What is Interventional Radiology?
 Vascular Interventional radiologists are endovascular experts who specialize in minimally invasive, targeted treatments performed using imaging guidance techniques to "see" inside the body while they guide narrow tubes (catheters) and other micro instruments through the blood vessels and other pathways of the body to the site of a problem, treating a variety of medical disorders without surgery. Vascular interventional radiology procedures are advances in medicine that often replace open surgical procedures. IR procedures are generally easier for the patient because they involve no large incisions, less risk, less pain and shorter recovery times.
Vascular 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.
Interventional Radiologists --
The Best Kept Secret in Medicine
According to a national survey, only three percent of Americans are aware of vascular interventional radiologist (Riley Research Associates, 2001). Today, minimally invasive treatments are available for many diseases, but few patients know to ask about them, or to seek out a second opinion from a vascular interventional radiologist. Historically, vascular interventional radiologists have been the "specialist's specialist," and patients didn't have direct contact with this specialty. Because surgery was the only treatment available for many years, many primary care physicians still refer their patients for surgery. Now that modern, minimally invasive treatments are available for many diseases, it makes sense to explore less invasive options first before progressing to major surgery. |
