Effect of post-operative analgesia duration on post-tonsillectomy readmission rate: comparison of five-day and 14-day regime.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether the introduction of a 14-day post-tonsillectomy analgesic regime would be associated with a statistically significant decrease in readmission rate. METHOD: A comparative study of tonsillectomy patients over two study periods. A retrospective review was undertaken of 342 patients (group one, five-day analgesic regime) who had undergone tonsillectomy. A prospective study was undertaken of 228 patients (group two, 14-day analgesic regime). The readmission rates for the two study periods were compared. RESULTS: The median age of group one patients was 8.1 years (range, zero to 43 years). In this group, 'cold steel' dissection was performed in 177 patients (52 per cent) and bipolar dissection in 165 patients (48 per cent); seven patients suffered reactionary haemorrhage, all from the cold steel dissection group. The median age of group two patients was 8.0 years (range, one to 47 years). In this group, cold steel dissection was performed in 103 patients (45 per cent) and bipolar dissection in 125 patients (55 per cent); there were no cases of reactionary haemorrhage. The readmission rate for group one was 9.9 per cent (34 patients), with 2.1 per cent (seven patients) returning to the operating theatre for control of haemorrhage. In group two, 8.8 per cent (20 patients) were readmitted and 1.3 per cent (three patients) returned to the operating theatre. The main reason for readmission was secondary haemorrhage: 9.1 per cent from group one and 8.3 per cent from group two. No significant difference in readmission was found between the 5-day analgesia and the 14-day analgesia groups (p=0.443). However, there was a significant difference between the diathermy and cold steel dissection groups (p<0.001). Patients undergoing bipolar diathermy were almost six times more likely to be readmitted than those undergoing cold steel dissection (odds ratio 5.78). The average time to readmission after tonsillectomy did not significantly differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The post-tonsillectomy readmission rate was not affected by the duration of post-operative analgesia; however, operating technique did have an effect.

Clinical evaluation of the electronic nose in the diagnosis of ear, nose and throat infection: a preliminary study.

The term electronic nose describes an electronic system that is able to mimic the human sense of smell. Electronic noses have been developed over the last 10 or more years to perform a variety of identification tasks in various industries. More recently electronic noses have attracted new interest in their application in the field of medical diagnosis. The aim of this study is to explore the use of an electronic nose to identify and classify pathogens associated with ear, nose and throat (ENT) infections. In this study 90 bacterial swab samples were collected from 90 patients with ENT infections. Some of these samples were analysed immediately with a commercial electronic nose (Cyranose C320). Similar numbers of swabs were also taken from the same site of infection and were sent for microbiology culture and sensitivity. The electronic nose diagnosis was compared with the microbiology diagnosis and it was found that the electronic nose diagnosis was correct in 88.2 per cent of the cases, which is an encouraging result.

Role of repeat fine needle aspiration cytology in head and neck lesions: preliminary study.

In this preliminary prospective study the value of repeating fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in patients with head and neck lesions was investigated. Few reports exist on the significance of repeating the procedure in head and neck patients. Fifty-seven patients have been sampled twice for the first and second (repeat) FNAC. The second aspirate was performed in the operating theatre under general anaesthesia prior to a surgical procedure. The cytological results were compared with the histology of the 57 resected lesions. It was found that the overall diagnostic results improved after repeating the FNAC. It can be concluded that repeating FNAC is useful and should be considered under some circumstances, especially in the case of non-diagnostic cervical lymph node aspirates.

Endoscopic repair of nasal septal perforation with acellular human dermal allograft and an inferior turbinate flap.

Nasal septal perforations present a distinct challenge to the otolaryngologist and a significant cause of symptoms to affected patients. Many surgical techniques for the repair of septal perforations have been described. Connective tissue autografts are commonly used as interpositional grafts between the septal flaps. Recently acellular human dermal allograft has been used with success. In total, 17 patients with symptomatic anterior nasal septal perforations that had failed conservative treatment underwent a closed endoscopic repair of their perforations with acellular human dermal allograft (alloderm) and an anteriorly based inferior turbinate flap; 13 patients had a successful closure of the perforation, two patients, despite initial success, re-perforated as a result of persistent crust picking and, in two patients, the graft failed. With appropriate patient selection and stringent postoperative care the authors consider this technique offers a good surgical outcome for the closure of septal perforations.

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

Recurrent respiratory papillomatosis is a relatively rare disease caused by members of the human papilloma virus family. Lesions may occur anywhere throughout the respiratory tract but show a predilection for squamo-columnar epithelial junctions, frequently leading to hoarseness and upper airway obstruction. Rarely, it can progress to squamous cell carcinoma. The impact of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis on patients, their families, and the health care system is considerable. Unfortunately, despite extensive investigational studies, no cure is available for the disease. This article reviews the aetiology of and therapeutic options for recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

Cholesterol granuloma of the frontal sinus.

It is common to see cholesterol granuloma in the mastoid air cells, less common in the orbit, and uncommon in the paranasal sinuses. Cholesterol granuloma is thought to be due to an interruption to normal aeration with impaired lymphatic drainage, resulting in a closed cavity where it may form. These expanding cysts cause bone destruction and compression of the surrounding structures that lead to clinical symptoms. Diagnosis and management of cholesterol granuloma cysts can be challenging. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomographic (CT) scans are usually diagnostic. We present a rare case of cholesterol granuloma in the frontal sinus, few cases have been reported in the literature.