The Doctors TV Show Does the Mouth

The Doctors TV actually got something totally right!

Actually there are two segments here... One on the mouth followed by another on what happens when food/liquids go down the wrong way causing a reflexive cough.

Enjoy!

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The Doctors TV Show Does Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea

The Doctors TV show at some point in the past (not sure when), did a segment on surgery used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The surgery portrayed was UPPP (uvulopalatopharyngoplasty). Dr. Brian Weeks, the featured otolaryngologist, removed the tonsils and uvula followed by suturing the cut mucosa to reposition the soft tissues of the patient's throat.

This operation is a basic surgical method addressing obstructive sleep apnea. However, prior to considering surgical treatment, I typically recommend trial of CPAP for 3 months.

Some things to keep in mind is that obstructive sleep apnea is often due to multiple levels of obstruction. UPPP only addresses mouth-level problems. Other sleep apnea surgery options need to be considered when obstruction exists at other levels including the back of tongue (below the mouth level). Base of tongue reduction helps in this situation.

Watch the video of the TV show here. Watch the video our office produced on this surgery here.

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NCIS Character Tony DiNozzo Gets Acute Laryngitis

On October 19, 2010, there was a CBS episode of NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) called "Cracked" in which Special Agent Tony DiNozzo developed acute laryngitis.

The show's chief medical examiner, Dr. Ducky Mallard, examined Special Agent Tony DiNozzo and instructed him on strict voice rest for 24 hours which Tony ignored.

If I was on the show, I would have performed a much more thorough examination that would include fiberoptic laryngoscopy (and/or stroboscopy) in which the vocal cords could be directly examined as shown in this video:

Based on his hoarseness, lack of productive cough, and acute onset, I suspect Tony developed acute VIRAL laryngitis. Here's an example of what I suspect I would have seen on laryngoscopy if one was done (video is actually stroboscopy, a much more intensive examination than laryngoscopy):

This exam is different than acute BACTERIAL laryngitis in which pus on the voicebox would be seen as shown in this video (also stroboscopy):

Overall, treatment for acute viral laryngitis is strict voice rest as the esteemed Dr. Mallard recommended, though 24 hours is a bit optimistic. I probably would have prescribed a course of steroids to help with the swelling as well as hydration.

Should Tony keep on talking in setting of acute laryngitis, he runs the risk of developing muscle tension dysphonia.

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Hollywood! Otolaryngology is Cool, Isn't It?

So there are lots of television shows on ER physicians (ER, Chicago Hope), general surgery (Gray's Anatomy), OB & pediatricians (Private Practice), plastic surgery (Nip/Tuck), ID doctors (House), etc etc.

What about shows/movies where an otolaryngologist is the star? Any thoughts on this lapse by Hollywood?

Of course, there's Dr. McSteamy on Grey's Anatomy who started out as an ENT, but than is mainly portrayed as a plastic surgeon.

What's up with that???

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Dr. Chang Featured in TV Medical News Program on CBS 6/5/10

On May 21, 2010, a video crew came to our office to film a segment on Dr. Chang and what he does (or rather a very small part of what he does) as an otolaryngology-head and neck surgeon.

Dr. Chang along with 9 other practices were featured in a medical news television show "American Health Front" that aired on June 5, 2010 at 7PM on Channel 9 (WUSA-TV CBS).

The main focus of what Dr. Chang talked about are the different causes of nasal obstruction and their treatment including:

Allergies
Septal Deviation
Turbinate Hypertrophy
Adenoid Hypertrophy
Nasal Polyps

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Dr. Chang to be Featured in TV Medical News Program on CBS

On May 21, 2010, a video crew came to our office to film a segment on Dr. Chang and what he does (or rather a very small part of what he does) as an otolaryngology-head and neck surgeon.

Dr. Chang along with 9 other practices will be featured in a medical news television show "American Health Front" that will air on June 5, 2010 at 7PM on Channel 9 (WUSA-TV CBS).

The main focus of what Dr. Chang talked about are the different causes of nasal obstruction and their treatment including:

Allergies
Septal Deviation
Turbinate Hypertrophy
Adenoid Hypertrophy
Nasal Polyps

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TV Show "Glee" Character Rachel Has Laryngitis? Tonsillitis?

On May 11, 2010, Glee aired its eighteenth episode titled "Laryngitis". In this episode, Rachel suffered from a lost voice which was attributed to tonsillitis or is it laryngitis.

It was a bit confusing as it would seem her lost voice was attributable to laryngitis (title of the episode), but than she was diagnosed with tonsillitis by the TV doctor which really has nothing to do with laryngitis. I guess it is possible that she had TWO conditions going on at the same time even though she did not mention a sore throat at any time.

I can say for certain that the TV doctor was not portraying an otolaryngologist mainly because he was wearing a stethescope around his neck (our profession does not carry a stethescope on our person).

In any case, I doubt Rachel had tonsillitis. The main complaint with tonsillitis is a sore throat and not a lost voice. As such, she probably had a mild case of laryngitis which in most cases, only time, voice rest, and hydration should have been adequate. Antibiotics do not play a role in most cases of laryngitis which are virally induced.

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