Patient Care
We provide high quality patient care for diseases affecting the ear, nose, throat, and neck region as the core hospital in Hokkaido. Especially, we have a large number of cases receiving ear and nasal surgery and treating head and neck cancer.
We are an authorized institute for:
- Training by the Oto-Rhino-Laryngological (ORL) Society of Japan
- Training by the Japan Broncho-esophagological Society
- Training by the Japan Society for Head and Neck Surgery
- Japanese Society of Allergology
- Japanese Association of Endocrine Surgeons
- Cochlear implant surgery certified by Hokkaido government
- Tympanoplasty - over 50 cases a year - certified by Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare
- Hearing aid fitting assessment certified by ORL
- Thorough audiometric test after newborn hearing screening certified by ORL
- Surgical therapy for malignant sinonasal tumor – over 10 cases a year – certified by Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare
- Surgical therapy for malignant maxillary bone tumor – over 5 cases a year – certified by Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare
Areas we expertise:
- Head and Neck Surgery (face, neck, tongue, oral cavity, salivary gland, thyroid gland, and parathyroid gland)
We have head and neck surgery over 130 cases a year, and are an authorized institute for surgical therapy for malignant sinonasal tumor and malignant maxillary bone tumor. We also welcome patient referrals from other institutes and have over 50 cases on thyroid and salivary gland surgery.
We provide microvascular reconstruction of head and neck using free flap as surgical option available for reconstruction of surgical defects related to removal of head and neck tumors. We are able to reconstruct most of all area of the head and neck in a manner that restores the patients' functional and cosmetic deficiency.
In northern and eastern Hokkaido, we are the only institute to have radiotherapy and concurrent super-selective intra-arterial chemotherapy to provide equivalent or superior survival rate to radical operative therapy and to preserve vocal and swallowing function.
We have focused on clinical treatment for NK/T cell lymphoma as well as research on the onset and the prognosis. Since 2003, we provide radiotherapy and concurrent intra-arterial chemotherapy for the treatment of nasal NK/T cell lymphoma to result in excellent treatment outcome.
Molecular biology and tumor immunology are one of the main research themes in our department, and we strive to conduct clinical research aiming for immunotherapy and gene therapy. - Hearing Loss
We have performed a lot of ear surgery for patients with hearing impairment. We are the only authorized institute in north and eastern Hokkaido to provide tympanoplasty and have over 50 cases a year. We are also an authorized institute in this region for cochlear implant surgery for deafness and have done the surgery over 40 cases so far.
We are the only authorized institute in Asahikawa to provide a hearing aid fitting assessment and thorough audiometric test after newborn hearing screening certified by the Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Society of Japan. On the first, third, and fifth Friday afternoon of every month, we provide a specialized outpatient service not only for adults but for children with hearing impairment.
We also have a specialized outpatient service for patients with otitis media. We make a detailed observation of eardrum and assess hearing using audiometry, tympanometry and other auditory test. Antibiotics, myringotomy, tympanostomy tube insertion will be provided following the guideline. - Vertigo (Dizziness), Tinnitus, and Facial Paralysis
We provide an outpatient service for vertigo treatment on every Friday afternoon. We offer a wide range of neuro-otological examinations such as pure-tone/speech audiometry, auditory brainstem response (ABR), otoacoustic emission, infrared Frenzel’s glass, electronystagmography (ENG), and stabilometer to diagnose inner ear disorders such as benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Meniere’s disease and vestibular neuritis, and central vertigo. We usually use the physical therapy maneuver such as Epley maneuver for patients with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV). We also provide vestibular rehabilitation therapy for patients with chronic dizziness that medication does not work well.
We provide a variety of treatments to remove the cause of tinnitus. We offer tinnitus retraining therapy (TRT), which gets attention these days.
