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Basic research in otolaryngology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2015

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Abstract

Type
Editorial
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2015 

This issue of The Journal of Laryngology & Otology features two review articles that focus on areas of basic research in our specialty. Wormald and colleagues review the topic of regenerative medicine.Reference Wormald, Fishman, Juniat, Tolley and Birchall1 Tissue engineering holds great potential to restore structure and function following resection for disease or congenital abnormality, with tracheal regeneration being at the forefront. This type of fundamental research in which human tissue is used for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes is key to many future advances.Reference Warner, Birchall and Lowdell2 Another review article, by Ramakrishnan and colleagues, discusses the importance of biofilms in the pathogenesis of rhinosinusitis.Reference Ramakrishnan, Shields, Elbadawey and Wilson3 Evidence suggests that biofilms, particularly Staphylococcus aureus, are important in the more severe cases of rhinosinusitis, and that successful therapy will need to include anti-biofilm strategies.Reference Tan, Drilling, Jardeleza and Wormald4

Two additional articles cover perhaps more mundane, everyday areas of otolaryngology. Over the past years, with the advent of more minimally invasive nasal surgery, there has been a move away from routine nasal packing following nose and sinus surgery. Sahin and Aras investigate the discomfort of nasal packing and whether infiltration of local anaesthetic solution (lidocaine) into the nasal pack reduces discomfort.Reference Sahin and Aras5 Although local anaesthetic in nasal packs reduced pain, the use of nasal packing was still associated with considerable patient anxiety. The authors recommend avoiding using packing whenever possible. Finally, an article by Khan and colleagues investigates the evidence for the use of head bandages following middle-ear surgery, and finds that their use has very little evidence base.Reference Khan, Mohamad, Ansari and Iyer6 The authors suggest that head bandages may not be required after routine middle-ear surgery. The need to critically evaluate new as well as established practices has fortunately attracted much more attention of late.Reference Aval, Pabla and Flood7

References

1Wormald, JC, Fishman, JM, Juniat, S, Tolley, N, Birchall, MA. Regenerative medicine in otorhinolaryngology. J Laryngol Otol 2015;129:732–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2Warner, E, Birchall, M, Lowdell, MW. Tissue banking in ENT: challenges and methods. J Laryngol Otol 2013;127:630–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3Ramakrishnan, Y, Shields, RC, Elbadawey, MR, Wilson, JA. Biofilms in chronic rhinosinusitis: what is new and where next? J Laryngol Otol 2015;129:744–51CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4Tan, NC, Drilling, AJ, Jardeleza, C, Wormald, PJ. Is nasal steroid spray bottle contamination a potential issue in chronic rhinosinusitis? J Laryngol Otol 2014;128(suppl 1):S28–33CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5Sahin, C, Aras, HI. Effect on patient anxiety of lidocaine infiltration into nasal packing after septoplasty: prospective, controlled study. J Laryngol Otol 2015;129:784–7CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6Khan, I, Mohamad, S, Ansari, S, Iyer, A. Are head bandages really required after middle-ear surgery? A systematic review. J Laryngol Otol 2015;129:740–3CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7Aval, S, Pabla, L, Flood, LM. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, and otolaryngology: review of the evidence. J Laryngol Otol 2014;128:212CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed