Aims and objectives
Since its inception,
interventional radiology (IR) has monopolised the use of minimally invasive procedures in patient management.
As techniques and technology evolves,
the range of procedures encompassed by IR continues to expand [1].
This,
coupled with a distinct lack of interventional trainees and skilled allied professionals has created soaring demand for elective and emergency IR services.
Irrespective of population growth,
IR workload is predicted to further rise in correlation with advancements in technology [2].
Presently,
in the UK,
there is currently significant under-provision of trained...
Methods and materials
Depending on their existing skillset all consultant diagnostic radiologists (n=27) within the Heart of England Foundation Trust,
Birmingham,
UK,
underwent three months of direct training from consultant interventionalists.
This was followed by a period of indirect supervision until the clinician was able to practice independently.
Diagnosticians were trained to conduct CT and ultrasound guided biopsies,
drainages and aspirations.
All inpatient radiologically guided biopsies,
drainages and aspirations performed between January and June 2015,
prior to the commencement of the training programme,
were compared with those spanning...
Results
I.) Procedural Data:
Over the 6 month period analysed in 2015 a total of 280 weekday procedures were conducted.
129 (46%) of these were ultrasound guided drainages.
51 (18%) were ultrasound guided biopsies and 43 (15%) were ultrasound guided aspirations.
33 (12%) CT biopsies and the remaining 24 (9%) were CT guided drainages.
Median inpatient waiting time was 3 days.
A total of 17 weekend procedures were performed in the 6 month period of 2015,
all of which were urgent drainages.
In 2018,
a total...
Conclusion
The demand for IR services cannot be solely addressed by increasing current training positions.
However,
harnessing the existing capabilities of the radiology workforce ranging from consultants through to nursing and radiology staff can help to ease interventional workload and improve patient access to innovative procedures.
Training diagnostic radiologists in basic interventional procedures reduced inpatient waiting times by 2 days,
thereby improving the standard for inpatient care.
Furthermore,
weekend services saw an inverse shift in the proportion of diagnostic led and interventional led procedures,
in turn...
Personal information
Dr Kanzi Ahmad BMedSci (Hons),
BMBS,
Foundation Trainee,
University Hospitals Birmingham,
Birmingham,
UK;
[email protected]
Dr Arul Ganeshan,
BSc,
BMBCh,
MRCP,
FRCR,
Consultant Interventional Radiologist,
University Hospitals Birmingham,
Birmingham,
UK;
[email protected]
References
1.
British Society of Interventional Radiology and The Royal College of Radiologists (2012).Investing in the Interventional Workforce: The Quality and Efficiency Case.
UK,
pp.1-16.
2.The Royal College of Radiologists (2017).Clinical Radiology: UK Workforce Census 2017 Report.
Worforce Census Report.
UK: Royal College of Radiologists,
pp.23-25.
3.Renani,
S.
and Belli,
A.
(2014).
A career in interventional radiology.BMJ.