EAR NOSE THROAT, HEAD, AND NECK SURGERY :

Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) is the most common cause of vertigo, accounting for a significant portion of cases. It occurs when tiny calcium crystals (otoconia) in the inner ear become dislodged and move into the semicircular canals, causing intense, brief spinning sensations triggered by head movements.

Ménière’s disease is a chronic, incurable inner ear disorder characterized by spontaneous, recurring episodes of vertigo (spinning sensation), fluctuating hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing), and a feeling of ear fullness. Usually affecting one ear in adults aged 20-60, it is thought to be caused by abnormal fluid buildup (endolymphatic hydrops).

Otitis externa, commonly known as swimmer’s ear, is an inflammation, irritation, or infection of the external ear canal, which is the tube running from the outer ear to the eardrum. It causes pain, itching, redness, and swelling, often triggered by trapped water (creating a moist environment for bacteria) or damage from cotton swabs. It is usually treated with cleaning and antibiotic ear drops, with symptoms typically resolving within a few days.

The most common cause of epistaxis (nosebleed) is dry air, which causes the nasal membranes to become dry, crusty, and susceptible to cracking. This, often in combination with physical trauma-like nose picking or forceful blowing, leads to tearing of small blood vessels in the nasal septum.

Common causes:

• Trauma (nose picking)
• Dry air
• Hypertension
• Anticoagulants

Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever, is an inflammatory condition of the nose caused by an immune system overreaction to airborne allergens like pollen, dust mites, mold, or pet dander. It causes symptoms such as sneezing, runny nose, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion.

Symptoms:

• Sneezing
• Nasal congestion
• Itchy eyes
• Clear rhinorrhoea

Nasal polyps are soft, noncancerous growths on the lining of nasal passages or sinuses, typically caused by chronic inflammation from asthma, allergies, recurring infections, or immune system responses. They often result from long-term swelling, which causes the mucosal lining to sag and form polyp, sometimes linked to cystic fibrosis.

Tonsillitis is the inflammation of the tonsils, two oval-shaped tissue pads at the back of the throat, usually caused by viral or bacterial infections. Common in children and teenagers, it causes a severe sore throat, swollen red tonsils, fever, and difficulty swallowing.

A peritonsillar abscess, also known as a quinsy, is a pus-filled, infected pocket that forms near the tonsils, usually as a complication of untreated or severe tonsillitis. It causes intense, one-sided throat pain, fever, difficulty opening the mouth (trismus), and a “hot potato” voice. Treatment typically involves draining the abscess, antibiotics, and sometimes a tonsillectomy.

A tonsillectomy is a common surgical procedure to remove the tonsils, two small glands at the back of the throat, usually under general anaesthesia. It is primarily indicated for chronic or recurrent tonsillitis (severe, frequent sore throats) and breathing-related sleep disorders, such as obstructive sleep apnoea caused by enlarged tonsils.

Laryngitis is the inflammation of the larynx (voice box) and vocal cords, typically causing hoarseness or loss of voice, a dry/sore throat, and a cough. Often caused by viral infections (colds/flu) or vocal strain, it is usually temporary (acute) and resolves within 1–2 weeks with rest, hydration, and avoiding irritants.

The most common salivary gland tumour is the pleomorphic adenoma (also known as a benign mixed tumour), which accounts for 60-70% of all benign salivary gland neoplasms. It is most frequently found in the parotid gland. Among malignant tumours, mucoepidermoid carcinoma is the most prevalent.

The most common type of head and neck cancer is squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), which accounts for over 90% of all cases. These cancers typically develop in the mucosal linings of the mouth, nose, and throat. Within this group, oral cavity (mouth) cancer is the most frequent specific location.

Risk factors:

• Smoking
• Alcohol
• HPV infection

A myringotomy is a surgical procedure in which a small incision is made in the eardrum (tympanic membrane) by an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist to drain fluid, pus, or blood from the middle ear. It is often performed to treat persistent fluid buildup, chronic infections, or to relieve significant pressure. In many cases, a small ventilation tube (grommet) is inserted into the incision to keep it open and allow for continued drainage and aeration.

Tympanoplasty is a surgical procedure, often performed on an outpatient basis under general or local anaesthesia, designed to repair a perforated (holed) eardrum and sometimes reconstruct the small, sound-conducting bones in the middle ear. Using a microscope or endoscope, a surgeon uses a graft (typically cartilage or tissue) to seal the hole, aiming to restore hearing, prevent recurrent infections, and improve ear drainage.

A mastoidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove infected or diseased air cells within the mastoid bone, which is the honeycomb-like skull bone located directly behind the ear. It is primarily performed to treat severe, chronic middle ear infections (mastoiditis) or to remove a destructive skin growth known as a cholesteatoma.

A stapedectomy (or stapedotomy) is a surgical procedure to treat hearing loss caused by otosclerosis, a condition where the stapes bone in the middle ear becomes fixed and unable to vibrate. It involves removing part or all of this bone and replacing it with an artificial prosthetic to restore sound transmission to the inner ear.

Septoplasty is a common, usually outpatient, surgical procedure to straighten a deviated nasal septum—the wall of bone and cartilage dividing the nostrils—to improve breathing. By trimming, repositioning, and replacing cartilage or bone through internal incisions, it treats chronic nasal blockage, congestion, and snoring without changing the external appearance of the nose.

Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) is a minimally invasive procedure used to treat chronic sinus problems, such as sinusitis or nasal polyps, that do not respond to medication. Using endoscopes through the nostrils, surgeons remove blockages, diseased tissue, and polyps to restore normal drainage and improve airflow.

Rhinoplasty, commonly known as a “nose job,” is a surgical procedure that alters the size, shape, or structure of the nose for cosmetic enhancement or medical reasons, such as fixing structural defects that cause breathing difficulties. It involves reshaping cartilage and bone to refine the profile, straighten, or resize the nose.

Types:

• Cosmetic rhinoplasty
• Functional rhinoplasty (to improve breathing)

An adenoidectomy is a common surgical procedure to remove enlarged or infected adenoid glands, located behind the nose at the back of the throat. Primarily performed on children to relieve breathing, sleeping, and sinus issues, the 20–30-minute procedure is done under general anaesthesia, usually through the mouth.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP or UP3) is a surgical procedure designed to treat obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and severe snoring by removing or reshaping excess tissue in the throat, such as the uvula, soft palate, and tonsils. It opens the upper airway to improve breathing and reduces tissue collapse during sleep.

Microlaryngoscopy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure used to examine and treat voice box (larynx) issues—such as polyps, cysts, or vocal cord nodules—under general anaesthesia. A surgeon uses a microscope and specialized instruments through the mouth to provide a highly magnified view, allowing for precise tissue removal or biopsies without external incisions.

A parotidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part or all of the parotid gland, the largest saliva-producing gland located in front of the ears. It is primarily performed to remove benign or malignant tumours, or to treat chronic infections. The procedure involves an incision in front of the ear, often extending to the neck, and requires specialized, careful dissection to protect the facial nerve that runs through the gland.

A thyroidectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all (total) or part (partial/subtotal) of the butterfly-shaped thyroid gland located in the neck. It is commonly used to treat thyroid cancer, large noncancerous growths (goitres), or an overactive thyroid (Graves’ disease). The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia, typically leaving a small scar in a lower neck skin crease.

Tracheostomy surgery is a medical procedure that creates an opening (stoma) in the neck and directly into the trachea (windpipe) to establish an airway, bypassing the mouth and throat. A tube is inserted to allow for breathing, especially for patients on ventilators or with blocked airways. It can be temporary or permanent.