To study the clinical outcomes of a posterior nasoseptal flap used in the endonasal reconstruction of anterior skull base defects.

The early harvested flap was used to reconstruct anterior skull base defects in patients with high-flow on-table cerebrospinal fluid leak. Post-operatively, the patients were analysed for cerebrospinal fluid leak and bleeding.

Of the 100 patients, 87 had macro defects while 13 had micro defects. Non-secretary lesions were present in 60 patients, while secretary lesions were present in 40 patients. Cerebrospinal fluid leak was present in all the patients undergoing surgery, and the majority of them had a lumbar drain fitted. Post-operatively, two patients experienced bleeding and only two patients had a cerebrospinal fluid leak.

The use of a posterior nasoseptal flap for reconstruction of the anterior skull base amongst patients with a high-flow intra-operative cerebrospinal fluid leak can help prevent post-operative cerebrospinal fluid leak. Its applicability to wide patient profiles, with respect to age, size of defect and diagnosis, make it a versatile choice for reconstruction after endonasal anterior skull base surgical procedures.

To determine the impact of pre-operative intratympanic gentamicin injection on the recovery of patients undergoing translabyrinthine resection of vestibular schwannomas.

This prospective, case–control pilot study included eight patients undergoing surgical labyrinthectomy, divided into two groups: four patients who received pre-operative intratympanic gentamicin and four patients who did not. The post-operative six-canal video head impulse test responses and length of in-patient stay were assessed.

The average length of stay was shorter for patients who received intratympanic gentamicin (6.75 days; range, 6–7 days) than for those who did not (9.5 days; range, 8–11 days) (p = 0.0073). Additionally, the gentamicin group had normal post-operative video head impulse test responses in the contralateral ear, while the non-gentamicin group did not.

Pre-operative intratympanic gentamicin improves the recovery following vestibular schwannoma resection, eliminating, as per the video head impulse test, the impact of labyrinthectomy on the contralateral labyrinth.

Acquired anterior glottic web poses a significant challenge to laryngologists given its propensity to recur following treatment, and there are a wide variety of described techniques.

A systematic review of the medical literature was undertaken in order to identify all articles pertaining to the management of acquired anterior glottic web.

Thirteen studies meeting the inclusion criteria were identified and analysed. All were retrospective series, with varying surgical techniques and outcome measures. Only two studies reported on the use of topical mitomycin C.

Mucosal graft techniques and keel placement appear to improve success rates, but both carry risks and disadvantages. Based on the available evidence, the use of topical agents such as mitomycin C cannot be recommended in the management of acquired anterior glottic web.

Little is known about the long term (greater than 10 years) quality of life in patients with vestibular schwannoma. This study aimed to evaluate long-term outcomes in patients with vestibular schwannoma.

A retrospective cohort study was performed across 2 academic institutions, with patients followed at least 10 years after vestibular schwannoma surgery (2000 to 2007). Telephone interviews were used to assess quality of life using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory and short form 12 item (version 2) health survey.

A total of 99 out of 110 patients were included. Increasing age and symptom burden were associated with poorer quality of life (p = 0.01 and 0.02, respectively). The presence of imbalance, headache and facial nerve dysfunction were all associated with poorer quality of life scores (p = 0.01, 0.04 and 0.02, respectively).

Identifying and managing post-operative symptoms may improve quality of life in vestibular schwannoma patients and can guide clinical decision making.

Animal studies have suggested that exposure of the middle ear to topical local anaesthesia may be ototoxic. This study aimed to report sensorineural hearing outcomes and patients’ satisfaction in those who underwent myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion using topical local anaesthesia.

Twenty-nine patients (32 ears) were operated on. Pre- and post-operative audiology findings were compared. A Likert-type questionnaire on treatment satisfaction was completed at the end of the procedure.

Median patient age was 55 years (range, 27–88 years). Pre- and post-operative bone conduction pure tone averages were 26.76 dB and 25.26 dB respectively (mean reduction of −1.22 dB, 95 per cent confidence interval of −5.91 to 8.13 dB; p = 0.7538). One ear (3 per cent) had a reduction in pure tone average of 10 dB.

The results suggest that sensorineural hearing loss is not a complication of ear exposure to topical local anaesthesia during myringotomy and ventilation tube insertion. The procedure was well perceived.

Endoscopic ear surgery is a technique that is growing in popularity. It has potential advantages in the low-resource setting for teaching and training, for the relative ease of transporting and storing the surgical equipment and for telemedicine roles. There may also be advantages to the patient, with reduced post-operative pain, facilitating the ability to complete procedures as out-patients.

