SYNOPSIS OF OTOLARYNGOLOGY

ENT diseases represent a very significant percentage of the cases day-to-day clinic general practitioner (GP). Unfortunately, the educational curriculum of the Medical Schools and Family Doctor/GP training program does not parallel the high prevalence of ENT diseases. As a result, GPs may refer to Secondary Care many patients with ENT problems when they could handle them in Primary Care. It is legitimate to assume that a better understanding of the clinical history, clinical examination and accurate management of ENT diseases, might lead if not to a reduction in the number of specialist visits requested by GPs, to a better management of the ENT patient. This book is not a complete compendium of Otolaryngology, which would not be useful to a GP. Instead, it wants to be a practical guide for the Primary Care provider. The topics covered are common and the ENT diseases management is the one you would expect to take place in a Primary Care setting. The use of ENT diagnostic instrumentation refers to what should be available in any GP Surgery. I think this book is a useful addition to the library of medical students, GPs in training and Board Certified Family Physicians. Its format is simple and the text is minimal. The topics are organized in such a way as to highlight when a patient should be sent to a specialist immediately, efficiently managed in General practice, and when a management program can be started by the GP when waiting for specialist visits.