[Procedures for integrating a voice unit in an ENT area/service and its results].

Objectives: (I) To serve as a model for ENT services in the process of creating a voice unit and (II) to show the results obtained in our Voice Unit over the past 12 months.

Methods: Sections on Voice Unit Functions, Organisation and Procedures are presented, as well as the study of 122 patients: an assessment of patient self-perception using the Voice Handicap Index, diagnostic category, Voice Unit diagnosis, previous treatments and treatments proposed by the Unit.

Results: The results highlight that Voice Handicap Index scores tend towards mild and moderate evaluations; that the most frequent pathological group are exudative lesions affecting Reinke's space; that there are diagnostic discrepancies of more than 50% between the general ENT consultations and the Voice Unit; and that the most common treatment is speech and language therapy (45%), followed by phonosurgery (28%).

[Functional results in myringoplasties].

Goal: The aim of this study was to assess hearing improvement after myringoplasty.

Material And Methods: We present a retrospective study with a total of 119 cases undergoing myringoplasty at our Department analyzing the air conduction thresholds before and 6 months after surgery. We conducted an analysis of variance for the different variables and contrasted hypotheses using Student's T-test.

[Endonasal versus trans-canalicular endoscopic dacriocystorhinostomy using diode laser. Surgical techniques and outcomes].

Objective: To evaluate the benefits and disadvantages of the endoscopic endonasal versus transcanalicular approaches using diode laser, and to compare their clinical outcomes.

Patients And Method: A total of 127 patients were operated on, 80 of them with the endonasal approach (Group I) and 47 with the transcanalicular technique (Group II).

Outcomes: Epiphora improved completely in 67 patients in Group I (83.

[Variability in hospital care. Nasosinus surgery in Spain].

Objectives: To describe variations in the management of nasosinus disorders among the Autonomous Communities and hospitals of Spain.

Methods: We analyzed the Minimum Basic Data Set of the public health system from 1998-2000 for the diagnoses of nasosinus polyps and chronic sinusitis. We studied the distribution by regions of the rate of hospitalizations and of 4 indicators of quality of care and efficiency: mean length of stay, percentage of discharges without surgery, percentage of functional endoscopic sinus surgery and surgical complications.