ArthroCare ENT US
ArthroCare ENT InternationalAblation: The surgical removal of soft tissue
Adenoid: Lymph-like areas of
tissue, or glands, that are similar to the tonsils, but they are located very
high in the throat, behind the nose. They trap and filter out germs that enter
the body. The adenoids also help your body fight off infection by making
antibodies.
You have your adenoids when you are born and they continue to grow
until you are 5 to 7 years old. By school age, the adenoids begin to shrink in
size, and, by the time children reach their pre-teen or teenage years, the
adenoids are usually small enough to not cause any symptoms.
Adenoidectomy: Surgical removal of adenoids from the area between the nasal airway and the back of the throat (nasopharynx). Adenoidectomy is often performed at the same time as a tonsillectomy.
Antibiotic: A drug that is used to treat bacterial infections.
Coblation®: Coblation tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy is a "gentle" way to remove both the tonsils and adenoids. Coblation technology combines radiofrequency energy with a natural salt solution to remove tissue with little, if any, damage to surrounding, healthy tissue.
Conductive Medium: A saline (salt) solution, or another medium, that acts as a carrier for radiofrequency impulses.
Electrosurgery: A surgical procedure that uses high frequency energy to cauterize, ablate or remove soft tissue.
Hypertrophy: This term describes a part of the body that is abnormally large or grows abnormally large. When the tonsils are enlarged, the condition is sometimes called tonsillar hypertrophy.
Obstruction: A constant blockage in the airway that causes problems with breathing. It can be caused by inflamed or swollen tonsils and/or adenoids. Obstruction is treated with tonsillectomy, and possibly adenoidectomy as well.
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA): A pause of breath lasting ten seconds or longer during sleep. Sleep apnea is usually associated with snoring. The snoring proceeds at a regular pace for a period of time, often becoming louder, but is then interrupted by a long silent period with no breathing (apnea). The apnea is then interrupted by a loud snort and gasp and the snoring resumes at a regular pace. Apnea may recur frequently throughout the night.
Sleep apnea can be caused when something is blocking the breathing airways and is treated in different ways.
Radiofrequency energy: Energy that travels as radio waves. It is electrical energy used in medical procedures for sculpting, shrinking or removing soft-tissue. Coblation is an advanced form of radiofrequency.
Scalpel: A small knife with a very sharp blade that is used in surgery
Sleep-disordered breathing: Sleep-disordered breathing is a condition in which people do not breathe properly while sleeping.
Snoring: More than 45 percent of all adults snore on occasion and 25 percent snore all the time. During sleep, the muscles at the back of the throat relax, which allows a structure known as the soft palate to partially block the air passages. The sound of snoring is caused by air trying to get around the blockage in the air passages.
Strep throat: Strep throat is a throat infection caused by a certain type of bacteria. Though it may cause the throat to swell, strep throat is different from sore throat and tonsillitis.
Tonsil: Oval-shaped, lymph-like tissue located at the back of your throat. Tonsils are part of the lymphatic system, which aids the body in fighting off infections. Although their exact purpose is unknown, they are thought to act as filters and fighters of bacteria. However, they can be overcome by invading bacteria and become infected themselves, sometimes chronically.
Tonsillectomy: The surgical removal of tonsils.
Tonsillitis: Inflammation or swelling of the tonsils. This swelling is usually caused by either a viral or bacterial infection.
