@DrfluffyMD one more quick question about ESIR programs. It says on the SIR site that the DR residency will have 12 IR-related rotations mixed in and the resident will do >500 procedures. How long are rotations in residency usually, 1 month? 2 weeks? 2 months? I'm sure it varies but would you be able to give an example of some specific IR rotations that you did/will do?
So as a DR resident right now, we do 1 month of IR a year. I will do an additional 9 month of IR this year to satisfy the ESIR requirement though it is not mandated for my class.
To fit the ESIR requirement the residency must be large enough to support an R4 in doing 9 month of IR, which preclude smaller programs from achieving that certification.
As far as 500 procedures, the current ACGME requirement for an IR fellowship is 500 procedures in one year. Most IR fellowship go above 700, the busier ones over 1500 (my future fellowship is one of those).
Things I did durig residency include Tips as an assistant, cholecystostomy, percutaneous nephrostomy, suprapubic cath placenent trauma embolization, abscess drainage, ultrasound and CT guided biopsy, central line placement, mediport placement and g tube placement.
I think the technical ability a resident should strive for is to be able to independently do everything with the exception of IO procedures such as tace/Y90, PAD work including women's interventions, dialysis work, and complex heptobiliary work.
This means you should be able to independently do (with attending outside)
- lines
- mediport
- simple biopsy
- CT guided biopsy or drain in a straight forward case
- gastrostomy tube
- suprapubic cath
- nephrostomy
Perform with attending guidance from control console
- venous work including central venous angioplasty
- femoral artery access
- initial part of the TIPs before you start making the porto-systemic tract
- IVC filter deployment
This is a nonexhaustive list of course, but I think those technical skills are preferred for someone entering fellowship now days.