RETURN TO ABSTRACT LISTING


Background
Interventional radiology (IR) is a complex field with a wide range of capabilities. It offers a unique experience for trainees, allowing them to treat various disease processes in nearly any patient. Call responsibilities can present a unique challenge, as trainees often field consultations from nearly every service in the hospital.

Educational Goals / Teaching Points
Understand the breadth of IR capabilities. Describe how to triage and work up a consult while on call. Identify common pitfalls in the workup process. Describe the process of working up five common IR consults.

Key Anatomic/Physiologic Issues and Imaging Findings/Techniques
The initial evaluation of an IR consult should be based on the urgency, the clinical question and patient status. The appropriate management can then be decided based on a detailed clinical and imaging review. After deciding to offer a procedure, trainees must be familiar with the process of obtaining informed consent, including communicating risks, benefits, and alternatives. Next, periprocedural requirements such as antibiotics, management of coagulation status and anticoagulants, and sedation assessment should be evaluated. Lastly, we provide a practical review of this process using five common IR consults: vascular access, traumatic hemorrhage, thrombosis, biopsy, and infection drainage.

Conclusion
Interventional radiology is a complex field with a unique combination of clinical, imaging, and procedural skills. The complexity creates a challenge for trainees who field consultations from nearly every team in the hospital. A systematic approach to each consultation can enhance the educational experience of IR call while also improving patient care.