Endovascular neurointervention success and complication rates in the first year of independent practice in a suburban hospital setup

CONTEXT: Endovascular neurointervention (interventional neuroradiology) is a highly demanding science requiring deep understanding of disease, anatomy, clinical skills and manual dexterity, consequently with a long learning curve and thus posing significant challenges to a physician entering new into the competitive arena. AIM: To evaluate the procedural success, complications and outcome in the first year of independent endovascular neurointervention practice in a suburban hospital. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Retrospective analysis of prospectively maintained data of all diagnostic and therapeutic neurointerventional cases performed by the author between the period of January 02, 2012 and December 31, 2012. RESULTS: A total of 61 procedures were performed. The performance success rate of the diagnostic procedures was 100% (38/38) and that of therapeutic procedures was 82.6% (19/23). The periprocedural complication rates were nil and 13%, respectively, for diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. The 3-month patient outcome for therapeutic procedures was good outcome (Modified Rankin Scale <2) in 87% cases (20/23), and poor outcome in 13% (2 dead and 1 debilitated with Modified Rankin Scale of 3). CONCLUSION: For a well-trained endovascular neurointerventionalist, the first year of practice had high procedural success rate and acceptable complication with patient outcome rates comparable to the existing literature.