Pubdate: Sun, 10 Mar 2002
Source: Australian, The (Australia)
Copyright: 2002 News Limited
Contact:  http://www.theaustralian.com.au/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/35
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)

COCAINE USED IN NASAL OPS

A STUDY has revealed a high number of ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeons 
commonly use cocaine for their work when performing nasal surgery. A survey 
of 150 ENT surgeons has indicated cocaine is routinely used for all types 
of nasal surgery, including rhinoplasty. ENT surgeon Dr Martyn Mendelsohn 
said that although highly effective, some surgeons avoided it altogether 
because of medico-legal complications. "Many people are probably not aware 
that cocaine is actually a very common and effective agent in the use of 
nasal surgery," he said. "And there are remarkably few reported adverse 
effects." Meanwhile, a new surgical technique is being engineered to combat 
nasal valve collapse, a common condition which interferes with sleep 
quality. Dr Mendelsohn will be discussing both issues at the Australian 
Society of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Scientific Meeting that 
starts in Perth today.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager