Minimally Invasive Ear, Nose, and Throat Surgery
University of Chicago otolaryngologists--ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons--have been using minimally invasive surgery to treat ENT problems for many years, long before the term became popular. Head and neck disorders are well suited for minimally invasive diagnostic and surgical approaches because the nasal, ear, and throat passages offer a natural entryway for the sophisticated, thin instruments used in these procedures. These types of procedures result in less tissue damage, a faster recovery, less pain, and less scarring than treatments performed through open incisions. For ENT minimally invasive procedures that require external incisions, our specialists work to keep scarring to a minimum.
Image-Guided Surgery
Minimally invasive sinus and related procedures performed at the University of Chicago Medicine are done with the help of a revolutionary imaging tool--the ENTrak--that enables our surgeons to perform 3-D image-guided surgery. This advanced computerized imaging method uses CT scans (X-rays) of the patient's head and neck to build a three-dimensional picture of the patient's anatomy. This gives the surgeon a more detailed look at sinus structures during surgery, allowing for more complete removal of disease and fewer complications. Not all hospitals have this state-of-the-art technology.
Our Surgeons
University of Chicago otolaryngologists are board-certified experts in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Our surgeons have extensive expertise in treating complex and high-risk ENT problems using minimally invasive techniques. These physicians collaborate with each other and other University of Chicago specialists to provide comprehensive care for even the most challenging cases.
Alternatives to Surgery Are Available
Our specialists are often able to treat ENT conditions without surgery. In many cases, medications, speech-language therapy, or hearing devices can successfully treat problems. Our approach is to offer comprehensive, "multimodality treatment" that combines a variety of medical and/or surgical techniques to care for our patients.
