Overview
The Interventional Radiology Program at Rady Children’s offers patients minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat various medical conditions. With the combined expertise of radiology and more precise interventional procedures, our program offers children less invasive alternatives to traditional surgery. This gentler approach is especially important for children with smaller, growing bodies.
Conditions
Our expert team at Rady Children’s Hospital within our interventional radiology program specializes in addressing a wide range of complex conditions affecting children. We collaborate with medical professionals from other program services to provide tailored solutions for conditions such as vascular conditions, various lymphatic issues, and many others.
- Vascular anomalies
- Lymphatic and chylous leakage
- Soft tissue or bone tumors
- Deep venous clots, including thoracic outlet syndrome and May-Thurner Syndrome
- Transplant complications
- Difficult vascular access
- Pleural effusions or ascites
- Pneumothorax
- Infected fluid collections (abscesses)
Treatment
- Specially trained pediatric interventional radiologists use various imaging modalities, including ultrasound and low-dose X-ray (fluoroscopy), to guide minimally-invasive procedures such as:
- Sclerotherapy: Injections to treat venous and lymphatic malformations using small needles.
- Angiography: A medical test that uses dye and X-rays to see inside blood vessels.
- Embolization: A procedure to block blood vessels using tiny particles or glue.
- Drainage of abscesses or fluid collections: Inserting a thin tube to remove pus or fluid from lumps or pockets to help healing.
- Biopsies: Taking a small sample of tissue from the body to examine it under a microscope to diagnose diseases or conditions.
- Gastrointestinal procedures: Placing gastrojejunostomy (GJ) feeding tubes.
- Ablation: Treating bone and soft tissue tumors with radiofrequency, microwave or cryoablation (freezing).
- Lymphangiography – Evaluating and treating lymphatic leakage into the chest or abdomen.
- Vascular access – Placing catheters for hemodialysis or ports for long-term medication infusions.
Using real-time imaging helps our skilled specialists use small tools like needles and tiny tubes for procedures instead of open surgery. It lets our team precisely treat specific areas, so your child feels less pain, recovers faster, and has tiny scars or even no scars at all. Many times, these treatments don’t need a hospital stay. Plus, our advanced imaging technology helps us diagnose complex issues while keeping your child’s exposure to radiation low.
Integration with The Dickinson Image-Guided Intervention Center
In conjunction with our commitment to advancing pediatric care, Rady Children’s Hospital seamlessly integrates the expertise of the Pediatric Interventional Radiology Program with the groundbreaking capabilities of The Dickinson Image-Guided Intervention Center. This collaborative approach benefits significantly from the cutting-edge imaging technology housed within the center.
The novel real-time magnetic resonance imaging technology, featuring 3D real-time MRI created by Siemens AG, enhances our ability to perform minimally invasive, image-guided procedures. This synergy empowers our team to provide even more precise diagnoses and treatments, ultimately benefiting children with complex conditions.
Our Team
Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego is ranked a top 10 children’s hospital by US News & World Report 2023-24. Rady Children’s pediatric interventional radiology program is led by Rush Chewning, MD, who has more than 10 years of dedicated subspecialty expertise and completed fellowships in both adult and pediatric interventional radiology. Additionally, we work collaboratively with other program services including our Heart Institute, Interventional Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Nephrology, Liver transplant and Pediatric Surgery to provide a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach to the care of our patients and their families. This specially trained team includes pediatric interventional radiologists, anesthesiologists, registered nurses, radiologic technologists, and more.
Dr. Chewning is the Medical Director of the Pediatric Interventional Radiology Program at Rady Children’s. With over 10 years of subspecialty expertise that includes dedicated fellowships in both adult and pediatric Interventional Radiology, Dr. Chewning has honed his expertise as a health professional over years of practice. Notably, he spent the last six years as an attending physician and served as the Associate Fellowship Director for Pediatric Interventional Radiology at Boston Children’s Hospital, where he specialized in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with complex cases, including vascular anomalies, transplant complications, lymphatic leakages, thoracic outlet syndrome, and more. Dr. Chewning obtained his medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He completed his radiology residency at the University of Washington, where he also completed a Vascular and Interventional Radiology fellowship before a second fellowship in Pediatric Vascular and Interventional Radiology at Boston Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Yoo is a board-certified adult and pediatric vascular & interventional radiologist (IR). He received his training for both adult and pediatric IR at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. His interests within interventional radiology include the diagnosis and treatment of vascular anomalies and syndromes, vascular reconstruction, transplant interventions, and interventional oncology. He also has a passion for teaching and medical student/resident education and has received numerous teaching awards.
Contact
For inquiries or referrals to the Pediatric Interventional Radiology Program at Rady Children’s Hospital, please feel free to reach out to us:
Phone: 858-966-8863
E-mail: refsvc@rchsd.org
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Pediatric Interventional Radiology at Rady Children’s Hospital
1. What is Pediatric Interventional Radiology?
Pediatric interventional radiology (IR) uses minimally invasive, image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat various conditions in children. These procedures are designed to reduce pain, recovery time, and scarring compared to traditional surgeries.
2. What conditions can the Pediatric Interventional Radiology Program treat?
Our program specializes in diagnosing and treating a range of conditions, including:
- Vascular anomalies
- Lymphatic and chylous leakage
- Bone and soft tissue tumors
- Deep venous clots (e.g., May-Thurner Syndrome)
- Transplant complications
- Pleural effusions, pneumothorax, and ascites
- Infected fluid collections (abscesses)
- Difficult vascular access and more
3. What procedures are performed in the Pediatric IR Program?
We offer a variety of procedures, including:
- Angiography: Visualizing blood vessels using dye and X-rays.
- Sclerotherapy: Treating venous and lymphatic malformations.
- Ablation: Destroying tumors with radiofrequency, microwave, or freezing techniques.
- Biopsies: Taking tissue samples for diagnosis.
- Drainage of abscesses: Removing infected fluid collections.
- Lymphangiography: Evaluating and treating lymphatic leakage.
- Vascular access: Placing catheters or ports for long-term care.
4. What imaging technologies are used during procedures?
Our specialists use advanced imaging tools, including low-dose X-ray (fluoroscopy), ultrasound, CT scans, and real-time 3D MRI, to ensure precision while minimizing radiation exposure for your child.
5. What are the benefits of minimally invasive procedures?
Minimally invasive procedures mean:
- Less pain and faster recovery
- Smaller scars or no scars at all
- Reduced need for hospital stays
- Precise targeting of treatment areas
6. Who is part of the care team for pediatric interventional radiology?
Our multidisciplinary team includes pediatric interventional radiologists, anesthesiologists, registered nurses, radiologic technologists, and child life specialists who ensure your child’s comfort and care throughout the process.
7. Who leads the Pediatric Interventional Radiology Program?
The program is led by Dr. Rush Chewning, an experienced pediatric interventional radiologist with over a decade of expertise. Dr. Raphael Yoo, a board-certified adult and pediatric interventional radiologist, also brings specialized training and a passion for patient care and education.
8. How does the program integrate with The Dickinson Image-Guided Intervention Center?
Our collaboration with The Dickinson Image-Guided Intervention Center allows us to use cutting-edge 3D MRI technology to provide precise diagnoses and treatments for even the most complex conditions.
9. What should I expect during my child’s procedure?
Your child’s procedure will be performed by specially trained pediatric interventional radiologists using small tools like needles and catheters. Most procedures are completed without open surgery and often don’t require an overnight hospital stay.