| MyENTSurgeon.com > What to expect at an ENT Consultation |
Typically a history is taken eliciting the symptoms of the patient’s complaints. It is also important that the past medical history and medication (always bring a list with you) being used should be documented, as this may have relevance if a patient requires surgery at a later date.
ENT is an unusual sub-speciality and requires specialist equipment to thoroughly examine the different areas of the Ear, Nose and Throat.
An otoscope is used to examine the ears and illuminate the eardrum, so that the surgeon can identify normal landmarks and pathology. In addition the use of tuning forks as a gauge of hearing may sometimes be used as part of the consultation.
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Sometimes the eardrum and canal need to be viewed under magnification and a microscope can be used to provide this together with binocular vision, depth of field and to allow for the use of microsuction necessary to remove wax or debris from an ear canal.
To look at the front of the nose a simple speculum together with illumination from a headlight is used to visualize the anatomy and possible pathology.
Sometimes, especially after nasal surgery a rigid endoscope can be used to inspect the nose.
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An external examination of the neck is not uncommon to feel for any glands or pathology.
The oral cavity is thoroughly examined often with a tongue depressor and illumination to visualise the tongue and tonsillar area.
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It is not uncommon to visualize the back of the nose and the voicebox with a flexible nasendoscope. This is a fine fibreoptic cable that is inserted into the nose after a decongesting anaesthetic is inserted. It is a strange feeling in the nose but gives the surgeon a superb view of areas that are very difficult to examine otherwise.
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