Radiology, Vol 186, 213-220, Copyright © 1993 by Radiological Society of North America
Use of preprocedural tests by interventional radiologists
TP Murphy, GS Dorfman and J Becker
Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence 02903.
A direct survey was taken of 1,238 members of the Society of Cardiovascular
and Interventional Radiology (SCVIR) concerning the routine use of 14 tests
(most frequently, prothrombin and partial thromboplastin times, complete
blood cell counts, and blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine levels)
performed before 10 invasive percutaneous procedures (peripheral
angiography, neuroangiography, transluminal angioplasty, thrombolysis,
percutaneous needle biopsy, abscess drainage, percutaneous nephrostomy,
biliary drainage, myelography, and venography). The survey was undertaken
to determine the current practices and appropriateness of current routine
use of preprocedural tests. The response rate was 34%, representing a
cumulative annual volume of 322,208 cases. The practice of performing
routine preprocedural tests is common among interventional radiologists.
Data provided by this survey suggest that use of these tests is excessive.
Adherence to suggested proposals derived from previously reported
experience would result in an annual estimated savings of $20.0-$34.9
million (extrapolated for all procedures performed by SCVIR members in
1989).
