Global IR: Interventional Radiology in Developing Countries

Abstract

Interventional radiology (IR) has grown remarkably in the United States over the past few decades. The expansion of minimally invasive image-guided procedures has brought with it a demonstrable improvement in patient outcomes. For example, percutaneous abscess drainage has shown reduced morbidity compared with operative management and become standard of care in many instances.[1] It can also serve as a temporizing measure in critically ill patients with complex abscesses who are not surgical candidates.[2] Several cost-effectiveness analyses provide evidence that image-guided techniques can also be more economical than the invasive alternatives, as demonstrated in studies of chest tubes,[3] abscess drainage,[4] biopsies,[5] portosystemic shunting,[6] central venous access,[7] and uterine fibroid treatment.[8] Despite these proven advantages of many IR procedures in high-income nations, the same sort of revolution in image-guided procedures has not occurred in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC).