Limited data are available on the effects of otosclerosis and otosclerosis surgery on the utricle and saccule. This study aimed to determine the effect of otosclerosis and stapedotomy on vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials.

This retrospective study included 16 otosclerosis patients and 18 controls. Thirty-two ears of 16 patients with otosclerosis were divided into 2 groups based on whether the ear had been operated on or not. All patients and subjects underwent 500 Hz air- and bone-conducted ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials testing.

Overall comparison of response rates showed a significant difference among the groups. Further statistical tests showed that this difference arose from differences between both operated and unoperated groups and the control group, for air-conducted cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials.

Otosclerosis and stapedotomy may affect the elicitability of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials. Otosclerosis is associated with lower response rates for air-conducted ocular and cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials, regardless of whether operated on. Having been operated on does not significantly increase the response rate of air-conducted vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials.

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has greatly disrupted routine ENT services. Subsequently, universities have chosen to either augment or suspend clinical placements.

This study aimed to elicit patients’ perspectives toward various approaches to clinical placements in ENT during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic.

Cross-sectional questionnaires were given to patients attending the ENT department for routine out-patient care. Responses were measured using a five-point Likert scale. Seventy-nine patients completed the survey.

Ninety-five per cent of respondents felt the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic had not reduced their comfort in interacting with medical students. Most participants reported being comfortable with students participating directly or remotely in their care, and with students having access to their anonymised data. Twenty-five per cent of participants stated that they are uncomfortable with consultations being recorded and shared for medical education purposes.

A number of approaches to clinical placements remain acceptable to patients. Educational leads should continue to offer placements in ENT that can incorporate direct or remote observation of consultations.

This study aimed to explore the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and postponement of elective surgical procedures for profoundly deaf patients awaiting cochlear implantation.

Open-ended questionnaires were sent to all adult patients awaiting cochlear implantation surgery. Qualitative analysis was performed using a grounded theory approach.

Participants described a primarily negative impact on wellbeing from the surgery delay, expressing feelings of isolation or loneliness. Low mood, depression or hopelessness were commonly expressed by elderly participants; frustration and anxiety were described by young adults. Participants described a negative impact on their general daily life, describing difficulties communicating with facemasks and struggles with reliance on telephone communication because of social distancing. Despite these significant psychosocial challenges, only a minority described adaptive coping strategies.

Profoundly deaf patients may be at greater psychosocial risk because of unique challenges from their hearing disability. Our findings can be used to develop evidence-driven strategies to improve communication, wellbeing and quality of life.

Retropharyngeal haematomas are most commonly associated with trauma and anti-coagulant use. This paper describes the first reported case of a spontaneous retropharyngeal haematoma suspected to be due to indomethacin use.

It is proposed that the combination of indomethacin affecting platelet aggregation, alongside the patient coughing, may have led to this retropharyngeal haematoma.

The complexities of management are discussed and the current literature reviewed. In the absence of airway compromise or a rapidly enlarging haematoma, patients can be managed conservatively with observation and close discussion with the haematology department. Follow-up imaging is not necessary if the patient's symptoms settle; however, any increase in parathyroid hormone levels must be investigated to exclude a parathyroid adenoma.

This study investigated the characteristics and prognosis of the feeling of ear fullness in patients with unilateral all-frequency sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Our study included 56 patients with a diagnosis of unilateral all-frequency sudden sensorineural hearing loss accompanied by a feeling of ear fullness and 48 patients without a feeling of ear fullness. The condition of these patients was prospectively observed.

Positive correlations were observed between grading of feeling of ear fullness and hearing loss in patients with a feeling of ear fullness (r = 0.599, p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the total effective rate of hearing recovery between patients with and without a feeling of ear fullness after one month of treatment (Z = −0.641, p = 0.521). Eighty-six per cent of patients (48 out of 56) showed complete recovery from the feeling of ear fullness. There was no correlation between feeling of ear fullness recovery and hearing recovery (r = 0.040, p = 0.769).

The prognosis of feeling of ear fullness is good. There was no correlation between feeling of ear fullness recovery and hearing recovery for all-frequency sudden sensorineural hearing loss patients.

Simulation training has become a core component in the training of ENT surgeons. It provides the opportunity for the repetitive practice of a surgical technique. Simulators are broadly categorised into low- and high-fidelity simulators. A method using a home microprocessor to enhance a low-fidelity surgical simulator is introduced.

The Yorick tonsil tie trainer was enhanced using an Arduino microcontroller attached to the simulated inferior pole of the tonsil. The Arduino was coded to give a visual stimulus when linear motion exceeded parameters. The prototype simulator was tested to gain information on whether the enhancement could identify differences between novice and expert users.

An enhanced low-fidelity tonsil trainer was produced using a low-cost, simple home microprocessing board. The enhanced simulator gives objective feedback allowing for self-directed learning. Further research is required to evaluate the benefits of these enhancements above non-enhanced simulation training.