Our Ear Trainer has previously been validated for headlight and microscope otology skills, including foreign body removal and ventilation tube insertion, in both the high- and low-resource setting. This study aimed to assess the Ear Trainer for similar training and assessment of endoscopic ear surgery skills in the low-resource setting. The study was conducted in Uganda on ENT trainees.

Despite a lack of prior experience with endoscopes, with limited practice time most participants showed improvements in: efficiency of instrument movement, steadiness of the camera view obtained, overall global rating of the task and performance time (faster task performance).

These results indicate that the Ear Trainer is a useful tool in the training and assessment of endoscopic ear surgery skills.

To measure the outcomes of laser treatment of cholesteatoma covering cochlear and vestibular fistulas.

Cholesteatoma matrix over the fistula was denatured; the power density was sufficient only to gradually heat, but not vaporise, the keratin-forming matrix. The denaturing speed was controlled so that the integrity of the fistula cover was maintained. The change in bone conduction threshold and the residual rate of cholesteatoma at the fistula were measured.

Thirty-six fistulas were assessed. There were seven cochlear fistulas. All were 5 mm or less in maximum length. For the entire group, the average change in bone conduction threshold was −0.3 dB. For cochlear fistulas, the average change in bone conduction was + 0.2 dB. The distribution of hearing results for the entire group was Gaussian; the apparent changes in hearing could be attributed to errors associated with testing. All patients underwent second-stage surgery. In all cases, the cholesteatoma was completely cleared from the fistula site. There were no facial palsies.

Laser denaturing of cholesteatoma matrix over fistulas measuring 5 mm or less of vestibular apparatus and the cochlea is effective at eliminating cholesteatoma, and is not associated with cochlear hearing loss or facial palsy.

To recount experience with cerebrospinal fluid otorrhoea and temporal bone meningoencephalocele repair in a tertiary care hospital.

A retrospective review was conducted of 16 cerebrospinal fluid otorrhoea and meningoencephalic herniation patients managed surgically from 1991 to 2016.

Aetiology was: congenital (n = 3), post-traumatic (n = 2), spontaneous (n = 1) or post-mastoidectomy (n = 10). Surgical repair was undertaken by combined middle cranial fossa and transmastoid approach in 3 patients, transmastoid approach in 2, oval window plugging in 1, and subtotal petrosectomy with middle-ear obliteration in 10. All patients had successful long-term outcomes, except one, who experienced recurrence after primary stage oval window plugging, but has been recurrence-free after second-stage subtotal petrosectomy with middle-ear obliteration.

Dural injury or exposure in mastoidectomy may lead to cerebrospinal fluid otorrhoea or meningoencephalic herniation years later. Congenital, spontaneous and traumatic temporal bone defects may present similarly. Middle cranial fossa dural repair, transmastoid multilayer closure and subtotal petrosectomy with middle-ear obliteration were successful procedures. Subtotal petrosectomy with middle-ear obliteration offers advantages over middle cranial fossa dural repair alone; soft tissue closure is more robust and is preferred in situations where hearing preservation is not a priority.

Pre-operative imaging is often used to predict the extent of a cholesteatoma and anatomical variation to plan for surgery. This study aimed to measure the predictive accuracy of computed tomography findings.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted of all patients in a district general hospital undergoing mastoid surgery within a consecutive 12-month period, in whom computed tomography had been performed prior to operative intervention. The study measured the key findings of pre-operative computed tomography imaging and compared them to the intra-operative findings.

A total of 106 patients were included. The sensitivity and specificity for predicting cholesteatoma were 79 per cent and 81 per cent respectively. The positive predictive value was 90 per cent and the negative predictive value was 65 per cent. In predicting complications of cholesteatomas, the sensitivity was 70 per cent, whereas the specificity was 91 per cent. The positive predictive value was 88 per cent and the negative predictive value was 76 per cent.

Pre-operative computed tomography conducted prior to mastoid surgery has high positive predictive values for both predicting cholesteatomas and complications (90 per cent and 88 per cent respectively).

The successful provision of middle-ear surgery requires appropriate anaesthesia. This may take the form of local or general anaesthesia; both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. Local anaesthesia is simple to administer and does not require the additional personnel required for general anaesthesia. In the low-resource setting, it can provide a very safe and effective means of allowing middle-ear surgery to be successfully completed. However, some middle-ear surgery is too complex to consider performing under local anaesthesia and here general anaesthesia will be required.

