This study primarily assessed ENT surgical trainees’ preferences for the qualities of disposable and reusable fibre-optic nasendoscopes. Secondary aims included eliciting trainees’ views on ENT surgery and climate change, and creating a single-centre per-use cost analysis for disposable and reusable fibre-optic nasendoscopes.

A cross-sectional study was formulated. An online survey consisting of multiple-choice and Likert-scale questions was distributed nationally. Cost analysis was performed using 2021–2022 data from the host institution.

Twenty-four trainees responded. Data on disposable fibre-optic nasendoscopes showed no difference in overall satisfaction (p = 0.244). Reusable fibre-optic nasendoscopes had a lower cost per use compared with disposable nasendoscopes at 5 years (4.7 per cent reduction) and 10 years (7.1 per cent reduction). Of the trainees, 79.2 per cent were supportive of climate-friendly initiatives within ENT surgery, and 25 per cent felt supported by their departments.

Trainees’ satisfaction with disposable and reusable fibre-optic nasendoscopes is similar. Cost analysis favours reusable fibre-optic nasendoscopes in the long term at the host institution. Empowering departments and trainees to pursue climate-friendly initiatives should be encouraged.

This study aimed to analyse the outcomes of surgery for pleomorphic adenoma of the parapharyngeal space in relation to the surgical approach.

This was a single-centre retrospective data analysis conducted from January 2008 to December 2020 on all patients who underwent operation for pleomorphic adenoma originating from the parapharyngeal space.

Twenty-one patients with a mean age of 52.6 years were included. The transparotid-transcervical approach was the most common (52.4 per cent, n = 11) surgical approach, followed by transoral robotic surgery (28.6 per cent, n = 6) and conventional transoral surgery (19 per cent, n = 4). Post-operative complications included nine cases of transient partial facial nerve palsy and two cases of Frey's syndrome after the transparotid-transcervical approach and 2 cases of transient trismus and 1 pharyngeal wound dehiscence in the conventional transoral approach group. Complete macroscopic excision was always achieved, and no recurrence occurred during follow up.

These three approaches can provide adequate tumour visualisation, a high rate of clear excisional margins and an acceptable morbidity.

Only a few studies have assessed the quality of life in children with tracheostomies. This study aimed to evaluate the quality of life and the factors influencing it in these children.

This cross-sectional, two-centre study was conducted on paediatric patients living in the community with a tracheostomy by using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. Clinical and demographic information of patients, as well as parents’ socioeconomic factors, were obtained.

A total of 53 patients met our inclusion criteria, and their parents agreed to participate. The mean age of patients was 6.85 years, and 21 patients were ventilator-dependent. The total paediatric health-related quality of life score was 59.28, and the family impact score was 68.49. In non-ventilator-dependent patients, multivariate analyses indicated that social functioning and health-related quality of life were negatively affected by the duration of tracheostomy. The Quality of Life of ventilator-dependent patients was influenced by care visits and the presence of pulmonary co-morbidities.

Children with tracheostomies have a lower quality of life than healthy children do. Routine care visits by a respiratory therapist and nurses yielded significantly improved quality of life in ventilator-dependent children.

Lateral cervical cysts are usually considered as of branchial cleft origin, despite many studies showing that branchial cysts do not arise from the remnants of the branchial apparatus. In the same way, some authors still consider that a true clinicopathological entity such as ‘branchial cleft cyst carcinoma’ could exist, at least in theory. Despite insufficient evidence in support of the branchial theory, a number of publications continue to emphasise this concept.

A literature review of articles in Medline and PubMed databases was carried out to retrieve papers relevant to the topic.

The evidence from lateral cervical cyst studies and knowledge about cystic metastasis of Waldeyer's ring could be applicable for both diagnoses. Terms such as ‘branchial cleft cyst’ and ‘branchial cleft cyst carcinoma’ are confusing and misleading, and it is questionable as to whether their usage is still tenable.

This study aimed to review the incidence and co-morbidity of functional ear symptoms in new referrals to an adult otology clinic and present a clinical model based on neuroscientific concepts.

This was a retrospective review of 1000 consecutive new referrals to an adult otology clinic.

Functional disorder was the primary diagnosis in 346 patients (34.6 per cent). Functional ear symptoms included tinnitus (69.7 per cent), imbalance (23.7 per cent), otalgia (22.8 per cent) and aural fullness (19.1 per cent), with more than one symptom occurring in 25.1 per cent of patients. Co-morbidities included sensorineural hearing loss (39 per cent), emotional stress (30 per cent) and chronic illness (22 per cent).

