Interventional radiology is a medical sub-specialty of radiology that uses imaging guidance to perform minimally invasive procedures. This means that doctors can access and treat problems inside the body without having to make large incisions. This can lead to shorter recovery times, less pain, and fewer complications than traditional surgery.
Frank Kasaija, a 45-year-old subsistence farmer from Ntoroko district, has been in and out of hospitals for the past four years due to an abscess in his liver. The surgery required to treat his condition would cost him 20 million shillings, which he could not afford.
This afternoon, Kasaija was relieved to learn that Mulago National Referral Hospital has started offering interventional radiology services. This new treatment approach allows doctors to access the liver using special needles and carefully dissolve the mass, without the need for surgery.
Dr Eva Nabawanuka, an interventional radiologist at Mulago Hospital, says that Kasaija will be able to walk out of the hospital today after undergoing the procedure. She also says that the hospital will be offering subsidized services to patients with cancer of the intestines and kidney problems.
Dr Rosemary Byanyima, the Acting Executive Director of Mulago Hospital, says that this new service will be further scaled up when other specialists join the team of three that the hospital currently has. She says that this will help to reduce the number of patients who have to be referred abroad for treatment.
The introduction of interventional radiology services at Mulago Hospital is a welcome development for patients like Frank Kasaija who need specialized care but cannot afford it. This new treatment approach offers a minimally invasive alternative to surgery, which can be a major relief for patients.