Liza Delfin, Non-Medical Prescriber/RCN Leadership Graduate, Advance Nurse Practitioner, Ear, Nose and Throat Department, Guys and St Thomas Hospital, London, UK.
Experts from around the world converged at the 11th National Ear, Nose and Throat 2024 conference where distinguished surgeons discussed minimally invasive surgical techniques and other pressing issues facing ENT practitioners. They also shared challenging case presentations, followed by panel discussions about paediatric ENT, otology, rhinology and facial plastics, head and neck, and laryngology.
Particularly notable were the paediatric presentations by Ms Mira de Kruijf, Mr Nico Jonas, Mr Michael Kuo and Mr Mike Saunders. They discussed the new British Association for Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology Day Case Paediatric Adenotonsillectomy Consensus Guideline, published in February 2024 and provided updates about safe practice in day-case children’s adenotonsillectomy.
A key highlight of the conference was Mr Yakubu Karagama’s talk on the innovative treatment management of adult snoring and obstructive sleep apnoea. The hypoglossal nerve stimulation implant is revolutionising ENT care. Another highlight was Miss Susi Penney’s talk on the popularity of office-based biopsies. She discussed successful delivery pathways and proposed operational processes including the ‘one-stop’ offer for neck lumps and transnasal oesophagoscopy procedures.
In addition to the scientific programme, the conference provided ample opportunities for networking and collaboration. Participants exchanged ideas, forged new partnerships and explored potential avenues for research collaboration and shared purpose within the ENT community.
As the conference drew to a close, participants were optimistic about the future of ENT surgery and the way innovations will translate into improved outcomes for patients worldwide. With the momentum generated by this conference, the future of ENT surgery looks brighter than ever.
