Is an independent medical specialty, which was a sub-specialty of radiology until recently, that uses minimally invasive image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat diseases in nearly every organ system.
Interventional Radiology (IR) refers to a range of techniques which rely on the use radiological image guidance (X-ray fluoroscopy, ultrasound, computed tomography [CT] or magnetic resonance imaging [MRI]) to precisely target therapy. Historically, vascular interventional radiologists have been the specialist's specialist, and patients didn't have direct contact with this specialty. Because surgery was the only treatment available for many years, many primary care physicians still refer their patients for surgery. Interventional radiology (IR), also known as vascular and interventional radiology (VIR) or surgical radiology, is an independent medical specialty, which was a sub-specialty of radiology until recently, that uses minimally invasive image-guided procedures to diagnose and treat diseases in nearly every organ system. The landscape of medicine is constantly changing, and, for the past 30 years, interventional radiologists have been responsible for much of the medical innovation and development of the minimally invasive procedures that are commonplace today. Sonography is a useful way of evaluating the body's circulatory system. Vascular ultrasound is performed to: 1  help monitor the blood flow to organs and tissues throughout the body. 2  locate and identify blockages (stenosis) and abnormalities like plaque or emboli and help plan for their effective treatment. A vascular access procedure involves the insertion of a flexible and sterile thin plastic tube, or catheter, into a blood vessel to provide an effective method of drawing blood or delivering medications and nutrients into a patient's bloodstream over a period of weeks, months or even years. Vascular Interventional Radiologists have completed medical school, an internship, and a residency in diagnostic imaging. Following that, they complete a fellowship in Vascular Interventional Radiology. They obtain certification through the American Board of Ultrasound-Vascular. Vascular ultrasound uses sound waves to evaluate the body’s circulatory system and help identify blockages and detect blood clots. A Doppler ultrasound study – a technique that evaluates blood flow through a blood vessel – is usually part of this exam. The Vascular and Interventional Radiology Division offers expert state of the art minimally invasive image guided diagnostic and therapeutic care for a wide variety of vascular and nonvascular conditions affecting the chest, abdomen and extremities.
http://www.bsir.org/patients/what-is-interventional-radiology/ http://www.viabuf.com/about_vascular_interventional_associates-what_is_vascular_interventional_radiology.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interventional_radiology http://www.sirweb.org/mscd/What_Is_Interventional_Radiology.pdf http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=vascularus http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=vasc_access http://www.usvascularcare.com/ http://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info.cfm?PG=vascularus http://umm.edu/programs/diagnosticrad/services/divisions-and-sections/vascular-interventional
what is vascular radiology