Expert Panel Discusssions Regarding Ear, Nose, Throat Disorders Open to the Media

Newswise — Sessions addressing robotic surgery, facial plastic surgery, snoring, pediatric sleep disorders, childhood hearing loss, and voice problems in the elderly will be featured at the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meetingin New York City, September 19-22.

Newswise — For the first time, expert panel discussions on the latest diagnostic and treatment advances for the most compelling ear, nose, and throat topics at the annual gathering of the nation's ear, nose, and throat specialists will be open to the media. These "miniseminars" will take place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center from September 19-22, 2004 as part of the American Academy of Otolaryngology " Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting & OTO EXPO. Reporters and medical writers are invited to attend the miniseminars and meet with experts to learn more about these ear, nose, and throat disorders. Highlights of these miniseminars are detailed below:

Sunday, September 19:

Robotic Surgery in Otolaryngology: A Look into the Future, 10:30 AM to 11:50 AM, Room 1A06, Panel participants, David J Terris, MD, Russell A Faust, MD PhD, Patrick C Melder, MD, and Christine Gail Gourin, MD, will discuss the latest developments in the field of surgical robotics. Background in this emerging field and an update of experimental studies will be presented. Early clinical applications of robotic surgery in otolaryngology will be discussed including details about the advantages, limitations, and future potential of the clinical applications, particularly regarding thyroid and laryngoscopic surgery.

Contemporary Minimally Invasive Treatment Techniques for Facial Rhytids (wrinkles), 10:30 AM to 11:50 AM, Room 1A24, Jeffrey H Spiegel, MD, Tina Alster, MD, Stephen W Perkins, MD, and Sydney Coleman, MD, nationally recognized physicians from the fields of facial plastic surgery, dermatology, and plastic surgery, will discuss the latest advancements in the treatment of facial wrinkles. Aside from Botox or medical grade silicone, today's cosmetic surgeon can treat facial wrinkles with a number of minimally invasive techniques including bovine or human-derived collagen, fascia, hyaluronic acid, porcine intestinal submucosa, hydroxyapatite solutions, autologous fat or collagen grafting, and devices that use light, temperature, and lasers. Panel members will discuss new technologies and present case examples, as well as their preferred materials and techniques.

BAHA in Children, 10:30 AM to 11:50 AM, Room 1A10, Panel experts Anders M R Tjellstrom, MD PhD, Antonio De la Cruz, MD, John K Niparko, MD, Blake C Papsin, MD, David W Proops, BDS FRCS, and Jack J Wazen, MD, will review the current status of the use of BAHA in children (BAHA is an implantable hearing device that works through direct bone conduction). Discussion will include optimal use of the BAHA, patient selection criteria, special surgical considerations in children, tips and strategies to improve surgical technique, and post-op routines.

Monday, September 20:

Management of Otitis Media in Cochlear Implant Candidates & Recipients, 8:00 AM to 9:20 AM, Room 1A24. Otitis media (ear infection), one of the most common childhood maladies, may lead to life-threatening complications in children with cochlear implants. Cochlear implant experts Patrick J Antonelli, MD, Clough Shelton, MD, Richard T Miyamoto, MD, Thomas J Balkany, MD, and Simon C Parisier, MD, will discuss approaches to the management of acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion, chronic suppurative otitis media, and cholesteatoma in children with cochlear implants. Illustrative cases will be presented.

Update on Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Snoring, 9:30 AM to 10:20 AM, Room 1A14. More than 20 percent of the adult population suffers from primary or simple snoring; snoring without significant apnea. While the health consequences of sleep apnea are incontrovertible, the affects of primary snoring are more vague and diagnostic procedures are less precise. Meanwhile, over-the-counter products, devices, and medical treatments, some lacking scientific validity, for this bothersome condition have proliferated in the last several years. To assist the otolaryngologist in choosing the appropriate diagnostic tools and treatment options, experts Karl Hoermann, MD, Joachim T Maurer, MD, Thomas Verse, MD, B Tucker Woodson, MD, and Regina P Walker, MD, will explain the clinical significance of primary snoring and upper airway resistance syndrome, the different methods of subjective and objective assessment of snoring, the most promising conservative treatment options, and the morbidity and success rates of recent developments in surgical treatment.

