Big Bang Theory TV Star Kaley Cuoco Undergoes Sinus Surgery

On Dec 26, 2014, Kaley Cuoco of Big Bang Theory fame posted on instagram pictures of herself after undergoing sinus surgery . Apparently the need for sinus surgery was present for over one year. Given Kaley has been suffering from some kind of sinus problem for over one year, what could those possibly be? She may have suffered from recurrent sinus infections or even nasal polyps which would lead to persistent nasal congestion , sino-nasal pain/pressure, and/or need for repeated cours…

1/04/2015 0

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How a Tracheostomy Hole Heals Closed (Time Lapse)

When a patient undergoes a tracheostomy , it is not a permanent thing. Once a patient is healthy enough, the tracheostomy tube can be removed and the existing hole in the throat will spontaneously start to heal closed. In a process called healing by secondary intention, the body creates granulation tissue along with scarring that slowly but surely closes the trach opening shut. In the rare situation it does not completely close, a surgical procedure can be performed. Here are some pictures…

12/18/2014 5

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Acupuncture Helps with Ear Surgery Pain

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital has found that acupuncture may be effective in diminishing both pain and post-anesthesia agitation in children after ear tube placement determined thru a prospective randomized controlled trial . Typically, children are placed under general anesthesia in order to have this procedure performed and upon waking, are often tearful and agitated. In this study, acupuncture needles were placed at LI-4 and HT-7 immediately after anesthesia, but prior to …

12/18/2013 0

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Lawsuit for Botched Laser Vocal Cord Surgery

In February 2012, an ENT surgeon removed vocal cord polyps using a laser while the patient was asleep with a Medtronic Laser-Shield II endotracheal tube. Unfortunately, the laser perforated the endotracheal tube, ignited the 100% oxygen being used at the time resulting in catastrophic burns to the patient. [ link ] Subsequent lawsuit resulted in favor of the patient who received an award totaling $30 million on 12/5/13. What Happened? Even though an endotracheal tube meant for use with…

12/11/2013 0

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Does Removing the Adenoids Decrease Risk of Ear Infections? Yes...

A recent meta-analysis has determined that risk of recurrent ear infections is significantly reduced if adenoidectomy is performed in combination with ear tube placement as opposed to ear tube placement alone. When stratified by age, removing the adenoids was found particularly helpful in children older than 4 years of age. Combining results from over 15 studies containing over 71,000 children, the estimated rate of repeat ear tube placement for recurrent ear infections in children who…

12/03/2013 0

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Ear Tube Placement in Kids WITHOUT Sedation (Starting at 12 Months of Age)

A recent report describes how using a relatively old technology, ear tube placement can now be performed in children starting at 12 months of age with chronic ear infections or hearing loss due to fluid buildup without the need for sedation of any kind nor aggressive restraints (ie papoose). Historically,  ear tube placement in the office without sedation is typically performed starting at around 12 years of age using standard local anesthesia techniques. Any younger, a child could not …

10/05/2013 0

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