We met Andrew, consultant interventional radiologist, to find out more about his role at CUH.
What’s your role in our hospitals?
I am a consultant interventional radiologist. As a radiologist my job involves reporting a number of different imaging modalities including x-ray, CT and MRI scans. I also perform and report ultrasound scans.
As an interventional radiologist I perform both diagnostic tests and therapeutic procedures using a variety of imaging modalities. For example, using ultrasound to guide a biopsy needle or using x-rays to guide a balloon within an artery to perform an angioplasty. The majority of our work can be considered 'key hole' intervention using a small access rather than a conventional open surgical approach.
As a team of interventional radiologists we cover an extensive list of clinical problems across many different organs including treating liver tumours, improving blood flow to the legs with angioplasty, draining blocked kidneys and livers and also blocking arteries that are bleeding. We often work alongside other surgical teams for example treating aortic aneurysm with our vascular surgical colleagues.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
I enjoy the direct patient contact I get when performing procedures. Sometimes as a radiologist you only see the images of the patients and don’t get to meet the patient themselves.
Tell us a bit about your CUH journey.
My CUH journey started in 2004 when I moved to Cambridge to start my radiology training. I have now been an interventional radiology consultant for 14 years. During this time I have been an educational supervisor to radiology trainees. I have completed 4 years as the training programme lead for interventional radiology for the East of England, aimed to help other regional centres develop their interventional radiology training programmes. I have been clinical lead for the interventional radiology consultant group. I have also been the clinical lead for the imaging systems we use within radiology for over 10 years.
CUH is a large tertiary centre providing many regional clinical services. This gives us the opportunity in interventional radiology to perform most of the modern interventional techniques with modern technology. CUH gives a great collaborative approach to patient care as we can be part offer a wider multidisciplinary team. Alongside our clinical colleagues we can a specific patient centred approach to treatment offering all possible treatments for a condition in one hospital.
CUH is a large tertiary centre providing many regional clinical services. This gives us the opportunity in interventional radiology to perform most of the modern interventional techniques with modern technology. CUH gives a great collaborative approach to patient care as we can be part offer a wider multidisciplinary team.
What does a usual day look like?
There is often no usual day within interventional radiology due to the emergency presentation of some patients. On average we perform an elective planned list of cases that might include some biopsies, angioplasties, or tumour treatments. Alongside these operating lists we spend time reporting the diagnostic scans pre-treatment and post-operative follow up scans. I am part of a group of nine colleagues and between us we offer a 24 hr 7 day a week service for emergency cases.
Tell us about a case study that really stands out to you.
Although one of the quicker and more simple procedures I do, changing drainage tubes within peoples kidneys is a very satisfying procedure. There are a number of patients who for a variety of reason have blocked kidneys. They are reliant on a plastic tube to drain the kidney. If this blocks or gets infected it can make the patient very unwell with pain and sepsis or develop kidney failure. We offer a direct access system whereby patients ring us directly for urgent blockages or tube malfunctions. The patients are always very grateful for the efficient day case service we provide and our ability to keep them out of hospital without pain and sepsis. Many of these patients have been coming for several years. It is not often you get repeated patient interaction over several years knowing you are directly improving their life.
How do you feel your role benefits our patients?
My role has direct benefit to patients. It can provide an accurate diagnosis. It can provide timely treatment and in the emergency setting can sometimes save lives.
My role has direct benefit to patients. It can provide an accurate diagnosis. It can provide timely treatment and in the emergency setting can sometimes save lives.