Geriatric Minimally Invasive Intervention Center
4 Floor, Geriatric Minimally Invasive Intervention Center Daily (7 days/week) - 07:00 - 20:00 +66 (0) 2378-9114 [email protected]
Safe care for complex conditions without the need for major surgery
Treating various conditions in the elderly requires greater care and consideration the older they get, especially when there are multiple underlying health conditions or when the body is not strong enough to withstand a major surgery.
At Samitivej Hospital's Geriatric Minimally Invasive Intervention Center in Bangkok, Thailand, we focus on caring for geriatric patients using modern treatment technology through minimally invasive interventions that avoid the need for major surgery.
These procedures require no large incisions, no general anesthesia, and no prolonged hospital stay, allowing for faster recovery, making them ideal for elderly patients with health limitations. We offer treatments for a range of conditions, including knee osteoarthritis, benign prostatic hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, and other organ masses, as well as emergency situations requiring bleeding control or drainage of infection. Care is provided by a highly experienced team of interventional radiology specialists, using advanced image-guided technology to ensure precise, safe and effective treatment.
Comprehensive treatment services with specialized technology by expert interventional radiologists
Each treatment has specific indications and cannot replace surgery in patients with severe or highly complex conditions. Doctors are responsible for determining the most appropriate treatment approach in each case.
- Genicular artery embolization (GAE) treatment for knee osteoarthritis: Suitable for patients with mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade II–III) who experience chronic knee pain that does not respond to medication, physical therapy or local injections, particularly in those who cannot undergo or do not wish to have total knee replacement surgery (TKA).
- Prostatic artery embolization (PAE) treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia:
Used for men with symptoms such as frequent urination, urinary incontinence, incomplete bladder emptying, or difficulty urinating due to moderate to severe prostate enlargement, especially when they cannot undergo TURP surgery or refuse surgical treatment. - Tumor Ablation: Cryoablation/Microwave/RF for destruction of liver, kidney or lung tumors: Suitable for patients with tumors no larger than 3–5 centimeters that have not spread to adjacent organs, particularly in those who cannot undergo surgery or have existing conditions that make surgery high-risk.
- This procedure is not appropriate for large tumors or those in close proximity to critical structures, such as major blood vessels or bile ducts, which may instead require surgery or combined radiation therapy.
- Breast tumor ablation for destruction of breast tumors: Used to destroy non-cancerous breast tumors such as fibroadenomas. One of the popular and widely used techniques in Thailand is cryoablation, which freezes the tumor from within using a small needle. Guided by ultrasound imaging, the doctor inserts the needle into the tumor and releases extreme cold at temperatures between -100 and -160 degrees Celsius to destroy the cells in the targeted area. Once the tumor cells are frozen and destroyed, the body’s immune system gradually absorbs and breaks down the tissue, causing the lump to shrink.
- Ablation therapy for thyroid nodules: This treatment is suitable for thyroid nodules, especially non-cancerous types such as benign thyroid nodules or thyroid goiters. A modern alternative to surgery is ablating the nodule using heat or chemicals without making any incisions. This procedure, called ablation therapy for thyroid nodules, can be performed under local anesthesia. Guided by ultrasound imaging, the doctor inserts a fine needle into the thyroid nodule and applies energy to destroy the cells within the nodule, causing it to shrink. This approach is ideal for patients with benign nodules no larger than 3–5 centimeters who experience pressure symptoms or discomfort, such as difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, or a persistent feeling of discomfort in the neck, and who prefer not to undergo surgery due to health or cosmetic reasons.
- Common techniques include microwave ablation (MWA) and alcohol ablation (PEI). Microwave ablation uses heats of approximately 60–100 degrees Celsius to precisely destroy the tissue within the nodule, while alcohol ablation involves injecting concentrated alcohol into the nodule to cause the cells to die and the nodule to shrink over a few months.
- The advantages of this treatment include no open wounds, no stitching, no damage to the surrounding healthy thyroid tissue, and no disruption to thyroid hormone levels. In many cases, it also helps patients avoid lifelong hormone replacement therapy.
- Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE): This treatment is suitable for patients with intermediate-stage liver cancer that has not spread beyond the liver and for those who cannot undergo surgery. The doctor injects chemotherapy drugs along with embolic agents to block the tumor’s blood supply, targeting and destroying the cancer cells locally.
- Image-guided biopsy: Used to diagnose tumors or abnormalities in the liver, lungs, kidneys, bones, or other organs by collecting tissue samples with a fine needle under image guidance (CT or ultrasound).
- Percutaneous drainage: Suitable for patients with pus, bile or fluid buildup in the abdomen or lungs due to infection or obstruction. A drainage tube is placed to reduce the risk of severe infection. If the fluid collection is located in an area that cannot be accessed through the skin or is surrounded by extensive scar tissue, surgery or endoscopic techniques may be required.
- Angiography with embolization: Used for patients with acute bleeding from the gastrointestinal tract, blood in the sputum, or bleeding caused by tumors with ruptured blood vessels, such as in liver, spleen, or kidney cancer. The doctor identifies the problematic blood vessels and stops the bleeding using targeted embolization. In cases of uncontrollable massive bleeding or severe organ rupture, emergency surgery may be required.