No abstract

Summary In order to define the incidence and anatomical site of nasal damage following nasotracheal intubation, we investigatedIn conclusion, short-tern1 nasotracheal intubation was not associated with signiJicant nasal morbidity, and pre-operative anatomical assessment failed to identifiij those in whom nasal intubation proved dificult or impossible.

AbstarctMeningitis may be the sole presenting sign of a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) fistula of the temporal bone. An eight-year-old boy suffering from recurrent meningits was found to hav ebilateral severe cochlear dysplasia. Bilateral tympanotomies were performed, planning to obliterate each vestibule. In the right ear a stapedectomy was oerfirned, resulting in terrntial ‘CSF gusher’ and difficulty in packing the vestibule. CSF rhinorrhoea requiring revision surgery and twon episodes of gram-negative bacterial meningtis complicated the post-operative management, resulting in a prolonged hospital stay. Subsequently, the left ear was managed in a different fasion, leaving the stapes in situ, with grafts placed to seal the oval window nche. We would recommended this alternative procedure in cases of severe cochlear dysplasia, where abnormalities of the vestibule and basal turn of the cochela mean that performing a stapeddectomy to pack the vestibule may result in a severe ‘CSF gusher’, by opening directly into the subarachnoid space.

Over a four-year period 72 children with ear abnormalities have been referred for assessment by the extraoral osseointegrated implant team at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. Thirty-two children have been judged suitable for rehabilitation. Twelve children have completed rehabilitation using bone-anchored hearing aids and/or auricular prostheses. Two fixtures (seven per cent of those loaded) have dislodged and required replacement. Audiological assessment of the bone-anchored hearing aid users shows only small improvements in their aided thresholds, compared to thresholds obtained with their previous aid. However all now have thresholds of 30 dB(A) or better and report a marked improvement in sound quality. When surveyed, hearing aid and prosthesis users report high levels of satisfaction with this form of rehabilitation. The technique adds a new dimension to the management of children with aural anomalies. The approach and results of a multidisciplinary programme are reported.

Life-threatening upper airway obstruction can be caused by tonsillopharyngitis secondary to infectious mononucleosis (IM). The administration of corticosteroids, emergency tracheostomy and acute tonsillectomy have been advocated as ways of managing this problem. In a series of 25 patients admitted over a five-year period with IM, 15 were judged to have symptoms severe enough to warrant the administration of corticosteroids. Six of these 15 patients had little improvement in their condition and thus underwent acute tonsillectomy. There were no significant complications of this surgery. A further three patients who received corticosteroids required tonsillectomy for recurrent tonsillitis later in the study period. By contrast, only one of the ten patients who did not receive corticosteroids subsequently required tonsillectomy. Acute tonsillectomy is of value in selected cases of IM tonsillopharyngitis. It may decrease the morbidity of recurrent tonsillitis after IM, in addition to averting the immediate risk of respiratory obstruction.