Dr. Mathew Dominic, ENT physician, Medical Trust hospital, Ernakulam

INTERVIEW

Dr. Mathew Dominic, ENT physician, Medical Trust hospital, Ernakulam is one among the few doctors who put his effort towards bringing quality health care to everyone affordably. He has done his MBBS at Calicut Medical College and MS at Christian Medical College Vellore,Tamil Nadu. Then he went to Ireland for higher studies and joined the Royal College of Surgeons for the Post graduate course in ENT and Head and Neck surgery.He has also done FRCS from the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. Then he worked in Ireland for 4 years and later in England for 3 years before returning to India in the year 2000.

Since then he has been in the ENT department, Medical Trust hospital, Ernakulam. In 2006 he again went to Australia to get training in cochlear implant surgery and came back to Medical Trust Hospital wherer he helps the patients with medicine, lifestyle alterations, therapies, and surgery.

In an interview to Sreeni K.R, Dr. Mathew Dominic gives a glimpse of ENTand shares his experience.

Exactly what is ENT in medical terms?
In medical terms ENT stands for Ear, Nose and Throat. It is a medical subspecialty which deals with the treatment of the diseases of the ear, nose or throat.

When did you join Medical Trust Hospital?
I joined medical Trust Hospital in the year 2000.

What is the difference between ENT and Otolaryngology?
ENT and Otolaryngology are the same. Otolaryngology or more precisely Oto rhino laryngology is Latin for the study of Ear (oto) Nose (rhino) and Throat (larynx).

In which all areas specifically does the ENT doctor help the patients?
ENT denotes ear, nose and throat. So ENT doctors help patients with diseases of the EAR, Nose or Throat.

What is Pulsatile Tinnitus and what is the cause? Which are the treatments available in medical trust?
Pulsatile Tinnitus is ringing or noise inside the ear which is in rhythm with the heart beat. The condition as such is not very common. One of the reasons for pulsatile tinnitus is a condition called glomus jugulare. This is an abnormal growth of blood vessels and neural tissue from the jugular vein which projects into the middle ear. The treatment for this condition is microsurgical excision of the growth.

What is Sinus Headache?
Sinus headache is headache arising from sinusitis. Sinuses are hollow cavities in the skull bones near the nose. The sinuses are named the frontal, maxillary, ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses. Infection of the sinuses causes headache which is called sinus headache.

What precautions do we have to take to avoid Sinus Headaches?
Cold weather, cold drafts like cold air from an air conditioner or fan, cold food and beverages and dusty polluted atmosphere predisposes us to sinus infection.

What is the reason for nose bleeding? Is it a disease?
Nose bleeding occurs when blood vessels in the nose ruptures. Nose bleeding occurs mainly in two age groups; children below the age of 15 or 16 years of age and in the elderly probably after the age of 60. The bleeding in children is due to rupture of blood vessels in the front of the nose from an area called the littles area on the nasal septum. This bleeding is usually not very severe and most often stops by itself. Bleeding in the elderly are due to bigger vessels at the back of the nose. This bleeding is usually heavy, and does not always stop on its own.So they may need hospitalization. In most cases of nose bleeds,the cause is uncertain. It can occur due to any trauma like picking the nose, infections, any growth inside the nose or due to any disease or blood clotting.

Usually we see people snoring in buses and trains. What are the reasons for Snoring?
Snoring is an abnormality and is caused by obstruction of the normal air flow in the upper air passages. After the age of around forty, the body starts losing muscle mass and starts gaining fat. With this, people start putting on weight. The commonest cause of snoring is excess weight and lack of exercise. Any block in the nose like a bend in the nasal septum, polyps, sinus infections can cause snoring. Any block in the throat due to enlarged adenoids or tonsils can cause snoring. This is the commonest cause of snoring in children. Certain drugs like alcohol, antihistamines or sedatives can also cause snoring.

What are the treatments available for snoring?
There are three lines of management of snoring. First is to reduce weight and tone up the muscles with diet and exercise. Second is surgical and involves correction of any constriction in the air passages. There are various procedures like Uvulo Palato Pharyngo Plasty[UPPP ] or Laup Laser Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty [LLAU]. The third option is to use a machine called continuous positive airway pressure [CPAP]. This keeps the airway open by applying slight air pressure inside the airway.

Tell us about your work on a typical day?
I leave home at about 9.30 am. After doing the ward rounds and seeing patients who are admitted I reach the out patient department at 10 am. From 10 am to 3 pm I see patients without a break. I have my lunch in the hospital at about 3 pm. The evening OP starts at 4 pm. This goes on till 6.30 pm. After a short evening ward rounds, I leave the hospital at about 7 pm.

Share your memorable experience?
My most memorable experience or happiest moment in my practice in recent times was the day a particular patient of mine started school. I recently started doing cochlear implant surgeries for deaf children. This is a revolutionary breakthrough in the treatment of children who are born deaf. Until now these children had no effective treatment and were condemned to live out their lives as deaf and mute; without hearing and without the ability to speak. The first surgery was done in December 2005. Slowly the child started hearing and then started speaking. By June this year he had developed enough speech to enable him to join a regular school. To me that child’s first day in school was as memorable as my son’s first day in school.