Vascular and Interventional Radiology

Patient Preparation

Patient preparation

Because of liberal use of conscious sedation, all patients should be NPO for a minimum of 6 hours before an interventional radiology procedure.  Failure to have the patient NPO is one of the major reasons for procedural delays.  Minimum lab data required for most procedures includes platelet count, creatinine, PT and PTT.  For most procedures, the platelet count needs to be over 50,000, the INR needs to be 1.3 or less (1.5 or less for arteriography), the PTT needs to be normal and the creatinine needs to be less than 1.5.  However, for certain procedures such as non-tunneled central lines there are no minimum parameters.  When in doubt, check with interventional radiology staff as to the need to correct a coagulopathy.  Patients with contrast allergies must be pretreated before the procedure, this pretreatment takes a minimum of 12 hours.  Please ask your patient about contrast allergies (“x-ray dye”) allergy before scheduling the procedure.  Premedication for contrast allergy can be arranged through the interventional radiology fellow or staff.

Universal Precautions

Universal precautions must be followed at all hospitals.  Wearing of protective eyewear is mandatory for anyone entering the Interventional radiology suite while a procedure is underway.  Additionally, a cap and mask are mandatory for any personnel in the room during implantation of any prosthetic device (including embolization) and for anyone scrubbed into any VIR case.

Non-Iodinated Contrast Agents

Non-ionic contrast agents will be used for all vascular diagnostic and interventional procedures, nephrostomy tubes and biliary interventions.

Requests for VIR Procedures

All requests for vascular and interventional radiology procedures must be accompanied by a signed consultation request, computer request, or signed order stating the procedure requested along with an appropriate indication for the procedure.  Please observe the Radiology Compliance Requirements at all times.

Venous Sampling Procedures

Because of prior problems with lost specimens, all specimens from venous sampling procedures will be hand carried by a member of the vascular and interventional radiology team involved in the procedure who will also remain in attendance while the specimens are labeled and double check that all of the appropriate testing has been ordered.

Contacting Interventional Radiology

Requests for interventional radiology procedures should be made directly to interventional radiology (274-4831) during the day or to the interventional radiology fellow on-call during the night and weekends.  Please note that interventional radiology procedures cannot be ordered through the computer but must be phoned in.  Any conflicts regarding the timing of a procedure should be handled at the staff-to-staff level.  If there is continuing conflict, this should be directed to Dr. Johnson (274-1840, pager 212-7340).