Practice and Advocacy
Medical Use of Cocaine
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. considers cocaine to be a valuable anesthetic and vasoconstricting agent when used as part of the treatment of a patient by a physician. No other single drug combines the anesthetic and vasoconstricting properties of cocaine. Administrative and record-keeping restrictions on the use of cocaine should not, by themselves, dictate the substitution of other medication(s), but should be kept to the minimum consistent with ethical patient care and the requirements of the law.
Adopted 12/4/88
Submitted for Review 4/13/95
Submitted for Review 3/1/98
Reaffirmed 3/1/98
Guidelines are not a substitute for the experience and judgment of a physician and are developed to enhance the physicians' ability to practice evidence-based medicine.
Important Notice
The American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. and Foundation (AAO-HNS/F) Policy Statements are guidelines only. In no sense do they represent a standard of care. The applicability of an indicator for a procedure, and/or of the process or outcome criteria, must be determined by the responsible physician in light of all the circumstances presented by the individual patient. Adherence to these guidelines will not ensure successful treatment in every situation. The AAO-HNS emphasizes that these policies should not be deemed inclusive of all proper treatment decisions or methods of care, nor exclusive of other treatment decisions or methods of care reasonably directed to obtaining the same results.
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Calendar more...
- 80th Midwinter Conference Research Study Club of Los Angeles (02/10/12)
- AAO-HNSF Coding & Reimbursement Workshop (02/17/12)
- 18th Annual Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Apnea and Snoring (02/17/12)
- UC Irvine CME Courses: Ultrasound Course, Injectable Fillers & Neurotoxins Course, and Advanced Rhinology Course (02/23/12)
- Penn International Rhinology and Skull Base Course (03/08/12)
Business of Medicine Workshops
Workshops held in cities nationwide will help otolaryngologists, their staff, and other healthcare professionals code correctly, learn risk reduction strategies, and organize business systems.
