Aoife N. Keeling MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Michael James Lee MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To determine the current clinical environment in which Interventional Radiology is practiced throughout Europe.

A multicentre study was performed including 264 European Interventional Radiology Departments. A questionnaire was formulated comprising twelve questions pertaining to the clinical practice of Interventional Radiology (IR). There was a 100% response rate to this postal survey.

The majority of centers were located in the United Kingdom (21%, n=56), with 11% located in Germany (n=30). Experts, with more than 10 years of IR experience, comprised 75% of the survey group. Almost one third of the Radiologists dedicated more than 80% of their clinical sessions to IR alone (27.7%, n=73), with two thirds practicing in a University Teaching Hospital setting (66%, n=173). Few institutions have dedicated IR in-patient hospital beds (17.2%, n=45), however to compensate day case beds are available (31%), IR admitting rights are in place (64.4% overall, 87.7% for in-patients and 90.4% for day cases) and elective IR admissions can be made through other clinicians (87.3%). IR outpatient clinics are run in 26% of Departments with an average of two sessions per week. Dedicated nurses staff the majority of IR suites (81%), but clinical junior doctors are lacking (44.7%). Hospital management refusing access to beds was the most commonly cited reason for not developing a clinical IR service (41%).

There is a marked variation across European centers in the current practice of Interventional Radiology. Half do not have dedicated junior doctors and only a small minority have in-patient hospital beds. If IR is to be maintained as a dedicated clinical specialty, these issues need to be addressed urgently.

There is an environmental variation across European centers in the current practice of Interventional Radiology.

Keeling, A, Lee, M, The Clinical Practice of Interventional Radiology: Where Are We Now?.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6014935.html