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 of 269 inpatient image guided procedures were conducted.
116 (43%) of these were ultrasound guided drainages.
60 (22%) were ultrasound guided biopsies and 32 (13%) were ultrasound guided aspirations.
36 (13%) CT drainages and the remaining 25 (9%) were CT guided biopsies (Figure 1).
Median inpatient waiting time was 1 day.
Again,
a total of 17 weekend image guided procedures were completed in the cited 2018 period.
Fig. 1: Breakdown of Relevant Inpatient Weekday Procedures in 2015 and 2018
II.) Outcome Measures
In 2015,
of the total 280 weekday inpatient procedures,
162 (58%) were carried out by diagnostic radiologists.
The remaining 118 (42%) were done by interventional radiologists.
In 2018,
following the completion of the interventional training,
202 (75%) of weekday procedures were performed by diagnostic radiologists resulting in the remaining 25% being completed by interventionalists (Figure 2).
Of this 25%,
at least 10% were documented to be technically challenging and hence required a more experienced clinician.
A 17% reduction in interventional weekday workload was observed from 2015 to 2018 .
Fig. 2: Type of Clinician responsible for Interventional Procedure in 2015 and 2018
In 2015,
14 (82%) of weekend procedures were done by interventionalists,
and 18% by diagnostic radiologists.
However,
in 2018,
3 (18%) of the weekend procedures were completed by interventionalists and 14 (82%) by diagnostic radiologists.
Therefore,
a 64% drop in weekend interventional workload was seen following the implementation of training (Figure 3).
Fig. 3: Number of Weekend Interventional Procedures in 2015 and 2018
Median wait time in 2015 was 3 days,
in 2018 this dropped to 1 day due to the increased number of competent staff available to perform IR procedures.
Results Summary:
Fig. 4: Summary of Results in 2015 and 2018