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1684 results found

Resolving dysphagia – can we distinguish mild dysphagia from no dysphagia?

Many patients with dysphagia following neurological events can and do experience a resolution of their swallowing difficulties, sometimes without any intervention. However, it is challenging for clinicians to distinguish mild dysphagia from no dysphagia. The question of where to draw...

Surgeon, Heal Thyself

Once a taboo topic, stress and psychological illness in doctors is now much more widely discussed. This is probably partly due to changing societal attitudes (with more acceptance of the importance of acknowledging mental illness) and changes amongst medics themselves,...

Wireless bone conduction headphones – Aftershokz Wireless Trekz Titanium

Trekz Titanium wireless headphones claim to be the safest alternative to traditional sport headphones, delivering music through the cheekbones and leaving the ears free to hear all surrounding sounds. Designed with athletes in mind, Gareth Smith donned his running gear...

Post-Covid dizziness disability

An estimated 750 million people worldwide were affected by Covid-19. A significant proportion have been left with long-term symptoms for which the World Health Organization has proposed the term ‘post-Covid condition’ (PCC). Dizziness is but one of the symptoms. Dizziness...

External auditory canal carcinoma

Although uncommon, primary malignant tumours of the external auditory canal (EAC) are associated with a poor prognosis as they often present late. In this study the authors evaluate the clinical and pathological factors associated with treatment and outcome of EAC...

The EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR)

Back in May 2017, the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR 2017/745) entered into force, replacing existing directives: Active Implantable Medical Devices (AIMD) In-vitro Diagnostic Directive (IVDD) Medical Device Directive (MDD) By 26 May 2020, the new regulation will have completed...

The future of head and neck cancer surgery

Neil Sharma paints an exciting picture of the future of head and neck surgery with nanobots and robot augmented humans – science fiction or reality? Time will tell. ‘May you live in interesting times’ reads the old Chinese curse. The...

Talking through technology – keeping up with the mainstream

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) system development has often made early use of innovative technology. Touch screens have been a part of this technology for some time. In fact, touch screens were invented in 1965 but it wasn’t until the...

Portable otoscopy image capture devices – a comparative review

The use of photo documentation in ENT clinics is becoming more common as technological advances have made the hardware required more accessible. There is significant variation in the price of products. Daniel Moualed, Olivia Whiteside and Chris Aldren review the...

Is there a ‘best’ ventilation tube?

Studies on grommet materials and sizes are not exactly new but this was a well-designed randomized study in Sweden with some useful findings. The extrusion rate and complications associated with four different ventilation tubes (grommets) were assessed prospectively in 400...

Prophylactic swallowing exercises in head and neck cancer

Clinicians working in head and neck cancer will be familiar with the increased interest in prophylactic swallowing exercises to reduce the devastating impact of dysphagia experienced by patients undergoing radiation or chemo-radiation therapy. This study from Denmark is one of...

Can prediction models help identify dysphagia in ventilated patients?

Dysphagia commonly affects patients in intensive care units (ICU), particularly those on mechanical ventilation, and is associated with high risk of mortality. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to identify predictors for dysphagia in ventilated ICU patients by summarising existing...