This article highlights considerations for performing middle-ear surgery in a safe manner when the available resources may be more limited than those expected in high-income settings. There are situations where local anaesthesia with sedation may prove a useful compromise of the two techniques.

There are few detailed studies about peripheral branch resection of the posterior nasal nerves in the inferior turbinate; thus, this study aimed to investigate this.

Patients who underwent submucosal turbinoplasty with or without resection of the peripheral branches of posterior nasal nerves in the inferior turbinate were included.

The resection of the posterior nasal nerves with turbinoplasty significantly reduced detection and recognition thresholds on olfactory testing. The rhinorrhoea severity, detection threshold and recognition threshold were significantly lower after resection of the posterior nasal nerves with turbinoplasty than after turbinoplasty alone, although there were no significant differences between the two groups before surgery.

This is the first study to show that the resection of the peripheral branches of the posterior nasal nerves in the inferior turbinate with turbinoplasty more effectively inhibits allergic symptoms compared with turbinoplasty alone. It also showed that the resection of the peripheral branches of the posterior nasal nerves can inhibit olfactory dysfunction.

To compare the extent of tissue damage produced by conventional cold steel and coblation tonsillectomy.

Twenty patients underwent conventional and 18 underwent coblation tonsillectomy. The removed tonsils were histopathologically evaluated.

Analgesic use was lower in the coblation group during the early post-operative period. Histological investigation of tonsils removed by the conventional method showed intensive haemorrhage and hyperaemia in the tonsillar capsules, which was not seen in the coblation group. Furthermore, in the coblation group, there was less mast cell degranulation (p = 0.0081) and a smaller amount of skeletal muscle tissue (p = 0.0043) in the tonsillar capsules, indicating less tissue damage.

Compared to the cold steel technique, coblation tonsillectomy is superior in terms of less early post-operative pain and less damage to surrounding tissues. Significantly lower mast cell degranulation in coblation tonsillectomy may contribute to the reduction of post-operative pain.

Acute tonsillitis represents a significant proportion of admissions to ENT departments nationally. Given current hospital pressures, it is vital to look for safe alternatives to admission. This study explores the safe management of patients in an ambulatory medical unit, without the need for admission.

A retrospective review of 48 patients’ notes was carried out. Following the development and implementation of a guideline for acute tonsillitis, a prospective re-audit of 41 patients was carried out, measuring length of stay, overnight admissions and re-admissions.

The rate of overnight admission following implementation of the guideline fell from 0.75 to 0.29, and average length of stay dropped from 19.2 to 9.5 hours. There were two re-admissions in each cycle of the audit, which represents a non-significant increase.

The tonsillitis guideline has significantly reduced admissions and length of stay. Re-admissions remain low, demonstrating that this is a safe and cost-effective intervention.

To compare endoscopic assisted powered adenoidectomy with conventional curettage adenoidectomy.

A randomised controlled trial was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital. Fifty patients with a symptom complex pertaining to adenoid hypertrophy and requiring adenoidectomy were chosen and divided into 2 groups of 25 each. Patients in group A underwent conventional curettage adenoidectomy and those in group B underwent endoscopic assisted powered adenoidectomy. Comparison was based on the parameters of surgical time, intra-operative bleeding, post-operative pain and completeness of adenoid removal.

The surgical time was significantly longer with the powered instrument. Mean blood loss was greater in the powered group, but was statistically insignificant. The powered procedure fared significantly better, with lower pain scores and more instances of complete tissue resection.

A curved microdebrider blade can be used safely and precisely for adenoidectomy under endoscopic vision. It enables complete resection of adenoid tissue. This method also proves to be an excellent teaching aid.

There is poor availability of ear and hearing services globally, because of a lack of infrastructure, funding, equipment and appropriately trained personnel. When deciding upon delivery of ear and hearing services, an approach based upon community assessment is advocated, with subsequent asset mapping and acquisition.

Some of the challenges to delivery of care in resource-constrained or remote environments are acknowledged, with discussion of several existing models of service delivery, and their advantages and disadvantages. Public health and telehealth are also mentioned. This article may assist those trying to set up new programmes in ear and hearing health.

This study compared post-tonsillectomy pain scores and recovery using the coblation-only technique, comparing extracapsular versus intracapsular approaches.

