Ear, Nose &Throat Surgery at Mission Hospital

When you have pain or problems in your ears, nose, or throat that can’t be relieved by medicines, sometimes it’s necessary to have surgery. Thinking about a surgical procedure may cause you and your family to feel worried, wondering what will happen, and when you or your loved one will be back to normal.

ENT (ear, nose, and throat) surgeons listen and address your concerns with compassion. The surgeons on the Mission medical staff have decades of surgical experience in this field (also called otolaryngology.) They perform surgery on the ears, nose, throat, and related areas of the head and neck of both children and adults, often working together with oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

Many ENT surgeries are outpatient procedures, so you can be in and out in the same day, resting and recuperating at home. Minimally invasive techniques are used whenever possible which may result in:

• Faster recovery
• Less pain
• Fewer scars

Some of the frequently performed ENT operations at Mission Hospital are detailed below:

• Removing tonsils and/or adenoids
  This surgery, called Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy, is one of the most frequent types of surgery completed for US children if inflammation and infection are frequent issues. An ENT surgeon may elect to remove the tonsils, adenoids, or both.

• Ear surgery
  One of the most common ear surgeries performed by ENT specialists involves inserting a tube to resolve recurrent inner ear infections on many children and some adults. This procedure, called Myringotomy Tube Insertion, removes fluids that may cause infections and impair hearing from the inner ear. This procedure is typically done on an outpatient basis with children and adults.

• Straightening the nasal septum
  The nasal septum is a combination of cartilage and thin bone that separates the nasal cavities. If the nasal septum is crooked enough to interfere with breathing, it can be corrected with a surgical procedure called septoplasty. The procedure involves adjusting or removing the crooked portions of the septum, usually working through the nose with no external incision. This surgery can be done in conjunction with rhinoplasty, a reconstructive procedure done on the nose.

• Surgical Treatment for Sleep Apnea
  Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) happens when the muscles of the upper airway relax during sleep, sometimes causing a partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway. Surgical treatments may include tonsillectomy to removal of other tissue in the upper airway. Our surgeons work closely with the Sleep Center to diagnose and treat patients with OSA.

• Functional Endoscopic Sinus
  A minimally invasive procedure, this surgery is performed on patients who have recurrent sinus inflammation. The operation includes using fiber optic scopes and CT scans that allow the surgeon to see inside the affected area and restore normal sinus function.  For more complicated cases, a CT guided image system can be used to assist the surgeon.  Mission is the only hospital in the region with this advanced computer technology.

• Head and Neck Malignancy
  ENT specialists treat cancers in the head and neck area, including tumors in the area, vascular and salivary tumors, temporal bone carcinoma, and skin and scalp cancer.

• Direct laryngoscopy 
  In this procedure, a surgeon uses either a microscope or a fiber optic endoscope to examine or operate on the larynx, part of the respiratory tract that contains the vocal cords. This procedure can be used to find lesions, remove foreign objects, identify any narrowing of the airway, to confirm cancer in the larynx, or to remove benign lesions in the larynx.  Some voice problems can be corrected with injections into the vocal cords as well. 

• Skin Cancer and Non-cancerous Lesions
  In most of these surgeries, several types of skin cancer in the head and neck areas are removed. However, other types of skin growth may be excised for cosmetic reasons or to prevent skin cancer. Removal of these growths is usually followed by reconstruction.

Contact & Referral Information
Talk with your primary care provider about surgical options that are best for your circumstances.  If you find the need for ear, nose or throat surgery, ask for a referral to one of the surgeons on medical staff at Mission Hospital.