Complications of parotidectomy can have a massive impact on patients’ quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the readability and quality of online health information on parotidectomy.

The search terms ‘parotidectomy’, ‘parotid surgery’, ‘parotidectomy patient information’ and ‘parotid surgery patient information’ were parsed through three popular search engines.

The websites were analysed using readability scores of the Flesch Reading Ease test and the Gunning Fog Index. The DISCERN instrument was used to assess quality and reliability. The average Flesch Reading Ease score was 50.2 ± 9.0, indicating that the materials were fairly difficult to read, the Gunning Fog Index score showed that the patient health information was suitable for an individual above 12th grade level, and the DISCERN score indicated that the online patient health information had fair quality. The Kruskal–Wallis test showed a significant difference in Flesch Reading Ease and DISCERN tool scores according to website category (p < 0.05).

Current online patient health information on parotidectomy is too difficult for the public to understand, and it exceeds the reading levels recommended by Health Education England and the American Medical Association.

As the incidence of human papillomavirus related oropharyngeal cancer continues to rise, it is increasingly important for public understanding to keep pace. This study aimed to identify areas of patient interest and concern regarding human papillomavirus and oropharyngeal cancer.

This study was a retrospective survey of search queries containing the keywords ‘HPV cancer’ between September 2015 and March 2021.

There was 3.5-fold more interest in human papillomavirus related oropharyngeal cancer (15 800 searches per month) compared with human papillomavirus related cervical cancer (4500 searches per month). Among searches referencing cancer appearance, 96.8 per cent pertained to the head and neck region (3050 searches per month). Among vaccination searches, 16 of 47 (34.0 per cent; 600 searches per month) referenced human papillomavirus vaccines as being a cause of cancer rather than preventing cancer.

The vast majority of online searches into human papillomavirus cancer pertain to the oropharynx. There are relatively few search queries on the topic of vaccination preventing human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal cancer, which highlights the continued importance of patient education and awareness campaigns.

There is significant interest in developing early passage cell lines with matched normal reference DNA to facilitate a precision medicine approach in assessing drug response. This study aimed to establish early passage cell lines, and perform whole exome sequencing and short tandem repeat profiling on matched normal reference DNA, primary tumour and corresponding cell lines.

A cell culture based, in vitro study was conducted of patients with primary human papillomavirus positive and human papillomavirus negative tumours.

Four early passage cell lines were established. Two cell lines were human papillomavirus positive, confirmed by sequencing and p16 immunoblotting. Short tandem repeat profiling confirmed that all cell lines were established from their index tumours. Whole exome sequencing revealed that the matched normal reference DNA was critical for accurate mutational analysis: a high rate of false positive mutation calls were excluded (87.6 per cent).

Early passage cell lines were successfully established. Patient-matched reference DNA is important for accurate cell line mutational calls.

This study aimed to evaluate odour measurements after endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid fistulas.

Demographic characteristics, cerebrospinal fluid leak location, surgical procedure, aetiology and smell test results were retrospectively reviewed.

A total of 27 patients were included. The mean age was 43.52 years. The aetiology was spontaneous in 13 patients (48.1 per cent) and traumatic in 14 patients (51.9 per cent). The skull base defect was at the cribriform plate in 15 patients (55.6 per cent), the frontal sinus posterior wall in 4 patients (14.8 per cent), the sphenoid sinus posterior wall in 4 patients (14.8 per cent), around the anterior ethmoid artery in 2 patients (7.4 per cent), at the ethmoid roof in 1 patient (3.7 per cent) and at the sphenoid sinus posterolateral wall in 1 patient (3.7 per cent). After the comparison of pre-operative and post-operative values in identification, discrimination and threshold categories, a statistically significant difference was seen only in the threshold category (p = 0.014).

The results demonstrated that endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid leak is safe in terms of olfactory functions.

Because most available treatments for managing seasonal allergic rhinitis show some side effects without reducing recurrence, natural anti-allergic products could represent an interesting treatment addition. This study aimed to analyse the efficacy and tolerance of quail egg as adjunctive therapy in seasonal allergic rhinitis.

In a Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials compliant framework, patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis were prospectively randomised to receive mometasone nasal spray for four weeks or the same topical corticosteroid therapy plus commercially available oral quail egg and zinc tablets.

Forty patients were enrolled. The mometasone + quail egg and zinc tablets group showed a greater reduction in nasal itching, sneezing and total nasal symptom scores than the mometasone nasal spray only group. A higher proportion of participants in the mometasone + quail egg and zinc tablets group had good rhinitis control than in the mometasone nasal spray only group, with no need for rescue medications.

Despite the need for a further larger study, quail egg preliminarily appears to be an effective adjunct to topical steroid therapy in seasonal allergic rhinitis.