A prospective study was performed in our paediatric ENT department. Pain scores were recorded on days 0, 2, 4 and 8, using a visual analogue scale ranging from 0 (no pain) to 10 (extreme pain). Information was also collected on: return to normal fluid and solid intake, and any post-operative visits to primary care.

In total, 101 patients were included in the analysis. Average pain scores were statistically lower on days 2, 4 and 8 in the intracapsular group compared to the extracapsular cohort. The intracapsular cohort also returned sooner to normal fluid and solids intake. The extracapsular group were more likely to visit the general practitioner post-operatively.

Intracapsular tonsillectomy appears to result in reduced morbidity overall and should be considered as a viable alternative in relevant cases.

To compare round window niche visibility as seen endoscopically during cochlear implant surgery with pre-operative high-resolution computed tomography of the temporal bone.

Nineteen patients scheduled for cochlear implantation, aged 2–20 years, were referred for computed tomography from October 2016 to March 2018. Angles were measured between the lines passing through the mid-sagittal plane and cochlear basal turn on the scans. Endoscopic round window niche visibility during posterior tympanotomy was categorised as: type I = 100 per cent, type IIa = more than 50 per cent, type IIb = less than 50 per cent or type III = 0 per cent. Pre-operative computed tomography measurements were used to predict round window niche visibility before surgery and correlated with intra-operative findings.

The mean (range) of pre-operative angles on computed tomography for endoscopic visibility types I, IIa and IIb, were 64.06° (61.16–69.37°), 63.81° (58.61–71.35°) and 56.48° (50.37–59.05°), respectively, a statistically significant finding (one-way analysis of variance test, p = 0.016).

Pre-operative high-resolution temporal bone computed tomography measurements are useful in predicting round window niche visualisation as viewed endoscopically during posterior tympanotomy. The angle was more acute in type IIb compared to type I.

To report the prevalence of different anatomical variations of the sphenoid sinus and its related structures among paediatric patients with or without chronic rhinosinusitis.

Computed tomography scans of 50 paediatric patients with chronic rhinosinusitis were reviewed and compared to 50 scans of paediatric patients without chronic rhinosinusitis. The type of sphenoid sinus pneumatisation and the surrounding structures were thoroughly analysed. The patients were divided into three groups according to age.

Mean age was 10.9 years (range, 4–16 years). The sellar configuration was the commonest in all groups, while the conchal type was the least common. There were significant differences between paediatric patients with or without sinusitis in: sphenoid sinus pneumatisation type, vidian canal type and Onodi cell presence. In addition, there were significant differences between age groups in: sphenoid sinus pneumatisation type, single sinus septum and multiple septa presence, and internal carotid artery bulging.

Age and sinusitis have a significant impact on sphenoid pneumatisation type and surrounding structure variation. Recognition of these variations can be useful for mapping this region, and enables a safer and more efficient endoscopic surgical procedure.

Otolaryngology is under-represented in UK medical schools. This presents challenges in terms of exposing students to the diversity of otolaryngology, as well as ‘showcasing’ the specialty as a career option. This study aimed to audit the impact of a change in the delivery of final year tuition on student satisfaction.

Participants were final year medical students completing a 2-day otolaryngology placement. A novel teaching programme was developed in response to feedback from students who completed a baseline teaching programme. The novel programme was evaluated over a 10-week period using questionnaires.

Fifty-eight participants completed the novel programme questionnaire. Overall, there was a positive impact on student satisfaction. Students completing the novel programme expressed a desire for increased otolaryngology placement.

This approach is an effective means of teaching otolaryngology to undergraduates. A mutual desire for greater exposure to otolaryngology in the undergraduate curriculum is held by medical students and otolaryngologists.

Machine learning algorithms could potentially be used to classify patients referred on the two-week wait pathway for suspected head and neck cancer. Patients could be classified into ‘predicted cancer’ or ‘predicted non-cancer’ groups.

A variety of machine learning algorithms were assessed using the clinical data of 5082 patients. These patients had previously been referred via the two-week wait pathway for suspected head and neck cancer to two separate tertiary referral centres in the UK. Outcomes from machine learning classification were analysed in comparison to known clinical diagnoses.

Variational logistic regression was the most clinically useful technique of those chosen to perform the analysis and patient classification; the proportion of patients correctly classified as having ‘non-cancer’ was 25.8 per cent, with a false negative rate of 1 out of 1000.

Machine learning algorithms can accurately and effectively classify patients referred with suspected head and neck cancer symptoms.