Impact of Close Margins on Oral Cancer Outcomes According to the Oral Subsite.

Background: The prognostic significance of close margins in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is controversial. We wished to investigate the impact of close margins on the risk of local recurrence (LR) in OSCC according to the oral subsite.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 342 OSCC patients undergoing primary surgical treatment was conducted.

Outcomes of Immediate Total Thyroidectomy in First-Side Loss of Neuromonitoring Signal.

Importance: Use of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) during thyroidectomy can nearly eliminate the risk of postoperative bilateral vocal cord palsy (VCP) by indicating staged surgery in cases of loss of signal (LOS) on the first side of planned total thyroidectomy. However, aborting planned total thyroidectomy may lead to persistence of symptoms, delay in adjuvant treatment, and patient inconvenience and distress. There are few data to guide a selective approach to total thyroidectomy in patients with first-side LOS.

Pattern of regional recurrence after selective neck dissection for clinically positive neck in mucosal squamous carcinoma.

Background: Selective neck dissection (SND) has traditionally been applied to clinically negative (cN0) necks in mucosal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). We aimed to examine the oncological safety and patterns of regional recurrence (RR) of SND in clinically positive (cN+) necks.

Methods: Retrospective review of prospective cohort of 206 patients with mucosal SCC undergoing neck dissection.

High-flow nasal oxygen as an adjunct for the safe removal of impacted metallic upper airway foreign bodies.

Foreign body airway obstruction is considered an airway emergency and is a challenging clinical scenario for both the otolaryngologist and the anaesthetist. We present three cases of impacted upper airway metallic foreign bodies. Supra-glottic airways were obstructed and precarious.

Foreign accent syndrome post tonsillectomy: A case report.

Foreign Accent Syndrome (FAS) is a rare clinical entity in which affected patients experience a new pattern of speech resembling an unusual accent. Reported cases are scarce in published literature and are usually the result of a neurological insult. FAS as a complication from a general anesthetic or surgery has not been reported to date.

Instrumentation failure during microlaryngoscopy.

Equipment failure can be a cause of morbidity during surgical procedures. We present two cases where a broken surgical instrument, a heart-shaped curved micro-grasper, colloquially termed 'sweetheart' micro-forceps, compromised patient safety during microlaryngoscopy. We discuss the importance of thorough safety protocols and communication between team members to mitigate this risk.

The road to consultancy: an epidemiological study.

Background: Modern medical and surgical training pathways have developed globally in response to changing expectations and requirements for trainees.

Aims: To determine the demographic, educational, and training characteristics of consultants in a model 4 teaching hospital, and to evaluate the requirements met by consultant physicians and surgeons prior to their appointment to consultancy.

Method: A single-centre study conducted by prospectively distributing written questionnaires.