What is ENT Surgery? Introduction The ENT department of Nidhi Hospitals is abreast with advancement in medical technology and uses latest treatment modalities for ENT related problems while being equally sensitive towards patient care in rendering a human touch. As costs escalate, we strive for affordable treatment without compromising on quality parameters like success, safety and ease of processes. Also, as most patients feel more comfortable in the surroundings of their home, the ENT department offers patients the choice of day care surgery in majority of situations. With day care ENT Surgery, patients admitted to the hospital undergo operations , recover from anaesthesia and go home with their family, all in the same day. Pre-Assessment The ENT surgery requires pre-assessment of all patients, especially those who have a history of heart problems, asthma or any other chronic diseases. The anaesthetist may assess the patient pre-operatively if required. The patients are informed about the surgical procedure, associated risks & recovery and asked to sign consent for surgery. The patients are also asked to provide information about current medications, allergies, any previous hospitalizations with dates, and other relevant information. Nidhi ensures that the patients compulsorily inform the hospital in case of falling ill during the week before scheduled surgery. This is very important because even a mild cold or upper respiratory infection can lead to an increased risk from anaesthesia. This includes the development of pneumonia or asthma after surgery. The surgery, thus, is rescheduled after treating the problem. When performing ear, throat or nasal surgery, it is imperative to have preoperative control of any infection so that chances of congestion and bleeding are minimized. or decongestants if required are given at this level of pre-assessment. Also, if the patient is on or any other drug which may adversely affect surgery, the patient is asked to stop the drug or prescribed an alternative . Thus pre- operative care is ensured to the minutest detail. Ear Surgery Majority of the ear surgeries are done as day care cases. Myringotomy and Grommet insertion: It involves making an incision in the eardrum to drain middle ear fluid and putting in a ventilation tube. This is easily done under local anaesthesia without sedation in the adult patient, and the patient may be sent home within 1 hour of the operation. Children can be treated with short general or anaesthesia and sent home as soon as they are fully awake, and after the anaesthetist's consent. Tympanoplasty: Repair of the ear drum with restoration of the middle ear hearing apparatus. This is done under local anaesthesia with sedation and the patient may be sent home when fully alert. Mastoidectomy: Removal of disease, usually cholesteatoma, from the mastoid and middle ear, with or without reconstruction of tympanic membrane and hearing apparatus. Cholesteatoma is a type of skin cyst and commonly occurs due to complication of chronic ear infection located in the middle ear. This is usually done under local anaesthesia with sedation. If the patient is apprehensive, general anaesthesia may be required as the surgery may sometimes stretch to 3 hours or more. These patients can also be sent home the same day. The patient may occasionally experience vertigo after mastoidectomy or ossiculoplasty and is sensitized about it before hand. Vertigo is a dizzying feeling or a reeling sensation as if one is about fall. In this case the patient may have to stay in the hospital for an extra day. In the normal course, they will be asked to follow up after 3 days for routine dressing and 7 days for suture removal. In case of pain, vertigo or bleeding the surgeon sees nthen to alleviate the condition.
