Otolaryngology is a medical specialty that treats conditions of the ears, nose, and throat. Specialists in this field have training in surgery as well as medicine.
Because otolaryngology involves the ears, nose, and throat, these specialists are known as ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctors.
For an ENT physician, the ear, nose, throat, larynx, and the sinuses are in the scope of treatment areas.
Unlike physicians who can only medically treat conditions involving these areas and structures, ENT doctors can treat and also perform surgery on the structures involved, if necessary.
Surgery will be necessary when non-invasive treatments and medications cannot improve the condition in question.
ENT surgery may also be harnessed to address injuries and deformities.
Among the conditions that ENT doctors can address are:
ENT doctors can specifically perform these types of procedures:
Sinus surgery may be the last resort when therapeutics cannot effectively treat chronic sinus infections.
The ENT surgeon performs the procedure to make the sinus openings larger so that they can drain. This procedure optimizes the way the sinuses function and lessens the potential for infection.
Sinus surgery is minimally invasive and is often performed on an outpatient basis. Different types of sinus surgery include:
