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Common ENT Problems

Ear Tube

Ear Tube Check Up Ear infections are common in children and by the age of five, most children have experienced at least one episode. Majority of ear infections resolve either on their own or with antibiotic treatment. But sometimes ear infections and fluid in the middle ear may become a chronic problem leading to hearing loss, behavior and speech problems, or other issues. Placement of ear tubes is considered in these situations.

Ear tubes are tiny cylinders placed through the ear drum to allow air into the middle ear. Short- term tubes are smaller and typically stay in place for six months to 2 year before falling out on their own. Long-term tubes are larger and have flanges (T-tubes) that secure them in place for a longer period of time. Long-term tubes may fall out on their own or require removal.

Ear tubes are more common in children for recurrent acute ear infections and/or persistent middle ear fluid with hearing loss. These conditions can occur in teens and adults as well. Other indications for ear tube placement include dysfunction of the eustachian tubes and barotrauma (often seen with changes in altitude with flying or scuba diving.)

Ear tube placement is the most common pediatric procedure performed with anesthesia. In appropriately selected patients, ear tubes can: Reduce risk of future ear infection; resolve hearing loss due to middle ear fluid, improve speech difficulty, and improve behavior and sleep issues.

Myringotomy with insertion of ear tubes is an extremely common and safe procedure with minimal complications. Possible complications include perforation, scarring, infection, and retained or early extrusion of the tube.

  • Perforation: A hole in the ear drum may persist after an ear tube comes out. The chance of a persistent hole is higher when a long term tube (T-tube) is used or multiple ear tubes have been placed. The hole can be repaired through a surgical procedure called a tympanoplasty or myringoplasty depending on the size of the hole.
  • Scarring: Irritation of the ear drum including recurrent ear infections or repeated insertion of ear tubes can cause scarring of the ear drum. In majority of cases, this causes no problem with hearing.
  • Infection: Ear infections can still occur after insertion of ear tubes. These infections are typically less frequent and are easier to treat with ear drops.
  • Retained or early extrusion of the tube: Tubes may extrude early with re-accumulation of fluid and need for repeat surgery. Ear tubes may remain too long and result in perforation or require removal.

If you or your child has experienced repeated or severe ear infections, an infection that has not resolved with antibiotics, hearing loss due to fluid in the middle ear, barotrauma, or have eustachian tube dysfunction; our doctors at C/V ENT Surgical Group, serving the greater Los Angeles and San Fernando Valley area, will perform a thorough evaluation and discuss if you or your child is a candidate for ear tubes.

Tonsils and adenoids are part of the immune system. At times, they can become more of a liability than an asset by causing airway obstruction or repeated infections. The tonsils are two masses of tissue that are located in the back of the throat, behind and above the tongue. The tonsils can be visualized in the back of the mouth. The adenoids are located behind the nose and upper throat in between the eustachian tubes. The adenoids are not visible through the mouth or nose without special instruments.

Tonsils and Adenoids Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils with symptoms including: Red and swollen tonsils, a white or yellow coating on the tonsils, voice change due to swelling, sore throat, possible ear pain, painful swallowing, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, fever, and bad breath. Severe or chronic infections can result in abscesses around the tonsils (peritonsillar and parapharyngeal abscess) and chronic tonsillitis. Bacterial infections of the tonsils are initially treated with antibiotics.

Tonsils and adenoids maybe enlarged without symptoms of tonsillitis. Enlargement of the adenoids may cause difficulty with breathing through the nose, runny nose, and frequent sinus infections. Enlargement of the tonsils and adenoids can cause sleep apnea with loud snoring and gasping for air. Other symptoms include mouth breathing, noisy breathing during the day, and recurrent ear infections. Such obstruction to breathing causes snoring and poor quality sleep that leads to daytime sleepiness, and may even cause behavioral and school issues in some children.

Surgery is reserved for cases of recurrent infections despite antibiotic therapy and/or difficulty with breathing due to the size of tonsils and/or adenoids. Removal of the adenoids maybe indicated in cases of recurrent ear infections or sinusitis in children. In adults, the possibility of cancer or a tumor may be another reason for removing the tonsils and adenoids.

Our specialists at C/V ENT Surgical Group have expertise in treating both pediatric and adult conditions affecting the tonsils and adenoids. They will perform a thorough evaluation and explain both surgical and non-surgical options available based on your specific case.

Tongue-tie (Ankyloglossia)

Common ENT Problems Tongue-tie or ankyloglossia is a problem with a thin strip of tissue under the tongue. This tissue is called the frenulum. It connects from the underside of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. You can see it if you look under your tongue in a mirror. Some children are born with a frenulum that is too short and tight, which and may cause tongue mobility problems. This can cause problems with speech and eating.

Indications for treatment depend on age. Infants with tight-tie can have trouble sucking and latching on with resultant poor weight gain. Nursing mothers who experience significant pain while nursing or whose baby has trouble latching on should have their child evaluated for tongue tie. Tongue tie can be an underlying cause of feeding problems and can also lead to abandonment of breast feeding. Toddlers and older children with tongue-tie may have difficulty with articulation of sounds such as “t,” “d,” “z,” “s,” “th,” “n,” and “l.” Children with tongue tie commonly have a V-shaped notch at the tip of the tongue, difficulty with sticking out their tongue, difficulty with touching the roof of the mouth, and difficulty moving the tongue from side to side.

Tongue-tie surgery is a simple procedure. For infants, the procedure may be done in the office. Older children will often require general anesthesia. While frenulectomy is relatively simple, it can yield big results. Our otolaryngologists at C/V ENT Surgical Associates will guide you through the evaluation and determine if your child will benefit from a frenulectomy.

