Knowledge of tracheostomy-related emergencies appears to be insufficient among non-ENT healthcare professionals. This needs to be addressed in order to maximize patient safety.

Carotid body tumours (CBT) are the most common tumours at the carotid bifurcation. Widening of the bifurcation is usually demonstrated on conventional angiography. This sign may also be produced by a schwannoma of the cervical sympathetic plexus. A 45-year-old patient presented with a neck mass. Investigations included contrast-enhanced CT, MRI and magnetic resonance arteriography with contrast enhancement. Radiologically, the mass was considered to be a CBT due to vascular enhancement and splaying of the internal and external carotid arteries. Intraoperatively, it was determined to be a cervical sympathetic chain schwannoma (CSCS). The patient had a postoperative complication of first-bite syndrome (FBS).Although rare, CSCS should be considered in the differential diagnosis for tumours at the carotid bifurcation. Damage to the sympathetic innervation to the parotid gland can result in severe postoperative pain characterised by FBS and should be considered in all patients undergoing surgery involving the parapharyngeal space.

Video-assisted parathyroidectomy is a safe and feasible procedure in the setting of a general otolaryngology-head and neck practice, with outcomes and complication rates that are comparable to those of traditional bilateral neck exploration. Both patient and observer analysis demonstrated that VAP was associated with a more favorable scar outcome when compared with BCE.

For patients with chronic suppurative otitis media or existing mastoid cavities, subtotal petrosectomy with blind sac closure of the external auditory canal, closure of the eustachian tube, and cavity obliteration is an effective technique to facilitate safe cochlear implantation.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common inherited disorder in Caucasians in Ireland having the highest reported incidence. CF has well-recognised clinical sequelae in several physiological systems. Its' impact on the sinonasal system is less well established. We evaluated symptoms, endoscopic and computerised tomographic (CT) findings in an Irish adult CF group with the aim of characterising the relationship between these clinical features in an Irish CF group. Adult CF patients attending a specialist clinic underwent prospective evaluation of sinonasal symptoms using a specifically designed questionnaire. They subsequently underwent nasoendoscopy and CT scanning of their paranasal sinuses. Abnormalities identified were quantified using established radiological (Lund-Mackay) and endoscopic (Lund-Kennedy) scoring systems. The relationship between symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), endoscopic findings and CT abnormalities were then compared. Sixty-three CF patients (n = 63) were studied. 29 patients had a CT scan. Thirty-three CF patients (52%) had no symptoms of CRS. Fifty CF patients (80% of CF group) had evidence of CRS on nasoendoscopy including thirteen patients (20%) with nasal polyposis. 98% of patients scanned have positive findings on CT scan. There was no significant difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic CF groups with respect to their Lund-Kennedy endoscopic score or their Lund-Mackay CT score. 86% demonstrated one or more hypoplastic sinus. There was no increased incidence of hypoplastic sinuses amongst Δf508 homozygotes than other mutation groups.

Spasmodic dysphonia is a disabling voice condition caused by a chronic neurological disorder of central motor processing. Present therapy is directed at relief of symptoms rather than cure. Botulinum toxin type A injection into the thyroarytenoid muscle has become the pre-eminent approach for treatment of adductor spasmodic dysphonia. Botulinum toxin A injections can be performed in an out-patient setting under electromyographic guidance. We present our experience with 153 injections in 14 patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia over a 10-year period. We demonstrate that the electromyography signal is a reliable prognostic indicator in terms of efficacy, and that patients' subjective opinion is a valid indicator of treatment success and future treatment strategy.

No abstract

A transient bacteremia exists after pediatric adenoidectomy, but does not correlate with symptoms or signs. Neither suction diathermy adenoidectomy nor curettage adenoidectomy offers a particular advantage in terms of decreasing the incidence of bacteremia.