Commentary on Patient Advocacy and Research Priorities in Olfactory and Gustatory Disorders.

Purpose of Review: This paper outlines the challenges faced by people with smell and taste disorders (SATDs) and why patient advocacy is crucial in addressing these. It includes recent findings in identifying research priorities in SATDs. Recent Findings: A recent Priority Setting Partnership (PSP) conducted with the James Lind Alliance (JLA) has been completed and the top 10 research priorities in SATDs determined. Fifth Sense, a UK charity, has been working alongside patient and healthcare professions to drive awareness, education and research in this area. Summary: Following the completion of the PSP, Fifth Sense have launched six Research Hubs to take forward these priorities and engage with researchers to carry out and deliver research that directly answers the questions raised by the results of the PSP. The six Research Hubs cover a different aspect of smell and taste disorders. Each hub is led by clinicians and researchers recognised for their expertise in their field, who will act as champions for their respective hub.

Manipulation under anaesthesia of fractured nasal bones - a 10-year retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Nasal bone fractures are treated by manipulation under general or local anaesthesia procedures. Data on long-term benefits of manipulation under local anaesthesia are limited. This study aimed to quantify the proportion of patients requiring septoplasty or septorhinoplasty after manipulation under general and local anaesthesia procedures. METHODS: Anonymised data were collected from electronic records of all patients who underwent manipulation under anaesthesia at our centre over a 10-year period, including demographics, manipulation under anaesthesia timing and further surgery requirements. RESULTS: The study identified 625 manipulation under general anaesthesia and 52 manipulation under local anaesthesia procedures. Manipulation under local anaesthesia procedures were performed earlier (local anaesthesia = 9 days, general anaesthesia = 15 days; p < 0.05) and were more likely to achieve manipulation (local anaesthesia = 83 per cent, general anaesthesia = 76 per cent; p < 0.05). There was no difference between techniques in the percentage of patients requiring further surgery. CONCLUSION: This paper describes a large cohort of patients who underwent manipulation under anaesthesia over a 10-year period. Manipulation under local anaesthesia procedures have increased since the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, and the results are comparable to manipulation under general anaesthesia, with reduced delays between injury and manipulation.

Disposable versus reusable fibre-optic nasendoscopes: a national survey of UK ENT surgical trainees and a single-centre cost-analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study primarily assessed ENT surgical trainees' preferences for the qualities of disposable and reusable fibre-optic nasendoscopes. Secondary aims included eliciting trainees' views on ENT surgery and climate change, and creating a single-centre per-use cost analysis for disposable and reusable fibre-optic nasendoscopes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was formulated. An online survey consisting of multiple-choice and Likert-scale questions was distributed nationally. Cost analysis was performed using 2021-2022 data from the host institution. RESULTS: Twenty-four trainees responded. Data on disposable fibre-optic nasendoscopes showed no difference in overall satisfaction (p = 0.244). Reusable fibre-optic nasendoscopes had a lower cost per use compared with disposable nasendoscopes at 5 years (4.7 per cent reduction) and 10 years (7.1 per cent reduction). Of the trainees, 79.2 per cent were supportive of climate-friendly initiatives within ENT surgery, and 25 per cent felt supported by their departments. CONCLUSION: Trainees' satisfaction with disposable and reusable fibre-optic nasendoscopes is similar. Cost analysis favours reusable fibre-optic nasendoscopes in the long term at the host institution. Empowering departments and trainees to pursue climate-friendly initiatives should be encouraged.