Otolaryngology (Ear, Nose and Throat)

The ENT Department specialises in the comprehensive prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of diseases and disorders affecting the ear, nose, mouth, pharynx and larynx. These areas are linked to functions such as breathing, swallowing, hearing, balancing and phonation (speech, voice and smell). We also treat pathologies of the face and neck, as well as the organs contained therein.

We treat highly prevalent pathologies in the general population, both acute and chronic. In fact, our family physicians and paediatricians devote 40% of their clinical practice to ENT-related issues. Every year, more than 31,000 patients pass through our department. This figure accounts for more than 15,800 initial consultations, more than 15,200 follow-up visits and more than 1,500 surgeries.

Our department is structured into four specialised sections, ensuring comprehensive care while fostering collaboration and innovation with a view to improving patient outcomes and advancing scientific research:

• Head, Neck and Larynx Surgery: This section diagnoses and treats tumours and other complex pathologies affecting the head, neck and larynx. It employs advanced techniques such as robotic surgery, reconstructive surgery and minimally invasive procedures to ensure optimal functional and aesthetic outcomes. It also conducts advanced diagnostic tests and works in close collaboration with other hospital departments to provide multidisciplinary care.
• Rhinology: This section specialises in treating disorders related to the nose and paranasal sinuses, such as chronic sinusitis and nasal polyps. It employs experts in endoscopic sinus surgery and offers innovative solutions for cases of nasal obstruction and olfactory dysfunctions. It works closely with the Neurosurgery Department in the treatment of anterior skull base pathologies and with the Ophthalmology Department in the treatment of orbital conditions.
• Otology: This section diagnoses and treats ear conditions, including hearing loss, vertigo and tumours affecting the otic region. Its team of medical professionals combines clinical expertise with technological innovation with a view to enhancing auditory and vestibular function in patients of all ages. It also manages cochlear implant programmes and employs advanced surgical techniques for middle and inner-ear pathologies.
• Paediatric ENT: This section specialises in managing ear, nose and throat conditions in children, including congenital abnormalities, airway disorders and recurring infections. It provides care that is tailored to the specific needs of each child, ensuring safe and effective treatments.

Our multidisciplinary approach allows us to offer high resolution diagnoses and therapies, personalised for each particular case. Our decision-making process involves agreement by the whole team at weekly clinical sessions, in which particularly complex cases are discussed and decisions are made about the most suitable treatments for each patient. 

Our Unique Value

ENT Emergencies

We are the only centre in Catalonia with a specialist ENT doctor on-hand throughout regular caregiving hours, ensuring an immediate and high-quality response to emergencies. This exclusive service covers not only Barcelona, but also other provinces outside the normal caregiving hours of other centres. This ensures that patients with severe issues can receive immediate and specialised care, preventing complications. Our extensive geographic coverage and coordination with other healthcare facilities allow us to offer a comprehensive and efficient service, making us a benchmark in terms of quality and innovation.

Areas of expertise

We stand out for our degree of expertise in several key areas, offering advanced and personalised treatments for a wide range of pathologies, including:

• Treatment of hearing loss: We’re a benchmark centre for the diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss, offering advanced and personalised solutions for patients of all ages. Our highly specialised team and cutting-edge technology allows us to address all types of hearing loss, ranging from mild to severe cases. We offer a wide range of treatments including hearing aids, cochlear implants and bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA), and also conduct research on regenerative therapies. We seek to restore our patients’ hearing ability and improve their quality of life, allowing them to resume their normal day-to-day activities.
• Treatment of functional, inflammatory and neoplastic nasal diseases with minimally invasive surgery: We adopt an integrated and innovative approach to the diagnosis and treatment of functional, inflammatory and neoplastic diseases of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Using minimally invasive surgical techniques, we treat chronic rhinitis, nasal septum deviations, turbinate hypertrophy, chronic sinusitis, and benign and malignant tumours. The benefits of these minimally invasive techniques include maximum precision, fewer complications, faster recovery times, and better functional and aesthetic preservation, improving our patients’ quality of life and postoperative recovery.
• Oncological Head and Neck Surgery: We are leaders in the diagnosis and treatment of head and neck tumours, providing comprehensive care through the implementation of advanced surgical techniques, including robotic surgery. Specialising in complex tumours of the pharynx, larynx, nose, paranasal sinuses and salivary glands, we employ cutting-edge technology to ensure optimal results. We are experts in surgical procedures involving patients who have not responded well to previous oncological treatments. Robotic surgery allows for safe and accurate access to anatomically complex areas. Not only does it reduce pain, complications and recovery time, but it also improves the patient’s functional and aesthetic recovery.

Collaboration with Vall d’Hebron’s 3D Unit

We work closely with Vall d’Hebron’s 3D Unit to integrate cutting-edge technologies in the diagnosis, planning and treatment of complex head and neck pathologies. This collaboration allows us to offer highly personalised solutions, improving surgical outcomes and patient quality of life. The benefits include advanced surgical planning, personalised surgical guidelines, and enhanced patient education and communication. This collaboration places us at the forefront of innovation, ensuring a multidisciplinary and fully tailored approach.

Research

Our department is committed to cutting-edge biomedical research with a view to improving treatments and patient outcomes. The main research lines of our specialised sections are set forth below:

• Head and neck cancer: 
  • Identification of treatment targets
  • Identification of diagnostic markers for head and neck cancers
  • Identification of prognostic markers
  • Application of technological aids and artificial intelligence (AI) in head and neck surgery
• Otology: 
  • AI applied to audiological diagnosis
  • Auditory regeneration
  • Auditory and vestibular implants and next-gen devices
• Rhinology: 
  • Inflammatory mechanisms of the nasal mucosa
  • Minimally invasive surgery
• Paediatric ENT: 
  • Paediatric upper airway pathologies
  • Children’s hearing disorders

These research lines enable us to make scientific progress and ensure that our patients can benefit from innovative and effective treatments.

Teaching

The department’s teaching activity covers three main areas:

• We offer theoretical and practical training throughout the academic year of Medicine and Speech Therapy students at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).
• We train ENT specialists and help train other specialists who require basic knowledge and training in ENT-related areas, such as family doctors and paediatricians.
• We offer national and international training courses for surgeons, including the IV Hands-on International Course on Parapharyngeal Space Surgery, the Laryngectomised Patient Course and the Translational Research in HNSCC: New Challenges for Future Therapies conference.
• We provide continuous training for the professionals who make up our department and also host training physicians from other centres who complete rotation stays in our department.