Ear and balance disorders

Cholesteatoma

A cholesteatoma is an abnormal skin growth in the middle ear behind the eardrum. Although a cholesteatoma is not a tumor, it can increase in size and destroy the surrounding delicate bones of the middle ear leading to hearing loss, drainage from the ear, dizziness, and other complications due to injury to the surrounding structures. Repeated infections, a hole in the ear drum, or pulling inward of the eardrum from eustachian tube dysfunction can allow skin into the middle ear and form a cholesteatoma. The eustachian tubes convey air from the back of the nose into the middle ear to equalize ear pressure (ear popping when on a plane or with changes with altitude.)

Individuals with chronic or recurrent drainage from the ears, chronic ear infections, ear pain, hearing loss or dizziness will require an examination by an otolaryngologist. Our doctors at C/V ENT Surgical Group will perform a thorough ear exam and evaluation to determine the presence of a cholesteatoma. Initial treatment may consist of a careful ear cleaning, antibiotics, and ear drops. Initial treatment will aim to stop the drainage. A hearing test and a CT scan maybe performed to determine the hearing level in the ear and the extent of destruction caused by the cholesteatoma. Definitive therapy will usually require surgery. Cholesteatoma is a serious but treatable ear condition, which can be diagnosed only by medical examination. Bone erosion can cause the infection to spread into the surrounding areas, including the inner ear and brain. If untreated, deafness, brain abscess, meningitis, and, rarely, death can occur.

Dizziness and Vertigo

Feeling unsteady or dizzy can be caused by a variety of factors such as poor circulation, inner ear disease, medications, trauma, infection, allergies, and/or neurological disease.

Dizziness can be described in many ways. Vertigo is a specific type of dizziness. Vertigo is a false feeling of motion with sensation as if you or the room is spinning. Some experience dizziness in the form of motion sickness described as a nauseating feeling brought on by the motion. Dizziness, vertigo, and motion sickness all relate to the sense of balance and equilibrium. Your sense of balance is maintained by a complex interaction between different systems in the body including the inner ear, the eyes, the pressure and sensory receptors in the joints, and the brain. The symptoms of motion sickness and dizziness appear when the brain receives conflicting messages from the other systems.

The sensation of vertigo is usually due to an issue with the inner ear. A vertigo attack may cause sudden nausea, vomiting and heavy sweating. Severe vertigo causes a loss of balance and can cause you to fall. During vertigo, small head movements and changes in body position will often make the symptoms worse. An episode of vertigo may last seconds, minutes or hours. Once you are over the first episode, it may never return. However, sometimes symptoms may recur off and on over several weeks or longer, depending on the cause. There may be ringing in the ears or hearing loss, which may be temporary or permanent.

Common causes of vertigo include: Benign Positional Vertigo, Meniere’s disease, migraine, infection, injury, and allergy.

Our experts at C/V ENT Surgical Associated will obtain a thorough history and examination and guide the treatment of your vertigo. A hearing test is often required to evaluate the function of the ear. Treatment will depend on the likely cause of your dizziness.

Middle Ear Infection

Otitis media refers to inflammation of the middle ear. An acute otitis media occurs when there is accumulation of pus and mucus behind the eardrum. A cold, allergy, or upper respiratory infection can lead to the blockage of the Eustachian tube and the resultant fluid accumulation behind the ear drum. Fluid can remain in the ear for weeks to many months. When the fluid in the middle ear persists or repeatedly returns, the condition is called chronic middle ear infection. The fluid in the middle ear will cause pressure, sensation of fullness in the ear, and decreased hearing. In children, the hearing loss from chronic ear infections can present with difficulty with speech development.

Hearing Loss

There are 2 types of hearing loss: conductive and sensorineural. One or both kinds can occur.

A conductive hearing loss occurs when sound waves do not reach the inner ear. Sound waves may be disrupted before they reach the inner ear due to a variety of conditions. The ear canal can be blocked by wax, infection, a tumor, or a foreign object. The eardrum can be injured or infected. Abnormal bone growth, infection, or tumors in the middle ear can block sound waves.

A sensorineural hearing loss occurs when sound waves are not processed correctly by the inner ear, the 8th cranial nerve, or central nervous system.

Our specialists at C/V ENT Surgical Group will perform a thorough examination to determine the type and cause of your hearing loss and discuss treatment accordingly.

Hyperacusis

Individuals with hyperacusis have difficulty tolerating sounds which do not seem loud to others. Hyperacusis is a condition that arises from a problem in the way the brain’s central auditory processing center perceives noise. It can often lead to pain and discomfort.

Many people experience sensitivity to sound, but true hyperacusis is rare, affecting approximately one in 50,000 individuals. The disorder can affect people of all ages in one or both ears. Individuals are usually not born with hyperacusis, but may develop a narrow tolerance to sound.

Individuals who suspect they may have hyperacusis should seek an evaluation by one of experts. There are no specific corrective surgical or medical treatments for hyperacusis. However, sound therapy may be used to “retrain” the auditory processing center of the brain to accept everyday sounds.

Perforated Eardrum

A hole or rupture in the eardrum, a thin membrane that separates the ear canal and the middle ear, is called a perforated eardrum. A perforated eardrum is often accompanied by decreased hearing and sometimes liquid discharge. The perforation may be accompanied by pain, if it is caused by an injury or becomes infected. A perforation can occur from injury, infection, or chronic Eustachian tube disorders.

Traumatic causes include direct trauma such as with use of a bobby pin or Q-tip, skull fracture, or slap to the ear. Middle ear infections may lead to spontaneous rupture of the eardrum with infected or bloody drainage from the ear. In patients with chronic Eustachian tube problems, the ear drum may become progressively weakened and a perforation to occur. On some occasions, a small hole may remain in the eardrum after a previously placed pressure-equalizing tube falls out or is removed.