For the treatment of idiopathic facial nerve paralysis, we provide conservative (non surgical) treatment such as steroid, stellate ganglion block (SGB), and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and also surgical treatment like facial nerve decompression for intractable paralysis. - Otitis media with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis
ANCA-associated vasculitis is an idiopathic systemic disease primarily characterized by vasculitis of small vessels. We proposed the otitis media with ANCA-associated vasculitis (OMAAV), which is one of the organ injuries that appear during the course of ANCA-associated vasculitis. OMAAV is an intractable otitis media. OMAAV differ ordinary otitis media from rapid progression of sensory hearing loss. Facial paralysis and the hypertrophic pachymeningitis are easy to be complicated with OMAAV. When OMAAV progresses, systemic lesion, particularly the lungs and kidney lesions may be extend to. We expertly treat this intractable disease based on our experience and knowledge in otolaryngology.
- Vocal fold paralysis, swallowing disorder
Functional treatment for vocal fold paralysis is one of our clinical and research themes. We provide injection laryngoplasty and thyroplasty for unilateral vocal fold paralysis, and Ejnell’s operation for bilateral vocal fold paralysis. We offer a specialized outpatient service for diseases of “voice”. First, we examine the cause by using electronic scope, stroboscopy, a voice function test, and sound analysis with computer.
We offer endoscope and the esophagography to diagnose swallowing disorder. We provide comprehensive treatment from surgery to rehabilitation to maintain and recover patients’ QOL. - Tonsillar focal disease (Palmoplantar Pustulosis and IgA Nephropathy)
Tonsillar focal disease is defined as clinical disorders in the distant organ from the tonsil that are caused by the tonsils without any symptoms of the tonsil itself. Palmoplantar pustulosis, IgA nephropathy, and sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis are known as typical tonsillar focal diseases. Particularly in the treatment of IgA nephropathy, in cooperation with the department of nephrology, we provide very effective treatment called tonsillectomy plus steroid-pulse therapy. We found that tonsillectomy is effective treatment for Henoch–Schönlein purpura (anaphylactoid purpura)、psoriasis vulgaris、Behçet's disease、and rheumatoid arthritis that a symptom worsens in the case of upper respiratory inflammation. We have a specialized outpatient service for disease related to tonsil on every Thursday afternoon.
- Video-assisted thyroid surgery
Conventional thyroid surgery needs more than a 10 cm long wound at the anterior neck. Because thyroid diseases are particularly common in women, this skin scar could be a cosmetic problem. We have introduced endoscopic thyroid surgery (video-assisted neck surgery, VANS method) since 2009. In this procedure just a 2.5 cm skin incision is made in the lateral chest wall below the clavicle. We have applied VANS methods patients with benign tumors, small size papillary carcinomas, or Basedow diseases. We performed this surgery in more than 120 cases until the end of 2013 and found that complication rate was as same as that in the conventional thyroid surgery. Furthermore, a patient needs less hospitalized period.
- Endoscopic approach for sialolithiasis (Sialendoscopy)
Sialolithiasis is a disease that stones develop within a salivary gland or duct, results in a mechanical obstruction of the salivary duct, causing swollen salivary gland, pain, and consequent infections. Sialendoscopy allows for optical exploration of the salivary duct and extraction of the stones by a basket catheter and LASER probe under endoscopic view. Since the introduction of sialendoscopy in October 2010, we have had excellent results using these minimal invasive surgical techniques.
- Allergic rhinitis, Pollinosis, and Sinusitis
We have strived to conduct clinical research about white birch pollinosis and its new vaccine treatment. We have a specialized outpatient service in nasal allergy to provide a consultation following the guideline on every Thursday afternoon. We also offer the hyposensitization therapy with house dust antigen, outpatient laser surgery, and inpatient endoscopic sinus surgery.
- Sleep Apnea Syndrome
We have extensive physiological knowledge about the upper airway based on our research study. We apply it to the diagnosis and the treatment of sleep apnea syndrome. We have a specialized outpatient service in sleep apnea syndrome on every Friday afternoon, and provide screening test using a device, Apnomonitor. We conduct examinations using outpatient or short-term inpatient polysomnography, and provide treatments such as surgery, nasal CPAP therapy, and weight loss program.