Interaction of Reflux/Allergy in Upper Aerodigestive Inflammation, 10:30 AM to 11:50 AM, Room 1A10. Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) occurs when gastric contents "reflux" or move up the esophagus into the laryngeal area or upper airway. LPR is a common cause of chronic laryngeal inflammation. But what about other factors like allergies? Likewise, research suggests a link between LPR and chronic sinusitis in children, but does such a link exist in adults? Research is currently being conducted to answer these questions, which will be discussed by panel members Robert J Stachler, MD, James P Dworkin, PhD, Peter C Belafsky, MD PhD MPH, and John H Krouse, MD PhD. The presentation will include a review of the pathophysiology of LPR detailing chronic changes of the larynx, sinuses, and upper esophagus through the use of videolaryngoscopic presentations, slide-based lectures, and case discussions. Future directions for research in this field will also be highlighted.

Controversies in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Dizziness, 10:30 AM to 11:50 AM, Room 1A14. As society ages and modern entertainment and recreational activities progress, the impact of dizziness on the population is becoming more significant. Dizziness not only interferes with the performance of daily activities, but it also represents a serious health problem. Many new diagnostic and treatment modalities have been developed to help manage the dizzy patient but not without controversy. Panel experts Michael E Hoffer, MD, Judith A White, MD, PhD, Robert A Battista, MD, Joel A Goebel, MD, Drew M Horlbeck, MD, Stephen P Cass, MD, MPH, and Ben J Balough, MD, will discuss these controversies, including: using vestibular test apparatus in diagnosing the dizzy patient, the role of vestibular rehabilitation therapy in managing the dizzy patient, the role of medicines in treating patients with a variety of vestibular disorders, and Meniere's disease: what to do next when conservative medical therapy fails.

Facelift Surgery 2004: What Works and How to Optimize Results, 10:30 AM to 11:50 AM, Room 1E14,1E15,1E16. As our population ages more people are seeking a youthful look through cosmetic surgery. Panel members Craig D Friedman, MD, Keith A LaFerriere, MD, Vito C Quatela, MD, and Neil Gordon, MD, will present the state-of-the-art in cosmetic facial surgery detailing the options, techniques, and management approaches to achieve optimal outcomes. Discussion will include facial rejuvenation surgery and patient selection circa 2004, anatomic basis for surgical techniques now used, minimally invasive and adjunctive techniques for facelift surgery, safe anesthesia and post-operative care protocols, and prevention and management of unsatisfactory results

Tuesday, September 21:

Rhinoplasty for Latin Noses, 9:30 AM to 10:20 AM, Room 1A14. Ethnic characteristics are an important identifying factor and should be considered when performing facial plastic surgery. Panel experts Victor E Vera, MD, Jose Angel Gutierrez, MD, K J Lee, MD, M Eugene Tardy, Jr, MD, and Javier J Dibildox, MD, explain that there are a number of different techniques that can be employed by surgeons undertaking rhinoplasty, or plastic surgery on the nose, but all should take into account the patient's personal ethnic anatomical and esthetic characteristics in relation to the rest of the face. In addition, different tissue behaviors during the surgical procedure could influence the final long term results and should be considered. This seminar will focus on the surgical techniques and esthetic sense of facial contours specifically for the Latino population.

Sleep Disordered Breathing in Children: A Clinical Update, 10:30 AM to 11:50 AM, Room 1A10. Identifying children with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is important as the disorder can lead to cognitive, behavioral, cardiovascular, and metabolic abnormalities. When a child is identified with the disorder, intervention can reverse these changes. This seminar seeks to educate the otolaryngologist about the disorder, its proper diagnosis and treatment. Panel experts Norman R Friedman, MD, Michael Friedman, MD, David Gozal, MD, and Ron B Mitchell, MD will discuss the implications of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children, the important features of a sleep study report, the different evaluation tools available to assess SDB, the complexity of the physical examination for children with suspected SDB, and current research efforts.

Wednesday, September 22:

Voice Disorders in the Elderly, 8:00 AM to 9:20 AM, Room 1A14 The US Bureau of Census reported 30 million people in the US over the age of 65 in the year 2000, and predicts that the number will climb to over 50 million by the year 2020. Estimates indicate that as many as 12 percent of our nation's elderly may have vocal dysfunction. Panel experts C Blake Simpson, MD, Albert L Merati, MD, Allen D Hillel, MD, and R Lucian Sulica, MD, will examine the effects of aging on the voice and to discuss the diagnosis and treatment of the common causes of hoarseness in the elderly population including vocal fold paresis/paralysis, spasmodic dysphonia, tremor, and Parkinson's disease.