Most eardrum holes resulting from injury or an acute ear infection heal on their own. The chance of a perforation healing on its own depends on the size of the perforation. If the perforation does not spontaneously heal, then surgical options can be considered.

Our specialists at C/V ENT Surgical Group will advise you regarding the proper care of a hole in the eardrum.

Swimmer’s Ear/Otitis Externa

Swimmer’s ear or acute otitis externa is a painful condition resulting from inflammation, irritation, or infection of the outer ear canal. These symptoms often occur after water gets trapped in your ear, with subsequent spread of bacteria or fungal organisms. When water is trapped in the ear canal, bacteria that normally inhabit the skin and ear canal multiply, causing infection of the ear canal.

Other causes of otitis externa include:

  • Contact with polluted water
  • Excessive cleaning of the ear canal
  • Damage to the skin of the ear canal following water irrigation to remove wax
  • A cut in the skin of the ear canal
  • Other skin conditions affecting the ear canal, such as eczema

Our ENT surgeons at C/V ENT Surgical Group will examine your ears, carefully clean your ear canal and typically prescribe eardrops that inhibit bacterial or fungal growth and reduce inflammation. If the ear canal is swollen shut, a wick may be placed in the canal so the antibiotic drops will enter the swollen canal more effectively. Follow-up appointments are very important to monitor improvement or worsening, to clean the ear again, and to replace the ear wick as needed. At C/V ENT Surgical Group, we have specialized equipment and expertise to effectively clean the ear canal and treat swimmer’s ear.

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the perception of sound without an external source being present. The noise might be a ringing, clicking, hiss, or roar. It can vary in pitch and may be soft or quite loud. For some people, tinnitus is a minor nuisance. But for others, the noise can make it hard to hear, work, and even sleep. About one in five people with tinnitus have bothersome tinnitus, which distresses them and negatively affects their quality of life. Tinnitus may be an intermittent or continuous sound in one or both ears. Prior to any treatment, it is important to undergo a thorough examination and evaluation by our specialists at C/V ENT Surgical Group as an essential part of the treatment will be your understanding of tinnitus and its causes.

Tinnitus may be caused by different parts of the hearing system. In the outer ear, excessive ear wax can result in tinnitus. Middle ear problems including middle ear infections may lead to tinnitus. Most subjective tinnitus associated with the hearing system originates in the inner ear. Damage and loss of the tiny sensory hair cells in the inner ear may be commonly associated with the presence of tinnitus. In certain cases, tinnitus may develop with loud noise exposure even before hearing loss. Medications can also damage inner ear hair cells and cause tinnitus. As we age, the incidence of tinnitus increases.

Tinnitus may also originate from lesions on or in the vicinity of the hearing portion of the brain. These include a variety of uncommon disorders including vestibular schwannoma (acoustic neuroma) and damage from head trauma.

Another category is pulsatile tinnitus that sounds like one’s heartbeat or pulse. Infrequently, pulsatile tinnitus may signal the presence of cardiovascular disease or a vascular tumor.

Voice and swallowing disorders among common ENT problems

Nodules, Polyps, and Cysts

Vocal cord nodules are also known as “Singer’s Nodes.” They appear on both sides of the vocal cords, typically at the midpoint, and directly face each other. Like other calluses, these lesions often diminish or disappear when overuse of the area is stopped.

A vocal cord polyp typically occurs only on one side of the vocal cord and can occur in a variety of shapes and sizes. Depending upon the nature of the polyp, it can cause a wide range of voice disturbances.

A vocal cord cyst is a firm mass of tissue contained within a membrane. As with vocal cord polyps and nodules, the size and location of vocal cord cysts affect the degree of disruption of vocal cord vibration and subsequently the severity of hoarseness or other voice problem. Surgery followed by voice therapy is the most commonly recommended treatment for vocal cord cysts that significantly alter and/or limit voice.

A reactive vocal cord lesion is a mass located opposite an existing vocal cord lesion, such as a vocal cord cyst or polyp. This type of lesion is thought to develop from trauma or repeated injury caused by the lesion on the opposite vocal cord. A reactive vocal cord lesion will usually decrease or disappear with voice rest and therapy.

Changes in vocal quality and persistent hoarseness are typically the first warning signs of a vocal cord lesion. When a vocal cord lesion is present, symptoms may increase or decrease in degree, but will persist and do not go away on their own.

Hoarseness

Hoarseness is the abnormal change in the quality of voice. The voice may sound breathy, raspy, strained, or show changes in volume or pitch. Voice changes are related to alterations in the vocal folds of the voice box. While breathing, the vocal folds remain apart. When speaking or singing, they come together and, as air leaves the lungs, they vibrate, producing sound. Changes in the structure of vocal folds hinder vibration, altering voice quality, volume, and pitch.

Causes of hoarseness include: Acute laryngitis, vocal abuse and misuse, benign vocal cord lesions (nodules, polyps, and cysts,) vocal hemorrhage, GERD/LPR, smoking, neurological disorders, vocal cord paralysis, and cancers of the airway and throat.

Otolaryngologists will obtain a thorough history of a patient’s hoarseness and general health. They will then evaluate the voice and do a complete ear, nose, and throat exam. This includes examination of the vocal folds by laryngoscopy. Laryngoscopy may be suggested by the otolaryngologist at any time during an evaluation for hoarseness, but if it persists beyond three weeks it should be evaluated and that evaluation should occur within a maximum of 3 months. The evaluation should be immediate if there is concern about a serious underlying cause is suspected.

Our specialists at C/V ENT Surgical Group which serves the greater Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks areas, will often utilize various scopes and likely video stroboscopy to determine the cause of your voice disorder and then plan a proper treatment course.

