A doctor who uses medical imaging technology like ultrasound, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, or X-ray to guide procedures for diagnosis and treatment is known as an interventional radiologist. These doctors have completed medical school, a radiology residency, and a fellowship in interventional radiology. Completing medical school and becoming a board-certified interventional radiologist can take ten years or more.
Interventional radiologists perform procedures that are both minimally invasive and nonsurgical. This discipline is increasingly being used to treat conditions that were previously managed surgically, reducing risks and improving patient comfort, as well as a variety of other conditions. The majority of procedures performed by an interventional radiologist involve the insertion of catheters into the patient’s body, which can be used to place tools and dye tracers in specific areas.
When a patient requires the services of an interventional radiologist, the doctor meets with them to discuss the procedure and schedule an appointment. The doctor can work with patients who are anesthetized to varying degrees with the help of the staff. The doctor may use conscious sedation or simply use local anesthesia at the procedure site. The doctor guides a catheter into place and performs the procedure using medical imaging while monitoring the progress with the imaging equipment.
Embolizations, biopsies, cardiac catheterization, placement of drainage tubes, angiograms, tissue ablation, chemoembolization, placement of dialysis access, and treatment of pulmonary embolism are some of the procedures performed by interventional radiologists. The doctor can collaborate with other members of a larger patient care team to address a medical issue like kidney failure, as well as participate in life-saving interventions like the placement of a cardiac stent. The work of an interventional radiologist is quite varied, and it can be appealing to people who are interested in radiology but want to do more than just interpret images.
Interventional radiology specialists usually work in hospitals or clinics. Their pay varies depending on their level of experience and the location where they work. Working hours are also subject to change. People who perform emergency procedures may be on call and required to come in at odd hours to deal with trauma and other urgent medical problems. Routine procedure specialists, on the other hand, may be allowed to set their own practice hours, with colleagues handling emergency treatments.