ENT Surgery

ENT (ear, nose and throat) surgery is used to tackle a broad range of diseases, from a blocked airway to head and neck cancer. At the London Bridge Hospital we have specialists able to deal with all problems requiring ENT surgery. Our ENT service covers specialities such as:

Nocturnal Airway Obstruction

Using endoscopy methods, the airway of the patient can be viewed and the areas of airway obstruction and snoring generation identified. This procedure is performed under a light general anaesthetic to recreate natural sleeping as near as possible. Depending on the outcome, further treatment will be discussed with the patient.

Alternative procedures to aid sleep related breathing disorders include laser assisted palatal, tonsillar and tongue base surgery. These are usually performed under a short general anaesthetic to allow the problem area to be removed using laser surgery.

Thyroid Problems

The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped hormonal gland that lies in the middle of the neck.  It is present in everyone and it’s main role is to control the metabolism of the body.

Problems with the thyroid gland can occur due to an abnormality in the activity of the thyroid gland such that the thyroid gland is either over or under active.  The thyroid gland can also cause problems if it becomes enlarged in part (nodule) or in it’s entirety (goitre). 

• The symptoms of an under active thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) are excessive tiredness, excessive weight gain or hair loss. 
• The symptoms of an over active thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) include palpitations, excessive sweating, tremor and unexplained weight loss. 

These symptoms can occur due to many other medical conditions and it is important that your Consultant performs a thyroid function test after examining you to confirm whether the thyroid gland hormone levels are within normal limits. 

Thyroid nodules and goitres of the thyroid gland are very common especially in women and your Consultant will perform an ultrasound scan and fine needle aspiration cytology (needle biopsy) to determine the nature of the thyroid swelling.  The majority of thyroid problems are corrected using medication.

Surgery

A small number of thyroid nodules and goitres will require surgery if the biopsy or scan is suspicious of more serious pathology or if the goitre or nodule is causing cosmetic or compressive symptoms which affect swallowing or breathing.  Thyroid surgery is a complicated surgery as the thyroid gland lies within the neck surrounded by important blood vessels and nerves.  It is therefore only performed by surgeons specially trained in thyroid surgery. 

In the UK thyroid surgery is performed by Head & Neck Surgeons (surgeons trained in ENT and head & neck surgery) and Endocrine Surgeons (surgeons trained in general endocrine surgery). 

Complications of thyroid surgery include poor cosmetic scar, bleeding or haematoma in the neck, damage to the recurrent laryngeal nerve which will cause hoarseness and a low calcium (hypocalcaemia) due to damage to the adjacent nearby parathyroid glands.