Ludhiana, June 8
A state-of-the-art ‘Xomed Microdebrider’ (shaver) system for advanced treatment of ENT problems has been installed at Gulati ENT Hospital, a super-speciality centre for treatment of ENT diseases here.

Dr Vineet Gulati, senior consultant and director of the hospital, claimed that the equipment was one of the first system of its kind to be installed in the city. “The microdebrider is an advanced powered instrument, useful for various surgeries of nose, throat and voice box (larynx). Its role in surgical management of chronic sinusitis, in association with endoscopic surgery of the nose (FESS) has been proven world wide.”

He further said the microdebrider, in the oscillating mode, shaved and sucked off the diseased tissue over the underlying bone. This avoided the dangerous pull and tug of the tissue and reduced the chance of serious injury to the surrounding vital structures, namely brain and eye.

“As the microdebrider cuts and sucks at the same mode, nasal polyps, which are a major sequel of allergic sinusitis, with headache and nasal blockage, are removed much more effectively, thereby reducing the chances of recurrence of the disease. It also helps in cutting down on surgical time and provides a much clear operative field which is imperative for FESS.”

The microdebrider had also been found useful for maxillary sinus polypectomy, endoscopic DCR, adenoidectomy, tonsilectomy and removal of laryngeal polyps, Dr Gulati added.

Ludhiana, June 8
The latest advancements in nasal endoscopic sinus surgery techniques have raised new hopes among the patients suffering from various neurological diseases.

Quite a few nasal endoscopic sinus surgeries were recently performed in the ENT department of Dayanand Medical College and Hospital on patients having complaints of pituitary tumors (a type of brain tumor), fluid leakage from brain (commonly known as CSF rhinorrhea, a condition involving a defect in the bone and soft tissue barrier between the brain and the sinuses) and loss of vision due to optic nerve injury.

Stating this here today, professor and head of ENT at DMCH Hemant Chopra said a 50-year-old patient, presented with a complaint of pituitary tumor, was operated upon through the nose with the help of nasal endoscope by a team of surgeons, which comprised besides him, Dr R.K. Kaushal, professor and head of neurosurgery, and Dr Kapil Dua, assistant professor in the ENT department.

“Pituitary tumor if left untreated, adversely affects the hormone producing function of pituitary gland and retarding many body functions such as growth. The patient has now recovered completely after five months of operation and is again back to her normal routine,” he said.

He said three other patients having a serious complaint of leakage of brain fluid from the nose were also successfully operated upon endoscopically through the nose instead of the conventional method of opening the skull. The procedure of nasal endoscope had also been instrumental in treating patients, having loss of vision due to sinus infection.

He said the consultants in the department of ENT and neurosurgery were performing all types of endoscopic sinus surgeries. The benefits of endoscopic sinus surgery in neurosurgical procedures were immense like no external incisions on face, minimal pain or discomfort after surgery, shorter hospital stay, less post-operative restrictions and early resumption of normal work routine.