Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and the radiologist.
When a hospital acquires a lithotripter it is unlikely that the volume of interventional radiology performed by personnel in that institution will be reduced. On the contrary, a significant increase in workload will probably occur. This will encompass not only interventional procedures on the urinary tract, but will also involve abdominal radiographs, excretory urograms, and so forth. Additional demands on the radiology department in the form of space, equipment, and possibly technical personnel will go hand in hand with an increase in the professional responsibilities of the attending radiologists. Radiologists must prepare themselves and their departments to meet these new responsibilities so that high standards of patient care can be maintained.
D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D011871:Radiology