Importance of ENT Second Opinion You Should Know

Did you know that more than half of all visits to the physician’s office are for ENT problems? An ENT (ears, nose and throat) specialist is a medical professional trained and specialized in the medical and surgical treatment of the ears, throat, nose and nasal passages, upper pharynx (mouth and throat) and larynx (voice box), paranasal sinuses, oral cavity and structures of the neck, face and head. The area of ENT is the United States’ oldest medical specialty.

When it comes to making a tough health care decision, it can be difficult knowing what to do. Should you get surgery? Should you get that expensive test done? Is it best to wait and watch, or should you start getting treatment? These are just a few of the big questions you need to answer. In such cases, it is a good idea to talk to more than one healthcare provider. This is known as getting a medical second opinion.

When Is It Helpful To Get An ENT Second Opinion?

When it comes to everyday health care, you probably do not need a second opinion. But it may be a good idea to get one if

The diagnosis is serious and your physician is recommending an invasive or aggressive treatment.
You are deciding about a risky or expensive test or treatment, such as a surgical procedure.
You are unclear about how effective a test or treatment may be for your condition.
You think you need more information about the options you have been given.
You are uncertain or uncomfortable with the diagnosis made by your physician.
The diagnosis or treatment option your physician is recommending does not coincide with the advice of other medical professionals you have visited or does not make sense.
You simply want peace of mind.

Disorders And Treatment In ENT

As mentioned earlier, ENT includes a specialty in ears, nose, throat, oral cavity, parts of the face, neck, and head, etc. The disorders of these areas can be complex and so can their treatment.

The Ear

An ENT specialist’s unique domain is the treatment of ear disorders. This includes surgical and medical treatment of ear infections, hearing disorders, balance disorders, cranial nerve or facial nerve disorders as well as management of cancerous disorders and congenital defects of the inner and outer ear.

The Nose

One of the primary skills of an ENT specialist in the care of the nasal cavity and sinuses. This specialist’s area of expertise includes management of disorders of the nasal cavity, sense of smell, allergies, and breathing or nasal respiration as well as the nose’s external appearance.

The Throat

Managing diseases that affect the larynx and esophagus or upper aerodigestive tract including disorders of breathing and swallowing are also specific to the specialty of ENT.

The Head And Neck

When it comes to the head and neck area, an ENT specialist is trained to treat tumors (both malignant or cancerous and benign), infectious diseases, deformities in the face and facial trauma. They perform both reconstructive and plastic surgery.

An ENT specialist may collaborate with a team of physicians in other medical and surgical specialties. They share a common ground with

Neurosurgery in treating disorders of the base skull
Plastic surgery in correcting traumatic and cosmetic deformities
Oral surgery in treating dental and jaw trauma
Ophthalmology in treating structural abnormalities in areas located near the eye
Allergy in managing sinus disease
Oncology in managing cancers that affect the neck and head
Dermatology in treating skin cancers
Family practice and pediatrics in treating congenital, cancerous, infectious and traumatic diseases and disorders in the general and pediatric population

Why Is An ENT Second Opinion Required?

An ENT specialist undergoes up to 15 years of college and postgraduate training before they are ready to start practicing. They also need to pass many fellowship examinations and some pursue 1 to 2 years of fellowship for more extensive training in one of seven subspecialty areas, including otology/neurotology (ears and balance), pediatric otolaryngology (children), facial plastic and reconstructive surgery, allergy, laryngology (throat), head and neck surgery and rhinology (nose). In some cases, ENT specialists limit their practices to one super specialty area of these seven. Therefore, it is important to have an ENT second opinion before volunteering for any of the specialty’s interventional procedures.

The well-trained ENT specialist has a thorough knowledge of all the physical structures in the head and neck region as well as the organs. Virtually all ENT specialists handle ear-aches, dizziness, sinus disease, hoarseness, nosebleeds, tonsillectomies, and adenoidectomies on a regular basis. While the qualifications and inclinations of the physician play an important role, in many cases, an otolaryngology second opinion can help in arriving at a correct diagnosis.

You should keep in mind that a number of complaints involving ENT can be managed without performing a surgical procedure. Therefore, this is why you should take the medical second opinion of an experienced specialist before you volunteer for surgery.

Steps To Follow

If you want to get an otolaryngology second opinion, make sure that you follow these steps

Ask your health insurance company if you have coverage for a second opinion. It is required for some surgeries.
Schedule a visit with the second doctor and arrange for your medical records to arrive before your appointment.
Make sure that your first-opinion records are sent ahead to the second physician.
Ensure that your second physician’s office sends a report to your primary health care provider. This will keep all your medical records in one place.

If you think you should get a second opinion for your ENT treatment, you should go right ahead and get one. If you are worried that you might offend your primary health care provider, keep in mind that you do not have to be. Second opinions are expected, as it is in many other cases that require complex treatment and/or surgery. Once you get an ENT online doctor consultation, you can make an informed decision and proceed according to what is best for you.

[cl-review quote=”Medically Reviewed By” author=”Dr. Kaushal M. Bhavsar (MBBS, MD)” occupation=”Assistant Professor in Pulmonary Medicine, GMERS Medical College, Ahmedabad” avatar_image=”1325″ source=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fdr-kaushal-bhavsar-a8137355%2F|target:_blank”]