Otorhinolaryngology: Surgical Thronology

Otorhinolaryngology, also known as ENT, is the surgical specialty within medicine that is responsible with conditions of the ear, nose, throat (ENT) and related structures of the head and neck. In this field, swallowing, smell, hearing, breathing, and taste are the main concerns. Otorhinolaryngologist also treat tumors, taste dysfunction, balance problems, trauma and deformities in the face and neck, and problems in structures of the neck, such as the tracheobronchial tree, esophagus, larynx, tonsils, pharynx, and trachea. Some sub-specialties in this field include head and neck oncologic surgery and cancer, facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, otology, neurotology, voice, breathing, and swallowing conditions, allergy, laryngology,
anesthesiology, and sinusitis. Plastic surgery in ENT is used for patients in cases such as, being born without ears or when the structures of the nose interfere with breathing properly, so they would use it to reconstruct and fix the problems. Otorhinolaryngologist can perform cancer surgeries, where they would remove cancerous tumors in one of their specialized areas of the field. They can also specialize in tracheostomy, which includes a tube being inserted into the patient’s windpipe to open the restricted airway in order enable breathing. Johann Nepomuk Czermak was interested in the phonetics and is known for his contributions to laryngology and introducing the laryngoscope into medicine in the 1850s.
Czermak also adapted the instruments for examination of the nose and nasopharynx, making them more efficient. Adam Politzer was interested in the physics of the auditory system. Poltzer performed an experiment and created politzerization in the 1860s. Politzerization medical procedure that involves inflating the middle ear by blowing air up the nose during the act of swallowing, it is performed to reopen the eustachian tube and equalise pressure in the sinuses. Chevalier Jackson, known as the greatest laryngologist of all time, was interested in reducing risk involved in a tracheotomy and invented the modern science of endoscopy of the upper airway and esophagus, using hollow tubes with illumination in the 1880s. Jackson developed new methods for removing a foreign object from the esophagus and the airway with great safety. Before his new methods, the process had been a death sentence and had a high mortality rate due to the complications. All of these scientists, contributed a great amount to the field of
otorhinolaryngology. This field has had countless accomplishments over the course of time and has helped many people around the world.
Otorhinolaryngology has helped countless people with hearing loss by using their knowledge of the ear. The impact of this is giving people the ability to use the very important sense of hearing because of procedures and new instruments.This field has also helped patients that can not breath by performing tracheostomy, which enables that capability. The impact of tracheostomy is giving humans that can not breath well through their nose or mouth the opportunity to live by having the tube to allow them to do so. The field has improved the lives of others, an example of this is after people have trauma to the face, otorhinolaryngologist can reconstruct the things such as, the nose and fix problems that impede normal breathing. All of these examples improved lives over the
world. An interesting fact about the field is that it is involved of three out of the five senses humans. The senses that pertain to the field are hearing, smell, and taste. ENT is one of the oldest medical specialties in the United States, where it represented twenty six percent of all surgery centers in 2007 and was placed in the top ten of all specialties. Otorhinolaryngology has had many accomplishments over the years, but it is still tries to improve efficiency and quality of their work. Currently in the field, using a robotic-assist device has been a new goal and focus. Using a robot and new technology, could contribute to the speed of recovery, quality of the patient’s procedure, less pain, and less blood loss. The future of otorhinolaryngology and the improvement of lives of others has no limits.