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DAILY ENCOUNTERS FOR INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY
DAILY ENCOUNTERS FOR INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY By: Faris Jamal
The introduction of Interventional Radiology (IR) as a minimally invasive technique alternative to surgery, has lower morbidity and mortality rates in comparison to surgery. This image-guided procedure treats patients with a wide variety of common disorders, which were treated by open surgery. (1)
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One of the most common pathologies encountered in the field are vascular diseases which require vascular interventions. E.g. Peripheral vascular diseases (Atherosclerotic plaques, stenosis, dissections, and aneurysms) are treated by Angioplasty and vascular stenting, which widen the vessel and increase the blood flow while the latter helps the vessels remain patent and support their walls. Moreover, IR is used in thrombolysis by administering pharmacological agents to break down clots thus improving the blood flow (e.g. Lower limb ischemia from DVT, and pulmonary embolisms). Also, it has been used for Vascular access procedures in which a catheter is placed within blood vessels to provide a route for delivering medications (e.g. chemotherapy, antibiotics, blood transfusions or nutrition), taking blood, dialysis or central pressure monitoring. However, non-vascular interventions include: Biopsy and FNA, drainage of abscess, and Renal interventions (Nephrostomy, and renal artery stenosis). IR has been most importantly used in Catheter angiography which has an advantage over CT/MRI angiography as it allows simultaneous diagnosis and treatment (e.g. angiography preceding the intervention) and shows improved anatomical detail during the imaging. (2)(3)
References: ___________________
1- Ciarallo, A., Nguyen, C. T., & Stein, L. (2007). Interventional radiology: from idea to device to patient. McGill journal of medicine : MJM : an international forum for the advancement of medical sciences by students, 10(2), 144–148.
2- Shaw, A., Speirs, A.J., & Howlett, D. (2010). Current applications of interventional radiology. British journal of hospital medicine (London, England : 2005), 71(11), 619-25.
3- UCSF Radiology. 2020. Interventional Radiology: Minimally Invasive Alternative To Surgery. [online] Available at: <https://radiology.ucsf.edu/patient-care/ sections/ir>
