The aim of this study was to investigate the aetiology of acquired atresia and stenosis of the external auditory meatus and to present our results for surgical management. Over an 18-year period (from 1986 to 2004), data were collected prospectively from patient cohorts in Dundee and Edinburgh. Stenosis of the auditory meatus was due to chronic otitis externa in 64 per cent of cases, compared with 37 per cent of cases with acquired atresia; the latter had instead a history of chronic suppurative otitis media in 43 per cent. Surgical treatment of canal stenosis with meatoplasty alone achieved a widely patent ear canal in 80 per cent of cases, with 78 per cent of ears remaining free of discharge. Cases of acquired atresia treated with simple surgical excision of the soft tissue plug experienced a 100 per cent failure rate. The additional use of a split skin graft achieved a patent meatus in 70 per cent of cases, with hearing improvement in 79 per cent. However, the ear canal remained unstable and late recurrence was observed.

With the exception of distant metastasis, the presence of cervical lymph node metastasis is the single most adverse independent prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Surgical removal of metastatic cervical lymph nodes had been attempted during the late nineteenth century, with varying techniques and poor results. A systematic approach to en bloc removal of cervical lymph node disease, described in detail by Jawdyński at the end of the nineteenth century and popularized and illustrated by Crile in the early twentieth century, provided consistent and more effective treatment and forms the basis of our current techniques. The concepts of radical neck dissection, employed extensively by Martin, were followed with almost religious consistency by most head and neck surgeons until the late twentieth century, when the principles of ‘functional’ neck dissection, developed by Suárez and popularized by Bocca, Gavilán, Ballantyne, Byers and others, led to the acceptance of modified radical neck dissection as treatment for lymph node disease in various stages. More recently, selective neck dissection, involving removal of nodes confined to the levels at greatest risk of metastasis from primary tumours at various sites, has become accepted practice for elective and, in some instances, therapeutic treatment of the neck. In the future, sentinel lymph node biopsy and the use of molecular pathological analyses may be employed to predict the presence of occult cervical disease, thus directing therapy to patients at greatest risk and sparing those without regional metastasis.

The aim of this study was to assess and quantify the current surgical practice of ossiculoplasty among British otolaryngology consultants, using a postal questionnaire. Ossiculoplasty is not a very common procedure. It is only performed by otologists with a special interest in ossiculoplasty. Among the 280 respondents (response rate 51.9 per cent), only 179 (63.9 per cent) performed ossiculoplasty. The majority of the consultants (86.5 per cent) used artificial prostheses, and 63.7 per cent used patients' own ossicles (autografts). Most of the consultants (77.6 per cent) performed ossiculoplasty with primary tympanoplasty surgery rather than with primary cholesteatoma surgery (46.3 per cent). The majority of the consultants (50.8 per cent) performed less than 10 ossiculoplasties per year.

This is the first survey on ossiculoplasty surgery in the United Kingdom.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the protective effect of edaravone, a free radical scavenger, on inner-ear barotrauma (IEB) in guinea pigs, based on a hypothesis implicating free radicals in the development of IEB.

Materials and methods: One hundred and twenty-five guinea pigs were divided into a control group and a pretreatment group. After auditory brainstem response (ABR) testing, the pretreatment group received 9.0 mg/kg intraperitoneal edaravone. Animals were exposed to pressure loading and then to further ABR testing.

Results: The incidence of IEB was 62.7 per cent in the control group and 42.9 per cent in the pretreatment group (p < 0.01). The distributions of threshold elevation in the control group were 37.3 per cent (for 10 dB or less), 21.3 per cent (for 20–30 dB), 18.0 per cent (for 40–60 dB) and 23.4 per cent (for 70 dB or more), and those in the pretreatment group were 57.1 per cent, 19.1 per cent, 14.3 per cent and 9.5 per cent, for the same respective decibel levels (p < 0.01).

Conclusions: These results suggest that protective treatment with edaravone can significantly reduce both the incidence of IEB and the severity of the resultant ABR threshold elevation.

Duphenix first described gustatory sweating in 1757. The underlying pathogenesis was not appreciated until 1923, when Lucja Frey, a Polish neurologist, observed the phenomenon in a Polish soldier with an infected bullet wound in the parotid gland and suggested that the auriculo-temporal nerve played a role.

Lucja Frey was born in Lwów, Poland, in 1889 and began her medical studies in Lwów before moving to Warsaw to work as a neurologist. She amassed a total of 43 publications on various neurological topics over her career. Unfortunately, during the Second World War she was enlisted into the Lwów ghetto, where she worked until her death in 1943.

We present the history of Frey's syndrome, particularly the life of Lucja Frey and the syndrome she described.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic factors in benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) treated with canalith repositioning procedures (CRPs).

