ENS represents one of the more complex conditions in otolaryngology, characterized by the paradoxical feeling of nasal obstruction despite objectively patent airways. In addition to the feeling of severe nasal obstruction—one patient called it “suffocating with every breath”—patients also report dryness, burning, and crusting. The quality-of-life impact can be so great that some patients travel the world seeking multiple consultations and revision surgeries.
We should consider our patients as more than just cases. They are people whose lives will be forever impacted by nerve loss, who will have lifelong issues with eating, speaking, and expressing themselves.
This July editorial ENTtoday editor, Robin W. Lindsay, MD, decided to focus instead on physician wellness and the importance of taking some time off away from work to recharge, refocus, connect with friends and family outside of work, and focus on self-care. More on the other topics over the next few months.
Scan the literature on transcanal endoscopic ear surgery (TEES) and you’ll find a host of benefits for the procedure when it is compared with its microscope-guided counterpart, including enhanced visualization, superior training, and reduced post-operative complications, to name just a few. Coupled with recent equipment advances, such as thinner, more flexible endoscopes and ones that combine cutting and suctioning for enhanced bleeding control, it’s clearly an exciting time for TEES.
In the fall of 2024, artificial intelligence-powered ambient scribe technology was rolled out across the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) health system, allowing otolaryngologists and other clinicians to transcribe conversations with patients into text with just a click of a button.
Clinical trials focus on OTOF-associated hearing loss, but other genes identified as appealing next targets
Innovations initially developed for and by the gaming industry have moved into medical clinics and operating rooms.
One of the priceless perks of being a physician/surgeon is having colleagues and friends who can give advice and help us find the best doctor for our own medical needs.
There is a tacit “deal” in American medicine. The “deal” was necessary because of how our education system evolved. In addition, the “deal” was created in partnership with the federal government as a method of providing healthcare to our population and our society. Social programs were adjunctive to the “deal,” and the costs for these programs have grown exponentially over time. The foundation of the “deal” was a trust that there was a shared mission-based integrity. However, there is also the gritty reality of economics behind the “deal.” How should a profession respond when trust is eroded and components of a long-standing relationship are parsed in such a way as to create an undue burden that ignores tenets of goodwill?
Otolaryngologists are uniquely positioned to develop innovations that improve patient care (and ease physician stress), but the path to entrepreneurship isn’t easy or obvious.