Inspiring a Family of Pioneers: Two Generations Work Side by Side with the Latest Technology from Canon Medical Systems
ANGIORAD medical team
Dr. Carlos Abath is one of the world’s most well-known interventional radiology (IR) pioneers.
He has been a key figure in introducing IR to Latin American countries over the last 35 years. Dr. Abath founded ANGIORAD, an advanced IR center in Recife, Brazil, in 1990 to deliver cutting-edge interventional treatments to patients and form a base for a formal training program for young doctors interested in learning image-guided procedures. Today, ANGIORAD has a team of 12 interventionalists, including his daughter, Dr. Marília Abath, who joined the group five years ago. Over the years, Canon Medical Systems has collaborated with the Abath family on developing IR technology. VISIONS Special found out how well the latest systems meet everyday needs.
He has been a key figure in introducing IR to Latin American countries over the last 35 years. Dr. Abath founded ANGIORAD, an advanced IR center in Recife, Brazil, in 1990 to deliver cutting-edge interventional treatments to patients and form a base for a formal training program for young doctors interested in learning image-guided procedures. Today, ANGIORAD has a team of 12 interventionalists, including his daughter, Dr. Marília Abath, who joined the group five years ago. Over the years, Canon Medical Systems has collaborated with the Abath family on developing IR technology. VISIONS Special found out how well the latest systems meet everyday needs.
ANGIORAD medical team
Created in 1990 by Dr. Carlos Abath, ANGIORAD is a society of specialists in interventional radiology and endovascular surgery, who serve the main Hospital Centers of Recife. ANGIORAD has become synonymous with pioneering the development of interventional radiology and endovascular surgery in Brazil.
In addition to carrying out interventional procedures, the center has played an important role in educating IR professionals and bringing new IR knowledge and techniques to Brazil, by providing training opportunities for new IR professionals. Focused on technical mastery and the use of state-of-the-art equipment, without forgetting the ethical and human dimension of medicine, ANGIORAD has become well-known and respected, both nationally and internationally.
In addition to carrying out interventional procedures, the center has played an important role in educating IR professionals and bringing new IR knowledge and techniques to Brazil, by providing training opportunities for new IR professionals. Focused on technical mastery and the use of state-of-the-art equipment, without forgetting the ethical and human dimension of medicine, ANGIORAD has become well-known and respected, both nationally and internationally.
Early days of IR
Dr. Carlos Abath recalls how interventional radiology evolved in Brazil, starting at the end of the 1980s:
“At that time, the most common procedures were transcatheter angioplasties, embolization, vena cava filters, and percutaneous biliary drainages,” he remarked. “All of them were guided by digital angiography or fluoroscopy. Sometimes, we had to move to the Diagnostic Imaging Department, to perform cavity drainage using CT or ultrasound assistance.”
“In this way, our generation of interventional radiologists acquired a lot of skills on endovascular techniques, incorporating a variety of newly launched devices, such stents, endoprosthesis and embolic agents, he continued. “On the other side, the percutaneous non-vascular procedures remained on a secondary position until some years ago, when multidisciplinary oncologic treatment began to accelerate development.”
“At that time, the most common procedures were transcatheter angioplasties, embolization, vena cava filters, and percutaneous biliary drainages,” he remarked. “All of them were guided by digital angiography or fluoroscopy. Sometimes, we had to move to the Diagnostic Imaging Department, to perform cavity drainage using CT or ultrasound assistance.”
“In this way, our generation of interventional radiologists acquired a lot of skills on endovascular techniques, incorporating a variety of newly launched devices, such stents, endoprosthesis and embolic agents, he continued. “On the other side, the percutaneous non-vascular procedures remained on a secondary position until some years ago, when multidisciplinary oncologic treatment began to accelerate development.”
Dr. Carlos Abath and Dr. Marília Abath at the Alphenix 4D CT room at Real Hospital da Beneficência Portuguesa in Recife, Brazil
The emergence of a new subspecialty
In a short period of time, a new subspecialty started to emerge - interventional oncology -introducing ablation techniques as an alternative to surgical resection.
“Percutaneous biopsy, radiofrequency and microwave ablation, cryoablation and electroporation are now done routinely by the interventional team, using CT or ultrasound guidance,” said Dr. Carlos Abath. “However, in the early days of interventional oncology, hospital diagnostic imaging departments were unprepared to receive this increasing demand. In addition, it became inconvenient for interventionalists to split their work in two separate settings.”
“We found the solution for this major dilemma, creating a new complete interventional ambiance, that integrated angiography, CT, and ultrasound in the same room, through the installation of a hybrid equipment from Canon Medical Systems - the Alphenix 4D CT.”
“Percutaneous biopsy, radiofrequency and microwave ablation, cryoablation and electroporation are now done routinely by the interventional team, using CT or ultrasound guidance,” said Dr. Carlos Abath. “However, in the early days of interventional oncology, hospital diagnostic imaging departments were unprepared to receive this increasing demand. In addition, it became inconvenient for interventionalists to split their work in two separate settings.”
