In-Office Transnasal Tracheoesophageal Punctures Yield Good Results

Mark Persky, MD, Chair of the Department of Otolaryngology at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, said that the findings were encouraging, and might be another step into the expanding array of in-office procedures.

He said it was especially nice to see that the procedures in the office worked well for patients who had had reconstructive surgeries beforehand. Performing a prosthetic procedure on a patient at the same time as reconstruction is done is often not ideal because of the added strain.

It’s a good point to bring out, Dr. Persky said. I think that this can be done even in patients who you’re reluctant to do it on as an initial approach. You do it as a delayed procedure, and the fact that they can do it in the office under local anesthesia, I think, is a wonderful thing.

He said that he does not currently perform these procedures in the office, but said, I could see doing it after this, sure.

Having the procedure done in the office is less stressful on the patient-and on the bottom line, he said. Most patients would like to avoid an inpatient experience if they could, he said. I think that for the patient experience, it works out well. For cost consciousness, it works out very well also.

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