Laryngeal Surgery

Benign or malignant lesions can develop on the vocal cords. Benign non-cancerous growths on the vocal cords are most often caused by voice misuse or overuse, which causes trauma to the vocal cords. These lesions (or “bumps”) on the vocal cord(s) alter vocal cord vibration and lead to hoarseness. The most common vocal cord lesions are nodules, polyps, and cysts. Vocal nodules (also known as singer’s nodules) are similar to “calluses” of the vocal cords. They occur on both vocal cords opposite each other at the point of maximal wear and tear, and are usually treated with voice therapy to eliminate the vocal trauma that is causing them. Contrary to common myth, vocal nodules are highly treatable and intervention leads to improvement in most cases. Vocal cord polyps cysts and granulomas are the other common benign lesions. These are sometimes related to voice misuse or overuse, but can also occur in people who don’t use their voice improperly possibly due to laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) or after a severe viral illness. These types of problems typically require microsurgical treatment for cure, with voice therapy employed in a combined treatment approach in some cases.

Our specialists at C/V ENT Surgical Group which serves the greater Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks areas, will often utilize various scopes and likely video stroboscopy to determine the cause of your voice disorder and then plan a proper treatment course. If this treatment involves surgery then they will schedule your for a microsuspension direct laryngoscopy which is an outpatient procedure performed at a surgery center. In this short procedure a microscope and fine microsurgical instruments are utilized to treat your laryngeal problem. Most patients are able to leave within one to two hours following the procedure.

GERD and LPR

Gastroesophageal reflux disease, often referred to as GERD, occurs when acid from the stomach backs up into the esophagus. In some cases, reflux can be silent, with no heartburn.

During gastroesophageal reflux, the contents of the stomach and upper digestive tract may reflux all the way up the esophagus, and into the back of the throat and possibly the back of the nasal airway. This is known as laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR). Adults with LPR often complain that the back of their throat has a bitter taste, a sensation of burning, throat clearing, voice changes ,or foreign body sensation. Many patients with LPR do not experience heartburn.

For proper diagnosis and treatment, our doctors at C/V Surical Group will perform a thorough examination usually including examination of the throat and pharynx with a special scope (laryngoscopy.)

Lifestyle changes a large part of the treatment of LPR. These include:

  • Avoid eating and drinking two to three hours prior to bedtime
  • Do not drink alcohol
  • Eat small meals and slowly
  • Limit caffeine, carbonated drinks, chocolate, tomato, citrus fruits, fatty and fried foods, and spicy foods.
  • Weight loss
  • Quit smoking
  • Wear loose clothing

Swallowing Trouble

Difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) is common among all age groups, especially the elderly. The process of swallowing has four stages:

  • Oral preparation stage: Food or liquid is manipulated and chewed in preparation for swallowing.
  • Oral stage: The tongue propels the food or liquid to the back of the mouth, starting the swallowing response.
  • Pharyngeal stage: Begins when food or liquid is quickly passed through the pharynx and into the esophagus.
  • Esophageal stage: The food or liquid passes through the esophagus and into the stomach.

Dysphagia has a number of causes. Any interruption in the swallowing process can cause difficulties. Eating slowly and chewing thoroughly can help reduce problems with swallowing. Dysphagia may be due to poor teeth, ill fitting dentures, common cold, or gastroesophageal reflux. Other causes include hypertension; diabetes; thyroid disease; stroke; progressive neurologic disorder; medications; a paralyzed or unmoving vocal cord; a tumor in the mouth, throat, or esophagus; or prior surgery or radiation therapy in the head, neck, or esophageal areas.

When dysphagia is persistent and the cause is not apparent, our surgeons at C/V Surgical Group will discuss the history of your problem and examine your mouth and throat. Often a flexible laryngoscope is placed through the nose with visualization of the back of the tongue, throat, and larynx.

Snoring and Sleep apnea surgery

Our doctors at C/V ENT Surgical Group, serving the Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks areas, are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of snoring and sleep apnea. They will start with obtaining a thorough history of your concerns and symptoms and subsequently perform a workup to diagnose the cause of your sleep disorder. Once a diagnosis is reached, whether this may be simple snoring or severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), they can guide you regarding which treatment options may be best to help you obtain restful sleep not only for you but also for your bed partner. These options are detailed below and they include various procedures including in-office procedures with minimal downtime to more invasive surgical procedures.

What is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

Sleep apnea is a common disorder that can be very serious. In sleep apnea, your breathing stops or gets very shallow while you are sleeping. Each pause in breathing typically lasts 10 to 20 seconds or more. These pauses can occur 20 to 30 times or more an hour.

The most common type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea. During sleep, enough air cannot flow into your lungs through your mouth and nose even though you try to breathe. When this happens, the amount of oxygen in your blood may drop. Normal breaths then start again with a loud snort or choking sound.

When your sleep is upset throughout the night, you can be very sleepy during the day. With sleep apnea, your sleep is not restful because:

  • These brief episodes of increased airway resistance (and breathing pauses) occur many times.
  • You may have many brief drops in the oxygen levels in your blood.
  • You move out of deep sleep and into light sleep several times during the night, resulting in poor sleep quality.

People with sleep apnea often have loud snoring. However, not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Some people with sleep apnea don’t know they snore.

  • Sleep apnea happens more often in people who are overweight, but even thin people can have it.
  • Most people don’t know they have sleep apnea. They don’t know that they are having problems breathing while they are sleeping.
  • A family member and/or bed partner may notice the signs of sleep apnea first.

Untreated sleep apnea can increase the chance of having high blood pressure and even a heart attack or stroke. Untreated sleep apnea can also increase the risk of diabetes and the risk for work-related accidents and driving accidents.

