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  Septoplasty At ENT Delhi Septoplasty is the surgical procedure to correct a deviated nasal septum (DNS). Nasal Septum and DNS – Deviated Nasal Septum The Nasal Septum divides the nose into the right and left nostrils. It is made of Cartilage (malleable tissue – anteriorly), and Bone (Posteriorly). Though ideally the Septum should be straight there is some deviation to either side in some individuals. Causes of Deviated Nasal Septum The child may be born with a deviated Septum due to pressures in the womb. Injury- while growing up, or as a child while playing games, or sometimes after and accident. Pressure of swelling like large growth/ polyp on one side of the nose can push the septum to the other side. INDICATIONS OF SEPTOPLASTY Nasal Blockage Recurrent Nasal bleeding Snoring and sleep Apnoea As an approach or access to Nasal Surgery like FESS or skull base surgery To repair a nasal septal deviation Anaesthesia for Septoplasty Local Anaesthesia – after discussing with the patie...

Otitis externa , also called  swimmer’s ear , is inflammation of the ear canal. It often presents with ear pain, swelling of the ear canal, and occasionally decreased hearing.Typically there is pain on movement of the outer ear  or on touching the ear. Otitis externa may be acute (lasting less than six weeks) or chronic (lasting more than three months).  Acute cases are typically due to bacterial infection, and chronic cases are often due to allergies and autoimmune disorders.The most common cause of Otitis externa is bacterial. Risk factors for acute cases include swimming, minor trauma from cleaning, using hearing aids and ear plugs, and other skin problems, such as  seborrhoea (dandruff),  psoriasis and dermatitis. People with diabetes are at risk of a severe form of  disease called  malignant otitis externa .  This disease causes progressive destruction of external ear tissues and can spread deep inside the ear.  Diagnosis is based on th...

  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...

Sore throat, throat irritation, or, using its medical term - Pharyngitis, is a common year-long medical problem. A sore throat is fortunately short-lasting and temporary but sometimes if it persists there may be an underlying sinister pathology. SYMPTOMS There are many common symptoms of sore throat Desire to clear the throat, hawking Soreness/ pain in the throat Foreign body sensation in the throat The feeling of a lump- Globus Cough Difficulty in swallowing Postnasal drip Excessive saliva/ mucus in the throat CAUSES 1. Allergy - Throat irritation is quite often caused by an allergy to something in the environment (like dust, pollen, pollutants, smoke) or to something that we eat or drink. There is usually a clear history of eating indiscretion like too much ice in the beverage, very spicy food like chutneys and pickles, etc. 2. Virus - There are many viruses that cause a sore throat. Viral sore throats last for a short while and are usually self-limiting. There may be accompanying pa...

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...

Secretory Otitis Media - also called Otitis Media with Effusion, sometimes referred to as Glue Ear is a very common ear condition in children in which there is sterile collection of fluid in the middle ear of the child. The collection of fluid dampens the movement of the ear drum leading to sensation of ear blockage and loss of hearing. There are usually two peaks in a child's life- at 2 years and then at 5 years of age. Secretory Otitis Media (SOM) must be distinguished from Acute Otitis Media (AOM, ASOM) which is usually an infective condition and there is accompanying ear pain, or Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) in which there is usually an accompanying ear discharge. What Causes SOM? The occurrence of SOM in very small children is linked to their poor/ immature immune status. A breastfed infant normally loses maternal antibodies by 18 months of age. At the age of 2 years the child is exposed to the outside environment and other children for the first time - ...

There are three paired major  Salivary Glands  in the human body and countless minor salivary glands. The Major salivary Glands are - Parotid (in front of the ear, on the cheeks), Submandibular (high in the neck, just below the jaw bone on each side) and the Sublingual (on the floor of the mouth). Stones are sometimes formed in these glands which cause extreme discomfort, pain and swelling. Why do they occur? Salivary Gland stones can occur due to the following conditions: Poor Oro Dental hygiene Oral Injury Dehydration Post Radiotherapy treatment Being Male and Elderly - Males and the elderly are more prone What are the Symptoms? A Salivary Gland consists of a gland (which secretes the saliva) and a duct which is the channel through which saliva passes from the gland into the oral cavity.A Stone can form in the gland or in the duct and cause obstruction. Obstruction to the flow of saliva causes the saliva to build up in the gland - this causes ...

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...

Causes and Types of Abnormalities in Smell The sense of SMELL is one of our five basic senses - apart from touch, vision, hearing, and taste. It is a higher and an aesthetic sense which, apart from helping us get the flavor out of food (Flavour is a combination of the sense of Taste and Smell) also helps us appreciate the finer things around us. It has a very strong connection with the Limbic system - because as we all know a particular smell can take us down memory lane to very specific experiences in our life. Anosmia is described as the loss of the sense of smell. Anosmia may be temporary or permanent depending on the cause of the problem and the extent of the lesion/ damage. TYPES Abnormalities in the sense of smell can be of various types -  HYPOSMIA - Reduction in the sense of smell - due to lower transmission of nerve impulses. ANOSMIA - Complete loss of sense of smell - due to a complete break in the transmission of nerve impulses. PAROSMIA - an abnorma...