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 19 March 2013

Biofilms and human infection © JW Fairley 2010 What is a biofilm? A bug's life We know you're in there Why not take a swab and send it to the lab? 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 Is it infected, doctor? Cleanliness is next to godliness Biofilm diseases in ENT
Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA) Osseo-integrated titanium auditory implant © JW Fairley 2011 What is a BAHA? Who can be helped by BAHA? How does a BAHA work? Three components of the BAHA system Pre-operative Assessment Operation Follow up Hygiene MRI Scans and BAHA Costs Alternative to BAHA - Sophono magnetic hearing system NHS Availability References
Cholesteatoma and mastoid surgery © JW Fairley 2010 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? What is the alternative to mastoid 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
Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) including balloon sinuplasty © JW Fairley 2010 What is FESS? Rigid Nasal Sinus Endoscopy (FESS telescope) CT Scan of the sinuses How is the operation done? Balloon sinuplasty 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
Glue ear, grommets (ventilation tubes) and adenoids © JW Fairley 2010 What is glue ear? The normal ear and hearing 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 / ventilation tube - 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 ear infection in the presence of a grommet How to use ear drops How will you know if you have an ear infection with a grommet? 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
Nosebleeds First Aid - What to do © JW Fairley 2011
Otitis externa - inflammation of the outer ear © JW Fairley 2010 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 Swimmer's Exostosis 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 Application of ointment dressing What can I do to help myself? Audiometry (Hearing tests) Hearing Aids and BAHA osseointegrated auditory implant
Rhino-sinusitis: causes & medical treatment © JW Fairley 2010 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?
Tinnitus - noises in the ears or head What causes it and how to deal with it © JW Fairley 2011 What is tinnitus? What does tinnitus sound like? Is tinnitus a high pitched ringing in the ears? How loud is tinnitus? How long does tinnitus last? Is tinnitus permanent? Is hearing voices in your head tinnitus? What causes tinnitus? Normal tinnitus Objective and subjective tinnitus Theories of tinnitus Hearing pathway: sound » ear » nerve of hearing » brain Reverse pathway: brain » nerve of hearing » ear » sound Adjusting the cochlear microphone Normal brain sound processing can generate tinnitus Investigation of tinnitus Practical ways of dealing with tinnitus Severe tinnitus Why some tinnitus becomes severe Threat detection and false alarms Emotional areas of the brain affect sound processing Extreme tinnitus Clinical depression and tinnitus
Tonsils and adenoids © JW Fairley 2010 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?
Vertigo Rehabilitation Exercises © JW Fairley 2010 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 exercises Eye Head Sitting Standing Moving about Tips to avoid injury during recovery Medications and alcohol during vestibular rehabilitation Psychological and motivational factors in vestibular rehabilitation

ENT.UK The British Association of Otolaryngologists - Head and Neck Surgeons www.ENTUK.org

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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Mr James W Fairley

BSc MBBS FRCS MS (Lon.)

Consultant ENT Surgeon

Mrs Sylvia A Fairley

RGN RCNT Dip Nurs (Lon.)

Practice Manager

Patient Information on ENT medical conditions & treatments

Biofilms and human infection © JW Fairley 2010

Bone Anchored Hearing Aids (BAHA) Osseo-integrated titanium auditory implant © JW Fairley 2011

Cholesteatoma and mastoid surgery © JW Fairley 2010

Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS) including balloon sinuplasty © JW Fairley 2010

Glue ear, grommets (ventilation tubes) and adenoids © JW Fairley 2010

Nosebleeds First Aid - What to do © JW Fairley 2011

Otitis externa - inflammation of the outer ear © JW Fairley 2010

Rhino-sinusitis: causes & medical treatment © JW Fairley 2010

Tinnitus - noises in the ears or head What causes it and how to deal with it © JW Fairley 2011

Tonsils and adenoids © JW Fairley 2010

Vertigo Rehabilitation Exercises © JW Fairley 2010

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

Patient information leaflets

Conditions of the ear

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