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Central Oregon Radiology Associates P.C. (CORA) has recently added two new Interventional Radiologists, Dr. Ben English and Dr. Marco Ugas, to our staff. These doctors bring top-notch training and the latest minimally invasive image-guided techniques to safely address problems throughout the body. But what exactly is interventional radiology? Learn frequently asked questions and their answers below.

Why Haven’t I Heard of Interventional Radiology Before?

Interventional radiology goes by a few different names and is a relatively new development in the medical field. Vascular and interventional radiology (VIR), also known as interventional radiology (IR), is a medical subspecialty that provides minimally invasive and image-guided diagnosis and treatment of various diseases. IR procedures are at the forefront of medical technology development. CORA’s doctors use IR to offer a safe and proven alternative to open surgery with significantly less recovery time than traditional surgical methods.

Why Should I Choose Interventional Radiology Over Surgery?

In many instances, an IR procedure is a quicker, safer, and better alternative to surgery. The vast majority of IR procedures are performed as day procedures with a minimal recovery period. Incisions are rarely necessary and general anesthesia is usually not required.

Since IR treatments are minimally invasive, a typical patient will have a swift recovery with little or no hospital stay. IR procedures offer a safe, effective, and patient-friendly alternative to traditional surgery.

What Issues Can Interventional Radiology Treat?

There is a broad range of procedures performed by our interventional radiologists. However, the unifying concept is the application of image guidance paired with minimally invasive techniques to minimize patient risk.

Our radiologists at CORA use interventional radiology techniques to treat peripheral vascular disease (claudication), open up other blockages (veins, bile ducts, ureters, etc.), destroy tumors by delivering local chemotherapy, embolization, or ablation (liver, lungs, kidney, uterus), stop bleeding, treat aneurysms/AVM’s, drain fluid collections from various regions in the body, and more.

Our team of certified professionals at CORA is here to help you understand more about vascular and IR services. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits and risks of IR procedures, how to prepare, and more, please give our office a call today.