Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery (ENT)
Welcome to the Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery department at the Lebanese American University.
Our mission is to provide excellence in Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery care to our patients and the community, prepare stellar Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgeons and contribute in knowledge and advancements to our specialty.
Rami E. Saade, MD
Acting Chairman of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery
Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery as a specialty has tremendously evolved. It is distinct in the intricate and delicate array of conditions it covers and in being both a clinical and surgical specialty attending to all patients’ age groups and genders.
At the Lebanese American University Medical Center Saint John’s Hospital and all affiliated and operated sites we offer a unique subspecialized expertise in its various fields: Head and Neck Surgical Oncology, Otology/Neurotology, Rhinology/Skull base surgery, Facial plastic reconstructive Surgery, Pediatric Otolaryngology and Laryngology. We are equipped with the most advanced technologies to provide sharp and state of the art care; including microscopes, endoscopes, electromagnetic navigation, intraoperative nerve monitoring and energy powered instruments (LASER, microdebrieder, coblator, harmonic systems). The Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Department fosters an individualized, patient-centered quality care and an evidence based practice.
Our team gathers highly specialized professionals with outstanding training and experience. We value the ethics of the profession and strongly adhere to its noble and ultimate goal: serving and attending to our patients and community. It is our quest to continuously strive in innovation and improvement of health in Lebanon, the region and globally through our Otolaryngology Head and Neck surgical practice, research and education.
Head and Neck Skin Cancers
Laryngeal Disorders - Voice and Airway
Neuro-vascular Tumors
Oral Cancers
Oropharangeal Tumors
Rhinology – Nasal sinus and skull base diseases
Salivary Gland Tumors
Thyroid Tumors
Acting Chair, Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery
Elissar Franjieh
Leslie Akl
Michelle Bardawil
Salma Jabr
The First LAU Head & Neck Symposium
Medical Education: A- Basic Science Years (Med I & Med II) B- Clinical Years: Med III & Med IV
Residency Program
The First LAU Head and Neck Symposium
Services Offered
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- Head & Neck oncology multidisciplinary service ( very few such services are available in the middle east and this will include oncologists, radiation therapists, diagnostic and interventional radiology, pathology, rehabilitation services and others)
- Rhinology/Allergy/Sinus Surgery service: this will cover patients with various Sino-nasal pathologies such as allergies, deformities, trauma, infections and others.
- Otology/Neurotology, hearing and balance service: this will cover various ear and balance diseases such as hearing loss, tinnitus, vertigo, infections, tumors, and others.
Audiology will be part of that service and will include diagnostic tests such as hearing evaluation, Balance evaluation and various treatments such as balance therapy, hearing rehabilitation such as hearing aids and cochlear implants. - Facial and plastic reconstructive surgery: this will cover various reconstructive facial procedures including post cancer and trauma reconstructions and treatment of malformations.
- Pediatric otolaryngology: this will cover the management of children and adolescent with various medical and surgical ENT pathologies including adeno-tonsillar diseases, infections, ear problems, congenital malformations, tumors and others.
- Laryngology and voice disorders: this will address the various the various vocal cord, laryngeal and voice problems including hoarseness, vocal cord lesions, breathing problems, voice rehabilitation after surgery.
Speech therapy will be included in this service and lead by the physician team as well as by the swallowing therapist. - Snoring and sleep apnea multidisciplinary program in conjunction with the pulmonary team and other related specialties. Addressing this very common, potentially serious and underdiagnosed problem through a team approach is a concept that is also not available in the whole region.
- Skull base surgery multidisciplinary program that will be unique in the region as well and includes bringing together specialists to treat this challenging group of pathologies. The professional team would include otolaryngology, neurosurgery, neurology, neuroradiology, pathology and rehabilitation services among others.
