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Significant advances in ablative and endovascular therapies have allowed interventional radiology to play a substantial role in the management of patients with malignant neoplasms. The evolution of these procedures and the optimization of patient outcomes and experience must take into account various elements of the periprocedural period. Some of the most important considerations within the periprocedural period are the pharmacologic agents used to avoid infectious complications, decrease pain, and manage side effects. In this article, we discuss some of the most commonly used medications in interventional oncology procedures including antibiotics, narcotics, sedatives, antiemetics, and others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scope of conditions managed by embolization, which was initially used for the treatment of hemorrhage and vascular malformations, is constantly expanding. Apart from oncologic indications, embolization is used to treat a wide range of benign pathology, including uterine fibroids and benign prostatic hyperplasia. While various particulate embolic agents are successfully used for benign embolization, there is growing evidence that unique properties of these may result in different outcomes. This article reviews available evidence comparing various particles used for uterine fibroid embolization and prostate artery embolization. In addition, we provide an overview of periprocedural pharmacology and protocols facilitating same-day discharge for these interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Uterine artery embolization has Level A data supporting excellent safety and efficacy in treating symptomatic uterine leiomyomata. However, there is a perception that either postprocedural pain is severe or poorly managed by the physician performing these procedures. This has led some primary care physicians to omit this procedure from the patients' options or to steer patients away from this procedure. A few simple techniques (pruning of the vascular tree and embolizing to 5-10 beat stasis) and fastidious pre-, intra-, and post-procedural-management can nearly eliminate significant pain associated with embolization. Specifically, early implementation of long-acting low-dose narcotics, antiemetics and anti-inflammatory medications is critical. Finally, the use of a superior hypogastric nerve block, which takes minutes to perform and carries a very low risk, significantly reduces pain and diminishes the need for narcotics; when this technique was used in a prospective study, all patients were able to be discharged the day of the procedure. In the authors' experience, patients treated in this manner largely recover completely within 5 days and have a far less traumatic experience than patients traditionally treated with only midazolam (Versed) and fentanyl citrate (fentanyl) intraprocedurally, and narcotics and nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs postprocedurally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]