ENT Insights and Blogs

Adenotonsillectomy is a commonly performed procedure in children to help treat infections, glue ear and snoring and sleep apnea

Tonsillitis is most commonly viral and self-limiting, but recurrent bacterial tonsillitis significantly affecting quality of life — typically seven or more episodes in a year — is a recognised indication for tonsillectomy. In children, enlarged tonsils causing obstructive sleep apnoea are an equally important reason for surgery, which resolves sleep-disordered breathing in the majority of cases.

A diagnosis of thyroid cancer is frightening, and the prospect of surgery adds another layer of anxiety. One of the most important things I try to convey to patients at the outset is this: thyroid cancer is one of the most treatable cancers we know of.

Thyroid surgery — thyroidectomy — is recommended for thyroid nodules that are malignant or suspicious on biopsy, significantly enlarged goitres causing compression symptoms, or hyperthyroidism not controlled by medication. Performed by an experienced ENT head and neck surgeon, the risks to the recurrent laryngeal nerve and parathyroid glands are minimised, and most patients are discharged within one to two days.