Pediatric Procedures
Oftentimes, due to children’s’ limited communication skills, it is necessary to visit a specialist to properly diagnose and treat ENT issues. Ohio Surgery Center specializes in treating common, and complex, pediatric and adolescent ENT problems. Common pediatric ENT conditions include tonsillitis, adenoiditis, and allergic rhinitis.
Ear Tubes
It’s common for young children, especially those under the age of 5, to experience painful ear infections. Many viral infections resolve themselves and bacterial infections are cared for with antibiotics. However, chronic middle ear infections or fluid in the middle ear may lead to hearing loss or behavior and speech issues. In these cases, ear tubes may be recommended.
Ear tubes are small cylinders that are placed in a child’s ear drum to allow airflow to the middle ear. The tubes are made out of various materials and coated to reduce the risk of possible infection. There are two ear tube solutions: short term and long term. Short term tubes last approximately six months and fall out on their own, and long term tubes have flanges to secure them in place for an extended period of time.
Tonsils and Adenoids
Tonsils and adenoids are lymph nodes, similar to those found in the neck and armpits, and they are the immune system’s first line of defense- they sample bacteria and viruses that enter the body through the nose or mouth.
The two most common types of problems affecting the tonsils and adenoids are recurrent infections of the nose and/or through, and significant enlargement of the glands that can cause nasal obstruction. Infections are typically treated with antibiotics, but removal of the tonsils or adenoids may be recommended.
Intracapsular Tonsillectomy
Intracapsular tonsillectomy, also known as partial tonsillectomy or tonsillotomy, is a surgical procedure that removes most of the tonsil while leaving a thin layer of tissue—the tonsil capsule—intact. This approach differs from a traditional tonsillectomy, which removes the entire tonsil. Intracapsular tonsillectomy is most commonly recommended for children with enlarged tonsils who experience issues like snoring or obstructive sleep apnea.
One of the main advantages of this procedure is that it typically causes less pain after surgery and has a much lower risk of postoperative bleeding. Because a portion of the tonsil tissue remains, recovery is often quicker and easier compared to the full tonsillectomy. The main downside is a small chance—about 1 to 3 percent—that the tonsils could regrow or cause an infection in the future.
