Patient Information on ENT medical conditions & treatments

This medical information is provided to enhance and support, not replace, individual advice from a qualified medical practitioner. Please see our Terms of Use. We are continuously updating our patient information pages. New titles are added regularly.
This page last updated 6 April, 2008

Biofilms and human infection © JW Fairley 2007

A bug's life   We know you're in there  A place to call my own  A problem shared  Family and friends  Looking for somewhere to settle down  United we stand  Someone to talk to  Cleanliness is next to godliness  Biofilm diseases in ENT  Further reading - links 		Five stages in biofilm development © 2003 Peg Dirckx Center for Biofilm Engineering Montana State University

Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA) © JW Fairley 2008

BAHA Osseo-integrated titanium auditory implant.
Contents: Background  Pre-operative Assessment  Operation  Follow up  Hygiene  Costs for private patients  Further reading  References		 Hearing by Direct Bone Conduction - Osseointegrated Auditory Implant

Cholesteatoma and mastoid surgery © JW Fairley 2008

Contents: What is cholesteatoma?   The normal ear and hearing   Causes of cholesteatoma   Symptoms   Signs   Diagnosis   Audiometry (Hearing tests)   CT scan   Medical treatments   Microsuction treatment   Mastoidectomy   Tympanoplasty   KTP LASER   What are the risks of surgery for cholesteatoma?   Before coming into hospital for ear surgery   Before the operation   After the operation   How long will I be in hospital?   What restrictions are there afterwards?   What can I expect at home after the operation?   First post-operative visit   Long term follow-up   Hearing Aids and BAHA osseointegrated auditory implant		Cholesteatoma left attic. Key: tm = tympanic membrane (eardrum) c = cholesteatoma

Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) © JW Fairley 2008

Contents: What is FESS?   Rigid Nasal Sinus Endoscopy   CT scan of the sinuses   How is the operation done?   What is the success rate of surgery?   What are the risks?   What other treatment options are there?   Before coming into hospital   Before the operation   After the operation   When you go home after FESS   Nosebleeds		 Normal opening into the left maxillary sinus (the natural ostium)seen through a nasal endoscope. Key: mt = middle turbinate, mm = middle meatus, it = inferior turbinate

Glue ear, grommets (ventilation tubes) and adenoids © JW Fairley 2008

Contents: The normal ear and hearing   What is glue ear?   What causes glue ear?   What are adenoids?   What are the symptoms of glue ear?   How is glue ear diagnosed?   What is the treatment?   What about alternative treatments?   What is a grommet - how does it work?   How is the operation done?   What happens after the operation?   What about swimming and grommets?   Does fluid discharge from the ear?   How to treat an ear infection in the presence of a grommet?   How to use ear drops   What happens after the grommet comes out?   How do you know when the grommet is out?   Do grommets scar the eardrum?   What are the complications of grommets?   I've heard that grommet operations are unnecessary     Further reading / links 		Glue ear with fluid level behind right eardrum

Nosebleeds First Aid - What to do © JW Fairley 2008

What to do if your nose is actively bleeding   Emergency contact details   Repeated nosebleeds   		Pinching the lower part of the nose between forefinger and thumb will stop most nosebleeds

Otitis externa - inflammation of the outer ear © JW Fairley 2008

Contents:   What is otitis externa?   The vicious circle of otitis externa   The normal ear and hearing   How the normal ear canal cleans and protects itself   Causes of otitis externa   Symptoms   Signs   Diagnosis   Ear swabs   Why antibiotics don't cure otitis externa   Medical treatments   How to use ear drops   Microsuction treatment   Use of medicated ear wicks   What can I do to help myself?   Audiometry (Hearing tests)   Hearing Aids and BAHA osseointegrated auditory implant   		Chronic otitis externa. Eczema with secondary infection, painful fissuring of the skin at the opening of the ear canal

Rhino-sinusitis: causes & medical treatment © JW Fairley 2008

Contents:  What is rhino-sinusitis?  Where are the sinuses?  What is the mucous membrane?  Sneezing What are the causes of rhinosinusitis?  What are nasal polyps?  What are the symptoms of sinusitis?  Can sinusitis be serious?  What can I do to help myself?  Steam Inhalations  What medical treatment is available?  How to use nose drops  What is sinus endoscopy?		 CT scan showing a thin vertical slice through the face at the level of the eyelids. Air is black, bone is white, soft tissues and fluids are shades of grey. The frontal sinuses are the black spaces above the eyes. The ethmoid sinuses are the black spaces between the eyes. Between the cheeks, the grey pear-shaped bumps in the side walls of the nose are the inferior turbinates. The nasal septum is the vertical structure in the midline.

Tonsils and adenoids © JW Fairley 2007

Contents: What are tonsils?   What are adenoids?   Why do we have tonsils and adenoids?   Why remove the tonsils and adenoids?   What can be done apart from surgery?   What is the success rate of surgery?   What are the risks of surgery?   Is the operation more dangerous in adults?   How is the operation done?   Before coming into hospital   Before the operation   After the operation   How long will I be in hospital?   What should I do when I go home?   What do I do if it bleeds?   Further reading / links		 Acute tonsillitis - Red and swollen tonsils. Key: t = tonsil, u = uvula

Vertigo Rehabilitation Exercises © JW Fairley 2008

Principles and practice of Cawthorne-Cooksey treatment for dizziness due to labyrinthitis and other forms of inner ear balance organ damage.
Contents: Definition of vertigo  How damage to the inner ear causes vertigo  Other important factors for balance  Your brain - the pilot. Your inner ear - an aeroplane instrument  Central processing of information in the brain is essential for balance  Learning how to balance - we've all done it before  Nystagmus - Eye movements associated with labyrinthine vertigo  Cawthorne-Cooksey excercises  Tips to avoid injury during recovery  Medications and alcohol during vestibular rehabilitation  Psychological and motivational factors in vestibular rehabilitation  Further reading / links		 Vertigo - an illusion of motion
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British Association Otolaryngologists

Links to patient information from ENT.UK, the   British Association of Otolaryngologists - Head & Neck Surgeons

These patient information leaflets have been written in accordance with CNST guidelines and advice, and have been reviewed by the Royal College of Surgeons Patient Liaison Group. This leaflet may be freely reproduced in its entirety by photocopying, print, electronic publishing or any other means on condition that no additions, deletions or any other alterations are made to the text and that the text is circulated for the benefit of patients. Hard copies of these leaflets can be ordered from ENT.UK for 45pence each.

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Patient information leaflets

Conditions of the ear

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Conditions of the throat

Conditions of the head and neck

Cosmetic and Facial Plastic Surgery

Indexed links to patient information on the website of the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery  AAO-HNS  www.entnet.org

Ears

Throat/Mouth

Head and Neck Surgery

Cancer

Pediatric

About Otolaryngology

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