Material and methods: Retrospective study of consecutive BPPV cases diagnosed over three years. All patients underwent a complete otolaryngologic, audiologic and neurotologic evaluation. The appropriate CRP was performed, depending on the type of BPPV. Prognostic factors studied included age, sex, aetiology, duration of disease, abnormal electronystagmographic findings, canal involvement, improper performance of manoeuvres, response on first or repeat treatment, and presence of recurrences.

Results: One hundred and fifty-five patients were studied, 66 men and 89 women, with mean ages of 58.7 and 60.4 years, respectively. Age and the involvement of two canals or bilateral disease had an effect on initial treatment outcome and were correlated to increased recurrences but not to repeat treatment outcome. Secondary BPPV, abnormal electronystagmographic findings and improper performance of manoeuvres had a significant effect both on initial and repeat treatment, but not on recurrences. Sex and duration of symptoms had no effect.

Conclusion: Canalith repositioning procedures provide fast and long-lasting treatment of BPPV in most patients. However, in a small subgroup of patients, failures may be noticed that may be attributed to various prognostic factors.

Three categories of rhinitis may occur in the workplace: occupational rhinitis, work-aggravated rhinitis and rhinitis-like conditions. In the present paper, we propose a new definition and a new classification of occupational rhinitis that takes into account mechanisms of induction as well as clinical presentation. In parallel with occupational asthma, occupational rhinitis is defined as a type of rhinitis characterized by intermittent or sometimes permanent nasal airflow limitation due to causes and conditions attributable to the work environment. Occupational rhinitis is classified according to its mechanism of induction as immunological or irritant-induced (non-immunological) rhinitis. Occupational rhinitis of the immunological type can itself be episodic or persistent, whereas the non-immunological type is subdivided into acute, chronic and corrosive.

Introduction: At present there is a strong emphasis on carrying out more elective day-case surgery. This paper presents a series of major ear cases performed on a day-case basis.

 Method: This is a retrospective review of outcome. Surgery was performed over 10 years at the Queen Elizabeth Queen Mother Hospital (part of the East Kent NHS Trust, UK).

 Results: Over 10 years 253 major ear cases were performed. The unplanned admission rate for overnight stay was 2.8 per cent and the rate of short-period transfers to in-patient wards (for less than a six-hour stay) was 2 per cent.

 Conclusions: Our experience shows that major ear surgery, including mastoidectomy, is safe on a day-case basis in all age groups. With the advent of new anaesthetic agents recovery is faster, and modern anti-emetic cover for post-operative nausea and vomiting makes nearly all such major ear surgery feasible as day-case procedures.

Stable, self-cleansing retraction pockets of the pars tensa are common incidental findings and require no treatment. In other cases, recurrent discharge occurs and there may also be associated conductive hearing loss. In a minority of cases, cholesteatoma may develop.

This paper presents the results of surgery using a graft composed of cartilage and perichondrium for retraction pockets involving the posterior half of the tympanic membrane, as well as early results using a larger graft designed to manage retraction of the entire tympanic membrane. Data on 51 patients with posterior retraction pockets are presented. Forty-two (82 per cent) patients had no aural discharge one year following surgery and the tympanic membrane was not retracted in 43 (84 per cent). The larger ‘Mercedes-Benz’ graft was used in four patients and the results obtained suggested that it may prove a successful technique for extensive retraction pockets.

Objectives: To study the effect of pre-operative hearing level and tumour size on the hearing outcome of hearing preservation surgery for vestibular schwannoma.

Study design and setting: A review of literature conducted at Gruppo Otologico, a tertiary referral centre for neurotology and skull base surgery.

Results: A total of 1993 patients in 16 publications addressing the topic of hearing preservation surgery in vestibular schwannoma were analysed. The American Academy of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery hearing classification system was the classification upon which we based our analysis.

Conclusion: Defining hearing preservation as class-A hearing, there was a strong inverse relationship between pre-operative hearing and post-operative hearing levels and between tumour size and post-operative hearing levels.

Objective: To explore factors influencing hearing outcomes in children treated by canal wall up (CWU) and canal wall down (CWD) mastoid surgery.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study including three units in Bristol and Bath, UK. Ninety consecutive children underwent cholesteatoma mastoid surgery, with the first procedure between 1998 and 2001; minimum follow up was three disease-free years.

Results: The CWU and CWD cohorts significantly differed in pre-operative stage and hearing. After disease eradication, air conduction (AC) thresholds changed by +4.0 dB (95 per cent confidence intervals (95%CI) −2.0, 10.1) in the CWD group and −5.3 dB (95%CI −9.3, 1.3) in the CWU group (p=0.029). Using multiple linear regression to account for cohort differences, AC thresholds were increased by: pre-operative AC threshold (p<0.0001), initial ossicular stage (p=0.013), and CWD-surgery (p=0.005).

