What Health Issues Does ENT Surgery Address?
Common ENT conditions that may call for surgery include:
- Frequent ear infections
- Frequent sinus pain or infections
- Deviated septum (when the wall between your nostrils is deformed in some way)
- Vocal cord disorders
- Tonsillitis (infection of the tonsils)
- Swallowing disorders
- Head or neck tumors
- Injuries to the face
If alternatives, such as medication, steroids, ear drops, antibiotics, antihistamines, or decongestants offer satisfactory relief, then an ENT doctor may not consider you a suitable candidate for ENT surgery.
What ENT Procedures Does Texas Health Surgery Center Cleburne Offer?
Adenoidectomy
Adenoids are small lumps of tissue located at the back of a child’s nose, above the roof of their mouth. An adenoidectomy removes the adenoids if they become swollen to the point that they cause:
- Breathing problems
- Sleeping difficulties
- Recurring or persistent problems with the ears
- Recurring or persistent sinusitis
During the procedure, your child will be put under general anesthesia. The ENT doctor locates the adenoids and removes them with a curette or by applying heat with a heat probe.
Tonsillectomy
A tonsillectomy removes both tonsils. Typically, an ENT doctor uses a scalpel, but other methods are available, including a heat probe (diathermy) or coblation (radiofrequency ablation).
Ear Tube Surgery
Ear tube surgery is sometimes necessary when children get middle ear infections. During surgery, an ENT doctor makes a small incision in the eardrum and then inserts a tiny tube into the eardrum to ventilate it and equalize pressure in the middle ear. This helps prevent future infections and the build-up of fluid, which can result in hearing problems.
Ear Surgery (Otoplasty)
Ear surgery is used to reshape one or both ears. You can speak to an ENT doctor to discuss options if you’re unhappy with the size, shape, or orientation of your ears. Otoplasty also includes cauliflower ear surgery and the removal of excess skin and cartilage.
During ear pinning or ear reshaping surgery, an ENT specialist makes an incision behind your ear to expose the cartilage. He or she reshapes the cartilage and removes excess skin. Then the ear is repositioned closer to the head, and the incision is sealed with stitches or sutures.
Reconstructive ear surgery can involve a variety of surgical techniques to correct deformities and injuries, with the aim of creating a more natural-looking ear.
Middle Ear Surgery
Your middle ear is an air-filled cavity made up of the eardrum and three tiny bones connected to one other:
- The hammer
- The anvil
- The stirrup
There are different types of middle ear surgery, including:
- Stapedectomy – Repairs loss of hearing by replacing a middle ear bone with a prosthesis
- Tympanoplasty – Reconstruct the eardrum after partial or total hearing loss from an infection
- Myringotomy – Drains ear fluid to prevent infection and normalize middle ear pressure. This method can also be used to repair a perforated eardrum and remove middle ear tumors.
Sinus Surgery
Sinus surgery treats sinus infections that don’t go away on their own or with medicine, nasal rinses, or other treatments.
Your ENT doctor inserts a very thin and flexible instrument called an endoscope into your nose. Using a tiny camera to guide him or her, the doctor removes polyps and scar tissue.
FESS
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is intended to widen the passage between the sinus and the nose. This helps prevent the build-up of mucus and associated problems, like pain and a reduced sense of smell.
Your ENT doctor uses a small tube with a camera attached (called an endoscope) to examine both of your nasal passages. Then he or she uses special surgical instruments to remove polyps and widen the passages, facilitating normal breathing and draining.
Nasal Surgery
An ENT doctor may recommend nasal surgery to resolve nasal obstruction. One form of nasal surgery is a turbinate reduction. Turbinates are small structures inside the nose that cleanse and humidify air as it passes through your nostrils. But they can become swollen and inflamed from allergies and infection, which leads to a build-up of mucus and congestion. An ENT doctor can reduce the size of the turbinates.
Deviated Septum Surgery (Septoplasty)
Deviated septum surgery is a type of nasal surgery. Your ENT doctor makes an incision on one side of your nose to access the septum, then lifts the mucous membrane, which covers the septum. Next, your ENT specialist moves the deviated septum into the correction position and repositions the mucus membrane.
What Is the Process Like for ENT Surgery at Texas Health Surgery Center Cleburne?
First, you’ll schedule an appointment with your ENT physician. To speed up the check-in process, you’ll fill out your patient forms online before the day of surgery.
Prior to your surgery, a staff member from our surgery center will call you to review special instructions, answer any questions you may have, and give you an arrival time.
When you arrive at our facility, you will check in at the registration desk to verify your insurance and personal information, as well as who will drive you home.
After check-in, you’ll be taken to the pre-op area, where your nurse will conduct a health interview and prepare you for surgery. Your family member or driver will stay in the room until the time of surgery. An anesthesiologist will discuss your anesthesia plan. Then, when it’s the appropriate time, you’ll be brought to the operating room for your ENT surgery.
During the procedure, we ask that your family member or driver wait in the lobby. They’ll join you in the recovery room after you wake up from anesthesia.
Get Prepared With Our Checklist
Discharge Instructions at Texas Health Surgery Center Cleburne
Licensed and registered nurses will provide postoperative ENT care. They are experienced in ENT surgeries, ensuring you recover well from both the surgery and the anesthesia.
During this post-op period, our nursing team’s primary aim is to re-establish your physiologic balance, which includes:
- Optimal respiratory and cardiovascular function
- Optimal fluid intake and output
- Optimal mobility
We will also help you with pain management and discuss any potential complications that may occur after your ENT surgery.
We’ll talk to you and your family or caregiver about your discharge and health after ENT surgery. Our goal is for you and your support network to return home fully informed and prepared for how best to aid the rest of your recovery.
Does Insurance Cover ENT Surgery?
Many insurance plans either partly or fully cover the cost of ENT surgery. Please visit our insurance page to learn about the plans we accept.
Why Should I Choose Texas Health Surgery Center Cleburne?
ENT doctors at our medical center are long-standing experts in their field. At Texas Health Surgery Center Cleburne, we are dedicated to matching you with a surgeon who can ensure you live a comfortable, pain-free life once again. We also have highly experienced physicians and staff, including nurses and technicians, who provide high-quality care in a warm and caring environment. Our clients consistently tell us the process for their ENT surgery was smooth from start to finish.
Meet Our Ear, Nose, and Throat Doctor
Theodore Benke, M.D.
Dr. Benke is an esteemed otolaryngologist who specializes in medical care and surgery for the ear, nose, and throat. He grew up in Dallas, Texas and graduated from Baylor University on the Dean’s Distinguished Academic Honor List. Dr. Benke received his medical degree from the University of Texas and completed his residency at the University of Missouri-Columbia Hospital and Clinics.
Dr. Benke served in the United States Air Force in North Dakota and England. After five years in the USAF, he settled in Cleburne to start his private practice, Benke Ear, Nose & Throat Clinic.
Dr. Benke offers a range of services for all ages, including allergy tests; hearing tests; facial plastic surgery; and treatment for sleep disorders and snoring, as well as cancers related to the ear, nose, and throat.
Office Address:
1317 Glenwood Drive
Cleburne, Texas 76033
https://www.drbenke.com/
817-641-3750