Your Impact: New Scopes for ENTs More Comfortable for Kids and Adults
Published Monday, July 21, 2025
Dr. Kristina Pulkki pictured with the scope and monitor, which is part of the ENT Scope Bundle
It's hard to overstate just how important nasolaryngoscopes are for Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) doctors. These thin, flexible cameras help diagnose everything from cancer to BBQ bristles stuck in the throat. And, they do it quickly and easily.
“The scopes are integral pieces of equipment that every ENT uses for both inpatients and outpatients. There's nothing really that can properly replace them,” said Dr. Kristina Pulkki, one of the ENTs at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. “We're very excited to have this upgraded equipment for patients.”
There are more primitive techniques such as direct laryngoscopy (no video) or even laryngeal mirrors to try to look down the throat. In theory, MRI and CT scans can be used as well, but that takes more time and wouldn't give the ENT all the information needed such as functional assessment to see how well everything is working or a visual exam of the lining. Besides, if there is something blocking the airway, speed and information is vitally important.
Only the nasolaryngoscope can access all the areas of the nose and throat to provide crystal-clear visualization for definitive answers quickly.
Thanks to your donations to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation, your participation in Foundation events, and your Thunder Bay 50/50 ticket purchases, the ENT doctors now have a bundle of new scopes for use throughout the Hospital.
Technology tends to make medical equipment smaller and better. When it comes to this kind of imaging equipment, the thinner the better for patient comfort. ENT doctors feed the flexible scope through the nose and down the back of the throat. That way, they can see the whole upper airway through the nasal passage. Although it may sound extremely uncomfortable, it's not usually painful.
“The scope itself is quite fine – almost like a flexible spaghetti noodle that we're wiggling through the nose,” Dr. Pulkki said. “It feels a bit weird, but it's very well tolerated.”
However, children do have difficulties with the thicker adult scopes. That's why this ENT scope bundle includes a special, thinner scope for children.
“It's the same type of scope, but it's finer and therefore a little more delicate. There is still some negotiation to get kids to sit still, so the more comfortable we can make it for them, the better.”
All of the new scopes also include video chips which networks with the central imaging computer.
“That means the patient can watch the video on the screen in real time and see for themselves what I'm seeing,” Dr. Pulkki said. “Learners can also watch. We're a teaching hospital, so it's very helpful from that perspective as well – training the next generation of ENTs and other healthcare professionals.”
Images and videos can also be shared with other healthcare providers including the patient's primary care provider or a specialist as needed.
“We're very thankful for these scopes,” Dr. Pulkki said. “It makes diagnosis so much faster and more comfortable for patients of all ages.”
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Article By: Graham Strong