DDI Meets Latin America

María del Pilar Bayona Molano, MD, FSIR

Gloria Salazar, MD, FSIR, FCIRSE

As our specialty evolves, we continue to observe disparities in interventional radiology (IR) care worldwide. Integrating IR services in different countries remains a challenge due to multifactorial issues. While there are regional differences of some disease states that are commonly treated with interventional techniques, the dissemination of IR worldwide is confronted by different sociocultural realities and lack of educational opportunities to develop IR dedicated service lines.

The past few years have seen an increased focus on expansion of IR into global outreach opportunities, with international societies collaborating to develop training to larger audiences, improving access to educational opportunities, and allowing for implementation of cutting-edge technology within our specialty. Similarly, increased international collaborations in research and clinical practice are taking place for IR physicians to further expand our field. Therefore, this issue of DDI was designed to foster international exchange of ideas among IR physicians in the United States and Latin America. IR leaders from Brazil, Chile, and Colombia were invited to present an overview of different topics, working together, and sharing expertise, to jointly promote certain aspects of IR techniques, education, and implementation tactics that are inherent to different countries within Latin America.

We have designed this issue based on three pillars—clinical, research, and education—to specifically highlight different realities within the practice of IR in South America in collaboration with U.S. physicians, with the ultimate goal to bring awareness and inspire international collaborations within our field.

Opening our feature, Dr. Gina Landinez starts the conversation discussing “Medical Research and Disparities in Latin America,” providing an overview of gaps and research needs for patients requiring IR services. In the topics of liver interventions, a multidisciplinary international group discusses management of post–liver transplantation complications (Surgical and Interventional Radiology Management of Vascular and Biliary Complications in Liver Transplantation: Narrative Review) and Dr. Fernando Escobar presents an overview of liver procedures in the pediatric population (Liver Interventions in Children).

Following the theme of liver disease, Dr. Priscila da Silva describes clinical concerns specific to schistosomiasis disease, which is very prevalent in Brazil, and offers insights into IR management of these patients (Interventional Radiology (IR) Management of Advanced Schistosomiasis: State of the Art). Dr. Miguel Naranjo from Chile shares different approaches to advanced biliary interventions and discusses different techniques in the article, “Advanced Biliary Interventions: Gastrointestinal or Interventional Radiology Approach?.”

Interventional Oncology is highlighted with Dr. Alfonso Jose Holguin's article on “Bland Embolization and TACE in HCC.” Meanwhile, Dr. Willian Yoshinori Kawakami explores the efficacy and potential of transarterial radioembolization in his article “Transarterial Radioembolization for Hepatic Malignancies in North and South America.” This work serves as a beacon for understanding the current trends and outcomes of hepatic malignancy treatments across two continents.

In the realm of interventional radiology, a few pioneering authors have recently produced groundbreaking articles. Oscar Rivero's piece titled “Nonvariceal Upper Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage: The Interventional Radiologist's Perspective” offers an invaluable insight into the modern methods of diagnosing and treating nonvariceal bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract, highlighting the critical role of the interventional radiologist. Delving into the nuanced comparison of treatment methodologies, Dr. Emilio Sanin's “Interventional Radiology Treatment for Gastric Varices: Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt versus Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration” presents a thorough analysis of the merits and limitations of two primary techniques: Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt and Balloon-Occluded Retrograde Transvenous Obliteration. This is instrumental for clinicians in making informed decisions. Together, these authors are pushing the boundaries of knowledge in interventional radiology, shaping the future of patient care.

To close this issue, Drs. Ronald Winokur, Vinicius Fornazari, and Andrew Kesselman share their perspectives on education and simulation training, discussing differences in training and how to bridge gaps with simulation training in the article: “Regional Differences in Education: Can We Bridge that Gap with Simulation-Based Training?.”

We hope this issue of DDI can serve as an example of enhancing international collaborations for improved patients' access to IR services regardless of geographic location or socioeconomic status. Our goal should be to replicate and expand these efforts to make it better and more accessible comprehensive IR care for all.

Publication History

Article published online:
29 February 2024