BATON ROUGE, LA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 04/27/07 -- Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center (OLOL) will broadcast an endoscopic partial laryngectomy using transoral laser microsurgery to remove cancerous tumors in the voice box and throat. This technique is minimally invasive with no incision or tracheotomy. Patients spend less time in the hospital and have a quicker return to normal activity. OLOL in partnership with LSU is the only medical center in the region performing this advanced procedure. This live surgical demonstration and panel discussion will broadcast on www.OR-Live.com on Thursday, May 10, 6:00 PM CDT.

Transoral laser microsurgery involves using an endoscope to view the larynx and voice box through the mouth. Looking through a microscope, the surgeon directs the laser toward the tumor and uses the laser to divide the tumor into manageable sections that can be removed through the endoscope.

Patients who have these types of tumors have problems with voice, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing and dysphagia or pain in the throat and pain with swallowing.

Transoral laser microsurgery has many advantages over conventional surgery, including: minimally invasive, preservation of normal tissue, a shorter hospital stay, faster return to normal activities, swallowing and speech are less impaired and a tracheotomy is not needed. The procedure is typically used for small and medium tumors in the throat, but sometimes can be used for large tumors.

Andrew McWhorter, MD, Otolaryngologist, will demonstrate this procedure, lead a live panel discussion and interact with viewers by answering their questions during the live broadcast. Dr. McWhorter uses leading edge technology and has trained internationally to develop the skill-set required to perform this advanced procedure. He is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He completed his surgical internship and residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Dr. McWhorter completed his fellowship training at The Vanderbilt Voice Center in Nashville, TN under Robert Ossoff, MD, DDS. He assumed a faculty position at LSU in New Orleans where he remains as assistant professor and the Director of the OLOL Voice Center, a collaborative effort of Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, the LSU Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery and the LSU Department of Communication Disorders.

Visit http://www.or-live.com/ololrmc/1708 now to learn more and view a program preview. VNR http://www.or-live.com/rams/ola-1708-mkw-q.ram

Video-Link Available: http://www.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=476879

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