Bone-anchored hearing aids in conductive and mixed hearing losses: why do patients reject them?

This study aimed to report the bone-anchored hearing aid uptake rate and the reasons for their rejection by patients with conductive and mixed hearing losses. A retrospective review was performed of 113 consecutive patients with unilateral or bilateral conductive or mixed hearing loss referred to the Greater Manchester bone-anchored hearing aid (BAHA) programme between September 2008 and August 2011. 98 (86.7 %) patients were deemed audiologically suitable for BAHA implantation. Of these, 38 (38.8 %) had BAHA implanted; 60 (61.2 %) patients declined. Of those who declined, 27 (45 %) cited anxiety over surgery, 18 (30 %) cited cosmetic reasons, 16 (26.7 %) perceived limited benefit from the device and six (10 %) preferred conventional hearing aids. Our study highlights a 38.8 % BAHA uptake rate in audiologically suitable patients. The main reasons cited for rejection of BAHA were anxiety over surgery and cosmetic concerns. It is important that clinicians address these early during consultation with prospective BAHA recipients and avoid rushing to implant these patients with a bone-anchored hearing aid.

Surgery results in complete cure of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome in a patient with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome is a paraneoplastic phenomenon associated with neuroendocrine tumours, most frequently small cell lung carcinoma. Merkel cell carcinoma is a rare cause of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. A 70-year old gentleman was referred with metastatic axillary nodal disease from a previously resected Merkel cell carcinoma of the left arm. Pre-operatively, the patient was wheelchair-bound from Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome. Level I-III left axillary node clearance was performed and within 6 months, he had experienced full recovery of muscle power and mobility. We describe a case of complete cure of Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome following axillary nodal clearance in a patient with metastatic Merkel cell carcinoma.

Management of penetrating neck injuries at a London trauma centre.

Penetrating neck injuries (PNIs) are uncommon in the UK. The majority of guidelines are from the USA or South Africa. No UK national guidelines exist. Increasing urban violence in the UK has lead to an increase in PNIs. There is a need to develop a PNI guideline that reflects the pathology and experience in the UK. A retrospective review of all PNIs managed at St George's Hospital over an 18 month period was undertaken. Data collected included patient demographics, mechanism of injury, investigations, multidisciplinary team involvement and management. Clinical activity data was correlated to current worldwide literature and a flow-chart style clinical guideline was produced. 25 neck wounds were managed over an 18 month period. 68 % were male, 32 % female with a mean age of 36 years. The mechanism of injury included deliberate self-harm (48 %), stab wounds (32 %), gunshot wounds (4 %), shotgun wounds (4 %) and other accidental causes (12 %). 52 % of wounds were superficial to platysma. 58 % of deep wounds had CT. 42 % of patients with deep wounds also had panendoscopy. Interventional radiology was used in one case (8 %) and a single case was managed jointly with the vascular team (8 %). UK ENT surgeons have limited exposure to neck trauma and dedicated head and neck out-of-hours cover is uncommon. There is a need for UK PNI guidelines that reflect local pathology and experience. The St George's PNI guideline can be used to facilitate assessment, documentation and management of a relatively infrequent emergency presentation.