What is ENT Surgery?
Most ENT procedures involve treating acute or chronic conditions associated with the ears, nose and throat. ENT physicians, or Otolaryngologists, will sometimes treat structures in the face and neck and can also perform certain cosmetic surgeries to correct and cure certain conditions and structural abnormalities.
Procedures
Our Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists are trained to treat a range of chronic illnesses and conditions associated with allergies, sinus and ear infections, rhinitis, GERD and certain tumors and cancers.
Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Sinus surgery is performed when the sinuses become blocked. An ENT surgeon will often recommend endoscopic sinus surgery to improve the drainage of the sinuses and to increase air flow.
Most often, blockage problems are caused by chronic conditions associated with rhinitis, a deviated septum or nasal polyps.
General anesthesia is used during the procedure and an endoscope is inserted to get a better view of the sinuses and sinus tissue.
Ear Tube Placement
An ENT specialist will usually recommend ear tubes if you or your child suffer from chronic ear infections. Inserting ear tubes is the most common procedure performed using general anesthesia in pediatric patients.
On average, the procedure only lasts about 20-30 minutes and most patients are discharged the same day. Your Otolaryngologist will insert plastic or metal tubes into your eardrum, which will allow proper air circulation to prevent drainage and infections.
Tonsillectomy
During a tonsillectomy, the tonsils are surgically removed to treat tonsillitis and conditions related to breathing, like sleep apnea.
The tonsils will also be removed if they become chronically infected or if they become enlarged from another disease or condition.
Most patients can expect a recovery time between 1-2 weeks and are discharged the same day.
Adenoidectomy
An adenoidectomy is when the adenoids are surgically removed due to chronic infection or enlargement. This procedure is most commonly performed on pediatric patients, and requires general anesthesia.
Most of the time, your ENT specialist will recommend adenoid removal if you suffer from chronic ear infections, sinus infections, earaches or if you have breathing difficulties.
After the procedure, patients may experience minor pain and aches associated with the procedure. Patients are usually discharged the same day, and complete recovery time takes about two weeks. In fact, most patients feel normal within 1-2 days after the surgery.
Tongue Tie Reversal
Tongue tie is usually a problem in young infants. When children are born, the frenulum, which is a cord of tissue under the tongue in the mouth, helps assist in the development of mobility and teeth.
As children grow older, the frenulum thins out and recedes. In cases where the frenulum fails to do this, a tongue tie reversal may be necessary to increase mobility and to treat eating and speech problems.
Discomfort from the procedure generally lasts about 24 hours, with a full recovery time of about two months.
Nasal Fracture
A nasal fracture, or a broken nose, is the most common type of facial injury. Sometimes, a broken nose can cause breathing problems in addition to pain, swelling and bruising under the eyes.
In order to correct these problems and to realign the nose, surgery may be necessary.
Septoplasty
A septoplasty is performed to treat and correct a deviated septum.
Your doctor or ENT specialist will recommend a septoplasty if there is a displacement of the bones and cartilage that divide your nostrils, or if you have increased breathing problems.