Patient care would improve if more interventional radiologists implemented endoscopy into routine practice, according to a new analysis published in Current Problems in Diagnostic Radiology. Should more imaging leaders be working to offer these services?
“Endoscopy is an underused tool by interventional radiology departments and interventionalists as a whole,” wrote Rajiv N. Srinivasa, MD, department of radiology at University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, and colleagues. “Few academic centers and proceduralists to date are currently performing endoscopic-guided procedures in interventional radiology despite its myriad of uses for biliary, genitourinary, and gastrointestinal procedures. Most of these procedures are instead being performed by other specialties such as urology and gastroenterology and often local politics dissuade other specialties from its implementation.”
The authors added that interventional radiologists are in “a unique position to implement endoscopy into the arsenal of equipment used for image-guided procedures” due to the other procedures they already perform on a regular basis.
According to Srinivasa and colleagues, interventional radiologists could perform biliary endoscopy, genitourinary endoscopy or gastrointestinal endoscopy—once the necessarily equipment is obtained and discussions take place between “both medical and surgical subspecialists,” of course.
“The ease of assembly and usage of modern endoscopes makes its incorporation by interventional radiologists facile,” the authors wrote. “Endoscopy adds a new dimension to the procedures that may be performed and when used in combination with other image-guided interventions creates an opportunity to perform treatments that no other specialist outside of interventional radiology may provide.
Although gastroenterologists and urologists may be more familiar with the use of endoscopes, the learning curve is mild and proficiency with their usage has been mastered in a short time period by both trainees and faculty members at this institution.”
For any interventional radiologist to successfully implement endoscopy, it is critical that they communicate with other specialists and their referring clinicians. This, Srinivasa et al. explained, helps make sure the right patients are being chosen and can lead to future referrals for additional endoscopy-related services.
One potential obstacle for interventional radiologists looking to offer endoscopy in the United States may be the lack of training currently being offered to the next generation of radiologists.
“Although there are a few workshops for gaining exposure to endoscopy, more effort is needed by interventional radiologists to successfully expand its usage in practice,” the authors wrote, noting that the British Society of Gastrointestinal and Abdominal Radiology has already established training guidelines for endoscopy in Europe. “The use of interventional endoscopy has the potential to revolutionize the practice of interventional radiology as an adjunct to image-guided interventions.”
Michael has more than 16 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.