Otolaryngology and allergy in Omotesando, Minato-ku
Yabe Otolaryngology, Omotesando, Medical Corporation Nanseikai

TOPICS

• ◆Notice of substitution/closure
  1. 10/31 (Thursday): Substitute clinic in the morning, closed in the afternoon
  2. 11/1 (Friday) Closed in the morning, substitute visit in the afternoon
  3. 11/5 (Tuesday) Closed in the morning, substitute clinic in the afternoon,
  
  We will resume regular medical treatment from November 6th (Wednesday).
  
  We appreciate your understanding.

• ◆With the support of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Bureau of Social Welfare, we have introduced a newborn hearing testing device, making it possible to perform the test.
  Part of the cost of the test (up to 3,000 yen) is covered by public funds. To receive the subsidy, you will need a "Newborn Hearing Test Ticket." This ticket must be used by the time the baby is about one month old. (Valid until the baby reaches 50 days old) For details, please see About Baby's Hearing, Tokyo Metropolitan Government Bureau of Social Welfare(tokyo.lg.jp)
  If you are worried about your baby's hearing even after one month of age, you can have the test performed as part of your regular health insurance treatment, so please consult us.

• ◆We perform day surgery at our hospital, which is a low-burden procedure.
  ・Ears: Tympanotomy, tympanotube placement, tympanoplasty, tympanoplasty, surfer's ear
  ・Nose: Laser nasal mucosa cauterization, endoscopic sinus surgery, nasal polypectomy
  ・Throat: Tonsillar crypt coagulation, snoring/sleep apnea surgery
  All of these procedures can be performed in a short time and without pain.
  Our experienced surgeons will perform the procedure, so please feel free to consult with us.
• ◆We perform retympanoplasty under local anesthesia for chronic otitis media and tympanic membrane perforation.
• ◆We perform Dupixent, an injection treatment with minimal impact for chronic sinusitis, nasal polyps, and postoperative symptoms.
• ◆We provide preventive vaccinations for shingles and appointment-based Shingrix injections (first and second doses).
• ◆For the treatment of snoring and apnea, we provide lifestyle advice based on detailed examination evaluations and results (weight loss, drinking less, reducing sleeping pills, etc.), drug therapy, surgical treatments such as laser and uvula surgery, Nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) therapy, and treatments using mouthpieces.
• ◆About inferior turbinate mucosa laser ablation.
  Inferior turbinate mucosa laser ablation is performed for allergic rhinitis and hay fever, but we often hear from patients that it is painful, difficult to perform on one side at a time every month for six months, and does not seem to be effective after surgery. We have been doing this for nearly 10 years in our department, and since we use proper local anesthesia, it is not painful, and even children as young as 5-6 years old can do it if they are obedient. It is covered by health insurance, so the cost is about 10,000 yen with a 30% copayment, and it takes about 30 minutes to perform both sides, including explanation of the surgery and pre-anesthesia procedures, and the effects usually last for nearly 3 years. We offer this service on weekdays in the morning and afternoon, and in the mornings of the second and fourth Saturdays, so please feel free to contact us. In addition to drug therapy such as early treatment before pollen dispersion, we aim to provide comprehensive treatment by appropriately combining sublingual immunotherapy and Xolair^® injections for seasonal allergic rhinitis depending on the cause of the allergy.
• ◆The method of online consultation has changed.
  The previous "Online Consultation Pocket Doctor" will be changed to "EPARK Drug Window". To make a reservation, click on the banner "Online Consultation" or "Click here for online consultation" as before, and scan the QR code to enter.
• ◆Influenza vaccinations are available.
  Reservations are required, so please call or inquire at the counter.
• ◆We offer saliva PCR tests and antibody tests for the new coronavirus.
  Our hospital has been designated as a medical institution for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 infection, and we can perform COVID-19 PCR tests at public expense. Please contact us if you need a negative certificate or if you are worried about being infected even though you do not have strong symptoms.
• ◆Working in the sun, reading in the rain.

