We present a retrospective study of 106 patients with branchial cleft and pouch anomalies who presented to the Hospital for Sick Children between 1948 and 1990. The relevant embryology of the branchial apparatus is summarized and a theoretical description of individual anomalies given.Second branchial cleft sinuses were the most common anomalies, and the majority were managed simply, with adequate excision and a low recurrence rate. Five cases of first branchial cleft anomalies are presented, emphasizing the delay in diagnosis, the need for complete excision to prevent recurrence, and for a parotidectomy incision to protect the facial nerve from damage. The two third branchial pouch anomalies presented with a cystic neck swelling, one with recurrent infection and discharge, and the other with stridor. In both, the diagnosis was made at operation. The single fourth branchial pouch cyst was an unexpected finding in a patient with stridor.
This is a prospective incidence study of 250 secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhages from a population of 2706 tonsillectomies performed over a seven-year period, which aims to ascertain the incidence and character of post-tonsillectomy secondary haemorrhage. Out of 250 post-tonsillectomy secondary bleeds (9.2 per cent of total; 95 per cent CI = 8.2 per cent - 10.4 per cent), 39 patients had a severe bleed (1.4 per cent; 95 per cent CI = 1.2 per cent - 2.1 per cent). The incidence of secondary tonsillectomy haemorrhage increased with age, peaking at 30-34 years in both men and women (p < 0.001), with no statistically significant difference between the two sexes (p = 0.23). The incidence of serious haemorrhage increases in the older age categories (p = 0.005) but is not influenced by gender (p = 0.50). The majority of secondary tonsillectomy haemorrhages presented between the fourth and seventh day post-operation (69.8 per cent). These results now provide the basis for informed consent for a tonsillectomy in our department.
The air conduction thresholds in the right and left ears, and the interaural asymmetry of thresholds at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 kHz were measured in a group of 225 soldiers exposed to a variety of weapon noise who were referred for assessment because of a deterioration in hearing on routine testing. At 0.5 and I kHz the threshold levels rarely exceeded 25 dB and the interaural asymmetry was 10 dB or less in 90 per cent of cases. The degree of hearing loss and interaural asymmetry increased as the frequency increased, with the average loss being significantly greater in the left ear at 2, 3, 4 and 6 kHz.Recommendations are made for the selection of cases of asymmetrical hearing loss exposed to weapon noise which require further investigation to exclude a retrocochlear cause or to define spurious hearing threshold levels.
Submandibular duct transposition is now a standard surgical procedure for the treatment of severe drooling. However, this is our first experience of a plunging ranula arising as a complication of the technique. In the surgical management of this complication, the single most important step is excision of the sublingual gland to prevent recurrence.
The reported incidence of persistent tympanic membrane perforation after the extrusion or removal of Goode-type tympanostomy tubes varies from 3 per cent to 47.5 per cent. A prospective randomized study of 152 Goode-type T-tube removals is presented. In one group of 79 ears, the edge of the defect was just freshened, but in the other 73 ears, the edge was freshened and a small piece of 0.13 mm silastic sheeting placed over the defect. Follow-up was performed at six weeks and three, six and nine months and shows that the use of silastic sheeting increases the rate of closure of the perforation and also significantly decreases the number of persistent perforations at nine months.
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