Socioeconomic and ethnic disparities associated with access to cochlear implantation for severe-to-profound hearing loss: A multicentre observational study of UK adults.

Background: Patients with severe-to-profound hearing loss may benefit from management with cochlear implants. These patients need a referral to a cochlear implant team for further assessment and possible surgery. The referral pathway may result in varied access to hearing healthcare.

Healing patient, harming planet? A drive towards sustainable surgery: review of waste production and recyclability of surgical instrument packaging.

Introduction: Healthcare contributes more than 1% of all domestic waste in the United Kingdom (UK), with operating theatre waste alone accounting for approximately 50% of all hospital waste. In November 2022, the UK Surgical Royal Colleges issued an Intercollegiate Climate Emergency Declaration and called for urgent action. We review waste production and the recyclability of surgical instrument packaging used in a common ear, nose and throat procedure (thyroidectomy) and suggest strategies to make this surgery more sustainable,.

Saline-aided ultrasound-guided transoral biopsy of retropharyngeal nodes in head and neck cancer: A feasibility study of five patients.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of the novel technique of intra-cavitary saline-aided ultrasound (US) guided transoral biopsy or excision of retropharyngeal nodes.

Methods: We followed the IDEAL 2a framework to develop this technique. Procedures were performed between July 2020 and July 2022 at a tertiary head and neck center.

Betahistine Prescribing Practices in England: An Analysis of Prescribing and National Spending Pre- and Post-BEMED Trial.

Objective: Betahistine has not been proven to be superior to placebo in the BEMED study, a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo controlled trial. Our study aimed to establish the prescribing practices of clinicians in England in relation to betahistine and to assess if there has been any change in prescribing practices since the publication of the BEMED trial.

Study Design: Retrospective study and clinician survey.