Establishing a Platform for Interest and Education in Interventional Radiology Amongst Radiology Trainees.

PURPOSE: Over recent times, procedural Radiologists have begun to establish themselves as the distinct subspecialty of Interventional Radiology (IR). The Interventional Radiology Society of Australasia (IRSA) was established in 1982 to share collaborative ideas, encourage research, and promote education. IRSA developed a weekend registrar workshop attended by Radiology Registrars from Australia and New Zealand. In the 2018 event, we surveyed the Registrars to identify their interest in IR training before and after the workshop. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The event was held over a weekend and consisted of both lectures and hands-on workshops. A survey was handed to all 67 registrants of the workshop and there was a 55% response rate including 78% of females in attendance. RESULTS: Before the workshop, trainees rated their interest in IR training at a mean of 3.7 out of 5. After the workshop, trainees rated their interest in IR training as an average of 4.4 out of 5 (p < 0.001). The difference in interest between males and females before the workshop (4.0 vs. 3.1) was significant (p = 0.003), however after the workshop (4.5 vs. 4.1) was not significant (p = 0.07). The change in interest from attending the workshop was significant between genders, p = 0.03 (male interest increased mean 0.5, female increased mean 1.0). CONCLUSION: We show that a program of lectures and workshops designed to generate interest in IR leads to a significant increase in training interest, particularly amongst females. Other subspecialty groups should consider this type of intervention and promote ongoing education and inspiration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Cross-sectional study, Level IV.

Carbon dioxide CT angiography during endovascular treatment of bilateral common iliac disease with angio-CT utilisation.

This paper presents the application of carbon dioxide for CT imaging during an endovascular procedure to help characterise unexpected bilateral common iliac artery stenosis utilising an angio-CT system, confirming its application in interventional radiology while maintaining sterility. A 78 year old male was referred to the Radiology Interventional Suite with left lower limb rest pain. On imaging via digital subtraction angiography and CT utilising both iodinated contrast and carbon-dioxide (CO2 ), endovascular treatment of bilateral CIA stenosis was performed with good clinical result. The case presented demonstrates the advanced imaging techniques possible in suites that have ready access to angiography and conventional CT. CO2 CT angiography is optimally performed on combined Angio-CT systems where CT and angiography system are integrated into a single room.