Patient Resources
What to expect before, during, and after your procedure, plus insurance information, frequently asked questions, and stories from patients Dr. Ghodadra has treated.
Before Your Procedure
- Consultation: You'll meet with Dr. Ghodadra to review your imaging, examine the area, and talk through your goals, your options, and whether the procedure is right for you.
- Imaging: Most procedures need a recent X-ray and/or MRI of the area being treated. Bring outside imaging on a CD, or arrange to have it sent ahead of time.
- Blood tests: Routine blood tests, including kidney and blood-clotting tests, may be needed.
- Medication review: Tell us about all your medicines, including blood thinners, anti-inflammatory pain relievers (like ibuprofen), supplements, and herbal products. Some need to be paused before the procedure.
- Allergies: Let us know about any allergies, especially to X-ray dye (contrast).
- Eating and drinking: Most procedures ask you not to eat after midnight the night before.
- Driver: Arrange for someone to drive you home. You can't drive yourself the same day after sedation.
During Your Procedure
Most of Dr. Ghodadra's procedures are done in a specialized X-ray suite using numbing medicine plus light "twilight" sedation. You'll be awake but very relaxed and comfortable, and most people remember little of the procedure itself.
Access is usually through a pinhole in the foot or groin, with no surgical cut. Most procedures take about 1 to 2 hours, with roughly half a day from check-in to going home.
After Your Procedure
- Same-day discharge: Most people go home the same day with a driver.
- Activity: Avoid heavy lifting, long standing, and strenuous activity for 24 to 48 hours. Most people are back to their normal routine within 1 to 2 days.
- Bandage care: A simple bandage covers the pinhole, with no stitches needed.
- What to expect: Mild bruising or soreness at the entry site is common. Some procedures have a few other expected effects (see that procedure's page).
- When to call: Contact the office for an unexpected fever, severe or worsening pain, redness or swelling at the entry site, or anything else that concerns you.
- Follow-up: We'll schedule a follow-up visit, usually at 1 month, with additional check-ins over the next year or two for procedures like GAE.
Insurance and Billing
UPMC accepts a wide range of insurance plans, including:
Aetna, Amerihealth Caritas, Caresource, Cigna, Gateway, Geisinger Health Plan, Highmark, Humana, Independent Health, Medical Mutual of OH, Medicare, Non-PA Medical Assistance, PA Health and Wellness, PA Medical Assistance, Palmetto, The Health Plan, Tricare, Unison, United Healthcare, UPMC for Life, UPMC for You, UPMC Health Plan, and Veterans Choice.
Patient Stories
Common themes from published patient stories (including UPMC HealthBeat's "Myra's Story") and from patients in clinical trials include:
- Getting their independence and active life back after months or years of disabling pain.
- Relief from the fear of more bleeding for patients whose knee kept bleeding into the joint.
- Feeling heard as a person rather than reduced to an age or an X-ray finding.
- Surprise at how gentle the procedure feels compared with surgery.
- Gratitude at avoiding or putting off major joint replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Dr. Ghodadra and your visit
Is Dr. Ghodadra accepting new patients?
Yes. Please call 412-647-5050 to schedule a consultation and check your insurance.
Do I need a referral?
Some insurance plans require a referral from a primary care or specialist doctor. Check with your plan. The office can also help.
Where will I see Dr. Ghodadra?
Clinic visits and procedures are at UPMC Hillman Interventional Oncology Clinic (5115 Centre Avenue), UPMC Shadyside (5230 Centre Avenue), or UPMC Mercy (1400 Locust Street). See the Locations page for details.
Can I bring a family member?
Yes. You're welcome to bring a family member or friend to your consultation. After a procedure with sedation, you'll need an adult to drive you home.
About procedures
Are these procedures painful?
Most people tolerate them well with numbing medicine and light sedation. You may have mild soreness at the entry site or in the treated area for a few days afterward.
How long is recovery?
Most procedures are outpatient with same-day discharge and a return to normal activity within 1 to 2 days. Hold off on hard exercise for about the first week.
Will I need general anesthesia?
Almost all of these procedures use light "twilight" sedation rather than general anesthesia. You'll be relaxed and comfortable but breathing on your own.
About GAE specifically
For detailed answers about Genicular Artery Embolization (whether it's right for you, what to expect, recovery, and side effects), see the dedicated GAE FAQ section.