Functional disorders commonly present to the otology clinic, often in the presence of emotional stress or chronic illness. They occur because of adaptation of brain circuitry to experience, including adverse events, chronic illness and fear learning. This study presented an experience-driven clinical model based on these concepts. An understanding of these principles will significantly aid otolaryngologists who encounter patients with functional ear symptoms.

This study aimed to determine the distribution and subcellular localisation of aquaporin 2 and vasopressin type 2 receptor in the human endolymphatic sac.

Ten samples of human endolymphatic sac were collected during acoustic neurinoma removal using the translabyrinthine approach. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were performed using aquaporin 2 and vasopressin type 2 receptor monoclonal antibodies.

Confocal microscopy demonstrated that vasopressin type 2 receptor labelling was expressed in both the apical and basolateral plasma membranes, and in the cytoplasm of the endolymphatic sac epithelium, whereas aquaporin 2 was strongly expressed at the basolateral site of the endolymphatic sac epithelium, in both the intraosseous and extraosseous parts of the endolymphatic sac.

Both aquaporin 2 and vasopressin type 2 receptor were detected in the epithelial cells of the human endolymphatic sac, suggesting that this channel may be involved in inner-ear fluid homeostasis. However, strong basolateral expression of aquaporin 2 in endolymphatic sac epithelium suggested that the function of aquaporin 2 may differ between the endolymphatic sac and kidney.

This study aimed to evaluate the possibilities of artefact reduction using different anatomical implant positions with the Bonebridge bone-conduction hearing implant 602 for a patient with an acoustic neuroma requiring regular diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging of the tumour position.

Three implant positions and magnetic resonance imaging examinations with and without customised sequences for metal artefact suppression were investigated. The diagnostic usefulness was rated by a radiologist (qualitative evaluation), and the relation between the area of artefact and the total head area was calculated (quantitative evaluation).

Following the qualitative analysis, the radiologist rated the superior to middle fossa implant placement significantly better for diagnostic purposes, which is in agreement with the calculated artefact ratio (p < 0.0001). The customised slice-encoding metal artifact correction view-angle tilting metal artifact reduction technique sequences significantly decreased the relative artefact area between 5.13 per cent and 25.02 per cent. The smallest mean artefact diameter was found for the superior to middle fossa position with 6.80 ± 1.30 cm (range: 5.42–9.74 cm; reduction of 18.65 per cent).

The application of artefact reduction sequencing and special anatomical implant positioning allows regular magnetic resonance imaging in patients with the bone-conduction hearing implant 602 without sacrificing diagnostic imaging quality for tumour diagnosis.

Hearing loss is the third leading cause globally for ‘years lived with disability’. The majority of those affected live in low and middle-income countries.

This study used qualitative research methods to explore the impact of chronic ear disease on quality of life in Nepal. Twenty face-to-face semi-structured interviews were conducted during a visiting ear camp at the Britain Nepal Otology Service Ear Care Centre in Nepal. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and translated with thematic content analysis performed manually by two researchers.

Chronic ear disease has a significant impact on social interactions, emotional well-being and functionality. Barriers to surgery are cost, accessibility, reputation, gender and fear of complications.

This study provided valuable new insight into patient perspectives on living with chronic ear disease in Nepal. Patients with chronic ear disease experience discrimination and stigmatisation across all levels of personal, family and social life, with their function across all domains being directly limited by symptoms.

This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of an ENT simulation course for equipping foundation doctors with core ENT skills in preparation for an ENT senior house officer post.

A total of 41 foundation doctors in the East of England participated in our two-part simulation course. Pre- and post-course surveys, consisting of Likert scales and a Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure, were sent to assess confidence in core ENT skills and acceptability of course format.

Post-simulation, confidence improved in all core ENT skills taught (p < 0.001), along with confidence and preparedness to work as an ENT senior house officer (p < 0.001). Overall course median Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure score was 48, and 100 per cent of participants would recommend this course to colleagues.

Simulation improves foundation doctors’ confidence in core ENT skills and increases preparedness for working as an ENT senior house officer. Guidance on core ENT skills requirements should be made available to improve uniformity amongst ENT simulation courses.

Magnetic resonance imaging of the internal auditory meatus is a highly sensitive and specific way to diagnose vestibular schwannoma. However, the rate of incidental findings with this method is believed to be high and can lead to increased patient anxiety and health interventions with unclear benefit.

A systematic review of the literature was performed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses guidelines to identify incidental findings from magnetic resonance imaging of the internal auditory meatus; 12 studies were identified for inclusion within this review.

A total of 10 666 patients were included within the review. The overall rate of diagnosis of vestibular schwannoma was 0.87 per cent; 21 per cent of the study population had incidental findings on magnetic resonance imaging of the internal auditory meatus, and 9.56 per cent had clinically significant incidental findings.

