Narrow band imaging endoscopy improves visualization of vessels of the perforated tympanic membrane.

Purpose: Because successful healing of a tympanic membrane perforation (TMP) depends upon the maintenance of blood supply to the injured area, we assessed the usefulness of narrow band imaging (NBI) video endoscopy to evaluate its vascularization. To our knowledge, the use of NBI to assess tympanic membrane (TM) vascular patterns has never been attempted.

Methods: Prospective observational study.

Evaluation of resident's training for endoscopic sinus surgery using a sheep's head.

Training in functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is an essential part of each ENT resident and it takes place on a very fragile area. This study focus on showing the learning curve of FESS, using an anatomical model such as the sheep's head. Four residents in our centre performed dissections.

[Laryngotracheal NK/T lymphoma: clinical case].

NK/T-cell lymphoma is a rare condition with an aggressive course and poor prognosis. Historically known as «lethal midline granuloma», it generally appears in a midfacial location. We describe the case of a 22-year-old Colombian woman with laryngotracheal affectation, presenting with hoarseness and hemoptysis.

[Demand and supply of otolaryngology specialists based on evidence: What is the required number of specialists who should be trained?].

Several concurrent circumstances have created an impression through the media of a presumed lack of specialists in Spain, which has one of the highest densities of doctors per population in the world: simultaneous creation of jobs in many newly built hospitals; accepting garbage contracts (for months, half/thirds of days, shifts) in relevant hospitals rather than moving to unattractive positions; full dedication to the field of public or private healthcare rather than matching them; bad public healthcare working conditions (low wages, excessive healthcare pressure, lack of respect from the public and from healthcare managers, shifts, scarce professional promotion, difficult family reunification); decreased mobility due to insulation of the markets as a result of decentralization of healthcare by regions. There is no shortage of specialists in otolaryngology, but instead there are sporadic inequalities in their geographical distribution. The current number of positions as training doctors offered annually is higher at the moment than the demand of the Spanish society, for specialists who have adapted smoothly to the requirements of the new medical practice: clinical management, care quality, technology-based efficiency, evidence-based medicine.

[Primary myringoplasties. Results after a 2 year follow-up period].

Introduction And Goals: The goals of myringoplasty are closure of the perforation in the tympanic membrane and improvement in hearing levels, with varying results in the published literature. Our aim was to determine the results of this procedure at our centre and compare them with the literature.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 217 primary myringoplasties carried out in the Otorhinolaryngology Department of the Ramón y Cajal University Hospital between 1998 and 2003, describing the characteristics of the perforations, surgical technique and post-operative results (perforation closure and hearing improvement).

Acoustic analysis of voice using WPCVox: a comparative study with Multi Dimensional Voice Program.

In this study, two different tools developed for the parametric extraction and acoustic analysis of voice samples are compared. The main goal of the paper is to contrast the results obtained using the classical Multi Dimensional Voice Program (MDVP), with the results obtained with the novel WPCVox. The aim of this comparison was to find differences and similarities in the parameters extracted with both systems in order to make comparison of measurements and data transfer among both equipments.