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Endoscopic stapes surgery - pearls and pitfalls

Endoscopic ear surgery has gained popularity in recent years with wide panoramic visualisation of the operative field one of its key strengths. This article summarises the approach, set-up and outcomes of patients undergoing endoscopic stapes surgery. A key step during...

Pharyngoplasty for palatal snoring

This prospective Belgian study looked at the benefits of barbed reposition pharyngoplasty in the management of patients with isolated unilevel palatal snoring. This technique involves using a barbed suture and repositioning the palatopharyngeal muscle in a more lateral and anterior...

Introduction to Sound: Acoustics for the Hearing and Speech Sciences

The fifth edition of Charles E Speaks’ Introduction to Sound Acoustics for the Hearing and Speech Sciences is a comprehensive, teaching-first textbook spanning 11 chapters. It begins with the nature of soundwaves presented in concise, well-structured sections on transmitting mediums,...

Parathyroid pearls

This article serves to deliver some pearls of wisdom in parathyroid surgery for the ‘low volume parathyroid surgeon’. They have been divided into those relating to the preoperative diagnosis, imaging and localisation techniques and surgical difficulties. Recognised sources of error...

Botulinum toxin injection for bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis

All traditional surgical treatments for bilateral recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis are essentially a balance between maximising airway patency and ensuring adequate phonation / airway protection. This paper highlights the potential role of botulinum toxin (Botox) injection into the cricothyroid...

Treating middle ear conditions in developing countries

This month’s journal issue discussed global health in otolaryngology with this paper focusing on the management of chronic middle ear disease in the developing world. Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is more common in developing countries. The reason for this...

Oral versus oral and intratympanic corticosteroid treatment for sudden sensorineural hearing loss

The 2012 American Academy of Otolaryngology- Head and Neck Surgery Foundation (AAO-HNSF) clinical practice guidelines on sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) have two statements that address steroid use. Statement eight indicates an option to offer corticosteroid as initial treatment for...

Is dissection of level IV necessary in patients with negative neck oral cancer?

Supraomohyoid neck dissection (SOHND) refers to the removal of lymph nodes contained in levels I-III and is currently referred to as a selective neck dissection levels I-III. This type of neck dissection has been frequently used in the management of...

Corticosteroid prescribing in ENT - are we at risk of being sued?

Of medications leading to malpractice claims, corticosteroids comprise the third most common. They are used widely and have a significant side-effect profile: hypertension, lipodystrophy, diabetes, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, peptic ulceration and psychiatric reactions to name but a...

Cochlear implants in the over 80s

The UK has an ageing population. Seven percent of the over 80s population have bilateral severe to profound hearing loss which can lead to associated negative outcomes (social isolation, depression and reduced quality of life). Cochlear implantation (CI) can successfully...