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Shifting paradigms – how a visionary can change a specialty

The Tarabichi-Stammberger Ear and Sinus Institute came about because of a close working relationship and friendship between two senior figures in the specialty. Professor Muaaz Tarabichi tells us the story. My first meeting with Heinz Stammberger was in 1988 in...

Operating room fires in head and neck surgery: risk factors, prevention and management

Could your next head and neck surgery spark a fire? BACO 2026 paediatric keynote speaker, Soham Roy, explains how understanding risk factors and prevention is key to patient and OR team safety. Operating room fires are an uncommon but potentially...

Ergonomics in otorhinolaryngology

Raewyn Campbell is a rhinologist and skull base surgeon in Sydney, Australia. Prior to training in medicine, she was trained as a physiotherapist, and she brings both disciplines into her research on ergonomics in surgery. Surgeons need to look after...

Alternobaric vertigo: asymmetrical vestibular function due to asymmetrical middle ear pressures (Iron Man’s archenemy)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe could certainly be deemed an ‘extreme environment’ and yet very rarely do we see the Avenger’s popping to the clinic for a check-up. Hee-Young Kim has wondered how they cope with extreme pressure changes and discusses...

Addressing ear and hearing care through task sharing: the Malawian experience

How can ear and hearing care be addressed in a setting with limited resources? Wakisa Mulwafu, Chris Prescott and Johan Fagan present an innovative model for training ear surgery technicians to perform endoscopic myringoplasty under local anaesthesia on a large...

Endoscopic middle ear surgery for cholesteatoma treatment

A critical question when any new technique is proposed is ‘does it work?’ In this article Daniele Marchioni and Davide Soloperto discuss the success rates of endoscopic ear surgery for cholesteatoma. Introduction Surgical management of cholesteatoma is still a controversial...

The connection between hearing loss and cognitive decline: current perspectives

Editorial clarification This article reviews research exploring associations between hearing impairment, cognitive decline and dementia. While evidence shows a dose-dependent relationship, it is important to note that association does not prove causation, and current research does not definitively show if...

BACO: The Master’s role

Ian Mackay is this year’s BACO Master, with Valerie Lund taking over for the next meeting. As the senior overseer of the conference, the role of Master is a crucial one, and Ian tells us how he has gone about...