Interventional radiology in 1993--an Australian experience

Interventional radiology is a rapidly expanding subspecialty in radiology in which the imaging specialist can diagnostically and therapeutically access many organ systems percutaneously, simplifying the treatment of many conditions previously managed surgically. It minimises patient discomfort, renders general anaesthesia unnecessary, reduces morbidity and mortality and decreases the length and cost of hospitalisation. It can also play a role in the management of inoperable cases. Radiologists today are not just "shadow gazers" but can actively participate in patient care and management. In a modern teaching hospital, interventional radiology has an increasingly important role in patient management and is changing the practice of clinical medicine. With advances in imaging, bio-technology and innovation, there has been an explosive development in interventional radiology for the past 15 years and it is hard to keep abreast of what is happening in this field. This article is a brief summary of the state of the art in interventional radiology in 1993 and our experience in Westmead, Sydney, Australia, in some of the many procedures that have recently evolved.