HearAdvisor’s scientific and consumer-friendly approach to evaluating hearing aids

An ageing population means more hearing aid users. The authors of this article describe their techniques for independently assessing prescription and over-the-counter hearing aids in an acoustic laboratory. As the role of consumers in the hearing aid purchasing decision continues...

Retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (RCPD) - inability to burp: treatment with Botox injection

As unusual as it may sound, some people have great difficulty burping. We hear of one approach to tackling this problem. Retrograde cricopharyngeal dysfunction (RCPD) is a condition presenting with inability to burp, resulting in gaseous distension of the digestive...

Non-absorbable synthetic material for middle fossa repair using a combined transmastoid/middle fossa approach

Repair of CSF leaks can be a challenging technical undertaking. In this article, the authors describe their use of a synthetic material to help with the successful repair of these leaks from the middle cranial fossa. Erosion of the middle...

Transnasal endoscopic orbital decompression

Surgery for the eye complications of Grave’s disease is an area that, over the years, ENT has become more and more involved in due to our ability to access the orbit endoscopically. In this article, the authors describe their technique...

Mindfulness meditation: how personal experience of managing severe pain contributes to understanding tinnitus management

In this interesting article the author describes the potential benefit of mindfulness in the management of tinnitus, using a case report to illustrate this.This may well be an additional direction we can suggest for our patients. Mindfulness is a word...

Random-pattern skin flaps: part 4 - transposition flaps

In the final part of our series on local skin flaps (see Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3) in ENT, the authors describe the usefulness of the transposition-type flap and highlight some examples. Rotational advancement flap Useful for defects...

Chester-gel technique

Umesh Nagalotimath and Robert Temple describe a simple and effective technique for enhancing vision during endosheath use for flexible nasendoscopy. Endosheaths are used to complement the cleaning of flexible scopes. The advantages are time saving for clinicians as this reduces...

The ‘umbrella furling’ deflation technique for cuffed tracheostomy tube - a useful tip for an easier tracheostomy insertion

In this article, the authors describe a quick and effective technique to assist with the maximal deflation of a tracheostomy tube cuff prior to insertion, thus making the process easier with less chance of damage to the cuff and a...

Random-pattern skin flaps: part 3 - Z-plasty flaps

In this third (see Part 1 here, Part 2 here and Part 4 here) of four articles outlining, in some detail, the practical steps for some important local skin flaps, Christopher Thompson and Miles Bannister describe the Z-plasty; a very...

Aspirin desensitisation for aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD)

In this article, the authors describe the importance of identifying aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis refractory to standard medical treatment. This can then open the door to considering aspirin desensitisation treatment which, in their hands, has proven...

Random-pattern skin flaps: part 2 - rhomboid and bilobed flaps

In the second of our series on local skin flaps (see Part 1 here, Part 3 here and Part 4 here), the authors describe more techniques and examples of various skin flaps that trainees should find very interesting. Rhomboid flap...

Sialendoscopy

Recent advances in endoscopic technology allow the ENT surgeon to access the salivary gland ductal system for both diagnostic and therapeutic reasons. In this article the authors share their experiences with using this technology, both as a standalone procedure and...