IA injections are commonly used in medical procedures such as:
- Coronary angiography: During a coronary angiogram, a contrast agent is injected into the coronary arteries to visualize blockages or narrowing that can lead to heart attacks.
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI): In a PCI procedure, which includes angioplasty and stenting, an IA injection of contrast is performed to assess the coronary arteries before and after the intervention to ensure proper blood flow has been restored.
- Peripheral angiography: IA injections can also be used in the visualization of narrowing or blockages in the arteries supplying blood to the limbs, such as those in the legs (femoral and popliteal arteries) or the arms (brachial and radial arteries). This helps in diagnosing conditions like peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
- Chemoembolization: IA injections are used to deliver chemotherapy drugs or embolic agents directly to a tumor through the arteries that supply it, such as in the liver (hepatic arterial chemoembolization) or other organs.
- Vascular interventions: IA injections may also be used in therapeutic interventions such as thrombolysis (clot-busting drugs), vasodilators (to widen arteries), or balloon angioplasty (mechanical widening of arteries) to treat conditions such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT), arteriovenous malformations, or vascular aneurysms.
IA injections are typically performed by interventional radiologists or cardiologists using specialised catheters and X-ray guidance to ensure precise targeting of the specific artery. It requires expertise and careful planning to minimise potential risks.