“We found the solution for this major dilemma, creating a new complete interventional ambiance, that integrated angiography, CT, and ultrasound in the same room, through the installation of a hybrid equipment from Canon Medical Systems - the Alphenix 4D CT.”
High-end solutions
Today, ANGIORAD can offer a wide range of interventional procedures, including vascular accesses, angiographies, embolization, stent implants, in addition to CT-guided biopsies, tumor ablation and percutaneous drainage at the same place. Its 12-strong team of highly trained specialists uses Alphenix 4D CT to ensure the best results and excellent care in several areas, including stroke, aneurysm, oncology, and vascular malformation.
“The advantages are clear, the use of percutaneous ablation and transcatheter embolization in a single stage, with correlation between angiography and axial images, results in a more effective and safer procedure,” said Dr. Carlos Abath. “Finally, I’m spending more time with my daughter, interchanging experiences, and skills. I’m proud of her competence, and sense of humanity. The excellent technology that unites two generations of Interventional Radiology and offers the best care for our patients”.
“My father and I have always shared common interests,” remarked Dr. Marília Abath. “As he was already working as an Interventional Radiologist when I was just one year old, the technology and innovations in the specialty have been a part of my life from a very early age.”
“As a child, when asked about his profession, I was fascinated and proud to gather an understanding of angiographies and embolizations,” she continued. “Not too long into my teenage years, I had the opportunity to shadow some of his procedures out of leisure and curiosity. My career choices naturally evolved from this, leading me to become an Interventional Radiologist at the beginning of 2019, focusing on interventional oncology, specializing in percutaneous procedures.”
“The advantages are clear, the use of percutaneous ablation and transcatheter embolization in a single stage, with correlation between angiography and axial images, results in a more effective and safer procedure,” said Dr. Carlos Abath. “Finally, I’m spending more time with my daughter, interchanging experiences, and skills. I’m proud of her competence, and sense of humanity. The excellent technology that unites two generations of Interventional Radiology and offers the best care for our patients”.
“My father and I have always shared common interests,” remarked Dr. Marília Abath. “As he was already working as an Interventional Radiologist when I was just one year old, the technology and innovations in the specialty have been a part of my life from a very early age.”
“As a child, when asked about his profession, I was fascinated and proud to gather an understanding of angiographies and embolizations,” she continued. “Not too long into my teenage years, I had the opportunity to shadow some of his procedures out of leisure and curiosity. My career choices naturally evolved from this, leading me to become an Interventional Radiologist at the beginning of 2019, focusing on interventional oncology, specializing in percutaneous procedures.”
“Today, working with my father is a deeply enriching experience.
Dr. Marilia Abath,
We spend considerable time together, discussing cases and performing joint procedures. I continue to learn from him daily about medicine, interventional radiology, and life.”
ANGIORAD, Brazil
A deeply enriching experience
Dr. Carlos Abath and Dr. Marília Abath performing together a complex interventional case
“Currently, technology enables us to perform hybrid procedures that combine percutaneous and endovascular access, and manage complex cases with significantly greater safety and quality, thereby promoting personalized, precise, and effective treatments,” she said. “The Alphenix 4D CT captivates us and continues to open new possibilities.”
Dr. Carlos Abath and Dr. Marília Abath performing together a complex interventional case
“We found the solution for this major dilemma, creating a new complete Interventional ambiance, that integrated angiography, CT, and USG in the same room, through the installation of a hybrid equipment from Canon Medical Systems - the Alphenix 4D CT.”
Dr. Carlos Abath,
ANGIORAD, Brazil
Training future generations of IR specialists
ANGIORAD is one of the few Training Centers in interventional radiology in Brazil. According to the profile, objectives, previous experience and availability of each professional, ANGIORAD offers different modalities of teaching such as internships in the specialties of interventional radiology and endovascular surgery and interventional neuroradiology, workshops on basic and advanced techniques. It also hosts national and international symposia that receive doctors from various states of the country, including doctors from abroad, and also performs medical consulting for other colleagues from all over Brazil and abroad.
Canon’s Angio-CT solutions
Canon’s Alphenix 4D CT offers more possibilities to deliver safer, better patient treatment. With a streamlined workflow in a single setting, there is no need to transfer patients between rooms, improving patient care and boosting productivity. Switch easily between CT and angiography systems to diagnose, treat or verify across a wide range of clinical applications.
Alphenix 4D CT seamlessly integrates our flexible Alphenix interventional system with the advanced Aquilion CT imaging suite into one versatile solution.
“The Alphenix 4D CT captivates us and continues to open new possibilities.”
Dr. Marilia Abath,
ANGIORAD, Brazil
Find out more about Canon’s Alphenix 4D CT system here:
https://global.medical.canon/products/angiography/alphenix/4dct
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