What causes sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea happens when enough air cannot move into your lungs while you are sleeping. When you are awake, and normally during sleep, your throat muscles keep your throat open and air flows into your lungs. In obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), however, the throat briefly collapses, causing pauses in your breathing. With pauses in breathing, the oxygen level in your blood may drop. This happens if the following conditions occur:

  • Your throat muscles and tongue relax more than is normal.
  • Your tonsils and adenoids are large.
  • Your nose is obstructed due to a deviated septum, large turbinates or nasal polyps.
  • You are overweight.
  • The extra soft tissue in your throat makes it harder to keep the throat area open.
  • The shape of your head and neck (bony structure) results in somewhat smaller airway size in the mouth and throat area.
  • You have a very floppy palate with a thick or long uvula.
  • You have a very large base of tongue that flops back and blocks your breathing.

With these areas in your nose and throat being partly blocked during sleep, enough air cannot flow into your lungs, even though your efforts to breathe continue. Your breathing may become hard and noisy and may even stop for short periods of time (apneas).

Another rare type of sleep apnea, termed central sleep apnea, happens when the area of your brain that controls your breathing doesn’t send the correct signals to the breathing muscles. Then there is no effort to breathe at all for brief periods. Snoring does not typically occur in central apnea and is not treated by our surgeons.

Who is at risk for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

Anyone can have obstructive sleep apnea.

It is estimated that more than 12 million Americans have obstructive sleep apnea. More than half the people who have sleep apnea are overweight, and most snore heavily.

Sleep apnea is more common in men. One out of 25 middle-aged men and 1 out of 50 middle-aged women have sleep apnea that causes them to be very sleepy during the day. Sleep apnea is more common in African Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific Islanders than in Caucasians. If someone in your family has sleep apnea, you are more likely to develop it than someone without a family history of the condition.

Adults who are most likely to have sleep apnea:

  • Snore loudly.
  • Are overweight.
  • Have high blood pressure.
  • Have a decreased size of the airways in their nose, throat, or mouth. This can be caused by the shape of these structures or by medical conditions causing congestion in these areas, such as hay fever or other allergies.
  • Have a family history of sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea can also occur in children who snore. If your child snores, you should discuss it with our physicians.

What are the symptoms of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)?

The most common signs of sleep apnea are:

  • Loud snoring
  • Choking or gasping during sleep
  • Fighting sleepiness during the day (even at work or while driving)

Your family members may notice the symptoms before you do. Otherwise, you will likely not be aware that you have problems breathing while you are asleep.

Others signs of sleep apnea may include:

  • Morning headaches
  • Memory or learning problems
  • Feeling irritable
  • Not being able to concentrate on your work
  • Mood swings or personality changes perhaps feeling depressed
  • Dry throat when you wake up
  • Frequent urination at night

How is obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) diagnosed?

Your doctors will do a physical exam, take a medical history that includes asking you questions about how you sleep and how you function during the day and have you fill out a detailed questionnaire that will risk-stratify you in relation to your snoring and sleep apnea. As part of the exam, your doctor will check your mouth, nose, and throat to determine areas of obstruction. For example, a deviated spetum, large turbinates, enlarged tonsils, a long or thick uvula (the tissue that hangs down in the middle in the back of your throat), a floppy soft palate or a large base of tongue. Your doctor may order a sleep recording if your symptoms are severe enough based on your history, exam and questionnaire results to grade your sleep apnea into mild, moderate or severe types.

What are the treatment options for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea?

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP):

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the most common treatment for moderate to severe sleep apnea and is the gold standard for treatment, however many people cannot tolerate use of this cumbersome mask and machine. For this treatment, you wear a mask over your nose during sleep. The mask blows air into your throat at a pressure level that is right for you. The increased airway pressure keeps the throat open while you sleep.

If you are one of the many who cannot tolerate CPAP for one reason or another and you have mild to moderate sleep apnea you may be a candidate for one of the surgical treatment options the physicians at C/V ENT Surgical Group in Los Angeles utilize listed below, which include in-office procedures.

Pillar Implant Procedure

The revolutionary Pillar procedure, or palatal implants, is a new and minimally invasive modality approved by the FDA and is used to treat people with habitual snoring and those with mild-to-moderate OSA with excellent results. The Pillar procedure addresses the soft palate, which is one of the main anatomic components of sleep apnea and snoring. During the Pillar procedure, 3 to 5 tiny woven inserts are placed in the soft palate to help reduce the vibration that causes snoring and the ability of the soft palate to obstruct the airway.

Once in place, the inserts add structural support to the soft palate. Over time, the body’s natural tissue response to the inserts (which are made of nothing more than suture material that is used in everyday surgery) increases the structural integrity of the soft palate. This procedure is performed in the office under local anesthesia and usually takes about 30 minutes. One can return to normal eating and function the same day. Results, however are not seen until 2-4 months after the procedure when the palate has stiffened due to the normal scarring process.

A study performed in Norway indicated that the procedure is successful (70%) in terms of bed-partner satisfaction (Nordgard, 2006). The cure rate for sleep apnea depends on the severity of the preoperative level of sleep apnea. However studies have shown it is 80-90% effective as a treatment for snoring.

Our surgeons at C/V ENT Surgical Group, which serves the Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks areas, are now utilizing this procedure with great results. Sometimes they perform this procedure in combination with a coblation assisted uvulectomy to target both the anterior and posterior soft palate in patients with a large uvula. Note that laser uvulectomy, if performed, does add a moderate amount of post-procedural pain and discomfort to the in-office procedure.

