Magnetic resonance imaging in a guinea pig model of inner ear decompression sickness and barotrauma.

Objectives/hypothesis: Scuba diving may cause severe hearing loss and vertigo due to inner ear barotrauma and decompression sickness. These may be difficult to differentiate clinically. Decompression sickness requires costly and potentially dangerous hyperbaric therapy, whereas such treatment may worsen barotrauma.

Comparison of absorbable with nonabsorbable sutures in closure of facial skin wounds.

Background: There is long-standing disagreement among facial plastic surgeons as to the ideal suture material for closing skin wounds of the face. Many surgeons believe that nonabsorbable suture material is preferable, as it is easier to tie, is unlikely to break prematurely, and elicits a minimal inflammatory response. Others feel that these issues are of minor importance and prefer absorbable sutures because they do not have to be removed, thus saving the surgeon time and decreasing patient anxiety and discomfort.