Coronavirus disease 2019 was first seen in December 2019. Due to the insidious and complex nature of the disease, the list of symptoms is rapidly expanding. So far, few studies have reported sudden sensorineural hearing loss as a possible symptom of coronavirus disease 2019.

A 60-year-old woman with a complaint of sudden sensorineural hearing loss and subjective severe tinnitus presented to the ENT clinic. Coronavirus disease 2019 was subsequently confirmed with a polymerase chain reaction test. At the time of presentation, she was treated with intra-tympanic dexamethasone. Improvements in hearing threshold and speech perception, and a subjective reduction in tinnitus, were observed after treatment.

This case report supports evidence from other case reports of a possible association between coronavirus disease 2019 and sudden sensorineural hearing loss. Sudden sensorineural hearing loss may be a symptom of this disease that behaves as an underlying aggravating factor. Intra-tympanic injection of corticosteroids is recommended for managing these patients during the pandemic.

Coronavirus disease 2019 has transformed medical education worldwide. Innovations in ENT teaching for medical students have focused on virtual learning, often replacing history-taking, patient examination and practical procedure observation. This qualitative study aimed to evaluate student experience and the impact of the altered learning environment.

Open-ended questionnaires were sent to students following ENT placements from March 2020 to March 2021. Responses were qualitatively analysed and coded using a grounded theory approach. Iterative cycles were used to develop codes via a constant comparison technique. Emerging categories from codes were refined to identify core themes.

Core themes were explored, including: reduced clinical experience and patient contact compared with student expectations; challenges to learning opportunities in ENT; and the experience of different teaching methods, or preference for face-to-face teaching.

Medical students on ENT placement have expectations of patient contact for learning opportunities. ENT departments should ensure that patient contact and face-to-face learning opportunities are facilitated, while maintaining safety, including appropriate personal protective equipment provision.

This case series, conducted during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, investigates the impact of leaving aural foreign bodies in situ for a prolonged period of time, including the risk of complications and success rates of subsequent removal attempts.

A retrospective study of aural foreign body referrals over a six-month period was carried out.

Thirty-four patients with 35 foreign bodies were identified (6 organic and 29 inorganic). The duration of foreign bodies left in situ ranged from 1 to 78 days. Four patients suffered from traumatic removal upon initial attempts. First attempts made by non-ENT specialists (68.8 per cent) all failed and were associated with a high risk of trauma (36.4 per cent).

Because of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, this is the first case series to specifically investigate the relationship between the duration of aural foreign bodies left in situ and the risk of complications. Our data suggest that prolonged duration does not increase the incidence of complications.

This study aimed to analyse the results of chyle fistula testing using the SD LipidoCare system in patients who had undergone neck dissections performed in our hospital in 2019.

Sixty patients who underwent neck dissections from March 2019 to November 2019 were identified based on their medical records.

Post-operative chyle fistulas were observed in 3 of 60 patients (5 per cent). All patients who developed chyle fistulas had undergone left-sided neck dissections. Within 3 minutes, the SD LipidoCare test had produced triglyceride results of 49, 56 and 207 mg/dl in the three patients. The remaining 57 patients measured ‘low’ for triglycerides on the SD LipidoCare test system.

The SD LipidoCare test quickly and accurately diagnosed chyle fistulas in patients who had undergone neck dissections. All patients improved with conservative treatment following the early diagnosis of chyle fistulas.

This study aimed to assess the quality and readability of websites on chronic rhinosinusitis.

A total of 180 results from 3 different search engines regarding ‘chronic rhinosinusitis’, ‘sinusitis’ and ‘sinus infections’ were analysed for readability using the Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level, Flesch Reading Ease Score and Gunning Fog Index. The Discern tool was used to approximate information quality.

From 180 total searches, 69 unique websites were identified. These had an average Flesch–Kincaid Grade Level of 9.75 (95 per cent confidence interval = 9.12–10.4), a Flesch Reading Ease Score of 45.0 (41.0–49.0) and a Gunning Fog Index of 13.7 (12.9–14.4), which equates to the average reading level of a college or university student. Discern scores were variable but consistently showed good-quality information.

Chronic rhinosinusitis information is of a high quality but is for a reading level higher than that of the average adult. Standardising patient information should ensure adequate comprehension and improve patient compliance.

Cervical nodal metastasis is a key prognostic factor in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma. The role of lymph nodes in papillary thyroid carcinoma management and prognosis remains controversial.

Level IIb lymph nodes obtained from 44 patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma were histopathologically examined retrospectively. Specimens were classified as ipsilateral or contralateral. The number of dissected nodes and prevalence of level IIb metastasis were compared according to pre-operative clinical nodal stage.

