Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth | Dartmouth Health
Rhinology and Skull Base Surgery
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth | Dartmouth Health
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth | Dartmouth Health
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth | Dartmouth Health
Dr. Ryan Little is a board-certified, fellowship trained rhinologist and sinus/nasal specialist with Dartmouth Health in the Upper Valley region of New Hampshire and Vermont. Dr. Little holds a faculty appointment in otolaryngology as an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. As the only fellowship trained academic rhinologist/sinus surgeon in New Hampshire, Dr. Little's practice is devoted solely to patients with problems of the sinuses, nose and skull base. We utilize the latest technologies and routinely collaborate with other subspecialists from Dartmouth Health to deliver the best and safest care possible.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Doctor of Medicine
Medical College of Wisconsin
Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery Residency
Medical University of South Carolina
Fellowship in Rhinology, Endoscopic Sinus & Skull Base Surgery
Board Certification
Diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, 2021
Dr. Little is an active member in the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery and the American Rhinologic Society. His research interests include success rates of endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis, control of symptoms and disease burden in chronic rhinosinusitis, evaluating risks of systemic corticosteroids, pathophysiology of olfactory loss in chronic rhinosinusitis, and the surgical management of anterior skull base pathology and cerebrospinal fluid leaks. He was the recipient of the North Carolina Board of Governors Medical Scholarship, and is an active member of the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society. He has written several articles for peer-reviewed medical journals and textbooks, presented research studies at national conferences, and served on multiple committees for patient advocacy, patient safety and quality improvement, medical education and physician wellness.
Dr. Little is involved in research at all levels of medical and surgical rhinologic care. The Sinus Research Center at Dartmouth Health maintains active collaborations with Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College basic science laboratories. Our clinical team also offers participation in the latest clinical trials, so patients can gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available.
Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery
The goal of functional endoscopic sinus surgery is to restore the natural physiologic drainage to the sinuses and allow for topical medications to treat the sinuses.
Septoplasty
Endoscopic septoplasty can relieve symptoms of nasal obstruction caused by a severe septal deviation.
Nasal Valve Repair & Functional Rhinoplasty
Nasal valve repair & functional rhinoplasty are surgical approaches to optimize airflow through the nose and alleviate nasal obstruction.
Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery
We use this minimally invasive surgery to remove pituitary tumors or other growths from the bottom (base) of the skull. Patients who have endoscopic skull base surgery recover more quickly than those who have traditional surgery through an open incision. They also have a lower risk of complications and a similar success rate. This multidisciplinary surgery involves a rhinologist (sinus surgeon), who works through one nostril to open the sinuses, and a neurosurgeon, who works through the other nostril to remove the portion of the tumor involving the skull base. This approach offers the advantage of having 2 surgeons and 4 hands performing the surgery.
Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leak Repair & Encephaloceles
Spinal fluid leaks into the nose may occur spontaneously or as a result of craniofacial trauma. They can typically be repaired endoscopically through the nose in order to prevent the development of meningitis.
Endoscopic Orbital Decompression
Endoscopic orbital decompression is a surgical treatment for thyroid eye disease, also known as Graves' ophthalmopathy, secondary to hyperthyroidism.
Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR)
Endoscopic DCR is a treatment for watery eyes (epiphora) caused by lacrimal system obstruction that does not require any external incisions.
In-Office Treatments
- Chemical Cautery or Electrosurgery for Recurrent/Severe Nosebleeds
- Cryotherapy Ablation for Treatment of Chronic Nasal Drainage and Vasomotor Rhinitis
- Polypectomy for Nasal Polyps
- Inferior Turbinate Reduction for Treatment of Nasal Obstruction
- Absorbable Nasal Implants: This minimally invasive in-office treatment supports the upper and lower cartilage inside your nose's lateral (side) wall. We may offer this treatment to prevent the dynamic collapse of the nostril.
Culture Directed Antibiotic Therapy
Culture directed therapy may be used to treat sinusitis to avoid issues with antibiotic resistance and to guide an individual patient's treatment.
Vasomotor Rhinitis Surgery
For patients with chronic non-allergic rhinitis (runny nose) and vasomotor rhinitis that respond to topical medications, this outpatient, surgical treatment may be an option.
Surgical Treatment for Refractory Nosebleeds
Endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation is an effective treatment modality for certain cases of intractable posterior nosebleeds unrelated to an underlying systemic disease or bleeding disorder.
Monoclonal Antibody for Polyps
This novel FDA approved, non-steroidal medical therapy may be an option for patients with nasal polyps in order to reduce nasal polyps and avoid the need for surgery.
Stereotactic computer-assisted (navigational) surgery
Computer assisted surgical navigation is a relatively new tool used in select cases. These devices provide information on the anatomic location of instruments within the sinuses during surgery and can also be used to perform 3D reconstructions that may be helpful to your surgeon. It is typically indicated for revision cases, nasal polyposis, or skull base tumors where normal surgical landmarks have been removed or altered. As with all equipment, image-guided systems can be wrong from time to time and surgeons cannot rely solely on the technology. They must correlate the image-guided information with their training, experience, and knowledge of the anatomy in order to avoid complications due to human or technical errors.
The Dartmouth Sinus Research Center is a multi-disciplinary research program supported by Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth.
Active Clinical Trials
Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
1 Medical Center Drive, Lebanon, New Hampshire 03766, United States
Phone: (603) 650-8123 Fax: (603) 676-4086
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Dr. Little is a fellowship-trained nasal, sinus, and skull base surgeon in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
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