To investigate the clinical features, therapeutic efficacy and symptom time course of post-coronavirus disease 2019 parosmia.

A 22-item online questionnaire was distributed to AbScent research group and Facebook coronavirus disease 2019 anosmia group adult members to assess clinical features, interventions and their subjective efficacy for parosmia.

A total of 209 participants (86 per cent females) reported: smell loss on average 3 days after coronavirus symptoms, recovery 4 weeks later, and first parosmia symptoms 12 weeks post infection. Respondents reported 10 per cent body weight loss, and listed onion and garlic as significant parosmia triggers. Regarding quality of life, depression was the most cited item (54 per cent). Smell training was trialled by 74 per cent of participants, followed by nasal corticosteroid spray (49 per cent). Stellate ganglion block, trialled by 16 per cent of respondents, had the highest reported improvement (45 per cent), with 21 per cent reporting a sustained benefit – the highest rate amongst registered treatment options.

Post-coronavirus parosmia has a significant impact and remains challenging to treat. Stellate ganglion block appears to be successful relative to other reported treatments. Further research into the pathophysiology, efficacy and mechanism of stellate ganglion block effect is warranted.

This study aimed to explore the current practices of the UK rhinology consultant body in regard to cocaine screening in nasal reconstructive surgery.

A 12-question online survey was distributed to rhinology consultants (October 2021 to February 2022) currently practising in the UK.

A total of 55 consultants responded. Fifty-three per cent asked patients about cocaine use prior to consideration of surgery, and 45 per cent performed cocaine testing prior to consideration of surgery. Of these, the majority employed urine testing alone (60 per cent), with hair testing being less common as a single screening modality (4 per cent). Sixteen per cent opted for both urine and hair testing. The most common reasons for not performing cocaine testing included patient history or clinical examination that was not suggestive of cocaine use (44 per cent), lack of formal guidelines (33 per cent) and lack of testing availability (27 per cent). Sixty-four per cent were in favour of a national policy for cocaine screening.

There is marked variation in cocaine screening practices for nasal reconstructive surgery among UK rhinologists.

Recurrent laryngeal nerve identification is the ‘gold standard’ in thyroidectomy, to determine nerve function security and prevent severe complications. This study assessed the topographical relationship between the recurrent laryngeal nerve and the inferior thyroid artery in patients undergoing total thyroidectomy, and determined its clinical impact.

A retrospective study was performed of patients undergoing total thyroidectomy in a single tertiary centre over a six-month period.

Sixty-four patients were included. Among the 128 recurrent laryngeal nerve dissections, the nerve was identified traversing the inferior thyroid artery anteriorly in 27.3 per cent, with equal distribution between the two sides. No significant sex association was reported. One patient had transient vocal fold palsy, and hypocalcaemia was observed in 21.9 per cent, yet there was no statistical association with the topographical variation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve.

Almost one-third of patients had an anatomical variation in which the recurrent laryngeal nerve ran superiorly to the inferior thyroid artery. Recurrent laryngeal nerve variation had no clinical impact on local complications or hypocalcaemia.

To assess the incidence of radiological inflammation within the paranasal sinuses, middle ear and mastoid in patients with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to examine consecutive adults (aged over 18 years) with coronavirus disease 2019 (confirmed on polymerase chain reaction within 7 days of imaging) who underwent computed tomography of the head between 1 March 2020 and 24 June 2020. Lund–Mackay and mastoid and middle-ear opacification scores were used to categorise the extent of sinus and mastoid opacification on axial and coronal computed tomography images.

Of 147 patients originally identified, only 83 met the inclusion criteria. Sinus opacification was present in 51.8 per cent of patients (n = 43), and middle-ear or mastoid opacification was observed in 24.1 per cent (n = 20). There was no statistically significant difference in sinus or middle-ear and mastoid opacification between patients after stratification based on 30-day all-cause mortality.

Radiological computed tomography findings suggest mild mucosal disease within the sinuses, middle ear and mastoid. There was no statistical correlation between such opacification and 30-day mortality.

This retrospective study was undertaken to assess the outcome of the medical and/or surgical management of patients presenting with clinical features of arytenoid granuloma.

The records of 53 males and 9 females were reviewed for predisposing factors, types of treatment received and recurrence following the treatment.

Most of the patients (48 out of 62, 77.4 per cent) were treated conservatively with medical management and voice therapy, which resulted in complete resolution of arytenoid granuloma in over two-thirds of the patients treated (32 out of 48, 66.6 per cent). Overall, 28 patients (out of 62, 45.1 per cent) required surgery (14 failed medical treatment cases and 14 surgery as first-line treatment cases). Of these, five patients (out of 28, 17.9 per cent) had recurrence, and were managed with revision surgery and concurrent local injection of Botox.

