The Vascular Lab and the Interventional Radiologist

A vascular laboratory (VL) can be defined as a place where physicians and technologists have a commitment to perform and interpret non-invasive testing with objective techniques that are most appropriate to the facility and the skills of the laboratory personnel. It provides the entry point for many patients as well as being the sight for diagnosis and follow up for patients with vascular disease for Interventional Radiologists (IRs). VLs may be run by a multi-specialty service, may be hospital-based, or may be private practice-based providing more of a concierge service. Resident education in the VL is essential and allows IRs to function on equal footing with other medical colleagues who see and treat similar patients from an early stage and throughout an IR's career. In this article we will discuss the IRs imperative connection to the VL.