Iryna Bentsal

In-person consultations in Lisbon · online consultations from Porto and across Europe · Russian, Ukrainian, Portuguese, English

Dr. Iryna Bentsal is a Ukrainian-trained otorhinolaryngologist (ENT specialist) with a five-year residency in otorhinolaryngology and many years of clinical practice in the field in Ukraine. In Portugal, she is currently completing her residency in General and Family Medicine, and within this practice she provides ENT consultations at UMC — diagnostic assessment and treatment of conditions of the ear, nose, and throat in children from birth and in adults.

About the Doctor

Dr. Bentsal brings an unusually strong combination of competencies: an otorhinolaryngologist by her Ukrainian specialization, a general practitioner within the Portuguese system, and with substantial experience working with children. This means that an ENT problem is not considered in isolation from the rest of the patient's condition — comorbidities, paediatric features, and the connection between ENT symptoms and overall health are all part of the picture. This is particularly relevant in respiratory illness, recurrent otitis, chronic nasopharyngeal complaints, and paediatric ENT problems.

Dr. Bentsal also has a dedicated layer of experience in Portuguese emergency medicine: emergency departments at Hospital Torres Vedras and Hospital Vila Franca de Xira, and the permanent care service (SAP) in Mafra — more than five years in total. This means that acute presentations — high fever, severe pain, complications of otitis and sinusitis — are assessed confidently and calmly.

She works particularly well with children thanks to her paediatric background: a calm, unhurried examination without pressure; explanations in language a child can understand; and a clear conversation with parents about what to know before and after a procedure.

Education and Experience

Dr. Bentsal graduated from Odesa National Medical University (Ukraine) in 2010. From 2010 to 2012, she completed her residency in otorhinolaryngology at the same university.

From 2012 to 2017, she practised as an ENT specialist at a public Centro de Saúde and at the private clinic MEDEJA in Odesa — consultations and ENT procedures for adults and children.

In Portugal, she completed the General Year Internship (Internato Médico do Ano Comum) at Hospital de Torres Vedras (2023). Since January 2024, she has been a resident in General and Family Medicine (Medicina Geral e Familiar) at USF Andreas (Mafra), ULS Santa Maria — meaning that she works within the Portuguese national health system as a family doctor, managing patients of all ages, including hypertension, diabetes, paediatric follow-up, family planning, and maternal health.

In parallel, from 2017 to 2022, she worked in Portuguese emergency services: Hospital Torres Vedras (2017–2019), Hospital Vila Franca de Xira (2018–2019), and SAP Mafra (2018–2022). Since July 2022, she has practised at Clínica Médica e Estética Dermalife (Odivelas), providing consultations for acute conditions and for diseases of the ear, nose, and throat.

Common Reasons Patients See Dr. Bentsal — ENT

• Acute and chronic tonsillitis, pharyngitis, sore throat — diagnosis, treatment, and tonsil lavage
• Acute and chronic otitis in children and adults — external otitis, otitis media, eustachian tube dysfunction
• Ear wax impaction — removal, ear irrigation
• Acute and chronic rhinitis, sinusitis, maxillary sinusitis — diagnosis, conservative treatment, nasal sinus irrigation
• Adenoid hypertrophy and adenoiditis in children — assessment, treatment, surgical referral when indicated
• Laryngitis, hoarseness, voice loss — assessment and treatment
• Children with recurrent ENT infections — evaluation of causes, prevention strategies
• Nosebleeds — assessment of causes, treatment
• Hearing loss, tinnitus, dizziness — initial assessment and onward referral when required
• Second opinions on ENT diagnoses and proposed treatment plans

ENT Procedures During the Visit

This is a distinct feature of Dr. Bentsal's practice for patients from the former USSR. In Western European practice, ENT specialists rarely perform irrigation procedures — but in the post-Soviet medical tradition these are a standard part of treatment, and many patients expect them. Dr. Bentsal performs these procedures during the consultation:

• Tonsil lavage — for chronic tonsillitis, recurrent sore throats, tonsil debris
• Nasal sinus irrigation (the "cuckoo" method and similar techniques) — for sinusitis, maxillary sinusitis, chronic rhinitis
• Ear irrigation — wax removal, treatment of external otitis
• Other ENT procedures as indicated — nasal toilet, throat application of medication

Other Reasons Patients See Dr. Bentsal — General Practice

• General health concerns in adults and children from birth — fever, colds, cough, headaches, digestive complaints, general malaise
• Chronic conditions — hypertension, diabetes: assessment, management, follow-up
• Paediatric visits — well-child checks, routine examinations, acute illness, vaccination guidance
• Family planning and maternal health — within the scope of family medicine
• Acute concerns — situations where it's unclear whether urgent care is needed, and you want a doctor to take a look and tell you
• Medical certificates — for employment, sports, school, or driver's license applications

What Happens During the Visit

• Full ENT examination — otoscopy, rhinoscopy, examination of the throat and larynx
• Clinical examination for general practice concerns — adults and children from birth
• ENT procedures during the visit — tonsil, nasal sinus, and ear irrigation; ear wax removal
• Assessment and diagnosis — based on examination, patient history, and available test results
• Diagnostic workup — laboratory tests, audiometry, CT or MRI when needed, referral to specialists
• Treatment management — prescriptions, follow-up, treatment adjustment
• Care coordination within the clinic — referral to a surgical colleague when an operation is indicated (adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, etc.)
• Medical certificates for employment, sports, school, and driver's licenses

How to Book an Appointment

Dr. Bentsal sees patients at the UMC Lisbon clinic and offers online consultations from Porto and any other location. Appointments are available with or without health insurance, with or without a referral — and in most cases.

You can book an appointment in any of the following ways:

• Through the online booking form on umc.clinic
• Via the website chat
• On WhatsApp
• Through the Telegram bot @umcl_bot
• By phone — we're always available and speak your language