Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE)
Information about UFE for women in and around San
Antonio, Texas.
"uterine fibroid embolization...has changed my life in so many positive ways and I still have
the possibility of having children in the future."
"safe and effective"
The
Interventional Radiology Clinic (IRC)
Located in the Medical Center on Huebner Road, the IRC is
the place where we meet patients interested in learning more about and being
assessed for UFE as well as many other interventional radiology procedures.
Voice (210) 616-7780 Toll Free
1 (800) 317-0774
9150 Huebner Road Suite 130, San Antonio, TX 78240
My name is
Dr. John Thomas. I am a member of South Texas Radiology
Group; serving San Antonio, Texas, and the surrounding area.
I am an interventional radiologist. We use
imaging (ultrasound, CT, X-ray) to guide procedures that are performed through
tiny nicks in your skin.
Interventional Radiology is the cutting edge of medicine,
without the cutting!
We
initiated a program to
treat women with symptomatic fibroids in early 1999 and 10
years later have become the most
experienced physicians performing UFE in South Texas.
UFE is also known as UAE (Uterine Artery Embolization...the exact same procedure
as UFE). This site presents basic
information about the procedure and specific information about our services.
And in 2006 we began to offer a completely non-invasive method
of permanent birth control for women. Information about
that non-surgical procedure is also found on my site.
Some women in
San Antonio face an unfortunate situation: they have a gynecologist who
practices outdated medicine. While most gynecologists in the San Antonio
area share the opinion of their national professional society, the American College of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, a few unenlightened gynecologists view UFE as competition to their surgical options.
These doctors will operate on you without ever letting you know you could have
avoided surgery. If you have fibroids and your gynecologist tells you
hysterectomy is your only option, you should at least seek a second opinion.
There are circumstances where surgery is the best option...but they are few and
far between. If you need a recommendation of gynecologists who have track records
of telling their patients about the UFE option, let me know and I will provide
you with some names.
I perform UFE, as do several of my partners, including:
Many women in the San Antonio area do not realize that UFE
is available in our city. In fact, we have been performing the same procedure,
embolization of the uterine arteries, for other purposes for decades.
UFE is not experimental. Our patients with fibroids have experienced excellent
results. See the testimonials page for their point of view.
We provide services at three major hospitals in the
South Texas Medical Center: Methodist Hospital, St. Luke's Baptist
Hospital, and Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital (a.k.a. San Antonio
Community Hospital). We also provide services at the Nix Hospital, North East
Methodist Hospital, South West General Hospital and Methodist Stone Oak Hospital. At present, we prefer to
perform the procedure at the main
Methodist hospital in the medical center.
Navigate this site by the links at the upper left corner
of the page. Other links will appear at the top of each page as you proceed. If
you want to learn more about this procedure follow the
Patient/Consumer link. If
you are interested in never having to worry about contraception and avoiding
surgery follow the Want permanent birth control? link. If
you are a physician you should follow the Physician link.
For recent reports about UFE in the news follow the
UFE in the News link. Or search the entire
site via the Search link.
Please feel free to contact me by e-mail
or you can call the IRC at 210.616.7780
or
1 (800) 317-0774
Located in the Medical Center on Huebner Road, the IRC is
the place where we meet patients interested in learning more about and being
assessed for UFE as well as many other interventional radiology procedures.
Office hours: Monday - Friday 8AM to 5PM
Voice (210) 616-7780
Toll Free
1 (800) 317-0774
Fax (210) 616-7789
9150 Huebner Road Suite 130
San Antonio, TX 78240
www.ircst.com
If you are looking for an Interventional Radiologist in your area, visit the
Society of Interventional Radiology's www site and follow the link
that allows you to search for doctors
performing UFE in your state or region.
The SIR site also has information that will help you understand my subspecialty.
After all, most people think of radiologists as doctors who read x-rays and
drink a lot of coffee. My subspecialty is more like "image-guided
alternatives to surgery"; though I do drink a lot of coffee.
