Patient-Resources

Kākāriki Hospital Kākāriki Hospital is an elective surgical hospital in Greenlane, Auckland that provides a substantial range of surgical procedures for both adults and children, housed within our state-of-the-art medical facility. Address: 9-15 Marewa Road, Greenlane, Auckland, New Zealand. Phone: (09) 892 2901 Open website  Back

Medicated Nasal Douches Reasons for douching Inflammation of the nasal membranes caused by sinus disease leads to excessive mucus production and blockage of the sinuses. Washing this excess mucus away along with any irritants helps to reduce the amount of inflammation and relieve symptoms. Why use medicines in the douche? In some instances it is preferable to use medication topically. Research shows that an effective method of delivering topical therapy to the sinus cavities is by adding the medicines to your saline douche.

Nasal Endoscopy Clinic examination of the nasal cavity and sinuses.

* Nasal Surgery to the Inferior Turbinate Cautery or trimming of the Turbinates reduces the size of the turbinates. The turbinates are large vascular projections along the side of the interior nose, which are often partly or totally responsible for blocking the nasal airway. This can occur with infection or allergic reactions, which make the turbinates swell excessively. Cautery, trimming of the turbinates or turbinoplasties can reduce their size and improve breathing.

* Nose Bleeds Care and Prevention Most nose bleeds are mere nuisances; but some are quite frightening, and a few are even life threatening. Physicians classify nosebleeds into two different types: Anterior Nose bleed: The nose bleed that comes from the front of the nose and begins with a flow of blood out of one or the other nostril if the patient is sitting up or standing. Posterior Nose bleed: The nose bleed that comes from deep in the nose and flows down the back of the mouth and throat even if the patient is sitting up or standing.

Oral Steroids Information about side-effects and risks.

* What is Otitis Externa? Otitis externa refers to an infection of the ear canal, the tube leading from the outside opening of the ear in towards the ear drum. The ear canal is a tube about 2.5cm long, made partly of cartilage (outer third) and partly bone (inner two-thirds). The lining of the canal is skin which contains the glands which produce a waxy substance called cerumen (commonly called earwax).

Paediatric Sinusitis Symptoms A runny nose, a blocked nose, mouth breathing, nasal speech and snoring are common in children and often occur as a result of recurrent upper respiratory tract infections (colds), a large adenoidal and/or an allergic lining of the nose (rhinitis). Because their overlapping symptoms and signs are common, and may occur together, it can be difficult to sort out which condition is responsible. Children themselves often seem unconcerned by their symptoms.

* Pinnaplasty Pinnaplasty / Otoplasty Pinnaplasty or Otoplasty is the name given to the operation designed to correct prominent ears. The degree of deformity varies from very mild to severe. When does the deviation from normal become severe enough to warrant corrective surgery? Perhaps when the protruding ears are the first thing most people notice when they initially meet the patient. It is generally performed to improve appearance by changing the shape and contour of the external ear.

Postop FESS Instructions The recovery period after sinus surgery is generally smooth and uncomplicated. However it is very important that you follow these instructions as they can affect the success of your operation. Take all medications prescribed after your operation regularly Use the Sinus Rinse at least 4 times a day for the first 2 weeks Do not stop any nasal sprays prescribed until you have been reviewed After the first 48 hours you can blow your nose gently You will require 10-14 days off work Healing The nose usually heals after 12 weeks after sinus surgery.

Saline Nasal Douches What is nasal douching? Nasal douching is the process of washing out the nose with salty water. Reasons for douching The nose acts as a filter and humidifier for the 14,000 litres of air we breathe each day. Inflammation of the nasal membranes caused by sinus disease, allergies or irritants (such as cigarette smoke, perfumes) leads to excessive mucus production. Washing this excess mucus away along with any irritants or allergens helps to reduce the amount of inflammation in the nasal passages and relieve symptoms

Septoplasty - Discharge Advice What is a Septoplasty? A Septoplasty is the repair of the septum (the wall that divides the right and left sides of the nose). If the septum is deviated to one side it makes breathing through the nose difficult. What you need to know after surgery Take pain relief as prescribed by your doctor. Blow your nose gently with your mouth open only for 2 weeks after your operation.

Sinusitis and milk allergy Dairy allergies do not cause nasal symptoms in isolation If your child has rhino-sinusitis (a persistent runny nose), you might have wondered if an allergy to milk or dairy products is responsible as this is often mentioned in the media and on some websites. Some people think that milk causes excess mucus, and that this in turn causes rhino-sinusitis. This may be because of the sensation of coating the throat experienced when drinking milk, but this occurs similarly with other viscous fluids and does not mean that more mucus is produced.

Snoring & OSA Some 45% of adults snore at least occasionally and 25% are thought to be habitual snorers. Problem snoring is more common in males and overweight individuals, and it usually grows worse with age. More than 300 devices are registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office as cures for snoring – this suggests that there is no single solution to this difficult and common problem. What causes Snoring?

* Stapedectomy What is Otosclerosis? Otosclerosis is a genetic condition that affects the bone of the inner ear. This bone is the hardest and oldest bone in the body, but in Otosclerosis, spots of softening and new bone growth occur so that the stapes (Stirrup bone – the smallest one and which is connected to the inner ear) becomes fixed and unable to vibrate. This causes a conductive (middle ear) deafness, which is very treatable, either with surgery or by fitting a hearing aid.

Sudden Deafness What is Sudden Deafness? Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SSHL), or sudden deafness, is a rapid loss of hearing involving the inner ear or nerve of hearing. It can happen to a person all at once or over a period of a few days. It should be considered a medical emergency, because once the cells of hearing have died, the loss is irreversible. Thus a person who experiences SSHL should visit a doctor as soon as possible.

Tympanic Membrane Performation What is the TMJ? The temporo-mandibular joint is the jaw joint where the mandible (lower jaw) joins the temporal bone of the skull, in front of the ear on each side of the head. The TMJ acts as a hinge, and allows your mouth to open and close and move from side to side when chewing. Each time you chew, talk or yawn you move the TMJ, making it one of the most used of all the joints of the body.

* Tinnitus What is tinnitus? It is the name given to the sounds in the head that can be experienced (‘heard’) at times when no physical external sound is present. Although it is usually associated with hearing loss, this is not always the case and conversely, it is also experienced by people with normal hearing. It is common and has been experienced temperarily by most people at some time in their life (eg after a loud concert).

Tongue Tie What is Tongue Tie? Tongue tie is an abnormal shortness of the mucous membrane (frenulum) under the tongue. This limits the movement of the tongue which may affect speech and/or breastfeeding. The Operation The mucous membrane fold can be cut to allow the tongue more movement for eating and speech. The frenulum is snipped with a small scissors. This is performed under local anaesthetic in very young babies in the clinic.

Tonsillectomy & Adenoidectomy What are Tonsils? The tonsils are lymphoid tissue lying on either side of the throat. This tissue is similar to lymph nodes or ‘glands’ found in the neck, groin and other parts of the body. They have a role in immune defence (defence against infection), although like the appendix their role has become less important as humans have evolved. If they are recurrently or chronically infected they become a source of, rather than a defence against, infection.