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Well, interventional radiology is somewhat different from
the other sub-specialties.
We are imaging-based Department of Radiology,
one of sub-area of radiology which
deals with patients a little bit more hands on.
We've one subdivision similar to breast imaging,
where contact with the patient is a little bit more forefront.
We do percentually procedures,
minimally invasive procedures, through image guidance.
We use multiple modalities to see where we need to go, and
in truth, we work in all areas of the body.
We have been akined to a multifaceted high tech plumber,
none the less it describes much of what we do.
We have a ability to see inside through the body which allows us
to do impact-patient care, do innovative procedures,
as well as, support other physicians in the hospital,
as well as, having patients come through our own practice for
a variety of disease states and solutions, minimally invasive
solutions that are very unique to the department of radiology.
[MUSIC]
The evolution of minimally invasive therapy has undergone
tremendous change in the last 60 years.
So, Charles Dotter, in 1963, was the first radiologist.
Actually developed Improvement of blood flow through a leg
blockage caused by vascular disease, and
he was somewhat the father of this whole minimally invasive
pioneering forefront of trying to treat patients through small
access points, or small holes.
You could even say that a lot of the laparoscopic procedures were
kin to development of seeing through the body using other
modalities, but nonetheless, vascular procedures and
minimally procedures is a whole spectrum procedure states where
we're able to do procedures through, essentially,
small access points.
The vascular system happens to be a convenient access point in
the femoral artery, which is really the hallmark of how
cardiac stints and cardiac procedures
were developed by radiologists, actually, in the 50s initially.
So nonetheless this whole spectrum of trying to treat
spectrum disease through little holes and then able to see
through the body, visualizing the structures we're trying
to treat through radiology application imaging modalities
has really been an evolutionary change in the last 50 years.
First developed by radiologists, perfected by radiologists, and
probably in the 70s through to the 2000s now embraced by
a variety of other specialities, mainly because of
how widespread this application of this minimally invasive
therapy modality has become, including vascular surgeons,
intervention cardiologists, interventional pulmonologists interventional
gastroenterologist.
And in truth a lot of people would say,
a lot of their origins stems back all the way to radiology in
the 1960s and 70s.
[MUSIC]
Interventional radiologists, I think,
straddle a very unique situation in diagnostic radiology.
Being a division, we have, certainly, a larger role to
play in terms of the contact with the patients.
Our contact with patients tend to be quite forefront.
I think very similar to surgeons.
In a certain way, a lot of people would
suggest that we have a similar training, as well as,
interaction with patients where we will have hands on
procedural, interprocedural contact, with the patient.
But we also actually see the patient before hand,
either at the bedside if their in-patients, or
in the outpatient clinic, where we have interventional radiology
clinic, dedicated clinic, where we'll meet our patients,
establish a patient-physician relationship,
discuss the procedure, go through the pros and
cons as the alternatives, and
then create a trust relationship and set up a procedure.
Thereafter where patients come in for
their dedicated interventional radiology solutions,
or therapy, be admitted into the hospital
under the guise of the care of the interventional radiologist.
And then will leave the hospital,
completing their treatments and
then also then importantly follow up with us in clinic.
The forefront and
nature of how we interact with patients is somewhat unique,
but there are other divisions and I think radiologists in
general are changing the way they interact with patients.
It's really at the for front and John's Hopkins' in right there.
We are becoming much more forefront consultants.
And intervention radiologists, I think, are just the one sort of
over-arching hallmark of how a radiologist can impact, and
improve, the interactions of patients, and more hands on.
[MUSIC]
That's a very broad question, and to a certain extent,
we almost deal with every part of the body.
There is a part of the body above the head and
neck which is dealt by our colleagues, interventional neuro
radiology, but every disease state is almost impacted.
Nonetheless, if you had to focus on some of the sub-specialty
areas that we deal with disease states, we deal,
obviously, primarily with blood vessel issues,
blockages, bleeding issues.
And there's a whole host of variety of blood vessel
pathologies and disease states we have innovative solutions for
and at the forefront for over 30 years being the solutions at
least as well as the pioneers of development of the therapies.
More recently in the last 15 years
development of treatment of cancers.
Both treatment as well as maintenance of treatment
has been at the forefront of intervention radiology.
We have innovative treatment solutions of liver cancers,
both primary liver cancer, as well as, cancers that have
spread to the liver, as well as cancers that deal with kidneys,
lung, soft tissues.
These are sort of at the forefront of treatment,
non-invasive, minimally invasive treatments for cancers per se.
Notwithstanding with women's health,
we have a large role to deal with lots of pelvic conditions
of a woman's health, as well as vascular malformations or
tumors of the vascular system.
We deal with problems in almost every organ,
including the chest, abdomen, and pelvis.
And extremely multifaceted, and I think for anyone interested in
what we do society of interventional radioglogy is
an excellent resource to kind of explain little bit for trainees
or the public to learn a little bit more about what we do.
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