The pillar implant procedure was recently highlighted on “The Doctors” and can be seen here:

Laser Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP)

This is a procedure utilized by the surgeons at C/V ENT Surgical Group in addition to the pillar implant procedure or as a standalone procedure in appropriate candidates as a treatment for snoring and mild to moderate sleep apnea. During this in-office procedure a rim of soft palate containing the uvula is removed using the laser. In the past the laser used was the CO2 laser which was associated with significant pain for up to 2 weeks following the procedure. However our physicians now utilize the cold laser or radiofrequency energy (aka Coblation) to obtain the same result with significantly less discomfort which consists of a mild to moderate sore throat for approximately one week. Most patients state that the discomfort is manageable and after 24-48 hours they can resume normal activities, although a soft diet is recommended for one week. In carefully selected patients this procedure as a stand alone procedure or in combination with the pillar implant procedure can provide tremendous improvement in snoring and sleep apnea symptoms. Call our surgeons serving the Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks areas to schedule a consultation to discuss if you are an appropriate candidate for this revolutionary procedure.

Coblation

This includes a number of procedures which utilizes radiofrequency energy to ablate excess soft tissue whether this is in the nose (turbinates) or in the throat (base of tongue, soft palate, uvula, or tonsils). Our surgeons, serving the Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks areas, are experts in the utilization of coblation to address areas of obstruction such as in turbinate reduction surgery, tongue base reduction surgery, tonsil reduction surgery, soft palate stiffening surgery, or laser uvulectomy.

Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy

When children under the age of 13 are diagnosed with severe snoring or obstructive sleep apnea, this is often due to enlarged adenoids and tonsils. As a result these children would benefit from adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy if warranted by their history and physical exam. Our surgeons at C/V ENT Surgical Group, which serves the Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks areas, routinely perform tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy in children and young adults with severe snoring and obstructive sleep apnea. Many parents will return months after the procedure and report that their children are much more calm and doing better at school since they are now getting restful sleep nightly.

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UP3/UPPP)

Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UP3/UPPP) in general is the most common and oldest procedure for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in the United States. This procedure, introduced by Fujita in 1981, consists of tonsillectomy, reorientation of the anterior and posterior tonsillar pillars, and excision of the uvula and posterior rim of the soft palate. This is quite an invasive procedure that entails a general anesthetic and involves removal of the tonsils, uvula, and part of the soft palate. In some patients, however, with moderate to severe OSA who cannot tolerate CPAP it is necessary.

The hardest part is not the surgery itself, but the recovery from this procedure. There is significant pain for 7-15 days, as the area in the back of the throat heals, requiring pain medication regularly and a liquid or soft diet for that period. This procedure is at times combined with tongue base reduction surgery when indicated. Our surgeons perform uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UP3/UPPP) in patients with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea that are noted on exam to be good candidates and have failed CPAP treatment.

Tongue Base Reduction

This is a procedure often used in combination with other procedures when a patient is in the operating room. The most common method used by our physicians to treat a large base of tongue is to use coblation. In this procedure, radiofrequency energy is used via a coblation wand to target 3 to 4 points within the base of tongue and subsequently shrink them. The results are seen over months as the tissue heals and scars causing some reduction in bulk.

Septoplasty

This is one of the most common procedures performed to improve nasal obstruction when necessary. The septum is made of bone and cartilage and is the dividing wall between the two nasal passages. Often times it can be deviated to one side or another causing unilateral obstruction or be S-shaped causing bilateral obstruction in patients. One may be born with these deviations or it can be acquired due to nasal trauma. During a septoplasty no cuts are made on the face but a small incision is made inside the nose and the deviated portions of cartilage and bone are either removed or straightened in order to improve nasal congestion. Often times our doctors combine this procedure with turbinate surgery to significantly enlarge the nasal airways and improve your breathing. These procedures do not affect the shape and look of your nose as they are functional surgeries on the inside of your nose. However, some patients would like cosmetic changes made to their nose via a rhinoplasty at the same time and this can be accommodated to by our surgeons at your consultation. These changes include dorsal hump removal, fixing a crooked or deviated nose or tip refinement. The surgeons at C/V ENT Surgical Group, which serves the Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks areas, are renowned head and neck and facial plastic surgeons, who perform septoplasty (deviated septum repair) routinely with outstanding results.

Submucous Resection of Inferior Turbinates

The turbinates are curved ridges along the sidewall of the nose on each side and are involved in humidification and filtration of the air we breathe in. There are 3 sets of turbinates on each side of the nose. The most inferior set is responsible for nasal congestion and is termed the inferior turbinates. There are various types of turbinate surgery. There are in-office options with radio frequency ablation of the inferior turbinates (Coblation) that help shrink the mucosa of the turbinates and sometimes require more than one treatment for results. Then there are more definitive procedures such as submucous resection of the turbinates that are performed under anesthesia. During this procedure the bone expanding the turbinates on the inside is shaved down allowing for significant long-term reduction in the size of the turbinates. Often times this procedure is combined with a septoplasty/deviated septum repair when necessary to significantly improve nasal obstruction. Our surgeons in Los Angeles and Calabasas will accurately assess the cause of your nasal obstruction and determine if turbinate surgery will significantly improve breathing through your nose.

Thyroid and parathyroid surgery

Our surgeons are renowned head and neck surgeons at C/V ENT Surgical group in Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks, represent a select number of surgeons in the country that routinely perform minimally invasive thyroidectomy as well as minimally invasive parathyroidectomy in select patients after careful workup. The standard approach for these lesions has and continues to be in many centers around the country a standard 4-5 inch collar incision in the lower neck. However, the physicians here utilize small 1 to 1.5 inch incisions in the lower neck hidden in a usual skin crease to perform these delicate procedures with the aid of either endoscopes or eye-loop magnification. This surgery has only come to fruition over the past few years and only certain surgeons in the country are qualified or have completed advance training to be able to perform these delicate and complicated surgeries. As such the surgeons at C/V now spend a part of their time teaching others in the field these skillfully demanding procedures. Furthermore Dr. Cohen is now Director of the Minimally Invasive Thyroid/Parathyroid Surgery program and West Hills Medical Center, the only center in the San Fernando and Conejo Valleys.

