Noisy Breathing
‘Noisy breathing’ or hoarseness of voice can be an early marker of serious underlying disease.
These areas can be difficult to examine, and as a result, your general practitioner or respiratory specialist may refer you to an Evolve ENT for review of your ‘upper aerodigestive tract’. This term refers to the inner linings of your mouth, nose, throat, windpipe and the top part of your gullet, down to the level of your voicebox.
Most of these areas can be reviewed painlessly in clinic using a flexible telescope under local anaesthetic. Occasionally a short general anaesthetic may be required, so your surgeon can assess your lower gullet (oesophagus) and the main lower airways within your chest.
Swallowing Problems
The oesophagus (‘food tube’) can malfunction in a number of ways. Difficulty swallowing can be caused by problems of the oesophagus’ lining, such as bacterial or fungal overgrowth or irritation by stomach acid; its lumen (tube), such as the formation of webs, scars, narrow segments; and occasionally by lesions growing from the wall, such as benign or malignant tumours. The oesophagus can also be compressed externally by growths within the chest, such as enlarged lymph nodes; and can be affected by ‘whole body’ problems such as nerve or muscle weakness.
Using a combination of imaging studies and a painless flexible telescope examination (performed under local anaesthetic in the clinic), and often in consultation with your GP, gastroenterologist, speech and swallow therapist and dietician, your Evolve ENT surgeon will assist you in reaching a diagnosis and management plan. Occasionally a short general anaesthetic may be required, so your surgeon can assess your lower gullet (oesophagus) and the main lower airways within your chest.
Airway Problems
Breathing problems can be caused by the problems of the larynx and trachea (voicebox and large airways), small airways and airspaces within the chest, and by the nerves and muscles supplying the lungs and chest wall. Your GP is an expert in determining – on the basis of your symptoms, signs and their selected imaging studies – which system is likely to be your main problem. Occasionally, your GP will call on the assistance of an Evolve ENT, to provide a thorough assessment of the upper airway, voicebox and main airways.
Using a combination of imaging studies and a painless flexible telescope examination (performed under local anaesthetic in the clinic), and often in consultation with your GP, respiratory physician, and speech and swallow therapist, your Evolve ENT surgeon will assist you in reaching a diagnosis and management plan. Occasionally a short general anaesthetic may be required, so your surgeon can assess the main lower airways within your chest.
Throat Problems
Throat problems are common among children and adults, and can cause difficulty with pain, swallow, breathing, hoarseness, cough and airway protection. Some throat problems, such as persisting hoarseness of voice, inability to swallow or noisy breathing – require urgent ENT review to exclude serious illness like cancer. Other times, your GP, who is an expert in managing throat symptoms – will ask for an Evolve ENT’s assistance – where their usual therapies have failed to resolve your concerns, where their review has revealed ‘red flag’ or worrying signs, or where despite their usual workup, your diagnosis remains uncertain.
Through a detailed assessment including history, examination, imaging studies in selected cases and a painless flexible telescope examination (performed under local anaesthetic in the clinic), your Evolve ENT surgeon will assist your GP in confirming a diagnosis, and establishing a management plan. Occasionally a short general anaesthetic may be required, so your surgeon can assess the upper segment of the oesophagus, and the expert opinion of additional professionals may be required, including a gastroenterologist, speech and language therapist (who specialises in swallow rehabilitation), and dietician.
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