Anti-reflux medication and voice therapy are effective first-line management options. Pre- and post-surgery adjuvant treatment improves the results of surgery. Local injection of Botox was successful in the treatment of failed surgical cases.

This quality improvement project assessed the outcomes of telephone consultations for ENT patients in order to identify areas where telephone consultations may be useful in the long term.

New ENT patient appointments in May 2019 and May 2020 were reviewed. Total outcomes as well as subspecialty-specific and presentation-specific outcomes were compared for telephone versus face-to-face consultations.

There were 638 consultations in total (465 in 2019 and 173 in 2020). Following telephone consultations, more patients were followed up and fewer patients were listed for surgery or discharged. Overall outcomes for subspecialties followed the general trend, albeit with a few variations.

Lack of clinical examination in telephone consultations likely affects confidence in making a diagnosis and therefore discharging or listing patients for surgery. Nevertheless, looking at specialty-specific and presentation-specific data, there may be a role for telephone consultations in selected patients.

Anecdotally, secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage tends to occur out-of-hours. This study sought to establish whether there is a link between haemorrhage and time of day, and examined correlations with month and with monthly temperature.

Data were obtained for patients in our hospital undergoing surgical arrest of secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage between January 2002 and December 2020. Haemorrhage timing was categorised into daytime (07:00–18:00), evening (18:00–22:00) and overnight (22:00–07:00). The chi-square test was used to assess diurnal and monthly variation in haemorrhage rates (p < 0.05). Pearson's correlation test was used to analyse monthly haemorrhage rates and average monthly temperature.

Fifty per cent of patients suffered post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage overnight and 28.1 per cent haemorrhaged in the evening, representing a significant difference (p = 0.018). The highest rate of haemorrhage was in July (2.96 per cent), which was statistically significant (p = 0.0024). There was a positive correlation between average monthly temperature and haemorrhage rate (Pearson's correlation = 0.478, p = 0.116004), although this was not significant.

Most post-tonsillectomy haemorrhages occur out-of-hours (78.1 per cent), which could be conveyed during the consent process. The haemorrhage rate is lower in winter, which may influence planned operating theatre scheduling.

Total thyroidectomy can be used as a definitive treatment modality for thyrotoxicosis. This study assessed the outcomes of patients treated with surgery at a single secondary care site.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted analysing consecutive patients who underwent thyroid surgery for thyrotoxicosis between 24 November 2000 and 26 April 2019 (n = 595).

Total thyroidectomy was performed in 95.4 per cent of patients. Two-thirds of patients had Graves’ disease histology. Of patients, 22.8 per cent became transiently hypothyroid whilst on levothyroxine (thyroid hormone replacement therapy). Transient and persistent hypocalcaemia was present in 23.3 per cent and 2.8 per cent of patients respectively. Recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy was transient and persistent in 3.6 per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively. Of patients, 2.5 per cent developed post-operative haematomas that required surgical evacuation in the operating theatre.

The overall complication rate for thyroid surgery is higher in thyrotoxic than in euthyroid patients. Compared to other treatment modalities, total thyroidectomy appears to be the most effective, definitive means of managing Graves’ disease.

This study aimed to compare the cost per use of video-rhinolaryngoscopy using reusable and disposable devices in a tertiary referral centre.

A cost-comparison study was performed that utilised retrospective cost data and prospective utilisation data to compare the total costs of using reusable video-rhinolaryngoscopes versus a single-use alternative.

It was estimated that 4776 and 1821 procedures were performed annually with reusable and disposable video-rhinolaryngoscopes, respectively. The cost per use was £66.61 for reusable devices versus £150.00 for disposable devices. The break-even point (i.e. when cost per use was equal, occurred at 1374 procedures per year). Thereafter, it was cheaper to use reusable devices.

Disposable rhinolaryngoscopes may present a cheaper solution to services with low rates of rhinolaryngoscope utilisation. However, for larger services considering replacement of their reusable rhinolaryngoscopes with disposable units, it is likely that the recurring costs will be prohibitive in the medium to long term.

Patients increasingly use physician rating websites to evaluate and choose potential healthcare providers. A sentiment analysis and machine learning approach can uniquely analyse written prose to quantitatively describe patients’ perspectives from interactions with their physicians.

Online written reviews and star scores were analysed from Healthgrades.com using a natural language processing sentiment analysis package. Demographics of otolaryngologists were compared and a multivariable regression for individual words was performed.