  April 24, 2020

  
  We can't go out as we would like, and our days are filled with gloom. But there is no other way, now is the time to read in the rain. I think that the appropriate response now is to go with the flow, do your best with what you can do in the time you are given, and do things that you could not normally do or have left undone. It is also said that we will be living in the post-corona era, but if we think of the current situation as a period to carefully consider the next measures and prepare new ideas with an eye toward the end of the infection, we can be positive. The relationship between pathogens and hosts, not just in viral infections, is relative, and even if the pathogen is highly infectious, if the host's immunity and resistance are high, the symptoms will be mild to asymptomatic. Conversely, even if the pathogen is not very infectious, if the host's immunity and resistance are low, the disease will become severe. It is easy to become defensive to avoid infection, but in the case of the former asymptomatic infection, there is a possibility that you may unknowingly become a spreader of the disease. It is important not to just think about not wanting to get infected yourself, but also to be mindful of not infecting others, especially the elderly and those undergoing treatment for chronic diseases.
• ◆Although the state of emergency has been lifted, our hospital is conducting regular medical treatment while taking into consideration infection prevention.
  We are mindful of regular ventilation of the waiting room and examination room, avoiding the concentration of appointments, shortening waiting times and providing long-term prescriptions. We have installed a safety shield at the reception desk to prevent droplet infection, and our staff wear masks, wash their hands, and thoroughly disinfect with alcohol, so you can visit us with peace of mind.
• ◆For Meniere's disease, which causes repeated dizziness,hearing loss, and tinnitus, we offer middle ear compression therapy in addition to drug therapy, aerobic exercise, and lifestyle guidance. Traditionally, our department has used a combination of tympanostomy tubes and the Meniet middle ear compression treatment device to treat patients, but we have introduced a new non-invasive middle ear compression device EFET01^® that does not require the placement of tympanostomy tubes, which has been covered by insurance since September 2019. If you are interested, please contact us.
• ◆We have introduced an Eustachian tube function testing device. This allows us to accurately diagnose Eustachian tube stenosis and Eustachian tube dysfunction, which can cause symptoms such as a feeling of blockage in the ears or hearing your own voice loudly, and allows for appropriate treatment.
• ◆To combat Japanese cedar pollen allergy,laser nasal mucosa cauterization, Sidacur^® sublingual desensitization therapy during the non-pollen season (starting June to December), and early treatment with early medication from mid-January are effective in reducing symptoms. The age range for Sidacur^® has been lowered to 5 years and older, and it is now possible to administer it long-term. In addition to same-day laser nasal mucosa cauterization treatment and early treatment, our clinic also offers Sidatren^®/Sidacur^® Japanese cedar sublingual desensitization therapy, Mitecur^® sublingual desensitization therapy, which has been covered by health insurance since the fall of 2015, and subcutaneous injections of the pollen allergy treatment IgE antibody Xolair^®, which has been covered by insurance since the end of last year.
• ◆At the 2017 International Alzheimer's Conference, it was announced that approximately 35% of dementia cases are caused by nine preventable factors, with hearing loss being the biggest risk factor. It is believed that age-related progressive sensorineural hearing loss can weaken communication with those around you, leading to depression, isolation, and decreased motivation, and can even trigger dementia. Professor Iku Ogawa, former professor of otolaryngology at Keio University School of Medicine, strongly recommends consulting an otolaryngologist with hearing aid consultation qualifications as a measure to combat progressive hearing loss in the elderly. It can be dangerous to buy cheap loudspeakers online or hearing aids at the eyeglasses counter of a department store. Our hospital is designated as a hearing aid fitting certification facility, so certified hearing aid technicians under the guidance of a qualified otolaryngologist provide proper diagnosis and appropriate wearing management after a free trial period. Please feel free to consult us.

• ◆We are certified as a hearing aid fitting testing facility by the Japan Society of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Head and Neck Surgery.
  If you are suffering from symptoms such as hearing loss or having to ask things repeatedly, please feel free to contact us. Many people regret buying hearing aids based on newspaper ads or from uncertified eyeglass stores. At our clinic, our specialized hearing aid fitting doctors and hearing aid fitting technicians will properly assess, fit, and provide aftercare, so you can consult with us with peace of mind.

• ◆We are designated as a patient consultation cooperation specialist by the Japan Allergy Association, a public interest incorporated foundation.
  If you are suffering from allergies such as hay fever or nasal allergies, please feel free to contact us.