Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery Clinic

1. History

The Otorhinolaryngology Clinic of the Debrecen Medical School was established in 1961, the second in the country after the department of otorhinolaryngology in Budapest. It has developed from a small clinic with 12 beds into a well-equipped institution based on European standards, and it has provided outpatient and inpatient care of the region for 90 years.

2. Main areas of care and medical specialties

Care for Hungarian and international patients is provided by outpatient units including general otorhinolaryngology, head and neck surgery for adults and children, as well as specialist practices in audiology, phoniatry, rhinology, otoneurology and plastic surgery. The most recent minimally-invasive surgeries with short rehabilitation time have introduced the possibility for short-term care for our patients.

3. Types of medical care and services

From among the regional and national activities of the department, endoscopic minimally invasive otorhinolaryngology surgeries and laser, radiofrequency and argon plasma methods are of key significance, and the head-neck tumor and oncological function-preservative surgeries are also recognized. Apart from the already used operative treatments, in the past few years new auditory rehabilitation surgeries have been introduced (bilateral cochlear and middle ear implantation, bone anchored hearing aids).

4. Data related to patient care

The department treats 2,000 patients annually and has 40 beds for inpatient care. Outpatient units (general otorhinolaryngology, audiology, phoniatry, otoneurology, rhinology, speech therapy and facial diagnostics) provide care for 50,000 patients per year. Besides general nose, throat, larynx and ear surgeries, the department also performs endoscopic surgery, laryngeal microsurgery, auditory rehabilitation ear microsurgery, laser surgery. The number of more complex head-neck surgeries and plastic surgeries is increasing.

The annual number of operations has reached 2,800, out of which 60% is performed in endotracheal anesthesia.

5. Technology and development projects

Treatment is provided in state of the art, well-equipped outpatient units and in high convenience wards (equipped with bathroom, fridge, television, air-conditioner) with a low number of beds. Patient care is also assisted by a block of high quality operating rooms and equipment.

In 2012 the outpatient and inpatient units, and the operating room were fully refurbished. As a result, 6 air-conditioned outpatient units, specialist practices and the audiology center were renovated. In the inpatient unit sanitary and other facilities were added to each ward (shower, toilet, fridge, television), along with air-conditioning in some of them. WiFi has also been installed in the building.