An Interventional Radiology Odyssey ― The Story of My Life and Work

In this autobiography, Josef Rösch, aleading pioneer in interventional radiology from its inception to the present,documents his life and discusses important aspects of his work, focusingespecially on those procedures that he developed or improved and that were popularizedby his lectures and publications. In Prague, Dr. Rösch worked onsplenoportography and visceral angiography, while in the United States hedeveloped the transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) and introducedembolization for treatment of GI bleeding and expandable metallic stenting ofobstructions of major veins and the esophagus. In addition, he contributed tothe improvement of coronary angiography and fallopian tube catheterization. Thebook also describes the author’s role as the lead person in establishing theDotter Interventional Institute in 1990. The Institute was the firstfreestanding, independent interventional radiology unit to deal with education,research, and patient care. Dr. Rösch’s organization of scientific meetings andhis early use of techniques for live internet broadcasting are described, andthe book concludes by summarizing the multiple honors and awards that he receivedin recognition of his achievements.