Paediatric Laryngeal Ultrasound: A Retrospective Cohort Study in Aotearoa New Zealand and an International Survey.

Objective: Vocal fold immobility (VFI) is a cause of significant morbidity and mortality in the paediatric population. Laryngoscopy is the current first-line investigation for patients with suspected VFI. Laryngeal ultrasound (LUS) has recently emerged as an alternative method of identifying VFI.

Paired qualitative and quantitative analysis of bacterial microcolonies in the tonsils of patients with tonsillar hyperplasia.

The discovery of bacterial microcolonies in tonsillar tissue of patients with tonsillar hyperplasia has raised the question of their role in provoking the local immune response. Tonsils collected from patients undergoing tonsillectomy were stained for three clinically relevant bacterial taxa and lymphocytes. The bacterial composition and abundance of microcolonies was investigated using a combination of laser-microdissection, amplicon sequencing and Droplet Digital polymerase chain reaction.

The Effect of Amoxicillin with Clavulanate on the Microbiota of Tonsillar Tissue in Disease: a Randomized Control Trial.

Despite antibiotics being the primary medical treatment for recurrent tonsillitis, the impact of antibiotics on the tonsillar microbiome is not well understood. This study aimed to determine the effect of amoxicillin with clavulanate on the composition and quantity of bacteria in the tonsils of children with recurrent tonsillitis. A multicenter randomized clinical trial in Auckland, New Zealand was undertaken between August 1, 2017, and June 30, 2018.

Audit of cervical excision depth of large loop excision of the transformation zone procedures at Counties Manukau District Health Board.

Aims: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in females worldwide. Large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) procedures remain the preferred surgical technique to remove squamous cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) lesions globally. This study aimed to assess whether the depth of LLETZ procedures at Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) met established standards of care.

The histological and microbiological characteristics of bacterial microcolonies in paediatric tonsillar hyperplasia.

Introduction: Paediatric tonsillar hyperplasia (TH) is associated with a spectrum of presentations ranging from recurrent tonsillitis (RT) to sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). The underlying pathogenesis of tonsillar hyperplasia remains poorly understood. Previous studies have implicated bacterial microcolonies as targets of host inflammatory cells and as a potential driver of the chronic inflammation seen in TH.

Effect of tonsillectomy on antibiotic prescribing in children.

Introduction: Tonsillectomy is the second most common surgical procedure performed in pediatric otolaryngology. Multiple courses of antibiotics are usually prescribed prior to surgical intervention. Surgery is indicated when patients reach a certain number of infective episodes, or their obstructive symptoms warrant intervention.

Evaluation of a novel database for quality assurance at a head and neck service in New Zealand: an audit of free flap head and neck reconstruction.

Background: Clinical audit is a critical quality improvement exercise, yet efficient audit tools are lacking. The main objective of this study was to evaluate a recently deployed database in facilitating the process of clinical audit, and the secondary objective was to evaluate the outcomes of free flap reconstruction of the head and neck at our centre.

Methods: A head and neck cancer-specific database was customized to suit the needs of our head and neck multidisciplinary team.

Epidemiology of tendon and ligament injuries in Aotearoa/New Zealand between 2010 and 2016.

Background: Injuries to tendons and ligaments make up a large portion of musculoskeletal injuries, and contribute to significant morbidity and healthcare costs. However, there is currently a poor understanding of the burden of these injuries at a population level. The purpose of this study was to quantify the burden and distribution of tendon and ligament injuries in the Aotearoa/New Zealand population.