NB: If there is a possibility that the patient might be pregnant the IR Department must be made aware of this as soon as possible and when applicable, in advance of the appointment
Interventional radiology (IR) is a medical speciality of radiology. It is a minimally invasive, image-guided technique used to diagnose and/or treat diseases, using real-time imaging techniques, including X-rays and ultrasound.
Many IR procedures are life-saving or life-altering. They can be used to remove a blood clot causing a stroke, drain organs with potentially deadly infections or stop severe, life-threatening bleeding caused by a variety of conditions.
A significant number of medical conditions that once required surgery can now be treated by interventional radiology techniques. The result is that there is reduced physical trauma, less pain and recovery time, therefore reducing the time spent in hospital.
Continuing advances in technology mean the range of conditions that can be treated by IR is continuing to expand.
