Continental Preferences in Reconstruction of Pharyngolaryngectomy Defects: A Multi-National Survey.

Objectives: Reconstruction of total pharyngolaryngectomy defects may restore pharyngeal function and enable tracheoesophageal speech after resection of locoregionally advanced malignancy. Little remains known about variations in the practices and preferences of surgeons across differing global regions.

Methods: A survey was sent to reconstructive head and neck surgeons across three continents with responses analyzed to evaluate trends.

A Non-inferiority Trial: Safety and Efficacy of Topical 1:1000 versus 1:10 000 Epinephrine in Sino-nasal Surgeries.

Objective: This study aimed to test the non-inferiority of topical 1:1000 epinephrine compared to topical 1:10 000 with regard to intraoperative hemodynamic stability, and to determine whether it produced superior visibility conditions.

Methods: A single-blinded, prospective, cross-over non-inferiority trial was performed. Topical 1:1000 or topical 1:10 000 was placed in 1 nasal passage.

Multidisciplinary Tracheotomy Teams: An Analysis of Patient Outcomes and Resource Allocation.

We sought to establish the effect of introducing a multidisciplinary tracheotomy management team (MDT). Tracheotomies are high-cost interventions with potentially devastating complications. Multidisciplinary teams have been introduced in many hospitals with the aim of reducing complications, however, data supporting them are lacking.

Olfactory Neuroblastoma: Fate of the Neck--A Long-term Multicenter Retrospective Study.

Objective: Olfactory neuroblastoma and the management of neck disease has posed considerable challenges to the treating physician. The aims of the study were to determine the incidence and factors influencing neck disease and to identify at-risk patients with cervical node-negative disease at presentation.

Study Design: Multicenter case series with retrospective chart review.

Mastoiditis in a paediatric population: a review of 11 years experience in management.

Objective: This study explores the experience at Sydney Children's Hospital (SCH) managing children with acute mastoiditis and establishes a robust treatment algorithm.

Methods: Retrospective review of all patients admitted to SCH with an ICD-10 coding of "Mastoiditis" from 1 January 1996 through 31 December 2006 inclusive. Criteria assessed included demographic characteristics, clinical features, symptom duration and treatment initiated by the general practitioner.

Autologous fat injection laryngoplasty for unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

Background: Fat injection laryngoplasty has been used at the Sydney Voice Clinic for selected cases of unilateral vocal fold paralysis since 1989.

Methods: Forty-five consecutive cases deemed suitable for treatment by this technique are presented in this paper.

Results: Mean follow up for this group of patients was 33 months.

Laser tenotomy and vocal process resection for bilateral midline vocal fold fixation.

Background: The present retrospective study presents the outcomes of a group of 21 patients with laryngeal obstruction caused by bilateral vocal fold fixation. All of these patients were treated by laser assisted muscle tenotomy and vocal process resection - a modification of the technique described by Michael and Eugene Rontal in 1994.1

Methods: Between January 1997 and March 2002 the senior author performed muscle tenotomy and vocal process resection for bilateral vocal fold fixation on 21 patients.