How did interventional radiology develop?
The history of vascular interventional radiology is a fascinating look at innovative pioneers who changed the delivery of medicine and greatly improved the quality of patients' lives.
The improved ability of radiologists to see inside the body gave rise to vascular interventional radiology (IR) - minimally invasive targeted treatments performed under guided imaging in the mid-1970s. Vascular interventional radiology procedures are a major advance in medicine that do not require large incisions, and offer less risk, less pain and shorter recovery times compared to surgery. Vascular interventional radiologists invented angioplasty and the first catheter-delivered stent, state of the art treatments that are common place in medicine today. vascular interventional radiology is a medical specialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Medical Association .
Today there are more than 5,000 vascular interventional radiologists in the United States . The Society of Interventional Radiology the professional association of vascular interventional radiologists based in Fairfax , VA , has seen its membership steadily increase to more than 4,000 worldwide in 2004.
What is an Interventional Radiologist?
 Interventional radiology is a recognized medical specialty by the American Board of Medical Specialties. Vascular interventional radiologists are board-certified physicians with additional advanced training in minimally invasive, targeted treatments performed using imaging to guide them. Their board certification includes both vascular & interventional radiology and Diagnostic Radiology, which are administered by the American Board of Radiology.
Interventional radiologists' unique blend of skills fosters innovation and enables them to quickly adapt their imaging expertise to pioneer non-surgical treatments that are guided by imaging. Because they are first trained in diagnostic radiology , they have a thorough knowledge of human anatomy and the disease process. They use imaging to understand, visualize, and diagnose the full scope of the disease's pathology and to map out the procedure tailored to the individual patient. Then during the procedure, they image as they go, literally watching and guiding their catheter to the site of the problem.
Interventional radiology is one of the most dynamic medical fields today as these physicians adapt a technique proven to work for one problem and find a way to apply it to another.
When it comes to the best practices for safely performing minimally invasive medicine, vascular interventional radiologists pioneered the procedures and the standards for safety and quality. In addition, patient safety was incorporated into the development of these procedures because vascular interventional radiology and diagnostic radiology training programs include radiation safety, radiation physics, the biological effects of radiation and injury prevention.
What are the advantages of interventional radiology?
Most procedures can be performed on an outpatient basis or require only a short
hospital stay.
- General anesthesia is not required.
- Risk, pain and recovery time are often significantly reduced.
- The procedures are sometimes less expensive than surgery or other alternatives.
Where is interventional radiology headed in the future?
As technology advances and high-quality imaging equipment becomes more widely available, vascular interventional radiology is able to offer patients and referral physicians a host of new treatment options. |
