UofL Physicians – Ear, Nose & Throat’s (ENT) surgeons are board-certified world-class experts who specialize in the medical and surgical treatment of diseases of the ear, nose, throat and head and neck for adults and children. As subspecialists, we focus our expertise on a specific aspect of ear, nose or throat health to give our patient the best care possible.

UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center’s Multidisciplinary Head & Neck Clinic

UofL Physicians – ENT specialists play an integral role in the UofL Health – Brown Cancer Center’s Multidisciplinary Head & Neck Clinic, which was the first of its kind in Kentucky. The Louisville ENT team, which includes our specialists, radiation oncology and medical oncology, meets regularly to monitor the patient’s progress carefully and to adjust the treatment plan as necessary. This approach ensures that patients receive the ideal combination of treatments and therapies. This clinic allows our patients access to all three medical specialties under one roof at the same time in one location. The clinic offers state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment approaches for advanced head and neck cancers. Ours is the third leading cancer program in the nation in the accrual of patients to National Cancer Institute-based clinical trials for head and neck cancer. This means patients have access to the latest head and neck cancer therapies available throughout the country.

Robotic head and neck surgery

UofL Physicians – ENT’s otolaryngologists were the first in Kentucky to use the daVinci Robot to treat head and neck patients. The robot enables surgeons to perform delicate operations with breakthrough precision. It provides the surgeons with exceptional vision, precision, dexterity and improved access to the treatment site. As a result, patients experience less pain and quicker recovery.

Skull base surgery program

UofL Physicians – ENT is part of a multispecialty team that comes together to treat skull base tumors. This team includes ENT (rhinology/neurotology) and neurosurgery, as well as neuroradiology, radiation oncology, medical oncology and pathology. We were the first in Kentucky to perform endoscopic minimally invasive skull base surgery. To learn more, visit the UofL Physicians – Skull Base Center.

Louisville Center for Voice Care

UofL Physicians – ENT offers the only voice disorders clinic in Kentucky, and one of just a few in the region. The Louisville Center for Voice Care is directed by Louisville native Dr. Swapna Chandran, a voice fellowship-trained ENT who joined UofL Physicians – Ear, Nose & Throat with the goal of addressing these problems for patients throughout the community and region.

Center for Hearing Loss and Balance Disorders

Expert audiologists provide top-notch clinical care, education, and research related to deafness, hearing loss and balance disorders. To learn more, visit UofL Health – Hearing and Balance.

Parathyroid Center

For more than three decades, UofL Physicians – Ear, Nose & Throat’s otolaryngologists have collaborated with surgical oncologists to provide the best possible treatment and care for patients with hyperparathyroidism. This includes using the most advanced, sophisticated technology and techniques to diagnose and treat each patient, as well as maintaining a comprehensive database of all patients treated. We were the first in Kentucky to offer a radio-guided and intraoperative parathyroid hormone assay program for hyperparathyroidism. Many of our Louisville ENT patients are candidates for minimally invasive parathyroid surgery.

Find a Louisville ENT

To make an appointment with UofL Physicians – Ear, Nose & Throat, call 502-583-3687.

Diseases and conditions

  • Chronic ear infections
  • Sinus tumors
  • Skull base tumors
  • Sinus problems – including chronic and recurrent sinusitis
  • Tonsils that need to be removed
  • Hearing loss
  • Hearing problems
  • Head and neck tumors
  • Head and neck cancer
  • Airway disorders
  • Neonatal and pediatric airway problems
  • Parathyroid conditions
  • Thyroid conditions
  • Hyperparathyroidism
  • Allergies
  • Food allergies
  • Tumors of the balance or hearing nerves
  • Ear conditions requiring surgery
  • Chronic ear infections (chronic otitis media)
  • Skin cyst located in the middle ear (cholesteatoma)
  • Dizziness
  • Physical trauma to the face
  • Balance disorders (Meniere’s disease)
  • Punctured eardrum (perforated eardrum)
  • Holes in eardrum
  • Brain complications caused by ear infections
  • Facial nerve paralysis
  • Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
  • Discomfort or strain when talking or singing
  • Chronic hoarseness
  • Roughness, breathiness or weakness in the voice
  • Vocal nodules
  • Vocal cysts and polyps
  • Vocal cord paralysis
  • Voice problems related to Parkinson’s disease
  • Spasmodic dysphonia
  • Vocal fold hemorrhage
  • Vocal fold dysfunction
  • Aging voice
  • Swallowing difficulty
  • Hyper-/hypo-nasality

To make an appointment with UofL Physicians – Ear, Nose & Throat, call 502-583-3687.

