Journal Article By Dr. Chang Published in ENT Journal

A new peer-reviewed article by Dr. Chang has been published in the June 2008 edition of ENT Journal. The article titled "Adult-Onset Iatrogenic Tracheomalacia" describes a very unusual case of tracheomalacia that was also stenotic in an adult patient after recovering from a tracheostomy. Click here to read more about it.

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New Image of a Bi-Lobed Zenker's Diverticulum Posted

A new image of a patient who had a bi-lobed Zenker's Diverticulum has been posted to our website. This patient underwent endoscopic staple diverticulostomy successfully by Dr. Chang to eliminate symptoms of food regurgitation after swallowing.

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New Webpage on the Mystery Ear Pain (ie, Ear Pain NOT Caused by Ear Infection)

A new webpage has been posted describing the various causes of ear pain NOT due to ear infections. Indeed, many patients and even physicians do not realize that there are MANY different problems in the head and neck that may lead to ear pain as a patient's only complaint. The reasons can be as simple as tonsillitis (ear pain referred by cranial nerve 9) to as dangerous as throat cancer (ear pain referred by cranial nerve 9 or 10).

Click here to read more about this topic.

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Allergy Free Supermarket!

It has recently come to our attention that there is a new supermarket that is specifically directed to patients with food allergies. Every single product in the store is clearly identified and labelled with what food antigens are absent. Although the retail store is located in Miami, FL, they do have a website where one can easily find and order food products that are constrained to your food allergy needs.

http://www.AllergyFreeShop.com

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LECTURE: Dr. Chang to give Grand Rounds at Prince William Hospital

Dr. Chang will be presenting a Grand Rounds lecture at Prince William Hospital on July 3, 2008. CME credit available. The title of the lecture is "ENT Pearls for the Non-ENT".

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New Video Example of Smoker's Vocal Cord Polyps

A new video and audio of a female patient with smoker's vocal cord polyps has been posted to our website. Check it out here.

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Flying and Ear Problems

In our office, we often see patients who have ear problems who are planning to fly. Here are a few facts to consider.

1) IF you can pop your ears easily, there shouldn't be a problem with flying.
2) IF you have a hole or a tube in your eardrum, there shouldn't be a problem with flying.
3) IF you have problems popping your ears and your flight is not for a few weeks to months, read this webpage and follow the suggestions mentioned. You can watch a video as well.
4) IF you are going to fly soon (within 1 week) and have trouble popping your ears, contact your local ENT to get a tube placed in your eardrum. Why? Your middle ear is like a balloon and with pressure changes, the eardrum stretches out and causes excruciating ear pain known as ear squeeze. A tube in your ear is just like putting a hole in a balloon. Just like pressure can't build up in a balloon with a hole, pressure can't build up in your ears with a tube.

An easy way you can predict if you are going to have problems with your ears when flying is to go swimming into the deep end of the pool (>5 feet). If you are able to pop your ears as you swim deeper into a swimming pool, you generally shouldn't have any problems flying.

If you live near the mountains (Shenandoah or Rocky Mountains), take a drive up the mountains and see if you can clear your ears with the gradual elevation changes. Alternatively, if you live near a very tall skyscraper (ie, Empire State Building or Chicago Sears Tower), ride it to the top and see if you have problems popping the ears.

Spraying Afrin into your nose 30 min before ascent and descent will help with ear popping and may be something you may want to bring with you when flying to prevent problems. Do NOT use afrin daily for more than 3 days otherwise one may become addicted to it... a rebound phenomenon known as rhinnitis medicamentosa.

Read a USA Today article on this problem here.

Listed below are some products that may be helpful to get your ears popping:

 

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New Video Produced on Coblation Turbinate Reduction

Fauquier ENT has produced a new video showing how coblation turbinate reduction is performed. It has been uploaded on to our YouTube homepage. Click here to view the video or watch it below.

Coblation turbinate reduction is a painless way to improve nasal breathing quickly without need for medications. This procedure can be performed in an office setting and takes no more than 10 minutes to perform. There is minimum downtime and most people complain of minimal or no pain.

To read more about this procedure, please visit our webpage describing this procedure further.

www.TurbinateReduction.com

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