ENT - EAR NOSE & THROAT SURGERY

Othorhinolaryngology is a specialised medical field covering ear, nose and throat surgery under the umbrella term of ENT which also includes maxillo-facial surgery, some aspects of neurosurgery and plastic surgery procedures. Some ENT surgery procedures pertain to lifestyle decisions and can be likened to cosmetic surgery (rather than critical health care problems) including rhinoplasty, snoring reduction, catarrhal symptom abatement and mild cases of nasal obstruction. Most ENT surgical procedures are uneventful with less than 1% of cases facing any significant risk.

The highest claims risk for ear nose and throat surgery revolves around facial nerve damage or treatment of acoustic neuromas. Operations on the thyroid, laryngectomy or radical neck dissection are risky because of possible damage to nerves linked to the vocal chords. Endoscopic sinus surgery currently raises the highest number of claims because bones around the eye are easily damaged or (less often) because cerebro-spinal fluid escapes from the brain cavity. When the latter occurs, the doctor may have to open the skull to repair the damage and risk causing impairment to the sense of smell. Other possible negative consequences of ENT surgery include optic nerve damage leading to blindness, brain abscess and meningitis.

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