Conclusion: Disease-free hearing was better with CWU-surgery, less initial ossicular damage, and better pre-operative hearing. Worse initial disease increased the likelihood of CWD surgery. Wider use of ossiculoplasty in the CWU cohort (51 per cent vs 5 per cent) may partially explain the superior results.

This prospective study involved 79 homozygote and heterozygote sickle cell anaemia patients (16 to 50 years old) and a control group of 40 people.

All patients underwent ENT, audiological and brainstem auditory evoked responses (BSER) examinations in order to evaluate the incidence of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), to identify the changes at the level of the cochlear nerve and the central pathways, and to determine the most vulnerable group, in order to intervene with early prevention and rehabilitation for this condition.

A hearing loss of greater than 20 dB at two or more frequencies was found in 36 (45.57 per cent) sickle cell patients (19 (47.22 per cent) HbSC patients and 17 (43.59 per cent) HbSS patients) and three (7.5 per cent) members of the control group. Homozygote and heterozygote patients, as well as both sexes, were equally affected.

Bilateral hearing loss occurred in 19 (52.78 per cent) patients, unilateral right-sided hearing loss in five (13.89 per cent) patients and unilateral left-sided hearing loss in 12 (33.33 per cent) patients.

Brainstem auditory evoked potential demonstrated a prolonged I–V (III–V) interpeak latency in 13 (25.35 per cent) sickle cell patients (11 men (eight with HbSS) and two women).

The hearing loss in HbSS patients was neural in nature and of earlier onset; the hearing loss in HbSC patients was usually cochlear in nature and of later onset.

Despite high medical standards and 100 per cent social security cover, the high incidence of SNHL in our sickle cell affected patients (the majority with the Benin haplotype) was probably due to their specific haematological profile and to the original geographical distribution of the disease in the tropics.

Our results highlight the necessity for early and regular hearing assessment of sickle cell patients, including BSER examination, especially in male patients with SNHL.

Pulsatile tinnitus is an uncommon otological symptom. Objective pulsatile tinnitus has numerous causes, including benign intracranial hypertension, glomus tumours and atherosclerotic carotid artery disease. History and physical examination can give important information as to the underlying diagnosis. Radiographic evaluation is essential in all patients with pulsatile tinnitus. Many patients have a treatable underlying aetiology. Early diagnosis and appropriate intervention may save patients from unnecessary morbidity.

Objectives: To determine the incidence of use of complementary therapies in patients with vestibular symptoms undergoing vestibular assessment.

Design: A prospective, questionnaire-based study.

Setting: A UK university hospital department of audiology with secondary and tertiary referrals.

Participants: A consecutive series of 80 patients seen for vestibular assessment between November 2004 and May 2005.

Main outcome measures: Use of complementary therapies; actual therapies used and patients' subjective opinion of efficacy.

Results: Thirteen patients (16 per cent) had tried some form of complementary therapy for their vestibular symptoms. Ginkgo biloba and acupuncture were the two most popular treatments. Seven patients made their decision as to which treatment to try on the basis of personal recommendation. Six of the 13 patients (46 per cent) reported that their choice of treatment(s) helped them.

Conclusions: Sixteen per cent of patients seen for vestibular assessment had tried some form of complementary therapy for their vestibular symptoms. Clinicians should be aware of this and of the potential interactions between complementary therapies and conventional medicine.

Nasopharyngeal malignancy accounts for less than 2 per cent of all head and neck cancers. Serous otitis media (SOM) causing deafness is a recognized indicator of nasopharyngeal obstruction and the possibility of a nasopharyngeal malignancy must be considered in all adults. Examination under anaesthesia (EUA) and biopsy of the nasopharynx is routinely undertaken in many centres to rule out nasopharyngeal malignancy in adults with SOM. The purpose of this 10-year retrospective study was to evaluate the case records of all adult cases of SOM, including their presentation, clinical findings, management and nasopharyngeal biopsy results.

Eighty-five patients were included in the study. Fifty-nine presented with unilateral SOM and 26 with bilateral SOM. The primary presenting complaint in all cases was hearing loss. A nasopharyngeal mass was documented in 55 patients (69 per cent). Four nasopharyngeal masses were noted to have irregular or exophytic mucosa on flexible nasendoscopy. All patients underwent a EUA of the ears and a nasopharyngeal biopsy. The four patients with suspicious-looking masses were all found to have malignancies (two squamous cell carcinomas, one B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and one adenocarcinoma). Three of these patients presented with unilateral SOM and one with bilateral SOM. All other patients with masses were found to have benign lymphoid hyperplasia. In total, 4.7 per cent of the adults with conductive hearing loss secondary to SOM were found to have a malignancy on nasopharyngeal biopsy.

