How cardiac interventional radiographers promote better patient outcomes

Chris Schmidt.Cardiac interventional (CI) radiographers play a vital role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients during their procedure in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. They are skilled healthcare professionals who specialize in using imaging technology and minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat various cardiac and vascular conditions. CI radiographers work closely with radiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional cardiologists to perform procedures such as angioplasty, stent placement, heart perfusion studies, and more. These procedures are often used to open blocked blood vessels, repair damaged vessels, or treat other cardiovascular issues. CI procedures are often done with an endovascular approach, which means they access within the vessel. This is done using the Seldinger Technique where a wire is introduced into an artery or vein allowing the physician to locate the anatomy of choice by navigating through the vessels. This is a minimally invasive procedure that leaves a two-millimeter incision on the patient's skin that will quickly heal over with minor restrictions. Prior to the development of endovascular treatment, patients who needed stenting or vessel repair would need complex open surgeries that could have multiple complications with long hospital stays and a long road to recovery. Now, many cardiac interventions are done as outpatient procedures that require no overnight stay and have minimal recovery time.Improving patient outco...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Tags: Radiologic Technologist Cardiovascular Radiology Interventional Radiology Source Type: news