Paranasal disease account for 30 percent of cases in Korle Bu ENT

Accra, April 3, GNA- Paranasal (situated near the nose) diseases account for about 30 percent of total cases received annually at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Department of the Korle Bu Teaching hospital, Professor Nii Otu Nartey, Chief Executive Officer of Korle Bu, said on Friday.

He said the hospital had resorted to the traditional method in curing diseases related to ENT and expressed the hope for the adoption of an advanced method by next year. Prof Otu Nartey revealed this at a ceremony in Accra to commence a two-week Functional Endoscopy Sinus Surgery (FESS) course, organized by Karl Storz, a medical center in the United States of America for 10 medical surgeons drawn from Korle Bu, Komfo Anokye and the 37 Military hospitals. FESS is a minimal invasive surgical method where telescopic and small surgical instruments are used in the treatment of diseases within certain air spaces of the skull bones including the upper jaw bone and frontal bones.

The process enables surgeons to obtain tissue sample for diagnosis, remove disease and open up drainage passage of the paranasal sinus and restore its physiological function to normal. Paranasal sinuses are air-filled spaces, communicating with the nasal cavity, within the bones of the skull and face. It forms developmentally through excavation of bone by air-filled sacs (pneumatic diverticula) from the nasal cavity. This process begins prenatally, and it continues through the course of an organism's lifetime.

He said participants would be equipped with the necessary skills for effective and efficient treatment of the disease as well as training and research in the country.

Prof Otu Nartey said the hospital would initiate measures to acquire the equipment for use by the Department after the training. He thanked the management of Karl Storz for their numerous and timely support to Korle Bu and called on other philanthropists to emulate them. 03 April 09