Vascular and Interventional Radiology Fellowship Programme

Vascular and interventional radiology (VIR) is a subspecialty of radiology which deals with diagnostic non-cardiac angiographic procedures and vascular as well as nonvascular interventional procedures. These interventional procedures include angioplasty, vascular stenting, embolo-therapy, nephrostomy, gastrostomy, biliary stenting and several others. These procedures are all image guided, minimally invasive and have either substituted the need for surgery, made surgery easier or possible or the sole way of treatment e.g chemoembolisation of liver cancers.

Some procedures like diagnostic angiography and embolotherapy were in place since the inception of this hospital. The remaining list of advanced procedures were gradually introduced and built up over last 10 years. Presently, VIR is performing state-of-the-art work with expertise and highly sophisticated equipment, required for all kinds of procedures. The facility is being the topmost and only in the country having trained personnel and with full range of procedures available.

The fellowship programme has only been introduced in November 2005, is also the first ever fellowship programme in the country in the field of radiology. The need of it is self explanatory due to substantial deficiency of this modality in the entire country. It has been design ed to provide comprehensive, full-time training and experience in the evaluation and management of patients requiring imaging guided diagnostic vascular and interventional procedures and a supervised experience of imaging guided methods of treating disease.

Objective

Knowledge of subject

The fellow shall have a good understanding of the various interventional options/techniques available in various clinical situations/scenarios. S/he would be able to advice on the indications and limitations of the interventional options, be current in terms of literature and topics in interventional radiology especially in peripheral vascular intervention, renal and biliary intervention and have basic understanding of neurovascular intervention.

Skills

By the end of the fellowship, the fellow would be able to:

• Independently perform and interpret all diagnostic angiographic procedures including neuro-angiography;
• Perform peripheral/visceral embolotherapies (non-neuro), obtain percutaneous renal and biliary access, percutaneous gastrostomies, antegrade DJ stenting, guided biopsies and drainages and insert peripheral lines;
• Safely deal with unexpected situations during these procedures;
• Perform preprocedure assessment and postprocedure patient care;

Research

The fellow would be expected to conduct at least one prospective study on a topic of his interest selected in consultation with the fellowship committee. S/he will have at least one presentation at a national/international meeting and one original publication.

Attitude and behaviour

The fellow will at all times be professional in his attitude and behaviour. S/he will be expected to be able to communicate effectively with clinical colleagues as well as the patients. S/he will be able to make a product assessment of his/her abilities and seek help/refer where appropriate.

Duration

Training period is one year.

Eligibility

• MBBS degree approved by PM&DC
• One year internship with six months in medicine and allied and six months in surgery and allied disciplines
• FCPS Part I or equivalent
• FCPS Part II
• Four years of training in radiology
• Experience in clinical field (desirable)

Scope and content

Process of training fellows

Training will take the form of an apprenticeship with the fellow working in the interventional suite. The fellow will also undertake one to two sessions per week of General reporting, CT, Ultrasound or MRI to keep abreast with other areas of radiology. S/he will do alternate weeks on call and will participate in Saturday VIR rota.

Educational, administrative and clinical responsibilities

The fellow would:

• be responsible for organisation of the interventional procedures
• be responsible for liaison between interventional team and the referring clinician/patients
• be responsible for direct supervision of the resident posted in VIR
• participate in resident teaching (film viewing/lecture) and elective students teaching
• represent in vascular and gastroenterology meetings

Scholarly/research component

The fellow is expected to work on one original research project leading to published paper, two completed audits, and one presentation at national/international meetings. Saturdays will be dedicated for research activities.

Positions available

One fellow will be recruited each year.

Administrative set-up

The department is headed by Dr Zafar Sajjad, Associate Professor. The Programme Director is Dr Tanveer-Ul-Haq. The Fellowship Programme Committee comprises of Dr Tanveer-ul-Haq, Associate Professor; Dr Azeemuddin, Associate Professor, Dr Zafar Sajjad, Associate Professor and Dr Ishtiaq Chisti, Assistant Professor.

Full-time Faculty

Associate Professors

Dr Tanveer ul Haq
MBBS Karachi; FCPS Pakistan; FRCR UK
Programme Director

Dr Zafar Sajjad
MBBS Karachi; MRCP, FRCR UK

Dr Muhammad Azeemuddin
MBBS Karachi; FCPS Pakistan

Assistant Professor

Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed Chishty
MBBS Karachi; FCPS Pakistan

Senior Instructor

Dr Basit Salam
MBBS Karachi; FCPS Pakistan