

Episode # 635 • 17 Apr 2026
Methodical Approach to Adrenal Vein Sampling
Your guide to better planning, access, and sampling. In this episode of the BackTable Podcast, we revisit every IR’s favorite procedure with Dr. Zoe Miller, Assistant Professor of Clinical Interventional Radiology and Associate Program Director at the University of Miami. Together with host Dr. Ally Baheti, Dr. Miller walks through a methodical approach to adrenal vein sampling to help you overcome common procedural challenges and reliably point your patients towards the proper therapies.
Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction
02:26 - Preprocedural Workup Basics
06:21 - Planning CT Utility and Protocol
08:46 - Access Strategy
10:36 - Procedure Day Preparation
12:12 - Catheters and Side Holes
15:44 - Adrenal Vein Selection Techniques
18:50 - Troubleshooting Right Adrenal Vein Selection
24:34 - Sample Acquisition Coordination
27:38 - Aspiration Flow Optimization
29:34 - Preventing Reintervention and Vessel Damage
34:06 - Post-Procedure Follow-Up
35:46 - AVS in Cushing Syndrome
39:38 - Mentorship and Sourcing Knowledge
39:25 - Closing Remarks
You may also like
More about this episode
The physicians outline the key aspects of the pre-procedural workup, from setting expectations with patients to the utility of CT in operative planning. Dr. Miller provides a detailed exploration of strategies and tools for achieving safe access of the adrenal veins, particularly on the right side, and obtaining adequate samples. She emphasizes the importance of collaboration, both within the IR team and with other specialists, to ensure maximal procedural yield and to ultimately provide patients with valuable guidance in their treatment. The episode concludes with a discussion of the challenges presented by co-secreting tumors in hormone level assessment as well as the value of seeking out data and the experiences of mentors in developing your own best practices as an IR.
The Materials available on BackTable are provided for informational and educational purposes only and are not a substitute for the independent professional judgment of a qualified healthcare professional in diagnosing or treating patients. Any opinions, statements, or views expressed are those of the individual contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of the publisher, platform, or any affiliated organization.