Global IR: Interventional Radiology in Developing Countries

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).

Global health is not a single disease issue—quite the opposite. It encompasses a variety of pathologies that cross national borders and require international response. With a fundamental set of techniques and tools, such as the Seldinger technique and a pigtail drainage catheter, IR may be able to treat an incredible variety of disease conditions found all over the globe. This article discusses the expansion of IR in LMIC, focusing on current barriers and opportunities for growth.

• References

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