Interventional procedures in pediatrics.

Pediatric intervention has grown substantially over the last 20 years. Interventionalists now work closely with surgeons and other physician groups to diagnose and treat a wide variety of pediatric disease processes. Using image guidance and intravenous sedation in most instances, the interventionalist performs vascular and nonvascular procedures such as embolotherapy, abscess drainage, dilation of strictures, biopsy, and percutaneous nutritional procedures, to name a few. It is my hope that the current and future techniques will lead to improved, more effective, and safer methods for treating sick children of all ages.