Drainage readiness
Bring reviewed imaging, target size/location, source-control question, cultures/antibiotics, hemodynamics, and service alignment.
IR consult triage
Should I Consult Interventional Radiology?
A concise triage aid for image-guided drainage, biopsy, embolization, nephrostomy, access, and procedure-readiness questions.
Common IR questions
Start With the Clinical Question
Before you consult
Make the IR Question Answerable
Biopsy readiness
Clarify tissue target, diagnostic/staging question, oncology/surgery agreement, route implications, anticoagulation/labs, and alternative tissue routes.
Bleeding/embolization
Include hemodynamics, transfusion status, imaging target, anticoagulation, source, local bleeding pathway, and whether surgery/ICU/trauma is active.
Access or nephrostomy
Clarify why routine access or urologic pathway is insufficient, standard attempts, urgency, anatomy/device constraints, infection/obstruction, labs, and ownership.
Use this when the question involves image-guided drainage, biopsy, embolization, decompression, access, bleeding, thrombectomy, or procedure timing/logistics.
Common low-yield consults
Usually Better as First-Step Workup or Local Pathway First
- Drainage before imaging identifies a target or radiology has commented on drainability.
- Biopsy before the tissue target, diagnostic question, staging question, and oncology/surgery alignment are clear.
- Line access before standard access attempts unless urgent or complex anatomy/device constraints exist.
- Non-emergent procedure requests before anticoagulation, platelet/INR, NPO, consent, and ownership logistics are known.
Copyable consult message
IR Consult Dotphrase
Reason for Consult: *** Exact procedure requested and why: *** Imaging modality/date and target: *** Hemodynamics / urgency: *** Anticoagulation / antiplatelets: *** INR / platelets / Hgb: *** NPO status: *** Cultures / antibiotics if infected: *** Surgery/urology/oncology/primary-service alignment: *** Post-procedure plan / owner: *** Clinical question: drainage, biopsy, embolization, access, decompression, timing *** Callback: *** Thank you!
Best practices for IR consults
- Lead with the exact procedure requested and why it changes care.
- Include imaging modality/date, target, hemodynamics, anticoagulation/antiplatelets, INR/platelets/Hgb, and NPO status when relevant.
- Clarify surgery, urology, oncology, or primary-team alignment before asking IR to own a procedure decision.
- For non-emergent procedures, include post-procedure owner and follow-up plan.
IR consult patterns
High-Yield IR Context
Abscess or collection
Reviewed imaging, target size/location, source-control question, and surgical/primary-service alignment make drainage discussions higher yield.
Biopsy
A clear tissue target, diagnostic/staging question, and route implications are the core consult frame.
Bleeding or embolization
Hemodynamics, imaging target, transfusion/local bleeding pathway, and procedural candidacy shape the IR question.
Nephrostomy or access
Obstruction/infection status, urology alignment, renal function, standard attempts, and device/anatomy constraints matter before the call.
IR consults FAQ
Common IR Questions
What makes a IR consult higher yield?
The most useful request identifies the specialty-specific decision, the local pathway already active, and the workup or first step already completed.
What should I avoid?
Avoid sending only a diagnosis label, lab result, or procedure name. Frame the decision IR can change.
References
Educational tool only. SIC provides clinician-facing educational consult-triage references. SIC does not diagnose, treat, prevent, cure, or mitigate disease and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, local guidelines, institutional referral pathways, or recommendations from your interventional radiology department. See disclaimer and how SIC works.