Prof. Dr Serena Preyer: Otorhinolaryngology, Head, Throat, and Facial Plastic Surgery Specialist

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Prof. Dr Serena Preyer is a specialist in otorhinolaryngology. She is Clinic Director of the departments for Otolaryngology, Head and Throat Surgery as well as Plastic Facial Surgery at the St Vincentius Clinics and the Diakonissen Hospital in Karlsruhe.

Prof. Preyer and her team offer the most modern diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for the entire spectrum of otorhinolaryngology, head, and throat surgery.

Otorhinolaryngology Clinic in Karlsruhe: Modern Surgical Centre For Patients Young and Old

The Otorhinolaryngology Clinic in Karlsruhe holds 75 beds. If surgery is required, there are five operating theatres available containing surgical microscopes, special lasers for stapal and tumour surgery as well as modern image monitoring and neuromonitoring units. Furthermore, patients have the option available of having minor interventions implemented without hospitalization at the Centre for Outpatient Surgery. In addition to the typical otorhinolaryngology consultation, Prof. Preyer’s team offers a comprehensive tumour follow-up, an ear examination along with an outpatient swallowing consultation.

The diagnostics department along with two examination units is equipped with the following highlights among other features: a video laryngostroboscopy unit for examination of vocal cords and larynx structures, a functional video panendoscopy unit (gentle procedure for diagnosing dysphagia and reflux) as well as measuring equipment for tube function testing. The latter may be required due to discomfort during flying or diving activities. Prof. Preyer and her team of the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic maintain a close cooperation with physicians of other disciplines such as Ophthalmology, Anaesthesia, Internal Medicine, Surgery, Radiation, and Haemato-oncology in order to determine best possible therapies for their patients.

Prof. Preyer’s Treatment Focus

The Otorhinolaryngology department headed by Prof. Preyer covers the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, injuries, malformations, and tumours in ears, nose, oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx. In addition, she treats dysfunctions with smell, taste, and swallowing or deafness and voice disorders.

Ear Surgery (Otology)

In many cases, the cause of recurrent or chronic middle ear infections is a hole in the eardrum. To prevent bacteria from entering the ear, this hole is surgically closed.

Many hearing impairments are treated surgically by Prof. Preyer and her team such as the outer ear by means of a skin graft for treating adhesions and scarring in the ear canal. In case of middle ear deafness, ossicles, hammers, anvils, and stirrups can be surgically corrected or replaced with active or passive implants. In difficult cases, it is also possible to bypass the middle ear and transmit the sound directly to the ear bones and the inner ear with the aid of a bone-anchored hearing aid.

Patients with otosclerosis, a metabolically induced stiffening of the stirrup, an implant can be applied. In case of hearing loss and disease of the inner ear, partially or fully implanted hearing aids can maintain the ability to hear and speak. With advanced inner ear hearing loss, when conventional hearing aids fail to achieve an improvement, electrical stimulation of the auditory nerve by means of a cochlear implant can restore normal hearing and speech behaviours.

Ear Centre Karlsruhe: www.os-ka.info

Eustachian Tube Dysfunction

Problems with the Eustachian tubes can cause severe pain when travelling by plane, diving or experiencing altitude variations in the mountains. This discomfort is due to a faulty aeration preventing pressure equalisation. In addition to the classic therapy of tube drainage, the modern procedure of tube balloon dilatation has been available for several years at the Ophthalmology Clinic in Karlsruhe. Under general anaesthetic, a balloon is introduced into the narrowed tube from the nasopharynx and pumped up to dilate the constricted areas. Patients are able to carry out necessary pressure equalisation themselves as soon as 48 hours after the procedure.

Nose Surgery (Rhinology)

Almost half of the German population suffers from a congenital distortion of the nasal septum, the part of the nose dividing the nasal cavity into two halves. Such deformities of the nasal septum may interfere with nasal breathing during a person’s entire life. Far more unpleasant consequences are constant tiredness, recurring infections of the paranasal sinuses, headaches, earaches, and inflammation. Congenital or accidental bends of the nasal septum can be straightened at the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic in Karlsruhe by means of a surgical procedure (septoplasty). After the operation, patients wear silicone splints for a period of five to ten days to support the repositioned nasal septum. The splints are then removed during an outpatient follow-up visit.

In case of turbinate hyperplasia, the nasal turbinates (cavernous bodies reaching into the nasal cavity) are pathologically enlarged. In many cases, it is possible to shorten these by means of a so-called argon plasma surgery, an electrosurgical procedure on an outpatient basis under local anaesthetic.

Tumour Surgery

Prof. Preyer and her team perform all tumour operations in throat, nose, and ears. This includes the removal of lymph nodes, benign and malignant thyroid tumours as well as laser-surgical tumour procedures in mouth or throat. Defects caused by tumour removals can be treated with flap plastic surgery.

Laryngeal cancer (laryngeal carcinoma) is one of the most common malignant tumours in the throat region. Typical symptoms include persistent hoarseness or constant husky voice. If problems persist for a long time, it is important to consult an otorhinolaryngology specialist, because even in early stages, laryngeal cancer can easily be detected by visual inspection. Only at a later stages, difficulties swallowing, shortness of breath or the sensation of having a foreign body stuck in the throat appear.

Depending on the size and location of the carcinoma, surgery or radiotherapy is possible. Smaller tumours of the vocal cord can be removed using a laser. In some cases, it may be necessary to remove larger parts of the larynx. Only with very large tumours of the larynx, a laryngectomy is necessary (the removal of the entire larynx). During surgery, a permanent opening is constructed inside the trachea (tracheostoma) by the specialist and a small valve (called a voice prosthesis) placed between trachea and oesophagus. This later helps when learning to speak with a replacement voice. The mucosal folds in the throat now produce the vocal sound instead of the removed vocal cords. If necessary, the doctor must also remove affected lymph nodes with a laryngectomy.

Facial Plastic Surgery

Prof. Preyer and her otorhinolaryngology team are also specialised in aesthetic-reconstructive surgery following tumour operations or facial injuries. In cases of paralysis or scar correction, various surgical procedures are available to help patients regain their quality of life. Cosmetic and functional corrections of the external part of the nose are also offered as well as surgical remedies for protruding ears or congenital auricle malformations. These can often be performed without hospitalisation in the Centre for Outpatient Surgery.

Centre for Phoniatrics and Paedaudiology

Paedaudiology deals with acoustic perception and hearing disorders in childhood especially. Phoniatrics on the other hand, includes disorders of the voice and speech system as well as swallowing problems. Good hearing is the prerequisite for a child to be able to learn speech. Therefore, if there is a suspicion of hearing loss or delayed speech development, it is important to clarify exactly where the causes lie.

The Department of Paedaudiology at the Otorhinolaryngology Clinic in Karlsruhe specialises in the needs and therapy of young patients and offers a wide range of tailor-made treatment options. Alternatives are adapted at particular development stages of affected children. The Otorhinolaryngology department headed by Prof. Preyer is also a well-chosen contact point for adults with voice and swallowing problems. Issues are sensitively investigated and treated there.

Further information can be found at Prof. Dr Serena Preyer’s website.