Interventional radiology: Diagnostic and therapeutic roles

With the ongoing advancements in minimally invasive procedures, interventional radiology has an increasingly important role that often is relevant throughout the majority of trauma patients’ clinical course. In a multidisciplinary fashion, interventional radiology can work with the trauma team in lockstep, rapidly identifying or ruling out a potentially life-threatening hemorrhage as well as establishing the next steps to stabilize the patient, which may include complimentary angioembolization and/or surgery. As imaging technology and endovascular devices advance and with broader acceptance of hybrid IR/OR endovascular suites, the future direction of parallel, synchronous multidisciplinary care among the multiple specialties involved in trauma management becomes even more promising. In addition, having CT, angiographic, and fluoroscopic imaging abilities in the OR setting may allow for more expedient, meaningful patient care, minimizing delays between angiography and surgery as well as any other ancillary procedures. Ultimately, interventional radiology as a specialty has fundamentally shifted from a procedure-based approach to a more holistic clinical approach, managing patients from acute setting to throughout their overall treatment course when appropriate. This coupled with clinical research and the practice of evidence-based medicine will help with the continued adoption safe and effective treatment strategies and protocols as medical technology continues to improve.