Vestibular function in children with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder.

Objective: Children with auditory neuropathy spectrum disorder (ANSD) account for about 10% of paediatric patients referred for cochlear implantation. Vestibulopathy may be associated with ANSD, and may have implications when formulating management plans in this patient group. We wanted to determine the incidence and predictive factors for vestibulopathy in this patient group to guide vestibular testing in this patient population, and give insight to the aetiology of ANSD.

How reliable is intracorporeal laparoscopic knot tying?

Background: Are knots tied laparoscopically as reliable as those tied in open surgery? The aim of our study was to try to answer this question.

Materials And Methods: Using a standardized technique, one senior laparoscopic surgeon tied 3 suture materials using 3 methods of knotting: hand, instrument, and laparoscopic (in a simulator). The tension in the knots was measured using a tension gauge at the time of knotting and 5 minutes later.