emergent questions or concerns, you can always call us at 02-564-5634 or 02-655-5014. One of our physicians will make every effort to either answer your call, or get back to you on the same day. We can often answer your questions over the phone, but may ask you to come in to our clinic for evaluation.