On the occasion of International Radiology Day, Son Espases radiologists report that more than 3,000 interventional radiology procedures are performed each year. Since Son Espases opened, 37,407 procedures have been performed. Interventional radiology is a sub-speciality of radiology which, although it started out as vascular diagnosis (arteriography), is currently dedicated to the treatment of multiple pathologies by means of minimally invasive procedures guided by imaging techniques.

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Interventional radiology is a growing subspecialty that plays an essential role in the treatment of patients. Such procedures, generally less aggressive, allow for faster recovery. It embraces areas as different as peripheral vascular, non-vascular, neurointerventional, oncology and has an important role in emergency situations where other specialties do not have the possibility of treatment or are very complex.

It includes procedures as different as mechanical thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke or pulmonary thromboembolism. Arterial embolisation in cases of cerebral and peripheral aneurysms, massive haemorrhage, vascular malformations or benign tumours such as myomas. Venous embolisation in cases of varicocele or pelvic venous congestion.

It is a fundamental pillar in the treatment of oncological liver disease (with tumour ablation by radiofrequency, chemoembolisation or hepatic radioembolisation), in the treatment of non-oncological liver disease (placement of TIPSS) or on the biliary tract with drainage and placement of endoprostheses. Nephro-urological pathology should not be forgotten with the placement of nephrostomies and ureteral catheters, the repair of dialysis fistulas, and the placement of catheters for haemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.