You searched for "obstruction"
A novel use for coblation in the nose
Having recently become a coblation convert for multiple applications in ENT (including tonsillectomy, inferior turbinate reduction and radiofrequency ablation of the tongue base), it was interesting to read about another novel use in the nose. This preliminary report evaluates the...
Why do septoplasties fail?
If you are amongst the ones who wonder what keeps your patient blocked in spite of a reasonable septoplasty, it will be worth your time going through the chapter on nasal valve management. The concise table detailing the surgical techniques...
“It’s paediatric resus calling…”
This article is one of many within this issue that addresses a variety of ENT emergencies. The article outlined the stepwise process of assessing and managing a child with a suspected foreign body (FB) inhalation. Nuts, seeds and vegetable matter...TORS for patients with sleep-disordered breathing
Transoral robotic surgery is now a well-accepted technique in malignant tumours of the tongue base. Here the team from St Mary’s and the Royal National Throat Nose & Ear Hospital in London describe its use in carefully selected patients with...A medical student’s perspective on the future of obstructive sleep apnoea management
Obstructive sleep apnoea remains an immensely challenging condition to treat. Many treatments have been used over the years, but no single management strategy has proven significantly better than the others. We hear about some technological innovations in the field of...
Marshmallows for swallowing assessments!
The complaint of ‘food sticking in my throat’ is one many of us will have heard several times in clinical practice. The authors of this study report the prevalence of this symptom to be between 5-8% in the general population...Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy
Epiphora, or abnormal tearing, occurs because of blockage in the lacrimal drainage system, which impairs normal tear channeling into the nose. Dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) is used to treat patients diagnosed with lacrimal sac or nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). External DCR was...
Variations in obstructive level with increasing depth of sedation in DISE
This study highlights some of the controversies surrounding DISE (Drug Induced Sedation Endoscopy, or otherwise known as sleep nasendoscopy in the UK). On one hand it provides some evidence that the BIS (BiSpectral Index), recordings of patients while they are...
Curettage adenoidectomy impairs eustachian tube function
Adenoidectomy is a common procedure undertaken for obstructive sleep apnoea and nasal obstruction. Curettage is the most common technique but is associated with complications (mucosal trauma, bleeding) that may cause eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). This study analysed changes in middle...
What’s the risk of regrowth with partial (intracapsular) tonsillectomy
Partial (intracapsular) tonsillectomy is enjoying somewhat of a revival offering the potential for less postoperative pain and bleeding whilst relieving the obstructive element. The authors look at 303 patients, 82 of whom had partial tonsillectomy using coblation. They measured pre...
Treatment algorithm for olfactory disorders
The purpose of this paper is to review the current evidence in diagnosing olfactory disorders and suggest an algorithmic approach to patients with relevant complaints. Age-associated olfactory loss is often multifactorial and requires a careful history and physical exam. A...