In the node-negative neck, the prevalence of contralateral and ipsilateral IIb nodes was 0 out of 20 and 0 out of 3, respectively. In the node-positive neck, the prevalence of contralateral and ipsilateral IIb nodes was 1 out of 13 (7.70 per cent) and 3 out of 41 (7.32 per cent), respectively. Clinically determined and pathologically confirmed level IIb node negativity were significantly associated. Thirty-four patients (77.3 per cent) developed accessory nerve complications from level IIb dissection.

Level IIb neck dissection for papillary thyroid carcinoma may be required if pre-operative examination reveals multilevel, level IIa or suspicious level IIb metastasis.

Intranasal corticosteroids are widely used for management of many upper airway diseases because of their ability to effectively deliver local relief of inflammation.

This paper presents the case of a 51-year-old man with human immunodeficiency virus treated with ritonavir who was started on fluticasone intranasal spray for presumed chronic rhinosinusitis. Months after starting this therapy, he developed symptoms of Cushing's syndrome and avascular necrosis of the shoulder due to the pharmacological interactions between fluticasone and ritonavir.

Although intranasal corticosteroids are deemed a low-risk route of drug administration, clinicians need to be vigilant in appropriately prescribing corticosteroids in the setting of drug potentiators, particularly in these high-risk patients. Alternative corticosteroids such as beclomethasone dipropionate should be considered in such cases.

Microlaryngoscopy is an aerosol-generating procedure. This paper presents a novel approach for better protecting staff during microlaryngoscopy.

A clear plastic microscope drape is attached to the objective lens. Instead of using the drape to cover the microscope, it is pulled down to cover the patient's head and torso. The holes designated for the binoculars of the microscope are used for the surgeon hands, forming protective clear plastic sleeves.

The proposed technique, which is simple, relatively inexpensive and technically feasible for any hospital to perform during microlaryngoscopy procedures, can increase safety and minimise droplet and aerosol exposure in the operating theatre.

This paper reports a rare case of a 61-year-old man with sialodochitis fibrinosa.

Clinical case report and review of current literature.

Sialodochitis fibrinosa is a diagnosis of exclusion and in many cases can be managed conservatively. Conservative management failed for this patient and he was managed successfully with staged bilateral total parotidectomy.

Sialodochitis fibrinosa should be considered as a differential diagnosis of painful bilateral facial swelling. While conservative management is successful for many patients, staged bilateral total parotidectomy may be necessary for full remission of symptoms; the timing of this is crucial to reduce the risk of facial nerve palsy.

Lymph node yield is an important prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Variability in neck dissection sampling techniques has not been studied as a determinant of lymph node yield.

This retrospective study used lymph node yield and average nodes per level to compare level-by-level and en bloc neck dissection sampling methods, in primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cases operated between March 2017 and February 2020.

From 123 patients, 182 neck dissections were analysed, of which 133 were selective and the rest were comprehensive: 55 had level-by-level sampling and 127 had undergone en bloc dissection. The level-by-level method yielded more nodes in all neck dissections combined (20 vs 17; p = 0.097), but the difference was significant only for the subcohort of selective neck dissection (18.5 vs 15; p = 0.011). However, the gain in average nodes per level achieved by level-by-level sampling was significant in both groups (4.2 vs 3.33 and 4.4 vs 3, respectively; both p < 0.001).

Sampling of cervical lymph nodes level-by-level yields more nodes than the en bloc technique. Further studies could verify whether neck dissection sampling technique has any impact on survival rates.

Since the start of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange (‘THRIVE’) has been classified as a high-risk aerosol-generating procedure and is strongly discouraged, despite a lack of conclusive evidence on its safety.

This study aimed to investigate the safety of transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange usage and its impact on staff members. A prospective study was conducted on all transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange cases performed in our unit between March and July 2020.

During the study period, 18 patients with a variety of airway pathologies were successfully managed with transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange. For each case, 7–10 staff members were present. Appropriate personal protective equipment protocols were strictly implemented and adhered to. None of the staff involved reported symptoms or tested positive for coronavirus disease 2019, up to at least a month following their exposure to transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange.

With strictly correct personal protective equipment use, transnasal humidified rapid-insufflation ventilatory exchange can be safely employed for carefully selected patients in the current pandemic, without jeopardising the health and safety of the ENT and anaesthetic workforce.

This study investigated how the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has impacted on presentations to ENT first-on-call services.

All appointments to a rapid access triage clinic from 1 June to 31 August in 2019 and 2020 were reviewed retrospectively and their reasons for consultation classified. A binomial proportion test was used to determine whether the proportions of consultations per presentation differed significantly between years. This analysis was repeated with the number of unique patients per presenting complaint.

The proportions of nine reasons for consultation differed significantly between 2019 and 2020, including an increase in otitis media and nasal trauma presentations, and a decrease in otitis externa and tonsillitis presentations. Reattendances caused some variation in the frequency of certain diagnoses.

Our data suggest a shift in the presentations to first-on-call services, which may be a result of changes in patient behaviour and access to healthcare services.