Developing day-case units: imperative for optimal patient care in interventional radiology
R. Lakshminarayan, C. Bent, J. Taylor, T. Bryant, Rabeel Ahmad, Αθανάσιος Διαμαντόπουλος, Robert Morgan
Abstract
As interventional radiology (IR) treatments have evolved, they have become less invasive, enabling rapid recovery, which expedites ambulation and promotes same-day discharge. As a result of this, a significant proportion of IR elective work can be provided using a day-case service model. Reconfiguration of IR services to increase day-case procedures using a dedicated IR day-case unit (RDU) to facilitate the passage of patients is vital to ensure best medical practice. The aim of this review is to discuss the benefits of day-case IR procedures, the optimal structure of an RDU, and to inform radiologists how to introduce and/or improve day-case IR services in their IR practice.