Minimally Invasive Thyroid Surgery

The thyroid is a gland in the front of the neck. It sits just below the voice box. The gland’s main job is to make thyroid hormone. This helps control the body’s metabolism. Thyroid surgery may be done to treat an enlarged thyroid (goiter,) a lump (nodule,) an overactive gland (hyperthyroid,) or a gland that may have cancer cells.

Minimally Invasive Parathyroid Surgery

The parathyroid glands are small jelly-bean size glands that reside on the back surface of the thyroid gland along the recurrent laryngeal nerves with two glands on each side. They are respectively termed left inferior, left superior, right inferior or right superior. The parathyroid glands control the calcium in your blood. Primary hyperparathyroidism causes increased levels of blood calcium (hypercalcemia). This can lead to a number of problems throughout your body. To treat primary hyperparathyroidism, the enlarged gland or glands are often removed with surgery.

Hemithyroidectomy

A hemithyroidectomy is a surgical procedure where only half of the thyroid gland is removed in cases where a suspicious nodule is found on one side or the fine needle aspiration (FNA) cannot definitely determine if a nodule is benign or malignant.

Total Thyroidectomy

During a total thyroidectomy, usually a minimally invasive incision (2 inches) is made in the lower central neck and the entire thyroid gland is dissected and removed while preserving both recurrent laryngeal nerves and all four parathyroid glands.

Thyroid Cancer Surgery

Thyroid cancers are divided into four types, namely papillary, follicular, medullary and anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Rare thyroid cancers include lymphoma, sarcoma and squamous cell carcinoma.

Thyroid Goiter Surgery

A thyroid goiter is the significant enlargement of the thyroid gland, which leads to difficulty breathing and/or swallowing or voice changes. This type of enlargement is usually not associated with cancer or hormone overproduction.

Parathyroid Exploration

In certain situations when a patient with primary hyperparathyroidism has a non-localizing sestamibi scan or a patient has secondary/tertiary hyperparathyroidism, a parathyroid exploration must be performed.

Central Neck Compartment Dissection

The central neck compartment describes the collection of lymph nodes in the paratracheal, pretracheal, delphian and mediastinal regions. It can be accessed through the same incision that is used to perform a thyroidectomy.

Lateral Neck Compartment Dissection

This is a more extensive procedure than a central neck dissection and involves removal of the majority of lymph nodes in the lateral neck compartment. The lateral neck compartment involves the jugulodigastric, jugular chain and posterior neck lymph nodes of Levels II, III, IV and V.

Head and Neck surgery

The head and neck region houses some of the most complex anatomy in the human body that is involved in all of our daily activities. This region includes all structures from the skull base to the clavicle. For example the key organs that allow us to hear, see, communicate, breathe, swallow, smell and taste are all located in this region. As such, the head and neck surgeon needs to have an extensive knowledge of the anatomy and function of various structures in this region but also to have the skill and training to treat these disorders while cognizant of cosmesis and function.

That is why the physicians at C/V ENT Surgical Group have extensive head and neck surgical training and when treating complex issues in this area they are always mindful of form and function in their patients. As such they represent a select few head and neck surgeons in the country that utilize minimally invasive techniques in the treatment of various head and neck disorders and tumors.

Excision of Benign Tumors

Various benign tumors or masses can arise in the head and neck region ranging from superficial skin lesions such as cysts or skin tags to deeper more infiltrating masses like lipomas and branchial cleft cysts. These tumors can often times be close to various critical vessels and nerves and as such require careful removal by top head and neck surgeons. Our surgeons at C/V Surgical Group in West Hills go to great lengths to formulate and execute an appropriate surgical plan to remove these tumors with minimal risk to any critical structures. They also always strive to make the smallest incision possible that can provide safe removal with minimal cosmetic deformity.

Excision of Malignant Tumors

Malignant tumors do arise in the head and neck region and depending on the pathology various surgical procedures are indicated ranging from simple biopsy to radical excision of these tumors with adequate margins. Our renowned head and neck surgeons have extensive experience with the proper workup and treatment of these various malignancies and will guide you through every step of the process in order to provide you with the best chance for cure. Function and cosmesis are paramount in their decision-making in the management of these malignancies. The office is located in the West Hills/Calabasas region of the San Fernando Valley but serves the greater Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks area and often times people will fly in for their expertise.

Excision of Skin Cancers

Skin cancer is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the outer layers of your skin. There are several types of cancer that originate in the skin. The most common types are basal cell carcinoma (70 percent of all skin cancers) and squamous cell carcinoma (20 percent). These types are classified as nonmelanoma skin cancer. Melanoma (five percent of all skin cancers) is the third type of skin cancer. It is less common than basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma, but potentially much more serious. Other types of skin cancer are rare.

When skin cancers arise on you face or neck regions you should trust your face only to a facial plastic surgeon not only to resect the cancer but also for reconstruction of the defect so that you wont be left with a significant cosmetic deformity. Our specialists at C/V ENT Surgical Group, which serves the greater Los Angeles area, have particular experience in the management of skin cancers and melanoma of the face and neck region. Also at times these cancers may have predilection for local metastasis to lymph nodes in the region and they will address the metastatic deposits adequately with parotidectomy or neck dissection. In the treatment of melanoma often sentinel lymph node biopsy is also employed for proper staging.