Standardised pre-scan counselling may mitigate the risks of overdiagnosis, but future work should be undertaken to assess the benefits of such a strategy as well as the exact significance of some incidental findings.

This study aimed to understand, in a long-term follow-up study, whether the placement of grommets had been necessary after cleft palate surgical correction.

A case–control, retrospective study was carried out on consecutive paediatric patients who underwent surgical repair of a cleft palate.

The study population included 138 patients, divided into 2 groups: group 1 – patients in whom grommets were placed at the time of cleft palate surgery, and group 2 – patients in whom grommets were not placed at the time of cleft palate surgery. During the follow up, in groups 1 and 2, 65.2 per cent and 67.8 per cent, respectively, did not need subsequent grommet placement after cleft palate surgery.

Of patients, 56.5 per cent did not need ventilation tubes at any point during follow up. The placement of grommets is not innocuous; therefore, its use at the time of cleft palate surgical repair should be reconsidered.

Smell impairment affects 60–80 per cent of individuals aged over 80 years. This review aimed to identify any association between vitamin D deficiency and smell impairment, and determine the efficacy of vitamin D to treat smell impairment.

A literature search was conducted across four databases between the years 2000 and 2022. The literature screen was performed by two independent reviewers.

Seven articles were included in this review. Four studies examined the association between vitamin D deficiency and smell impairment, with three studies identifying a significant relationship. Three studies investigated the use of vitamin D as treatment for smell impairment, which found complete resolution or significant symptom improvement after vitamin D deficiency was treated.

This review identified limited studies on this topic. As vitamin D supplementation is relatively cost-efficient, further large-scale studies should be carried out to investigate the efficacy of vitamin D for treating anosmia.

Although today there is extensive scientific literature on aural myiasis, a historical study of the subject has yet to appear. This short article reports the first description of aural myiasis in the Western medical literature.

Methods involved: (1) scholarship review of ear diseases within Ancient Greek and Roman medical texts (L'Année philologique); (2) linguistic analysis for text identification through the Library of Latin Texts, the Thesaurus Linguae Latinae and the Loeb Classical Library; and (3) translation of the Latin texts that described cases of aural myiasis with commentary.

To our knowledge, the earliest case of aural myiasis in Latin medical literature is reported by the Roman encyclopaedist Celsus (first century CE). In his De Medicina, he describes cases of Wohlfahrtia magnifica maggot infestation of the ear and how to treat affected patients.

Despite present advances in otology, we believe that much insight can still be gained from this ancient example of medical history in ear diseases. A more comparative analysis of the subject is to be considered in the future, which will provide more data from different cultures and times.

The heterogeneity of Ménière's disease is presently defined by a variety of subtypes. This study introduced three different subtypes of unilateral Ménière's disease based on the evolution of vertigo crises from their inception.

A longitudinal descriptive study of 327 unilateral Ménière's disease patients was performed. In a subgroup of patients followed from the onset of the disease, 3 subtypes of unilateral Ménière's disease were defined according to the vertiginous crises suffered during the first 10 years of the disorder.

Data was available for 87 patients with unilateral Ménière's disease from the start of their disease (26.6 per cent of the original sample). These patients were grouped into three models according to their symptomatic evolution. Model 3 was associated with a worse hearing prognosis, a greater number of Tumarkin's otolithic crises and the need for surgery. Model 1 presented less hearing loss.

Unilateral Ménière's disease models based on the evolution of vertiginous crises present differences according to aspects such as hearing loss, vertiginous crisis, Tumarkin's otolithic crisis and the need for surgery.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss is considered idiopathic in up to 90 per cent of cases. This study explored the role of blood tests as biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Two researchers filtered 34 papers into the final review. This review was pre-registered on the Prospero database and conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines.

Raised inflammatory markers are almost universal in sudden sensorineural hearing loss, suggesting an inflammatory or autoimmune process. The most useful biomarkers are neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-lymphocyte ratio and fibrinogen level. Focused investigations should be deployed on a case-by-case basis to identify underlying metabolic, infective and autoimmune conditions.

A full blood count and coagulation screen (fibrinogen) is recommended in all cases of sudden sensorineural hearing loss. These are inexpensive, accessible and offer as much diagnostic and prognostic information as any other biomarker. There is emerging evidence regarding specific biomarkers for sudden sensorineural hearing loss prognosis, with heat shock protein-70, anti-endothelial cell antibody and prestin demonstrating potential; investigation of their validity through prospective, controlled research is recommended.

Several guidelines have been produced for the management of nutrition in patients with head and neck cancer. However, no systematic evaluation of the quality of these guidelines has been performed to date.

A comprehensive search was conducted up to August 2020. The quality of guidelines was assessed by four independent reviewers using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation, 2nd edition.

