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Coupler microvascular anastomoses: how good?

This paper is written by a group of reconstructive surgeons and a school of computing. The study used computational fluid dynamics to model blood flow through idealised sutured and coupled vessels, to investigate if differing anastomotic techniques affect intravascular blood...

Early DCR may be better than delayed in acute dacrocystitis?

Traditionally, acute dacrocystitis has been treated conservatively with antibiotics, analgesia and warm compresses, with surgery reserved for later when the infection has subsided. This meta-analysis looks at early vs. late endonasal dacrocystorhinostomy (DCR) in the treatment of acute dacrocystitis, looking...

Present and future in myringoplasty

Tympanic membrane perforations are a common finding in ENT practice. Whilst watchful waiting or formal tympanoplasty are standard options – wouldn’t it be amazing if there was a low cost, safe, in-clinic option to immediately help patients (I hear you...

Landmark Papers in Otolaryngology

“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge” says Peter Rea in his foreword to this book. He is quoting Albert Einstein, of course, and also introducing this book with a delightfully...

Cochlear implant electrode insertion technique

Atraumatic cochlear implant insertion techniques (so-called ‘soft surgery’) are now standard practice in most centres for all cases (no longer just for attempted hearing preservation cases). This has led to several studies examining cochlear trauma and electrode insertion force. In...

Postoperative radiation in early stage oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC)

There is significant variation in treatment strategies for OPSCC between units. This is largely due to unanswered questions which continue to exist beyond the published literature. We know that human papilloma virus status has a significant influence on prognosis but...

Variability in the management of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC)

This retrospective study analyses for the first time the management planning of thyroid surgeons across the specialties. A questionnaire was sent to members of ENT-UK, the British Association of Endocrine and Thyroid Surgeons, Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and...

Superstructure-preserving stapes surgery in otosclerosis

Stapedectomy is a well-established procedure for otosclerosis but it has a small risk of a non-hearing ear, which can be devastating for patients. The development of a procedure which is safer and with a less steep learning curve for junior...

A novel scale for the assessment of tracheoesophageal voice quality – the SToPS

There is currently no assessment tool in widespread use that permits a valid and reliable perceptual assessment of voice quality following laryngectomy. Such a scale is needed to investigate the functional outcomes of surgical voice restoration and rehabilitation regimes. Existing...

Should we be doing earlier MRIs in sudden sensorineural hearing loss?

There is recognised variation between ENT departments in exact imaging protocols for the workup of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL) but a routine MRI to exclude retrocochlear pathology is standard, usually following immediate treatment with oral +/- intratympanic steroids....