ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat)

The following ear, nose and throat disorders are treated at our clinic.

Otology/neurotology

The Otology/Neurology Unit can perform the following procedures:

• Tinnitus treatment,
• Dizziness treatment,
• Surgery for disorders of the ear drum and middle ear,
• Otosclerosis surgery,
• Diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss,
• Surgical implantation of cochlear implants (also known as bionic ears),
• Rehabilitation with hearing devices,
• Congenital aural atresia surgery,
• BAHA application,
• Microtia repair.

Otolaryngological cancer surgery

Otolaryngological surgery uses the most modern methods available to treat the conditions in ear, nose, throat, mouth cavity, nasal fossae, larynx, and salivary gland, as well as diagnosing and treating benign and malign tumors in the thyroid and neck. In addition to surgical treatment, our clinics provide post-surgery tissue loss repair and oncological treatments.

Rhinology

Our Rhinology Department successfully administers medical and surgical procedures to diagnose and treat nasal congestion, allergies, and sinus conditions. They also help manage congenital nose problems such as choanal atresia.

Endoscopic techniques are widely used in sinus surgery today. Our clinic uses the most recent development, the surgical navigation system, which reduces the risk of complications from surgery. In this way, the risk of potential side effects is reduced to extremely low levels. This technology is particularly helpful for patients with altered anatomy from previous surgeries and patients with tumors.

Facial plastic surgery

Facial plastic surgery is an area which has developed significantly in recent years. In addition to rhinoplasty, we offer many procedures, including the correction of protruding ears, facial wrinkle treatment (Botox, fillers), facelifts (surgical or via stitch lift method), neck lifts, correction of drooping eyelids, and blepharoplasty (eye bag removal). The clinic also performs orthognathic surgery.

For pediatric ear, nose and throat diseases, our clinic is one of the few centers that offer such comprehensive treatment. Our specialist physicians in the pediatric ear, nose, and throat department carry out not only tonsil or adenoid surgeries but also treat congenital anomalies (born without ears or nose, cleft palate), breathing disorders related to congenital throat anomalies, and congenital cysts and masses.

Voice disorders and dysphagia (swallowing disorder)

The voice and swallowing disorders unit provides the necessary examinations, rehabilitation, treatment, and surgery for disorders including dysphonia (loss of voice), voice disorders, difficulty swallowing, and sialorrhea (excessive salivation).

Our experienced specialists use the Lumenis CO₂ laser, a cutting-edge technology currently only available at a few medical institutions around the world, to treat conditions including disorders of the vocal cords (polyps, lesions), tracheal stenosis (tumors), and throat cancer. Mouth and nose tumors and skin lesions can be treated with the laser with minimal bleeding. The laser is an extremely successful method for the treatment of papilloma, a viral infection of the airway, and is used to treat skin lesions in CO₂ laser plastic surgery.

Snoring and sleeping disorders

We examine patients who suffer from snoring and sleep apnea at our clinic. Sleeping disorders are determined at the sleep laboratory, after which suitable treatment methods (either surgical or CPAP—a mask which administers air pressure to keep airways open) are suggested.

Audiology and speech impediments

The Audiology and Speech Impediments Department administers the following procedures: hearing tests, balance tests, tinnitus rehabilitation, balance disorder treatment, speech and dysphagia therapy, selection and implementation of hearing aids, and cochlear implants for patients who suffer congenital hearing loss or advanced hearing loss after birth. All tests prior to any procedure, as well as rehabilitation afterwards, are provided by our specialist audiologists. Our Audiology Department uses cutting-edge technology and administers audiological tests in standard silent rooms. The clinic provides video ENG, caloric tests, and positional tests. Patients can also select hearing aids to be implanted. The clinic is equipped with the technology required to treat tinnitus.

What is a cochlear implant?

A cochlear implant (bionic ear implant) is a computerized device that may restore useful hearing to persons with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss (nerve deafness). It is the only medical technology able to restore one of the body’s five senses – the sense of hearing. People who receive little benefit from hearing aids are considered for cochlear implant candidacy. Worldwide, there are more than 400,000 children and adults who benefit from cochlear implants. Unlike a hearing aid, which amplifies incoming sound, a cochlear implant changes sound waves into electrical signals. Hearing aids require functioning hair cells in the inner ear, whereas cochlear implants bypass damaged hair cells by converting speech and environmental sounds into electrical signals and sending these signals to the hearing nerve.

A cochlear implant has two main components:

• An internal component consisting of a small electronic device that is surgically implanted under the skin behind the ear, connected to electrodes inserted inside the cochlea.
• An external component, worn behind the ear, consisting of a speech processor, microphone, and battery compartment.

The microphone captures sound, which the speech processor translates into distinctive electrical signals. These signals travel up a thin cable to the headpiece and are transmitted across the skin via radio waves to the implanted electrodes in the cochlea. The electrodes’ signals stimulate the auditory nerve fibers to send information to the brain, where it is interpreted as meaningful sound.

Cochlear implant surgery

Cochlear implant surgery is usually performed as an outpatient procedure under general anesthesia. An incision is made behind the ear to open the mastoid bone leading to the middle ear space. Once the middle ear space is exposed, an opening is made in the cochlea and the electrodes are inserted. The electronic device at the base of the electrode array is then placed under the skin behind the ear.

This surgery can be performed in individuals older than 12 months who do not benefit from hearing aids.

The cochlear implant team

Our cochlear implant team consists of one neurotology surgeon and two doctors of audiology with wide expertise in ear pathologies. The preoperative evaluation, intraoperative measurements, and postoperative rehabilitation of each patient is performed precisely using state-of-the-art technology. The surgery is carried out with utmost safety using the most current medical equipment.