Nine guidelines were assessed for critical evaluation. Only two guidelines were classified as ‘high quality’. The ‘scope and purpose’ domain achieved the highest mean score (75.5 ± 17.0 per cent), and the lowest domain mean score was ‘applicability’ (37.6 ± 23.0 per cent).

These findings highlight the variability in the methodological quality of guidelines for the management of nutrition in head and neck cancer. These results may help to improve the reporting of future guidelines and guide the selection for use in clinical practice.

To evaluate the effect of surgical intervention on serum insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea.

A prospective study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital of adult patients with obstructive sleep apnoea for whom continuous positive airway pressure therapy failed or was refused. All patients underwent polysomnography and serum insulin-like growth factor 1 evaluation pre-operatively and at three months post-operatively. The site of surgery was determined using Müller's manoeuvre and ApneaGraph AG 200.

Fifteen patients were included with a mean age of 38 years: 11 males and 4 females. The mean pre-operative Apnoea–Hypopnoea Index using polysomnography was 53.7 events per hour, and the mean post-operative Apnoea–Hypopnoea Index at three months was 15.3 events per hour (p = 0.0001). The mean pre-operative serum insulin-like growth factor 1 was 160.2 μg/l, while the mean post-operative value was 236.98 μg/l (p = 0.005).

In adult patients with obstructive sleep apnoea for whom continuous positive airway pressure therapy fails, site-specific surgical intervention to treat the obstruction leads to an increase in serum insulin-like growth factor 1 levels.

For low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia cases, pharyngolaryngeal lesions equal to or less than 5 mm in size do not generally progress to invasive carcinoma. However, micro-superficial lesions equal to or less than 5 mm that showed rapid growth have been recently encountered. This study aimed to identify the characteristics of preferential progression of lesions equal to or less than 5 mm in size.

Gross findings, endoscopic findings and pathological results of 55 lesions measuring equal to or less than 5 mm in diameter were retrospectively reviewed to identify factors that distinguish squamous cell carcinoma or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia from low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia or non-atypia lesions.

The overall sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive value of background colouration and intrapapillary capillary loop pattern in differentiation of squamous cell carcinoma or high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia from low-grade intraepithelial neoplasia or non-atypia lesions were all 100 per cent.

Diagnosis based on background colouration and the intrapapillary capillary loop pattern on narrow-band imaging facilitates the pathological examination of lesions measuring equal to or less than 5 mm.

Partly as a result of coronavirus disease 2019, YouTube has become a more frequent educational source for otolaryngology trainees. This study sought to assess the quality of flexible nasendoscopy and peritonsillar abscess drainage videos.

YouTube was systematically searched using 13 terms related to flexible nasendoscopy and peritonsillar abscess drainage. Two independent reviewers assessed the quality of each video using the Laparoscopic Video Educational Guidelines.

Twenty-seven videos were deemed suitable. The mean total Laparoscopic Video Educational Guidelines scores for videos on flexible nasendoscopy (18 videos) and peritonsillar abscess drainage (9 videos) were 10.3 (standard deviation = 3.1) and 11.7 (standard deviation = 4.6), respectively. Most of the videos were deemed of medium quality. The Laparoscopic Video Educational Guidelines score correlated positively with flexible nasendoscopy video length and how recently a peritonsillar abscess drainage video had been uploaded.

The limited high-quality videos on YouTube are difficult to identify from the search metrics available. Trainees and ENT induction programmes would benefit greatly from an online platform that contains a catalogue of high-quality surgical videos.

This study aimed to analyse whether referral for specialist balance testing influences diagnosis and management of patients with dizziness.

This was a retrospective study examining patients referred for vestibular function testing between 1 January 2018 and 30 June 2018.

A total of 101 patients were referred, with 69 patients (68.3 per cent) receiving a preliminary ‘pre-vestibular function testing balance diagnosis’, which included benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (32.7 per cent), Ménière's disease (13.8 per cent) and migraine (14.9 per cent). Following vestibular function testing, revised diagnoses were achieved for 54 patients (53.5 per cent), including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (14.9 per cent), Ménière's disease (3.0 per cent) and migraine (10.9 per cent). Pre-vestibular function testing balance diagnoses were confirmed for 32.4 per cent of patients. If no pre-vestibular function testing suspected diagnosis was provided, vestibular function testing was significantly more likely to be inconclusive. Following vestibular function testing, 38.6 per cent were discharged, 21.7 per cent were referred to another specialty and treatment was commenced for 17.8 per cent of patients.

Referral for vestibular function testing has a role when attempting to answer a clear clinical question. Diagnosing the underlying aetiology of complex imbalance is challenging, but diagnosis can be assisted by judicious use of vestibular function testing.