Search

Double suspension sutures for obstructive sleep apnoea

This study examines the benefit of an operation that targets the lateral pharyngeal wall. The double suspension sutures are, in essence, a suture through the palatopharyngeus muscle which is then tied around the hamulus in the retro molar area. This...

RCT: tongue retaining devices vs CPAP for OSA

This study compared the effect of a tongue retaining device versus the use of CPAP in 27 patients within a crossover RCT design. Tongue retaining devices (also known as tongue stabilising devices), are similar in appearance to a plastic tongue-sized...

The electromagnetic larynx

Current treatment options for a bilateral vocal cord palsy (tracheostomy, posterior cordotomy, arytenoidectomy) are suboptimal, with a focus primarily on a static means of airway restoration at the expense of voice production and potentially swallow safety. This paper reports on...

Lateral skull base surgery using the endoscope

Endoscopic lateral skull base surgery could be performed via less invasive techniques due to wide panoramic visualisation of the operative field. With less invasive techniques, patients have been shown to require shorter recovery time and reduced postoperative pain. In this...

Transmastoid facial nerve decompression for persistent traumatic facial nerve paralysis

Facial nerve paralysis (FNP) can occur following trauma, with a small number of these patients requiring facial nerve decompression (FND) to aid recovery. The authors shared their experience in decompressing the facial nerve for persistent severe FNP via a transmastoid...

Role of maxillary sinus irrigation as an adjuvant to current management of chronic rhinusitis without polyposis

Several decades have passed since irrigation of maxillary sinuses generally became a treatment of the past. A more recent concept of biofilms may have evoked new interest in this past procedure, fraught with its own issues. In this study, the...

To endo or to micro, that is the question: the musculoskeletal paradigm

Endoscopic ear surgery is a newer concept compared with the microscopic one. Both could lead to musculoskeletal pain due to the long static posture of surgeons during otologic procedures. The authors conducted a study on eight otolaryngologists, four attendings and...

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...

Posterior TM perforations carry greater hearing loss: practical pointers for clinic

This single-centre prospective study of 100 adults with central pars tensa perforations examined how perforation size and quadrant relate to hearing loss. Using video-otoscopy to estimate perforation area and pure tone audiometry for thresholds, the authors found hearing loss in...

Understanding cough

The prevalence of chronic cough in the adult population is 10–12%. Chronic cough is common and costly, and represents a substantial clinical and economic burden. Duration-based classification guides evaluation. Distinguishing acute (<3 weeks), subacute (3–8 weeks), and chronic (>8 weeks)...