Dr Syed Ahmed Shahzaeem Hussain presenting 'Nonorganic hearing loss: a clinician's guide'.
Dr Syed Ahmed Shahzaeem Hussain, Third Year Postgraduate Trainee, ENT Department, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore, Pakistan and Syeda Anum Fatima Naqvi, Medical Student, Nishtar Medical University, Multan.
An atmosphere of electricity took over Pearl Continental at the start of this mega event by the Pakistan Society of Otorhinolaryngologists (PSORL). The three-day conference was jam-packed with lectures, panel discussions, free papers and educational sessions, spanning the whole spectrum of otorhinolaryngology. The conference was structured to allow different topics to be discussed during each scientific session.
Highlights included Dr Vijayendra’s lectures, ‘Ossiculoplasty! How I do it’ and ‘Surgical management of unrecovered Bell’s palsy’. They gave a glimpse into the mind of a surgical savant, his passionate delivery perfectly supplementing his demonstrations. Dr Shaz Ahmed’s motivational talk, ‘Aspiring to Excellence in ENT,’ showed the level of dedication it requires to become the very best.
Dr Ravi Deo’s insights into tackling head and neck disease were a must-see, with lectures on parotidectomy, neck dissection and thyroid surgery, to name a few. It was awe-inspiring to see his surgical aptitude make the most complex procedures seem simple.
Dr Soubia Akhtar won first prize in the free papers session with her presentation, ‘Navigating post-surgical recovery in head and neck cancer: impact of early mobilisation on short hospital stay in flap and non-flap patients in the Tertiary Care Center of Pakistan.’
Unfortunately, whilst there has been a boom in otolaryngology in Pakistan, with many Paksitani ENT specialists becoming distinguished amongst their international peers, audiology in the country has lagged behind. As such, it was heartening to see a sizable chunk of the conference dedicated to audiology and speech.
The conference was rounded off by the final of the ENT Champions League: Battle of Brains, in which residents from across Pakistan put their ENT acumen to the test. After a tightly contested final, Bahawal Victoria Hospital, Bahawalpur, came out triumphant and secured a cash prize of Rs 300,000 along with the coveted ENT Champions League trophy.
The aroma of a smorgasbord of tantalising dishes merged with lively chatter, providing the perfect environment for networking and merriment across the gala dinner and multiple lunches.
Above: Dr Moghira Iqbaluddin Siddiqui presenting on complicated airway surgery.
