Hello Doctor,
What are the benefits and side effects of undergoing an interventional radiology procedure rather than traditional surgery?
Hello,
Thank you for reaching out to Dr. Galen. Please find the below response to your query.
Interventional radiology offers numerous significant advantages over traditional surgical approaches, and it's important to understand these as a patient. One of the primary benefits of interventional radiology is its minimally invasive nature. This means that smaller incisions or even needle punctures are used to access the treatment area, resulting in reduced scarring, less post-procedure discomfort, and a quicker recovery compared to traditional surgery, which often requires larger incisions.
Additionally, the less invasive techniques used in interventional radiology typically carry a lower risk of complications, such as infections, excessive bleeding, and damage to surrounding tissues. Many patients experience faster recoveries, allowing them to return to their normal activities sooner.
Furthermore, many interventional radiology procedures can be performed using local anesthesia or conscious sedation, which eliminates the need for general anesthesia in many cases. A significant number of these procedures are also done on an outpatient basis, meaning shorter hospital stays compared to traditional surgical methods.
Overall, the combination of these advantages makes interventional radiology an attractive and effective option for treating various medical conditions.
Thanks