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Interventional radiology transforms emergency care in southern Madrid
More than 1,200 procedures in just one year have established Hospital 12 de Octubre as a benchmark for complex procedures. Technology and speed make the difference for thousands of Madrid residents.
In southern Madrid, the everyday lives of many local residents have changed thanks to Hospital 12 de Octubre’s commitment to interventional radiology. In just one year, its specialist unit has carried out more than 1,200 complex procedures, becoming a key point for people who need urgent, precise care, without long journeys or unnecessary waits.
The hospital’s new building houses six rooms equipped with advanced technology, open 24 hours a day. This makes it possible to respond to emergencies, including those arising from the ‘stroke code’, with an agility that makes a difference in critical situations. The variety of equipment — from single-plane and biplane digital angiography to interventional ultrasound and CT scans — makes it possible to adapt each procedure to the patient’s needs, merging images to achieve maximum precision.
The unit stands out not only for its equipment. Its proximity to the Interventional Day Hospital and the Post-Surgical Resuscitation Unit streamlines care pathways, avoiding unnecessary transfers within the complex. This allows professionals to focus on what is essential: reducing harm, shortening recovery and offering alternatives less invasive than traditional surgery.
The head of the service, Carmelo Albillos, stresses that most therapies are carried out with minimal impact on tissue, which speeds up patients’ return to routine. From treating complex malformations to tumour ablation or abscess drainage, the unit deals with cases that previously required long surgeries and difficult recoveries. Now, many people in Madrid find faster, less traumatic solutions, bringing the rhythm of the city into line with medical advances.
Hospital 12 de Octubre has been setting the healthcare pace in southern Madrid for decades. Its growth has gone hand in hand with the urban and demographic transformation of nearby neighbourhoods, adapting to the new needs of a diverse population constantly on the move. Its commitment to innovation and comprehensive care reinforces its role as a benchmark, not only for people living in Usera or Villaverde, but for the whole city seeking swift, effective answers at key moments.