Intervention in the thorax in children.

The 1970s and 1980s have been a period of significant growth and innovation in interventional radiology. Interventional procedures that were developed and perfected with adult patients are now being used very successfully in pediatric patients. In comparison with surgical management, interventional procedures generally have lower morbidity and mortality, require shorter hospital stays, and are less expensive. Preprocedural imaging and planning, adequate monitoring and sedation during the procedure, and selection of equipment appropriate for pediatric patients maximizes the chance for a successful outcome.