Otolaryngology - James Reese, MD

Ask A Doctor
James Reese, MD
Otolaryngology

Q: What is otolaryngology? What kind of conditions do otolaryngologists treat?
A: Otolaryngology is also known as Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT). ENT specialists treat both acute and chronic conditions of the ear, nose and throat in children and adults. Our training includes facial plastic surgery, skin cancer surgery, head and neck reconstructive surgery, allergy diagnosis and treatment, sinus disease and voice disorders as well as the general areas of ENT most people recognize such as ear problems, nasal and throat issues.

Q: What is sinusitis? What are the symptoms?
A: There are several forms of sinusitis. Patients with an acute sinus infection will usually have short term onset of fever, headache, colored nasal discharge with a bad taste and odor, and pressure under the eyes. Patients with chronic sinusitis suffer for over 3 months or longer with more subtle symptoms of recurrent drainage and congestion, headaches and recurrent infections as well as general malaise.

Q: What are the treatment options for sinusitis?
A: For acute sinusitis, antibiotics are typically prescribed for bacterial infections. There are also prescription and over-the-counter mucous thinners used to aid mucous drainage. Antihistamines, salt water irrigation of the nasal passages and room humidifiers can also be very helpful in treating acute sinusitis.
Chronic sinusitis, when medication fails to provide results, can be treated with surgical procedures to improve drainage. These outpatient procedures are done with the patient under anesthesia and are performed endoscopically through the nose. Instrumentation opens up the nasal passages; we often use microdebriders to trim away some of the tissues.
In some cases, chronic sinusitis is caused by underlying allergy problems. With allergy testing and desensitization sinusitis can be successfully treated in many cases.

Q: What is balloon sinuplasty?
A: Balloon sinuplasty is one of the latest surgical treatments available for chronic sinusitis patients. A balloon is inserted through the nostrils under endoscopic guidance and placed in the natural sinus passageway so these can be dilated with the balloon. This gently widens the passage and improves drainage. The nice thing about this procedure is that there is less trauma for the patient with no incisions or tissue removal. Many patients recover in just a few days.

Q: When is it recommended for children to have their tonsils or adenoids removed?
A: Tonsils, located in the back of the throat, and adenoids, positioned in the back of the nasal passage near the opening to the middle ear, are lymph tissues that help to fight infection.
Tonsillectomy is recommended for patients with obstructive problems, including snoring, sleep apnea, and trouble swallowing, who are at risk for airway blockage. Patients with recurrent infections are also candidates. Current recommendations for tonsillectomy in patients who have recurrent tonsillitis are for patients to have had tonsillitis seven times in one year, five times each year in the last two years, or three times each year in the last three years. Most tonsillectomy patients have reached at least three or four years of age.
Enlarged adenoids can lead to frequent ear infections; they can block the opening to the middle ear and lead to fluid buildup. Sometimes children with frequent ear infections will also have problems with their tonsils and adenoids. In these cases removal of both the adenoids and tonsils is often recommended.

Q: What can I do to quiet my husband’s snoring?
A: Snoring is a symptom of obstruction and, if associated with sleep apnea, can be a sign of a serious condition. The obstruction can be in the nose, including a deviated septum, large nasal turbinates (natural structures inside the nose), or allergic rhinitis. The obstruction could also be in the throat, caused by such things as large tonsils, a large tongue, or generalized obesity, all of which could lead to soft tissue obstruction.
Sleep apnea is defined as any pause in breathing for ten seconds or greater. A sleep study will determine whether or not the patient has apnea. Patients with apnea are placed into one of three categories – mild, moderate or severe – which will help determine the best treatment options.
Everyone with sleep apnea snores but not everyone who snores has sleep apnea. Once apnea is ruled out, here are some techniques to help reduce snoring: 1. Don’t eat close to bedtime. Allow at least three hours between dinner and bedtime. 2. Avoid alcohol at night. 3. Make sure your husband sleeps on his side or stomach. Sew a small rubber ball into the back of your husband’s nightshirt so that he is less likely to roll onto his back while sleeping.

Bio:
James Reese, MD, is an otolaryngologist with Greenley Oaks Ear, Nose and Throat. Following medical school at Loma Linda University, Dr. Reese continued his training at White Memorial Medical Center, a Loma Linda affiliated hospital in Los Angeles. He also had further training at the Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center, the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, The Otologic Medical Group and the House Ear Research Center of Los Angeles. Dr. Reese’s interests within his specialty include general otolaryngology, allergy, facial plastic surgery, and skin cancer and reconstructive surgery.

Away from work, Dr. Reese’s interests include photography and outdoor activities including golf, hiking, bicycling, windsurfing and scuba diving. He is also on the board of Canvasback Missions, a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian organization dedicated to providing medical care to the people of the islands of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. Dr. Reese and his wife have been on six medical mission trips with Canvasback Missions and are planning on future trips as well.

Dr. Reese has been married to his high school sweetheart for 41 years. They have two sons, of whom he says, “have provided us with two wonderful daughters-in-law and four beautiful grandchildren whom we love and adore.”