Subspecialist Spotlight: Dr. Sameer Mittal
Dr. Sameer Mittal, Interventional Radiologist
What does an Interventional Radiologist do? Can you describe your typical day?
An Interventional Radiologist performs a variety of minimally invasive procedures using imaging guidance. My day is usually quite busy as I typically do 10-12 procedures, rarely doing the same procedure twice.
I start the day by reviewing my scheduled cases (reviewing both lab results and imaging to plan the procedure). I then meet each patient to detail the procedure, describing both the benefits and potential risks, answering any questions they may have. After performing the procedure, I once more visit my patients in recovery and am happy to answer any other questions that may arise at that time. When not performing procedures, I review and approve cases that clinicians have requested as well as meet with patients in consultation for the more complex procedures I perform. I also review cases done previously to gauge clinical success (were we able to accomplish our goal for the patient?). A goal I have is to build/grow a clinic where patients are seen for their initial procedure consultation and subsequently for follow up.
What led you to the IR subspecialty?
This may sound cliché… but from the day I was exposed to Interventional Radiology, I knew that this was what I wanted my career to be. During my 3rd year medical school rotations at Georgetown University School of Medicine, I was able to do a two-week elective in Radiology. I spent just one of those days with Interventional Radiology, which I had never even heard of prior!
I believe that Interventional Radiology is the most innovative and cutting-edge field in medicine as there are always new treatments, procedures and devices being made to help treat or cure the variety of ailments that plague the body. Furthermore, the minimally invasive techniques that IR uses decrease morbidity and mortality for these patients significantly. Most of the procedures we perform enable the patient to return home the same day, without an overnight hospital stay. In the past, complex open surgeries required extensive recovery and lengthy hospital stays. Interventional Radiologists can now perform those procedures with just a small incision. In my opinion, Interventional Radiology is the only specialty where a physician gets to perform three different roles: a clinician, a proceduralist, and a radiologist. IR is a continuously evolving, creative and innovative field unlike any other.
What IR procedure do you want the community to know more about?
Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE). Uterine fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus that cause severe and at times unbearable symptoms. UAE is a minimally invasive procedure where we can utilize tiny particles/beads to block blood flow to the uterus and the fibroid(s) via the right and left uterine arteries. This essentially eliminates the fibroid(s); they decrease in size and ultimately scar down. This procedure has a very high success rate and can dramatically improve an individual’s quality of life. Furthermore, this procedure only requires a single night hospital stay—women are able to return home the very next day. Alternative and more invasive surgical procedures such as Myomectomy or Hysterectomy typically require significant recovery time and as a result, a much longer hospital stay.
You’re living in Cincinnati— what do you think of the Queen City?
I’m a New York City native and attended school in Washington D.C.—Cincinnati is the most affordable city I have ever lived in! There are so many great restaurants here and there always seems to be an interesting event taking place during the weekend as well. Cincinnati is really growing on me.
Dr. Mittal joined Columbus Radiology in 2019. To learn more about Dr. Mittal and his colleagues, view Columbus Radiology’s subspecialty radiologists.