Digitization and the Evolution of Interventional Procedures
April 28, 2021Interventional procedures have become an ingrained idea in medicine. Several specialties within physiology rely on interventional procedures to provide accurate data on the patient’s condition and even treat certain sets of problems that do not require surgical processes. The efficiency and safety they bring to the table certainly make interventional procedures seem like they have always existed parallel to modern medicine.
The first recorded instance of an interventional procedure is attributed to Werner Forssmann. He had entered a catheter into his antecubital vein to showcase that X-Ray and non-surgical processes can be used to treat ailments. Dr. Forssmann was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology for his contribution to medicine in the form of interventional procedures.
While interventional procedures have helped in both diagnostics and therapeutic treatment, the innovation cycle in the field has only recently accelerated. For the past two decades, an X-Ray and a device were the only combinations used to approach even the most complex problems. Today, interventional procedures have reached a new height of ‘useful’ complexity – they have become more complex to execute but have opened new doors for treatment procedures.
Here are some of the most noteworthy evolutionary changes in the field of interventional procedures:
- Richer Data Sources: Specialists are now using live imager in 2D & 3D, comprehensive electronic health records, data on blood flow dynamics, and ablation data.
- Adaptive Points of Entry: Not long ago, the femoral artery was the only way to enter the body. Several other procedures have become mainstream in recent years—for instance – Uterine Fibroid Embolization, Peripheral Vascular Disease treatment, and biliary procedures. With the advent of these procedures, transabdominal, pedal, radial, and a few other points of entry have become common.
- Quicker Process with Uncompromised Accuracy: The overall process has become more efficient, with full-body scans becoming a common occurrence.
Enhanced Workflow and Improve Decision Making in Cath Labs. Book a Free Demo
The Digitization of Interventional Procedures
Several procedures and applications have enriched the field of interventional procedures. The oncoming digitization of interventional procedures will add new capabilities for the field:
- Radiation-Free Procedures: X-rays might soon get replaced entirely by ultrasound or light-based procedures. There is existing technology that allows interventional radiologists to get near-real-time 3D ultrasound rendering for more accurate device guidance. With Augmented Reality reach a new level of sophistication, it might be possible in the near future to have the output of this very process in the form of a hologram.
- Fibre Optics-Enabled 3D Visualizations: Fibre-optics have started replacing X-Ray. This technology will allow the interventional specialist to visualize catheters for increased accuracy and efficiency in its apex point of sophistication fully.
- 3D Anatomical Visualizations: Dielectric imaging is helping interventional specialists visualize the entire anatomy in great detail using 3D and high-definition imaging. Augmented with AI and devoid of X-Ray, this area of innovation holds significant space for systemic innovation.
- Electronic Health-Records Based Workflow: While this is not a direct innovation in how interventional procedures are delivered, it changes the backdrop in which such procedures operate. A study conducted at the Duke University Medical Center showed that shifting the entire workflow at a radiology specialty clinic improved efficiency and helped in prioritizing examination of administrative tasks.
How Can Other Fields of Medicine Evolve with Interventional Radiology?
One of the most important waves of innovation is the observation that collaborations between radiologists and the radiologists with physicians & patients have increased by a considerable multitude. Interventional radiologists understand that every patient has varied anatomy and a different medical condition, necessitating the specialist conducting interventional procedures to be more creative in her/his approach.
In the very near future, the lines of difference between specialties within radiology will be get eliminated or will narrow down. This is because several individuals in the interventional cardiology lifecycle can have a specialty in the same field. For instance – cardiology, a surgeon, and an interventional radiologist can all have expertise in venous diseases. Such instances can drive an increased density of collaboration between the practitioners in the field and lead to a more streamlined interventional procedure.
In Conclusion
Some industry experts state that interventional procedures are losing their distinct identity as they are being recommended and applied across the landscape of medical challenges. While this may be a concern for several industry incumbents, it signifies the collaborations between industry professionals, resulting in more enriched and seamlessly efficient processes in areas like interventional procedures in cardiology.
Moreover, the innovation landscape will evolve in two key directions – the X-Ray and radiations in the existing interventional procedures will get replaced by lights and ultrasound. This will mitigate the risks posed by extensive exposure to radiation. The other direction of innovation will be in the operational & administrative side, bringing EHRs to the centre of the entire interventional procedure. Patient data management software helps interventional radiologists prioritize tasks and perform procedures with increased accuracy while saving critical resources for the facility.
0 Comments