The Vigo grommet trainer.

Introduction: Transtympanic grommet placement is perhaps the most common otologic outpatient procedure and is the junior resident's first step in otologic surgery. Drain placement requires a high level of skill and only after painstaking practice, will the young physician be prepared to perform the procedure.

Technical Note: We describe a home-made training model for grommet placement, consisting of a wooden base holding a syringe, with a sheet of latex simulating the tympanic membrane.

[Topical anesthesia in flexible nasofibrolaryngoscopy].

Introduction: The emergence of flexible nasofibrolaryngoscopy in recent decades has facilitated the development of Otolaryngology and the nasofibrolaryngoscope has become an essential diagnostic tool for the otolaryngologist. However, its use is not without discomfort for the patient, which is why various options for topical anaesthesia have been proposed during the development of the technique.

Material And Methods: This was a prospective, double blind, crossover study in patients with no history of nasal disease, through which we compared the use of topical anaesthetic (Lidocaine) + epinephrine, oxymetazoline and placebo.

Temporal bone dissection practice using a chicken egg.

Hypothesis: Temporal bone drilling practice constitutes an essential stage in training for the surgical approach to this complex anatomic structure. To facilitate adaptation and surgical skills in otologic surgery, we recall the easy cost-effective practice of drilling a chicken egg.

Background: The resident in training must master the use of the surgical microscope, the burr, and fine drilling instruments used in dissection.