Head and Neck Cancer Surgery

More than 55,000 Americans develop head and neck cancer annually. As many as 90 percent of head and neck cancers arise after prolonged exposure to specific factors. Use of tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, chewing tobacco, or snuff) and alcoholic beverages are closely linked with cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, and tongue. If you have these risk factors and notice a lump or a mass that is not resolving after 2-3 weeks in the nose, throat, mouth, face or neck regions then evaluation by a head and neck surgeon is prudent for further workup of this mass. This workup may include imaging studies such as ultrasound, CT or MRI as well as biopsy. Based on the workup, then a discussion will be had between you and one of our renowned surgeons, at C/V ENT Surgical Group in Los Angeles, to decide the best course of treatment. This decision is made after discussion of all the options available including radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery.

Neck Dissection

A neck dissection is a surgical procedure where the lymph nodes that are draining a particular cancer (malignancy) are removed partially or in totality for therapeutic and staging purposes. There are multiple different subdivision to the neck anatomy resulting in 6 levels of lymph nodes that can be potentially harboring metastasis. Accordingly procedures such as radical, modified-radical, selective, lateral neck compartment and central neck compartment neck dissection are utilized to specify the type and extent of surgery that will be done for a particular head and neck cancer. These procedures are often done in the hospital setting and require an overnight stay usually. Each type of head and neck cancer has a predilection towards certain neck compartments and after review of your workup, a decision is made by one of surgeons as to what levels will be included in your neck dissection if necessary.

Neck Mass Excision

Neck masses can present often times in both the adult and pediatric population. If a mass in the neck is present for more than 2 to 3 weeks and is larger than the size of your fingertip, then an evaluation by a Head & Neck Surgeon is warranted. These masses are often times benign in nature but an evaluation is always warranted.   This evaluation may be followed by an imaging study such as an ultrasound, CT or MRI to determine the exact size and location of the neck mass. If the imaging study shows a mass that is greater than a certain size, then further procedures such as surgical excision of the mass or needle biopsy may be indicated. If surgery is warranted, then our surgeons in West Hills/Calabasas, have extensive experience in the proper excision of these neck masses while being mindful of function and cosmesis. Remember that the neck houses many critical nerve and vascular structures and only a head and neck surgeon has the proper training to adequately minimize trauma these structures while successfully removing the mass.

Parotid Surgery

The parotid gland is one of our major salivary glands and resides on the side of the face just in front of the ear. The gland is divided into a superficial lobe and deep lobe by the facial nerve. The facial nerve is a major cranial nerve that comes out of the skull base from the brain just below and in front of our ear lobe. It divides into multiple branches after exiting the skull base and controls all of our facial muscles that make us raise our eyebrows, close our eyes, pucker our lips, and smile. Often times tumors develop in the parotid gland, these are usually benign in nature (80%) but may also be malignant (20%) at times. Signs that a parotid tumor may be malignant are facial weakness or pain upon presentation. When a parotid mass is identified then an evaluation by a board-certified head and neck surgeon is warranted for proper workup and then definitive treatment. This work-up often includes an imaging study, usually an MRI for better delineation of soft tissue anatomy, and a fine needle aspiration of the mass. Once this is complete then surgery is planned.

Parotid surgery is a very delicate and skillfully demanding procedure where the tumor needs to be removed in it’s entirety while preserving the facial nerve and it’s various branches. As such you will want to have this procedure performed by a surgeon who does more than 10-20 of these procedures annually. Our board certified head and neck surgeons routinely perform parotid surgery in Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks to remove benign and malignant parotid masses. They are very mindful of cosmesis during this procedure and often times will utilize a hidden facelift or modified facelift incision to remove the tumor. In many patients they utilize a minimally invasive facelift incision for removal of the parotid mass. They are also one of a handful of surgeons who routinely use intraoperative facial nerve monitoring to monitor the nerve during dissection of the tumor so as to minimize injury to the nerve. Lastly, our surgeons with their extensive facial plastics experience, will often utilize a muscle flap to cover the defect after a parotidectomy so that you are not left with a large and hideous indentation on the side of your face.

Salivary Gland Surgery

The major salivary glands are the parotid glands, submandibular glands and the sublingual glands. There also hundreds of minor salivary glands in our mouths along the lips, tongue, inner cheeks and palate that produce saliva. Pathology can arise in any of these glands in the forms of cysts, stones, infection/inflammation and tumors (benign or malignant). If any of these problems arise then evaluation and treatment by a head and neck surgeon is critical. Simple in-office procedure such as stone removal or duct dilation may be all that is necessary to treat the problem. However if a mass is noted in these glands then a workup will be indicated including an MRI and fine needle aspiration biopsy. Once this is completed then often surgery is required to properly remove the mass in it’s entirety while sparing critical nearby structures like important nerves. Our renowned head and neck surgeons at C/V ENT Surgical Group in Calabasas, are experts in the medical and surgical treatment of various salivary gland disorders so you can rest assured in their hands.

Tongue and Oral Cavity Surgery

The oral cavity includes the lips, tongue, palate, floor of mouth, tonsils and inner cheek linings (aka = buccal mucosa). The tongue is divided into an anterior (front) 2/3 and posterior (back) 1/3. Various pathology in the forms of cysts, ulcers, infection, inflammation and tumors can arise in these areas. If any of these problems does not resolve after 2-3 weeks then evaluation by an ear, nose and throat surgeon is prudent. The board-certified surgeons at C/V ENT Surgical Group in the San Fernando Valley are well-trained in order to diagnose and treat these problems accurately.

Reconstructive Head and Neck Surgery

Our renowned head & neck surgeons as well as facial plastic surgeons at C/V ENT Surgical Group which serves the greater Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks areas, utilize their combined experience daily to not only remove various masses and tumors in the head and neck region but also to reconstruct any defects that may be left behind to minimize any cosmetic deformity that the patient may have to endure. Especially when large skin cancers have to be removed in these critical areas, various small and large neighboring skin flaps or distant skin grafts may have to be utilized to adequately cover the defects in a cosmetically acceptable fashion.