Once upon a time, sinus surgery was performed through incisions on the face and within the mouth. Modern technology has advanced to a point where none of this is required.
Today, with minimal intervention, surgery can be performed using tools such as a nasal endoscope. This is a small metal ‘telescope’ with a light attachment which allows the surgeon to see within the nasal passages. Using special tools,, growths and polyps can be excised through the nasal passage, without any extra trauma to the surrounding region. Pain is minimal, the surgery is quick and recovery times are very short.
At Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, we routinely perform endoscopic sinus surgery, to the benefit of many a patient.
These are procedures done to remove the tonsils and adenoids in children. They are typically performed as outpatient procedures. With modern techniques, it should take no more than half an hour to an hour.
Pain is minimal and the relief given to the patient is immense. The methods adopted by the surgeon (there are several) depend on the history of the child and his personal preference. To remove the tissue, the surgeon may use coblation (use of a cool electric current), dissection (removal via scalpel), electrocauterisation (electric current), harmonic scalpel (a vibrating scalpel), laser ablation (a hand-held laser), microdebridement (removal through a specialised rotary ‘shaving’ device) or radiofrequency ablation.
Sometimes fluid can build up in the middle ear due to an infection. This can affect hearing and cause discomfort.
Even after the infection has passed, the fluid may remain. In these cases it needs to be drained out. During this procedure, a tube made of plastic, metal or Teflon, is inserted into the eardrum surgically. This allows the fluid to drain out. The tube must be left in place for 6 to 12 months.
Eventually, it usually falls out on its own. Alternatively, it might have to be removed in a small procedure. The myringotomy is routinely performed by ENT surgeons at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital, to provide quick relief to patients suffering from ear infections.
Skull base surgery refers to surgical procedures which take place at the base of the skull, behind the nose. They are not within the brain. Traditionally this was a very difficult region to access for surgery and open surgical techniques involved considerable trauma to the head.
However, with the advent of modern technology and techniques, the surgical approach to this region has changed and improved considerably. Through the use of a device called an endoscope, today surgeons can see within the body while conducting procedures. It is basically a tiny telescope and camera with a light attached which beams images onto a screen. This allows a surgeon to now approach regions such as the pituitary gland, through the nose itself. In these procedures, an ENT works in tandem with a neuro surgeon.
The ENT is the expert who will do the entire approach into the affected region while the neuro surgeon may take over for the excision itself. It requires great skill and expertise to conduct this procedure and the benefits are immense. There is no external scarring on the patient, post-operative pain is considerably lower and recovery times are very fast, in comparison to traditional open methods.
ENT surgeons at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital are experts at endoscopic approaches to anterior skull base surgery and have assisted many an afflicted patient through this.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is the liquid in which the brain is bathed. The dura is the lining around the brain and it contains the CSF within it. The sinuses are separated from the brain cavity by bone.
Sometimes there may be a hole in the dura and the bone which causes the CSF to leak into the sinuses. This may have to be surgically repaired. The Department of ENT has extensive experience with repairing CSF leaks.
