What does an interventional radiologist do?
An interventional radiologist is a radiologist that performs procedures with the help of imaging machines such as CT scanners, MRIs, or fluoroscopy machines. These machines allow procedures to be done without having to cut open the body and directly see the area that the procedure is being performed on.
What procedures do interventional radiologists do?
Interventional radiologists perform procedures on almost all areas of the body. Some of these procedures are used to diagnose medical conditions, while others are used to treat diseases or even prevent them. Some of the most common are:
- Placement of drains in areas with infections
- Angioplasty (opening up blocked blood vessels)
- Lumbar punctures
- Chemotherapy (putting medications directly into a tumor)
- Embolization (blocking blood vessels that are bleeding)
- Feeding tube insertion
- Placing lines for dialysis
- Treatment of varicose veins
- Treatment of uterine fibroids
Is interventional radiology painful?
Sometimes interventional radiology procedures can be painful. There are many different types of interventional radiology procedures and many different medical conditions that they are used to treat. Many of these medical conditions are painful, but the procedures to treat them are often far less painful than the condition itself. The majority of procedures done by an interventional radiologist involve one or two needles piercing the skin. The area is usually numbed before the procedure which only leaves a sensation of pressure in the area where the procedure is being performed.
Is interventional radiology considered surgery?
No, interventional radiologists are considered “proceduralists.” The classic definition of surgery is opening up the body to directly see, touch, and operate on an organ or structure in the body. Interventional radiology procedures indirectly visualize structures using imaging machines to guide wires, needles, and catheters through the body or blood vessels to the area in question. Most patients do not need general anesthesia for interventional radiology procedures, which is another difference from traditional surgery.
How is interventional radiology better than surgery?
In most cases, interventional radiology procedures have a faster recovery time, can be done more quickly, are cheaper, and have a lower risk than surgery. Because of this, they have replaced many high-risk surgeries. Despite this advantage, there are many surgeries that cannot be replaced by an interventional radiology procedure.
What is the difference between a radiologist and an interventional radiologist?
A radiologist reads x-rays, CT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds. They specialize only in imaging and finding signs of disease on these images. An interventional radiologist has this same training but has additional training in performing procedures based on these images.