Treatments and services

Allergy

Most allergy symptoms occur in the head and neck. Thus, this is the area in which our otolaryngologists specialize as physicians and surgeons. In fact, UofL Physicians – ENT’s Dr. Kevin Potts is only one of a handful of fellows of Otolaryngic Allergy in the region.

We offer allergy testing and treatment, including intradermal skin testing in addition to skin prick testing. This type of testing is more sensitive in identifying more patients with allergies. Intradermal testing also allows for a safer but higher starting dose of therapy so patients can obtain faster symptom relief. UofL Physicians – ENT uses sublingual immunotherapy in addition to allergy shots. Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) uses an allergen solution given under the tongue, which over the course of treatment reduces sensitivity to allergens. SLIT is less risky than allergy shots and is given at home. It is ideal for some kids.

Patients with allergies who see ENT allergists can go to just one doctor for sinus, throat and ear problems. If surgery or other treatment is necessary, the ENT Allergist can handle it all without multiple physicians caring for the patient.

General ENT

  • Ear tubes
  • Tonsillectomy (removal of the tonsils)

Head and neck surgery

  • Surgery to remove head and neck tumors
  • Thyroid and parathyroid operations
  • Transoral robotic surgery for head and neck cancers
  • Salivary gland endoscopy for salivary stones and infection
  • Salivary gland surgery including parotidectomy (the removal of the parotid gland, a salivary gland near the ear)

*Minimally invasive options available

Otology/neurotology

  • Cochlear implants
  • Hearing aid evaluations
  • Implantable hearing aids (in addition to cochlear implants)
  • Facial nerve surgery
  • Surgery for hearing loss, ear infections and vertigo
  • Cranial/skull-base surgery*

*Minimally invasive options available

Pediatric otolaryngology

  • Airway and laryngeal reconstruction
  • Diagnosis and treatment of airway stenosis (a congenital or acquired abnormal narrowing that obstructs the passage of air to the lungs)
  • Treatment for congenital neck masses and pediatric head and neck tumors
  • Pediatric complex airway surgery
  • Balloon sinuplasty for the treatment of sinusitis

*Minimally invasive options available

Facial plastic/reconstructive surgery

  • Treatment for maxillofacial trauma
  • Maxillofacial reconstruction
  • Facelifts
  • Rhinoplasty (nose job)

Sleep

  • Surgery for the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea and snoring

Rhinology

Rhinology is the treatment of medical and surgical diseases of the nasal passages, as well as paranasal sinuses. UofL Physicians – ENT provides comprehensive evaluation and management of patients with these conditions, including:

  • Surgery of endoscopic sinus and skull-base tumors
  • Surgery and medical management of sinonasal disease, which is a combination of chronic sinusitis and chronic rhinitis (stuffy, runny nose)
  • Correction of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea (drainage of cerebrospinal fluid through the nose) and otorrhea (discharge from the ear)
  • Minimally invasive pituitary surgery
  • Cranial/skull-base surgery*
  • Operative management of nasal airway obstruction

*Minimally invasive options available

Voice disorders

Symptoms of voice disorders include discomfort or strain when talking or singing, hoarseness, roughness, breathiness or weakness in the voice. A voice disorder may result from many causes, including overuse or misuse of the voice, benign or cancerous lesions, or one of many medical conditions that contribute to voice problems. Many voice disorders can be treated with medications and/or behavioral modifications. Sometimes surgery is necessary. Voice therapy often is the first-line treatment option. It involves teaching techniques and exercises to rebalance the systems necessary for optimal voice. Patients are given specific exercises to continue at home to improve their voice and maintain the benefits received during therapy sessions. The same voice problem may require different treatment options for different people. If you experience any change in the way you feel or sound with regard to your voice, the Louisville Center for Voice Care within UofL Physicians – ENT can help.

Treatment options include:

  • A variety of office-based procedures without the need for anesthesia, including vocal fold injections and Botox®
  • Comprehensive swallow evaluations of both children and adults using high-definition fiber optic equipment
  • Videostrobolaryngoscopy in the office to examine the mucus layer on the vocal folds in patients with the laryngeal tension-fatigue syndrome. Videostroboscopy is a state-of-the-art assessment tool that allows us to view the vocal folds (cords) in motion and is considered the “gold standard” in the evaluation of voice disorders.
  • Microlaryngeal surgery – surgery of the vocal chord
  • Endoscopic and open treatment of airway stenosis
  • Four-channel electromyography of the larynx

To make an appointment with UofL Physicians – Ear, Nose & Throat, call 502-583-3687.

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