ENT consult communication
How to Consult ENT
What to include when calling ENT about airway symptoms, deep neck infection, epistaxis, PTA/RPA, facial trauma, hearing loss, mastoiditis, or trach problems.
Lead With the Decision
What airway, bleeding, infection, anatomy, procedure, or disposition question do you need ENT to answer?
Not sure whether the consult is appropriate? Start with the Should I Consult ENT? triage page, then return here before calling.
Before the call
Have These Details Ready
- Primary concern: airway, deep neck infection, epistaxis, PTA/RPA, facial fracture, sudden hearing loss, mastoiditis, foreign body, postoperative issue, or trach problem.
- Airway status: voice change, stridor, drooling, floor-of-mouth elevation, neck swelling, oxygen requirement, secretion handling, and escalation already underway.
- Bleeding details: side, duration, anticoagulation, hemodynamics, packing/cautery attempts, posterior concern, and labs if relevant.
- Imaging/laryngoscopy/procedure findings when available, abscess size/location, dental source, cranial nerve findings, and antibiotic timeline.
- Specific ask: bedside scope, drainage, packing, OR, airway plan, admission service, transfer, or follow-up timing.
Exam focus
Document the Specialty-Relevant Exam
- Airway appearance, voice, trismus, uvular deviation, floor of mouth, neck swelling, cranial nerves, otoscopic findings, and oral cavity/oropharynx findings.
- For epistaxis: side, anterior vs posterior concern, packing status, hemodynamics, anticoagulants, and hemoglobin trend.
- For trach: tube type/size, maturity, oxygenation, suctioning, bleeding, displacement, and backup airway plan.
Phone or secure-chat script
A Cleaner ENT Consult Message
I am calling about a [age]-year-old with [ENT problem]. Airway/bleeding/infection status is [key acuity]. Exam shows [focused findings], and imaging/procedures show [results]. We have done [packing/antibiotics/airway steps/procedure attempts]. My question is [scope/drainage/packing/OR/airway plan/admission/transfer/follow-up].
Common pitfalls
Avoid Low-Signal Consults
- Calling an airway concern without clearly stating current airway stability.
- Calling epistaxis without saying what first-line control steps have been attempted if the patient is stable.
- Calling neck infection without CT findings, airway symptoms, dental source, antibiotics, and acuity.
Reference links
Useful Background
Educational tools only. SIC provides clinician-facing educational consult-triage references. SIC does not diagnose, treat, prevent, cure, or mitigate disease and is not a substitute for clinical judgment, local guidelines, institutional referral pathways, or recommendations from the relevant specialty department. See disclaimer and how SIC works.