Effect of interventional ward to the development of interventional radiology

Objective: To explore the effect of interventional ward to the development of interventional radiology. Methods: Investigation of the first class of the third grade hospitals in northeast region of China for the development status of interventional radiology in 2005 through questionnaires was undertaken. The hospitals were divided into two groups according to setting up interventional ward or not, together with comparative studies of number of doctors, sorts of interventional techniques and number of cases. Results: Altogether 52 3rd grade, 1st class hospitals have established interventional therapy, including with ward of 29 (55.8%)and no ward of 23 (44.2%); furthemore the average numbers of doctors in the forementioned two kinds of hospitals were 4.8 ± 1.7 vs 2.8 ± 1.5 (P<0.01) and the average numbers of procedure done were 481 vs 150(P<0.01), together with various sorts of technique 8 vs 5 (P<0.01), respectively. Conclusion: Establishment of interventional ward will benefit the development of interventional radiology. (authors)