Otolaryngology
A male doctor is holding an otoscope and examining a young boys ear.
Dr. Lewin offers the following Otolaryngology procedures.
Placement of ear ventilation tubes
Tonsillectomy
Adenoidectomy
Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Mastoid Surgery
Placement of ear ventilation tubes
Ventilation tubes are tiny plastic tubes that are surgically inserted through the eardrum which drain fluid out of the middle ear space and ventilate the area with air.
The risk of recurring ear infections is greatly reduced. Hearing returns to normal with the tube in place.
Ear tubes are inserted through an outpatient surgical procedure, a myringotomy, under a general anesthetic. A myringotomy is an incision in the ear drum. This is done under a surgical microscope with a small scalpel. An ear tube is placed in the hole to keep it open and allow air to reach the middle ear space.
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Tonsillectomy
A tonsillectomy is surgery to remove enlarged or infected tonsils. The surgery is performed under general anesthesia. The surgeon holds the mouth open to expose the tonsils. The tonsils are then cut or burned away. The cut heals naturally without stitches.
Expect some throat and ear pain in the first days following surgery. Ice packs can help relieve pain, and sucking on an ice cube or eating ice cream may provide some comfort. In addition, pain-relief medication may be prescribed. During recovery, it is recommended to eat soft, easy-to-swallow food and to drink a lot of cold fluids.
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Adenoidectomy
Adenoid removal, also called adenoidectomy, is the surgical removal of the adenoid glands from the area between the nasal airway and the back of the throat (nasopharynx). Adenoidectomy is frequently done in conjunction with a tonsillectomy.
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Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is intended for people with chronic sinus problems who do not respond to medical therapy.
The procedure is done under a general anthesia. A flexible tube, a miniature camera, and a fiberoptic light source are inserted through the nose. A small blade on a tiny rotor, are remove polyps and other blockages without harming the sinus area.
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Mastoid Surgery
The Mastoid bone is a portion of the temporal bone that is situated behind the ear and serves as a site of muscle attachment. A mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure that removes an infected portion of the mastoid bone when medical treatment is not effective.
The procedure is performed under general anesthesia. There are several different types of mastoidectomy procedures, depending on the amount of infection present:
Simple (or closed) mastoidectomy. The operation is performed through the ear or through an incision behind the ear. The surgeon opens the mastoid bone and removes the infected air cells.
Radical mastoidectomy. The procedure removes the most bone and is usually performed for extensive spread of a cholesteatoma. The eardrum and middle ear structures may be completely removed.
Modified radical mastoidectomy. In this procedure, some middle ear bones are left in place and the eardrum is rebuilt by tympanoplasty.
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