COCAINE USED IN NASAL OPS

A STUDY has revealed a high number of ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons
commonly use cocaine for their work when performing nasal surgery. A survey
of 150 ENT surgeons has indicated cocaine is routinely used for all types
of nasal surgery, including rhinoplasty. ENT surgeon Dr Martyn Mendelsohn
said that although highly effective, some surgeons avoided it altogether
because of medico-legal complications. "Many people are probably not aware
that cocaine is actually a very common and effective agent in the use of
nasal surgery," he said. "And there are remarkably few reported adverse
effects." Meanwhile, a new surgical technique is being engineered to combat
nasal valve collapse, a common condition which interferes with sleep
quality. Dr Mendelsohn will be discussing both issues at the Australian
Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Scientific Meeting that
starts in Perth today.