ENT Surgery

Lakewood Health System partners with St. Cloud ENT providers to provide ear, nose and throat services for Lakewood patients.

Drs. Ted Truitt and Amy Dearking see patients in our Staples and Pillager clinics every Thursday, and also provide surgical services at Lakewood Health System. They perform a variety of procedures for all ages of patients throughout their lifespan, including tonsils, adenoids, ear tubes, and other pediatric surgeries of the ears.

When you need surgery to relieve an ENT disorder, you’ll find the latest surgical options in a comfortable, relaxing setting. You can count on the expertise and experience of our surgeons, who perform a high volume of these procedures each year.

We offer the following ENT surgeries:

Ear tube insertion
Endocrine surgery, including thyroid and parathyroid
Sinus surgery
Laser bronchoscopy to diagnose and treat bronchial disorders
Laryngoscopy for in-depth examination and diagnosis of the throat
Tonsillectomy to remove the tonsils
Otoplasty to correct structural defects or reshape the ear
Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPS) to remove the tonsils, uvula and part of the soft palate

Hummingbird Tube Procedure

The insertion of ear tubes is a common procedure to prevent ear infections or get rid of fluid in the ears that won’t go away. When the space behind the eardrum isn’t well ventilated, fluid builds up and an ear infection can start. To drain this fluid and create ventilation, a small hole is made in the middle ear, and a tube is inserted to keep it open. Within 6 to 18 months, the ear drum will push out the tube.

During a typical tube procedure, general anesthesia is used to sedate the patient, however with the Hummingbird procedure, only conscious sedation is used. A new device simplifies things by deploying the tube much quicker, allowing for a faster surgery and recovery. The patient will be back in their parents’ arms and then back home shortly after. While the procedure is typically best for children who are three years and younger, each patient will be evaluated by their ENT (ear, nose and throat) provider to determine the best option for them.

Audiology

If you have difficulty with hearing or balance or are troubled by ear pain, we can help. Our expert audiologists use the latest technology and techniques to identify, assess and treat issues related to ear health and hearing function.

We help patients with all types of hearing conditions, including:

Ear pain or plugged ears
Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD)
Ear infections and diseases, including otitis media, the most common cause of earaches
Hearing loss
Ruptured eardrum
Tinnitus (ringing of the ears)
Vertigo (dizziness and loss of balance)

Sveinar Larsen, M.A., CCC-A and Dr. Alexandra Borders, AUD, CCC-A see patients on designated Tuesdays and Thursdays at Lakewood’s Staple and Pillager clinics. They perform hearing testing on patients of all ages to determine both the extent and cause of hearing loss, balance assessments, and hearing aid evaluations.

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