ENT or otolaryngology is all about treating and managing patients with disorders or diseases in the ears, nose and throat (ENT). The parts of the body that come under this department include the upper pharynx, the oral cavity, the larynx, the sinuses and other structures in the face and neck; while, pulmonology deals with breathing problems or problems in the lungs.

Conditions

Some of the conditions that are covered under the umbrella of ENT can include:

Ear disorders

Ear Infection, Loss of hearing, Cholesteatoma, Ruptured eardrum

Nasal problems

Chronic rhinorhea or runny nose, Obstructions, Nasal mass, Sinusitis, Nosebleeds

Throat disorders

Tonsillitis, Sore throat, Hoarseness, Sleep apnea, Lesions on the vocal cords, Paralysis of the vocal cords, Problems in swallowing

Head and neck disorders

Mass on the head or neck, Enlarged or diseased lymph nodes, Hemangiomas, Vascular malformations, Salivary gland mass, Thyroid tumor or mass, Facial Paralysis

Airway disorders

Stridor, Laryngomalacia, Paralysis of the vocal cords, Masses that narrow the airway, Laryngotracheal stenosis, Foreign body in throat, Conditions that are treated by pulmonology include:

, Chronic cough, Difficulty in breathing, Recurring pneumonia, Asthma, Cystic fibrosis, Apnea, Chronic lung disease in premature infants, Noisy breathing

Treatments

There are a number of integrative and comprehensive solutions offered for fixing a number if ENT or breathing problems faced by patients. A lot of the treatments involve surgery, but doctors generally suggest surgery only after other methods have failed to show any desired results.

The wide range of treatments available can include:

Adenoidectomy, Cochlear implants, Ear tubes (Tympanostomy tubes), Mastoidectomy, Narrow airway repair (Airway Stenosis Repair), Laryngoscopy and bronchoscopy, Sinus surgery, Sleepapnea treatment, Surgical removal and medical treatment of head and neck masses, Tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy, Surgical and medical treatment of vocal cord dysfunction, Tracheotomy, Tympanoplasty

Gastroenterology is the medical branch that deals with the disorders and the diseases of the digestive system of the patient. The focus points of this specialty are the diseases that may affect the gastrointestinal tract, including all the organs from the mouth to the anus, as well as the alimentary canal. Gastroenterology includes the diagnosis as well as the treatments of patients who are suffering from various conditions and diseases of the:Esophagus, Stomach, Liver, Pancreas, Biliary Tract, Small Intestine, Large Intestine

Conditions

Gastroenterology deals with a number of gastrointestinal diseases and conditions that may include:

Treatments and procedures

A gastroenterologist can perform one or more of the following gastroenterology procedures to help diagnose exactly what is wrong with the patient’s digestive system.

Gastroscopy: Inspecting the inside of the stomach, gullet and the duodenum, Colonoscopy: Inspection of the large and small intestines, Flexible Sigmoidoscop, ERCP, Endoscopic Ultrasound, Liver Biopsy, Video capsule endoscopy

The treatment of course depends on the diagnosis that is achieved after the required tests, but the most common treatments for gastroenterology disorders and diseases include:

Polypectomy, Biliary Stone Removal, Sphincterotomy, Biliary Stenting, Hemorrhoid Treatment, LASER Photocoagulation for control of Hemorrhage, Percutaneous Gastrostomy, Radiofrequency Ablation of Barrett’s

Orthopedics or Orthopedic surgeries refer to the surgical treatment methods that are undertaken to set right any deformity or functional impairment related to the skeletal system. It goes on to include the spine, muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, nerves etc.

Sub specialties

The orthopedic branch of surgery includes a wide range of treatments. They are performed by orthopedic surgeons. Some sub specialties managed by the orthopedists include:

Spine disorders, Orthopedic trauma, Hand surgery , Foot and ankle surgery, Musculoskeletal oncology, Hip and knee reconstruction, Pediatric orthopedics

Techniques:

There are various problems that are related to the musculoskeletal. Some major techniques that are in use are:

Arthroscopy – It is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that is done for the inspection and treatment of damage in the joints involving the use of an arthroscope which is an endoscope, through a small incision. This procedure is most commonly carried out in wrist, elbow, knee, foot, hip, shoulder, ankle and so on.

Arthroplasty – It is a surgical procedure undertaken for the replacement, remodeling or realignment of musculoskeletal joints through procedures like osteotomy. This procedure helps relieve pain related to joint damage that results from trauma or arthritis or other such issues.

Risks – The risks related to orthopedics are some of the common surgical risks like –

Bleeding, Pain, Infection, Reaction to the anesthetics

Other complications can be –

Pulmonary embolism, Hemorrhage, Fractured bone, Damage to the nearby tissues and ligaments

Experts involved – Orthopedic surgeries are generally carried out by a team of experts which can include orthopedists, pediatricians, emergency room physicians, anesthesiologists, plastic surgeons, neurosurgeons, nurses, orthopedic technologists and so on.

Ophthalmology deals with the diseases and disorders related to the eye. The eye disorders or diseases that fall under the scope of ophthalmology are many, and an ophthalmologist is the person who provides total eye care from eye examination to surgeries.

Who is an ophthalmologist?

An ophthalmologist is one who specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes and its prevention from various diseases and infections. Other than the technical requirements, an ophthalmologist must be licensed by the state regulatory board to practice surgery or medicine.

Sub- specialties

The sub specialties in which the ophthalmologists are trained include :–

Glaucoma, Cataracts, Ophthalmic pathology, Ocular oncology, Pediatric ophthalmology, Neuro-ophthalmology, Medical retina, Anterior segment surgery, Oculopalstics and orbit surgery, itreo-retinal surgery

Treatments in ophthalmology:

The various eye treatments in ophthalmology ranges from glasses, contact lenses to surgeries.

Cataract surgery – A cataract surgery helps with vision improvement and involves the removal of the affected eye lens and its replacement with an artificial one.

Entropion eyelid treatment – Entropion causes the inward curling of eyelashes. The treatment involves stitching of the eyelids after injection of a local anesthetic to them. The stitches stiffen the eyelids and are dissolvable.

Tear duct unblocking – This treatment is known as DCR. The surgery depends on the site of the blockage and involves the use of an anesthetic.

Meibomian Cysts excision – Here the local anesthetic is both dropped on the affected area as well as injected after which the contents of the cyst are removed through an incision made in the eyelid.

Risks-Other than the common surgical complications, some of the risks associated with ophthalmology can be :–

Retinal detachment, Failure of the procedure, Endophthalmitis