Current practices in elective embolisation: insights from a UK national cross-sectional survey

The aim of this study was to evaluate the national landscape of elective embolisation services in the UK and identify factors affecting service delivery and expansion.

An online cross-sectional survey comprising 19 structured questions exploring the current provision of arterial and venous elective embolisation procedures, service capacity, resource availability, and training was distributed to approximately 1,000 members of a national society in March 2025. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed.

Eighty-five responses from 54 UK National Health Service (NHS) Trusts were analysed, predominantly from consultant interventional radiologists (85%), working in tertiary centres (62%), district general hospitals (24%), or both (14%). Elective arterial and venous embolisation procedures were widely performed, most commonly uterine artery (94%), renal angiomyolipoma (92%), visceral aneurysm (89%), and varicocele (98%) embolisation. Tumour, type II endoleak, prostate artery, and arteriovenous malformation embolisation were performed significantly more frequently in tertiary centres (P < .05). Most reported access to day-case beds (87%) and clinic time (84%), although provision was frequently perceived as insufficient. While 63% expressed a desire to expand services, key barriers included funding (55%), inadequate referral pathways (45%), bed capacity (39% day-case; 37% inpatient), emergency workload (36%), and workforce shortages (36% radiologists; 36% nurses/radiographers). Qualitative feedback highlighted resource limitations, regional disparities, and the need for more flexible training pathways.

Sustainable expansion of elective embolisation across the UK requires clinically integrated interventional radiology (IR) services, protected capacity, infrastructure and workforce investment, regional networks, standardisation, flexible training, and systematic evaluation.