These are more detailed procedures and services offered covering the above:
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- Stones (sialolithiasis)
- Cysts (salivary cysts and branchial cysts)
- Pleomorphic adenoma
- Warthin’s tumor
- Lipomas
- Mucoepidermoid carcinoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma
- Acinic cell cancer
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Other sarcomas
- Metastatic cancers
- Other tumors
Wide field or radical tonsillectomy - Partial or total palatectomy
- Pharyngectomy, laryngopharyngectomy
- Tongue base resection, partial or total glossectomy
Inverted papilloma resection, medical Maxillectomy - Meningo and encephalocele
- Gliomas
- Cerebro spinal fluid leaks
- Dermoid cysts
- Hemangiomas
- Mucoceles
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma
- Olfactory neuroblastoma (esthesio-neuroblastoma)
- Sarcomas
- Lymphomas
- Mucosal melanomas
- Hemangiopericytoma
- Diagnostic nasal endoscopy
- Allergic rhinitis diagnostic laboratory workup and treatment
- Olfactory testing
- Rhinomanometry
- Office-based procedures (turbinate reduction, sleep apnea/snoring treatment)
- Septoplasty – Turbinoplasty
- Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (with or without navigation guidance)
- Balloon sinuplasty
- Endoscopic skull base surgery
- Supportive service to other medical subspecialties (Respiratory Medicine/Pulmonary, Immunology, Dermatology)
Speech Therapy
Audiology
Head & Neck surgery services and programs
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- Medical evaluation and management of hearing loss, including hearing screening, medications and hearing aid amplification, surgical procedures when indicated
- Cochlear implantation, insertion of BAHA (bone anchored hearing aids), implantable hearing aids
- Medical management of ear infections, myringotomy and insertion of ear tubes
- Medical management of dizziness, vertigo and balance disorders through medications and vestibular rehabilitation for all causes of vertigo; occasionally surgical management is indicated
- Tinnitus evaluation and management
- Audiograms, tympanograms, ABR, electronystagmography, VEMP, dynamic posturography, rotatory chair testing and rehabilitation
- Balance rehabilitation
- Management of sudden hearing loss (medical management, intra-tympanic injections)
- Mastoidectomy for acute/chronic otomastoiditis, for cholesteatoma and other conditions
- Tympanoplasty with or without ossicular reconstruction
- Management of labyrinthitis
- Management of otosclerosis (stapedectomy)
- Intra-tympanic injections for hearing loss, tinnitus and vertigo conditions
- Medical and surgical management of Meniere’s disease, including endolymphatic sac decompression, vestibular nerve section, labyrinthectomy and intra-tympanic injections
- Surgery for acoustic neuroma / vestibular schwannoma
- Surgical management of glomus tumors (tympanicum and jugulare)
- Surgical management of lateral skull base CSF leaks
- Surgical management of lateral skull base tumors, such as carcinomas, sarcomas and others, using image guided surgery
- Petrous apicectomy for cholesterol granuloma, cholesteatoma and other conditions
- Facial nerve decompression for paralysis
- Electronystagmography
- VEMP
- ABR
- Hearing aid equipment
- Cochlear implant programming software
Laryngology and Voice: Diagnostic Laryngoscopy / Videostroboscopy
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- Voice assessment
- Swallowing assessment (Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES)
- Microlaryngeal surgery including LASER Procedures
- Office-based procedures
- Voice and swallowing therapy (Speech and Language Pathology service)
- Supportive service to other medical specialties (Neurology, Thoracic Surgery, Neurosurgery)
Facial plastic and Reconstructive Service
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- Rhinoplasty, Septorhinoplasty
- Nasal reconstruction including post trauma or cancer resection
- Facelift, neck lift, other facial rejuvenation procedures
- Blepharoplasty
- Facial reconstruction using skin graft, local flaps, regional flaps
- Microvascular free flap reconstruction using bone, soft tissue or a combination: forearm free flaps, Fibula free flap, Lateral thigh free flap, others
- Facial cancer resections using MOHS or other techniques with reconstruction through our facial team including a MOHS Dermatologic surgeon and oculoplastic surgeon when required.
Skull Base Surgery (With Neurosurgeons)
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- Inverted papilloma
- Meningoceles and encephaloceles
- Gliomas
- Cerebro-spinal fluid leaks
- Craniofacial/skull base trauma
- Dermoid cysts
- Hemangiomas
- Mucoceles
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma
- Olfactory neuroblastoma (esthesio-neuroblastoma)
- Sarcomas
- Lymphomas
- Mucosal melanomas
- Hemangiopericytoma
Sleep Apnea/Snoring Services
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- Polysomnograms (sleep study), diagnosis and treatment IN CONJUCTION WITH MEDICAL SLEEP APNEA T
- Medical consultations
- Weight loss programs, dietary, endocrinology consultations
- Bariatric surgery, other weight loss endoscopic type procedures
- ENT: nasal and palatal/Maxillofacial surgeries
- Dental devices for jaw advancement
- CPAP machines
- Polysomnograms (sleep study), diagnosis and treatment IN CONJUCTION WITH MEDICAL SLEEP APNEA T