A new clinical trial to improve post-tonsillectomy care at St. Louis Children’s Hospital started recruiting patients just a few weeks ago, but the study has been in design and preparation for over six months. Co-Principal Investigator and Associate Professor in Otolaryngology David S. Leonard, MB, BCh, BAO, explained the need for a trial of this […]
Surgeons at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis made history on July 15 when they completed the first case in a clinical trial to restore hearing in patients with vestibular schwannomas, also known as acoustic neuromas. The July operation at Barnes-Jewish Hospital marked the first use of the MED-EL Auditory Nerve Test System […]
Cochlear implant patients now have a way to improve their ability to hear without making a trip to the audiologist. Using a simple iPhone app, patients with the Cochlear Nucleus 7 Sound Processor can answer a few questions, take a photo of their implants, and share that information instantly with their audiologists who can then […]
For patients seeking a more youthful appearance, non- or minimally-invasive rejuvenation procedures are becoming more and more popular. Thermi® is one sought-after option offered by Emily Spataro, MD, John Chi, MD, and Gregory Branham, MD, in the Division of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery within the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University. Thermi® is radiofrequency […]
Days after March 9, when the first case of COVID-19 was identified in St. Louis County, my staff member Teresa Singler and I started planning out the necessary steps to quickly relocate staff to a remote environment. My biggest concern was setting up Michele Ferraro’s Telecom Group remotely because they are an essential part of […]
People respond to a crisis in a variety of ways, responses that run the gamut of physical, behavioral, emotional and spiritual reactions. Fortunately, some people respond by looking for innovative ways to help others. Tyler Bertroche, MD, a chief resident in the Department of Otolaryngology at Washington University in St. Louis, is one of those […]
Otolaryngologists at Washington University School of Medicine are among the first in the Midwest to implant the Osia System to improve hearing for patients with conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss, and single-sided sensorineural deafness. During an early introduction of the new system this winter, Jacques Herzog, MD, Cameron Wick, MD, and Craig Buchman, MD, […]
Washington University ENT surgeons are the first in the region to implant the new BONEBRIDGE Hearing Implant System in patients with hearing loss and single-sided deafness. The BONEBRIDGE by Med-El is an innovative bone conduction implant that transmits sound waves via the cranial bone directly to the inner ear, where they are perceived as natural […]
Vocal cord paralysis occurs when nerve impulses to the larynx are disrupted, causing problems with speech and breathing. Vocal cord closure is crucial for the production of sound, or phonation, and to protect the airway from food and liquids that might enter. The nerve to the vocal cords can be injured in a variety of […]
Patients deafened from a vestibular schwannoma have very limited options to restore hearing in their affected ear. Researchers at Washington University hope to change that paradigm. In a new FDA-approved clinical trial, the lateral skull base team will evaluate a new Auditory Nerve Testing System that may allow tumor removal with simultaneous cochlear implantation. Currently, […]