Interventional radiology (IR). Most people don't know it exists until they need it. IR procedures range from acutely life-saving (strokes, heart attacks, DVTs,

Interventional radiology (IR). Most people don't know it exists until they need it. IR procedures range from acutely life-saving (strokes, heart attacks, DVTs, etc.) to cancer (burning/freezing tumor lesions). Other procedures have a major impact on quality of life - embolizing the prostatic arteries for BPH treatment, embolizing uterine fibroids, and draining abscesses. From HN's perspective, this is some of the most technologically advanced medicine. If you've never seen an IR procedure, I encourage you to see an aneurysm coiling. The patient is situated on a table that moves in 8 directions (up, down, left, right, forward, backward, tilt-left, and tilt-right). A C-shaped X-ray machine surrounds the patient to help the physician guide the treatment. The X-ray arm itself is able to move circumferentially to generate 3D images. Note that X-rays have minimal radiation delivery relative to CT scans. The physician will construct a 3D model of the brain's vasculature, find the aneurysm, and stick a reinforcing coil at the out pouching. The entire procedure is performed within a vessel from a single needle prick. The common analogy is, "It's like a video game." Here's a picture of the setup: http://www.polytechae.com/consierge/docs/images/882_polytech_project_77_project_detail_image_0_2425%20IR%20OR_2.jpg http://www.polytechae.com/consierge/docs/images/882_polytech...