CIRSE’s Standards of Practice documents – Standard bearers of procedural and clinical excellence

CIRSE’s Standards of Practice (SOP) documents cover all aspects pertaining to the successful performance of a procedure, incorporating a framework for longitudinal care from referral to discharge.

By Anthony Ryan and Sara Lojo Lendoiro

While the future of Interventional Radiology clearly lies in clinical practice with longitudinal patient care, procedural excellence remains fundamental, and CIRSE’s Standards of Practice (SOP) documents provide a structured framework to support this dual responsibility. Although the primary focus of these documents is the ‘how-to’ aspect of procedural performance, they go far beyond technical description, defining appropriate indications, patient selection, preparation, peri- and post-procedural care, required equipment, medications, and follow-up pathways, reflecting the reality that high-quality IR practice extends well beyond the procedure itself.

Unavoidable variation in technique exists across institutions and healthcare systems, and becomes particularly evident as interventional radiologists move into independent practice or between jurisdictions. In this context, SOPs offer an evidence-based reference that allows IRs not only to perform procedures safely and effectively, but also to justify their clinical and procedural decisions when practice differs from local custom. Used as benchmarks for audit and quality improvement, these standards promote greater consistency of care and support convergence towards best practice.

Crucially, standardising practice strengthens the clinical voice of Interventional Radiology within multidisciplinary environments. Shared standards provide a common language for discussion in clinical committees, support meaningful comparison of outcomes, and facilitate the generation of robust evidence, reinforcing IR’s role as a credible clinical partner. In doing so, they embed clinical judgement at the heart of IR practice and contribute to the development, confidence, and identity of the next generation of interventional radiologists.

Ultimately, adopting Standards of Practice is a deliberate choice about the kind of specialty we want Interventional Radiology to be. Greater homogeneity in how we indicate, perform, and follow up our procedures allows us to speak the same clinical language, to compare outcomes meaningfully, and to contribute more confidently in multidisciplinary discussions. At the same time, placing clinical assessment and patient ownership at the centre of these standards reinforces the concept that IR is not defined solely by technical skill, but by clinical responsibility. For those starting to perform new procedures, SOPs offer clear guidance on what to do, how to do it, and when to intervene, supporting safe practice and consistent care. In this way, standardisation becomes not a constraint, but a tool to strengthen our clinical role and to move forward as a more cohesive and mature specialty.