General IR
Biopsies, drains, tubes and lines, placed with image guidance.
Everyday procedures that avoid surgery: biopsies, drains, feeding tubes, kidney and bile duct tubes, central lines and ports.
- Local anesthetic or sedation
- Usually outpatient
- Care at home explained
On imagingFluoroscopy (live X-ray) during a nephrostomy: contrast outlines the kidney and the tube.
Conditions and treatments
Each page explains what is happening in your body, your options, what the procedure is like and how recovery goes.
Diagnostic procedures
Interventional urology
Nephrostomy tube
A thin drain from the kidney through the back that relieves a blockage or infection.
Learn more →
Ureteral stent
A soft internal tube from kidney to bladder that keeps urine flowing, with no outside bag.
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Nephroureteral stent
One tube from the back to the bladder that can drain to a bag or be capped for internal flow.
Learn more →Biliary interventions
Biliary drain
A thin tube through the liver that drains blocked bile, easing jaundice, itching and infection.
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Percutaneous biliary stone removal
Remove bile duct or gallbladder stones through an existing drain track, without surgery.
Learn more →Biopsies & drainage
Feeding tubes
Gastrostomy tube (G tube)
A feeding tube into the stomach, placed with X-ray guidance through a small opening.
Learn more →
Gastrojejunostomy tube (GJ tube)
A feeding tube that delivers nutrition past the stomach, into the small intestine.
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Jejunostomy tube (J tube)
A feeding tube placed directly into the small intestine, and tubes for Duopa therapy.
Learn more →
Videos
Short, plain-language videos on the conditions and procedures we treat, made for patients and families.
Removing Ascites Fluid: Paracentesis Explained
How painful is a Bone Marrow Biopsy?
5:04
PleurX Catheter
8:23
Thoracentesis Procedure: Everything You Need to Know
12:23
Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt
14:50
Quick answers
Under a minute each
Fabio Komlos, MD
“I would rather spend ten minutes showing you your own images than ten seconds telling you not to worry.”
Dr. Fabio Komlos is an interventional radiologist: a doctor who treats disease from the inside, through a pinhole, guided by X-ray, ultrasound and CT. He reviews your scans himself, walks you through them, and performs your procedure.
Talk to us about your options
Request a consultation online, or call 650-404-8445, Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. You can also ask your doctor to send a referral. We will review your imaging and help you decide whether a procedure makes sense.