We would advocate a high index of suspicion of a nasopharyngeal tumour in adults presenting with SOM. If a mass is found in the nasopharynx then it should be biopsied. If no mass is found then it is not necessary to biopsy; however, close follow up, with repeat fibre-optic nasendoscopy, is advised.

Objective: Trigeminal neuromas are rare tumours that may involve any part of the Vth nerve complex, including extracranial peripheral divisions of the nerve. A series of eight patients with intracranial trigeminal neuromas who underwent surgical management are presented.

Methods: The hospital records and radiological images were reviewed with regard to clinical presentation, surgical approach, operative findings, peri-operative morbidity and neurological outcome, and percentage of tumour recurrence.

Results: The principal presenting symptoms were those of involvement of the trigeminal nerve with sensory impairment in one or more of the three divisions. Tumour location was the prime determinant of surgical approach. Lateral skull base approaches were used as they are considered to be superior for identifying tumour origin, extension, and relationship to surrounding structures. Total excision of the tumour was carried out in three of the eight patients. In the remaining five patients some tumour was left purposely in order to minimize neurological deficit and optimize post-operative quality of life. There was no peri-operative mortality or major morbidity in our series. Five patients experienced symptomatic tumour recurrence and revision surgery was performed.

Conclusion: Management of trigeminal neuromas is complex and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Pre-operative surgical planning allows tumour removal with preservation of important neural structures in the majority of cases. For large tumours occupying both the middle and posterior cranial fossae, the retrosigmoid/retrolabyrinthine/middle cranial fossa approach provides good exposure and results in minimal brain retraction. A Fisch type C approach is necessary for the largest tumours. Long-term follow up with interval imaging is mandatory to exclude long-term tumour recurrence.

This aim of this study was to determine the effect of anaesthetic agents on stapedius reflex (SR) thresholds and transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE). Fifty patients who were scheduled for operation and who had normal hearing were included in the study. All were given midazolam for premedication and propofol for induction. Anaesthesia was maintained in five different ways in each group of 10 patients. Groups I–IV received inhalational anaesthesia: group I received 70 per cent N2O plus 30 per cent O2, group II sevoflurane, group III desflurane and group IV halothane. Group V received total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol plus sufentanil. The SR and TEOAE of the patients were measured four times: on the day before surgery (first measurement), after premedication (second measurement), after induction of anaesthesia (third measurement) and during maintenance of anaesthesia (fourth measurement). Midazolam significantly increased ipsilateral and contralateral SR thresholds and decreased TEOAE wave reproducibility. Propofol significantly increased only the SR thresholds. The other anaesthetic agents significantly increased only the contralateral reflex thresholds. Of these, the highest increase was seen after sevoflurane and the lowest after halothane. The changes in TEOAE wave reproducibility due to anaesthetic agents used for maintenance were not significant. We concluded that midazolam premedication may affect audiological evaluation with SR and TEOAE tests, and sevoflurane should not be used when it is necessary to measure SR under general anaesthesia.

Background: Routine aspiration of middle-ear effusions prior to ventilation tube (grommet) insertion is practised by many surgeons. It has been suggested that removing the fluid from the middle ear improves immediate post-operative hearing levels and reduces the chance of the ventilation tube becoming obstructed. The potential adverse effects of applying suction to the middle ear include acoustic trauma and an increased risk of tympanosclerosis and otorrhoea. We undertook a review of the literature in order to determine the benefits or side effects associated with middle-ear aspiration prior to ventilation tube insertion.

Objectives: To compare clinical outcomes associated with aspirating versus not aspirating the middle ear prior to ventilation tube insertion.

Methods: The Cochrane ENT group trials register, DARE, the Cochrane central register of controlled trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE (1960–2005) and EMBASE (1960–2005) were searched using relevant terms. Reference lists of selected studies were scanned for additional research material.

Results: Seven studies were identified, of which three fitted the inclusion criteria of our review. Current evidence suggests that aspiration of middle-ear effusions prior to insertion of ventilation tubes is not associated with any improvement in clinical outcome, in terms of post-operative hearing levels, otorrhoea or rates of blockage of ventilation tubes. Significantly increased rates of tympanosclerosis were observed in one study and the development of acoustic trauma was observed; however, no significant association was confirmed. Although more research is needed, there is no evidence that aspiration of middle-ear effusion prior to grommet insertion confers any advantage.

Certain medical conditions may affect one's ability to drive safely. In the United Kingdom, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) issues guidelines outlining which medical conditions drivers must notify them of. In order to assess our knowledge of, and ability to apply, the current DVLA guidelines with regard to otolaryngological conditions, a postal survey was sent to all otolaryngologists in Scotland. The responses obtained suggest that the current DVLA guidelines are not well understood or easily applied, and it is recommended that all otolaryngologists familiarize themselves with these guidelines in order to better advise their patients with regard to driving.