Northwick Park Hospital is trialling a new way of carrying out one of the most common ear surgery procedures by moving it from the operating theatre into an office setting.
The hospital’s Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) department has introduced a new approach to tympanoplasty, a procedure to repair a hole in the ear drum. Unlike traditional surgery, this method does not require a general anaesthetic.
Holes in the ear drum can be caused by infections or by pushing objects, such as cotton buds, into the ear. The repair involves grafting new tissue under the hole and covering it with silicone.
Surgeon Bhav Patel explained the benefits, saying: “It’s a win-win situation for everyone. The patient doesn’t have to fast the night before, can go home 30 minutes after the procedure, and we can offer the treatment to more people because we only need to administer a local anaesthetic. It also frees up theatre time for more complex procedures.
“I find it helps to have a constant dialogue with the patient as they are awake, and we give them the option of watching the procedure as we narrate. This transforms the experience of surgery — turning patients from passive recipients into informed participants in their care.”
One of the first people to undergo the procedure outside of theatre was Lalita, aged 81. She said: “I had hearing problems for more than five years but was reluctant to undergo general anaesthetic at my age.
“Mr Patel said it could be done with a local anaesthetic and I really enjoyed watching the procedure on screen. I would recommend the procedure to anyone who needs it.”
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