Our services | Advanced procedures
Advanced procedures
At Barts and The London Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Centre, we treat a wide range of ENT conditions and our facilities allow us to conduct some of the latest diagnostic and surgical procedures. These include:
Image-guided surgery
Some areas of the head and neck are difficult to reach during surgery and image-guided surgery is a technology which allows accurate 3D orientation in some of our surgical procedures. This is a useful technology which helps us to maximise patient care and outcomes in sinus or skull based procedures.
Transoral laser surgery
Transoral laser surgery involves putting an endoscope (lighted viewing tube) inside the mouth and using a carbon dioxide laser beam to apply surgery inside the mouth area. This laser process means there is little bleeding with less swelling and a quicker recovery time for the patient.This advanced procedure is performed for some patients with cancers of the larynx and pharynx and means that surgery can be conducted to remove the cancer without making any cuts in the neck.
Endoscopic sinus surgery
This surgery is performed through the nostrils on the sinuses and avoids surgical cuts to the face. It is done using a small endoscope (camera) while the patient is under general anaesthesia (unconscious) and mostly on a day case basis, meaning our patients do not have to stay overnight in hospital. Our ENT surgeons will rectify the problem causing the blocked sinuses (blockages, small growths or re-aligning the bone partition between the nose and sinuses).
Following surgery, a pack dressing is inserted in the nostrils and patients will have to breathe through their mouth initially until the packs are removed. When leaving hospital, patients should stay at home for two weeks until they are fully recovered.
Surgery for dizziness
There are few times when surgery is appropriate for dizziness. In such cases our centre has advanced procedures in corrective surgery for patients who suffer with extreme dizziness.
Videotroboscopy
Videotroboscopy is state-of-the-art technology that allows ENT experts to identify various vocal cord conditions and abnormalities. It involves an endoscope being placed in the patient’s mouth or nose and a tiny camera attached at the end. This camera will record slow motion vocal cord movement while the patient speaks, and allows the ENT team to look for any abnormalities.
Stroboscopy
A stroboscopy examination will test if the vibratory characteristics of the voice box are normal and whether a lesion is present. This examination involves putting a long thin camera in the mouth where it rests on the tongue. There is a special lens on the end which will film the voice box while the patient is speaking.