This study analysed 18 546 online reviews of 1240 otolaryngologists across the USA. Younger otolaryngologists (aged less than 40 years) had higher sentiment and star scores compared with older otolaryngologists (p < 0.001). Male otolaryngologists had higher sentiment and star scores compared with female otolaryngologists (p < 0.001). ‘Confident’, ‘kind’, ‘recommend’ and ‘comfortable’ were words associated with positive reviews (p < 0.001).

Positive bedside manner was strongly reflected in better reviews, and younger age and male gender of the otolaryngologist were associated with better sentiment and star scores.

Teachers and singers have been extensively studied and are shown to have a greater tendency to voice disorders. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between subjective and objective voice analysis pre- and post-shift among teleoperators in a tertiary hospital.

This was a prospective cohort study. Each patient underwent pre- and post-shift voice analysis.

Among 42 teleoperators, 28 patients (66.7 per cent) completed all the tests. Female predominance (62 per cent) was noted, with a mean age of 40 years. Voice changes during working were reported by 48.1 per cent. Pre- and post-shift maximum phonation time (p < 0.018) and Voice Handicap Index-10 (p < 0.011) showed significant results with no correlation noted between subjective and objective assessment.

Maximum phonation time and Voice Handicap Index-10 are good voice assessment tools. The quality of evidence is inadequate to recommend ‘gold standard’ voice assessment until a better-quality study has been completed.

To assess the level of awareness and attitude of ENT surgeons towards dental implants and oral surgery procedures that involve the maxillary sinus.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a closed-ended questionnaire on 40 UK-based ENT surgeons.

Within the study population, 45 per cent of ENT surgeons were not aware of sinus lift augmentation in implant dentistry. Only 25 per cent of respondents were aware of the two subtypes of sinus lift techniques. Thirty per cent of the respondents were aware of or had heard of benign positional paroxysmal vertigo following dental treatment. Fifty-two per cent of respondents came across a dental foreign body, most commonly a tooth that had been displaced into the maxillary sinus. It was also reported that 82.5 per cent of respondents had liaised with an oral surgeon for an oroantral communication problem or a dental infection.

Dental awareness among ENT surgeons needs to be raised for optimum interdisciplinary communication and patient safety.

Make-at-home nasal irrigation solutions are often recommended for treating chronic rhinosinusitis. Many patients will store pre-made solution for convenient use. This study investigated the microbiological properties of differing recipes and storage temperatures.

Three irrigation recipes (containing sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate and sucrose) were stored at 5oC and 22oC. Further samples were inoculated with Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Sampling and culturing were conducted at intervals from day 0–12 to examine for bacterial presence or persistence.

No significant bacterial growth was detected in any control solution stored at 5oC. Saline solutions remained relatively bacterial free, with poor survival of inoculated bacteria, which may be related to either lower pH or lower osmolality. Storing at room temperature increased the risk of contamination in control samples, particularly from pseudomonas.

If refrigerated, pre-made nasal irrigation solutions can be stored safely for up to 12 days without risking cross-contamination to irrigation equipment or patients.

Sinonasal inverted papilloma has a high tendency for recurrence, local bone destruction and risk of malignant transformation. Therefore, complete resection of the tumour is required, and close follow up is essential. This article describes the clinical outcomes, recurrence rate and malignant transformation rate of sinonasal inverted papilloma.

In this study, 139 patients diagnosed with sinonasal inverted papilloma in our hospital from December 2010 to May 2022 were retrospectively analysed. All patients underwent endoscopic surgery.

Sinonasal inverted papilloma occurred more often in males than in females. The mean age of patients with sinonasal inverted papilloma was 67.3 ± 5.7 years at diagnosis. The most prevalent site of origin was the maxillary sinus (50.4 per cent). The recurrence rate was 5.75 per cent, and the malignant transformation rate was 6.5 per cent.

All patients in this study underwent endoscopic surgery. Meticulous resection and regular long-term follow ups are crucial to reducing sinonasal inverted papilloma recurrence after surgery.

Laryngotracheal reconstruction with costal cartilage graft is a cornerstone procedure in treatment of multiple paediatric airway pathologies. The current study aimed to report on the experience of laryngotracheal reconstruction and document post-operative outcomes and complications.

Records of laryngotracheal reconstruction procedures performed between 2016 and 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Primary indication, clinical data, decannulation rate, voice assessment, need for revision surgery and possible complications were analysed.

A total of 41 patients were treated with laryngotracheal reconstruction. Subglottic stenosis formed the largest percentage of cases followed by congenital glottic web (20 and 14 patients, respectively). Three patients (7.3 per cent) underwent single stage surgery, and the remaining cases had a double stage procedure. Revision laryngotracheal reconstruction was needed in a single case, and 38 out of 39 tracheostomised patients were successfully decannulated.

Favourable outcomes were reported with costal cartilage laryngotracheal reconstruction as a definitive treatment for a large range of paediatric airway problems.