Med First ENT Centre

Breathe Easy: Understanding Tonsillectomy for Sleep Apnea and More Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure in which the tonsils, which are two small masses of tissue located at the back of the throat, are removed. It is usually done to treat conditions such as recurrent tonsillitis (inflammation of the tonsils) or sleep-disordered breathing due to enlarged tonsils. Tonsillectomy Procedure During a tonsillectomy, the patient is usually put under general anaesthesia, which means they are asleep and do not feel any pain. The surgeon may use a scalpel, a laser, coblator, Microdebrider  or other surgical tools to remove the tonsils. The procedure may take about 30 minutes to an hour, and the patient is typically allowed to go home on the same day. Tonsillectomy Recovery  After a tonsillectomy, the patient may experience a sore throat, pain, and discomfort, which can last for several days. Pain medication and a soft diet may be prescribed to help manage these symptoms. I...

  Nasal Polyps - What Are They? Persons who have chronic allergies of the nose associated with frequent colds or infections are prone to developing nasal polyps. Nasal Polyps are like grape like clusters which accumulate inside the nasal passage and gradually grow with time.  TYPES There are two main types of Nasal Polyps  1. Antro Choanal Polyp - This is usually a single polyp which arises from the Maxillary Sinus and grows backwards towards the back of the nose- hence the name 'Antro' - arising from the Maxillary Antrum and 'Choanal' - going towards the posterior Choana or the back of the nose. This polyp is usually present in younger individuals and grows to a large size before it causes symptoms. It does not recur once removed. 2. Ethmoid Polyps - These are multiple polyps that arise from the Ethmoid and other sinuses. They arise in older individuals and cause complications by blocking sinus openings as well as by growing to larger size and causing nasal obstructio...

  Myringoplasty : Surgical Repair of a Perforated Eardrum A tympanic membrane perforation sounds like a scary and severe condition. However, it is only another name for a perforated or ruptured eardrum (which is medically called the tympanic membrane). In this condition, a hole or tear occurs in the thin tissue separating your ear canal from the middle ear. There may be several causes for a perforation of the eardrum. An infection in your middle ear (otitis media), air pressure changes, head injury, loud sounds, or something as seemingly harmless as a cotton swab in your ear.  Eardrum perforation may heal on its own and may not cause any problems. However, sometimes, it can cause frequent ear infections due to water getting into the ear or loss of hearing on account of reduced vibrations of the eardrum.  An ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist doctor identifies the hole in your eardrum by using an instrument called an otoscope/auriscope.  The procedure for the repa...

It is a truism that Doctors read a lot - from before they become doctors - they cram for admission tests, to their time in Medical College and then all their lives - they read throughout their lives. The latter part of their reading is to brush up on old knowledge as well as to pick up on the latest advances.  In a long career spanning many decades it is impossible to imagine that the practice of Medicine would have remained the same- so Doctors need to keep abreast with the changes. In the early days it was enough for doctors to rely upon their knowledge and experience - and that is why patients preferred Doctors with grey/ white hair - since it implied age and wisdom arising out of experience.  And now look at this chart -  Evidence Based Medicine - Courtesy Pinterest As we notice here that Doctor's personal Opinions and Ideas are placed at the Bottom of the Pyramid - it would be incorrect on the doctor's part to rely solely on his experience or g...

1. The heat will kill the Virus Though we thought initially that the Coronavirus was a winter virus and that like the Flu its transmission would slow or die down in the summers it is not so. The virus continues to transmit and infect persons.  "Viruses do not replicate outside the living cell but the infectious virus may persist on contaminated environmental surfaces and the duration of persistence of viable virus is affected markedly by temperature and humidity. In the present study, we have demonstrated that SARS CoV can survive at least two weeks after drying at temperature and humidity conditions found in an air-conditioned environment. The virus is stable for 3 weeks at room temperature in a liquid environment but it is easily killed by heat at 56°C for 15 minutes. This indicates that SARS CoV is a stable virus that may potentially be transmitted by indirect contact or fomites. " (K H Chan et all - hindawi.com). 2. Flu Vaccine will give you immunity aga...

This article is about Dry Cough - that common cough which can come at any time, can cause immense distress during the day to you as well as people around you, and sometimes keep you awake at nights! What are the common causes? POST NASAL DRIP - Nasal allergies, nasal infections, enlarged adenoids are some of the commonest causes of a post nasal drip- there is constant irritating secretions from the nose and nasopharynx which causes cobblestoning of the throat mucosa leading to constant irritation in the throat and a cough. GASTRO OESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISORDER (GERD)/ LPR - Though GERD and LPR (Laryngol Pharyngeal Reflux) are slightly different disorders, it is now well understood that acidity and reflux are a common cause of chronic dry cough. These patients normally have a cough that is worse on lying down. They will typically complain of a choked and dry throat on waking up in the morning. ASTHMA - As yet undiagnosed Asthma can cause a dry cough. This cough is usually seasona...