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The authors of a new study recently introduced minimal-dissection facelift techniques (mini-facelifts) to their patients. The anterior mini-facelift, primarily designed to address the midface and jowl region, uses small incisions in the preauricular and temporal area. For patients with complaints about aging--predominantly in the neck area, the posterior facelift is offered which involves limited postauricular incisions with extensions into the occipital hairline.

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There are several ways to decrease post-operative vomiting (POV). These include gastric suctioning to relieve distension, avoidance of selected anesthetic agents such as nitrous oxide and opioids, and withholding oral fluids postoperatively. Aggressive IV hydration and adequate pain control may also decrease POV. A team of researchers from Detroit set out to assess whether the presence of IV access or lack thereof, affects the incidence of POV, postoperative pain and length of hospital stay after anesthesia for tube insertion. Parental satisfaction was also identified as a measure of perioperative outcome.

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Mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the second most common neurological disorder with an incidence of 180 for 100,000. The symptoms of mild TBI include fatigue, headaches, dizziness, concentration, memory disorders, and irritability. The goal of a new research effort was to examine the patterns of dizziness after mild TBI and to provide some treatment strategies and prognostic data for this common disorder.

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Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) is the most common surgical procedure performed for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The operation entails removal of excess tissue at the back of the throat (tonsils, uvula and part of the soft palate). The anatomic and physiologic abnormalities associated with OSA pose additional risks of complication during and after the surgery. In this study, researchers calculated the 30-day incidence of serious complications and mortality in a large, multi-site cohort of UPPP patients.

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Age has a significant impact on the ability to smell with an estimated 25 percent of the elderly population experiencing some degree of olfactory loss. Other major causes of smell loss include trauma and disease (such as sinusitis). A new study indicates that all three causes of smell loss are associated with the apoptotic death of olfactory sensory neurons in the nose.

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A team of researchers have completed a new study that assessed outcomes for cochlear implantation in an elderly population. They found that the aging test subjects showed significant improvement in auditory performance tests following cochlear implantation compared with their preimplantation scores, but performed less well than younger patients.

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A team of Wisconsin researchers set out to evaluate the long-term effects of endoscopic sinus surgery on asthma in patients meeting the diagnostic criteria for aspirin triad disease.

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In this study the tongues of neurologically normal adult humans were examined by ATPase staining for the first time. This study assumed amount and distribution of slow muscle fibers (MFs) reflects the activity of the tongue. Differences in slow MF distribution would provide insight on tongue structure-function relationships.

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Due to this lack of information, clinical practices surrounding the surgical treatment of benign vocal fold lesions often are determined by tradition, habit or an accident during training. The standard of care is unclear under these circumstances, and indeed, a consensus among practitioners may not exist. A new study set out to describe current care now undertaken by the medical and surgical community, with special attention to identify areas of disagreement or lack of uniformity in order to shape future inquiry.

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The traditional management for local control of recurrent head and neck tumors consists of surgical resection and/or radiation therapy. However, there are cases when surgery is not feasible, due to the extent of the disease or close proximity to vital structures, or the possibility of a loss of vital function and/or disfigurement that leads the patient to decline standard treatment. When this occurs, patients are offered experimental chemotherapy or pain control alone, inevitably resulting in an undesirable outcome. Therefore, new treatments are needed for this advanced stage of cancer.

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A team of researchers set out to investigate the effect of physiologic acid in the nasopharynx on Eustachian tube function and subsequent middle ear pathology through the use of a gerbil model. The procedure used a non-surgical method for acid instillation into the nasopharynx and a recently reported technique suitable for the assessment of ET function in a randomized trial experimental design.

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Transplantation results in some physiological changes to the body, the consequences of which are not all known at this time. For example, the prevalence of enlarged tonsils and adenoids in the pediatric post-transplant population, relative to the general pediatric population, remains unknown. Adenotonsillar enlargement in the healthy pediatric population has been attributed to recurrent upper respiratory tract infections, allergy-related upper respiratory tract inflammation, and upper airway obstruction.

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Five years ago, a study was conducted on 31 morbidly obese children who underwent adenotonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea. By polysomnogram (PSG), the percentage of their sleeping period with irregular breathing decreased from a mean of 34.4 percent preoperatively to almost zero percent after adenotonsillectomy. A follow-up study has evaluated the outcome and morbidity associated with tonsillectomy/ adenoidectomy in morbidly obese children without significant co-morbid conditions.

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A team of researchers retrospectively evaluated older ICU patients who were suffering from respiratory failure to assess whether the Apache III or a neurological status assessment (NSA which closely resembles the GCS) could be used to predict an outcome for a tracheotomy in an elderly patient.

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Nine medical societies, all dedicated to research and education related to ear, nose and throat disorders, will gather May 2-6, 2003, at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. More that 1,000 otolaryngologistËœhead and neck surgeons (ear, nose, and throat specialists) will meet to receive new research findings related to the latest advances in patient care of such medical disorders as sinusitis, sleep apnea, tonsillitis, ear infections, and facial plastic surgery.

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On April 16, 2003, the nation's largest group of ear, nose, and throat physicians is asking the public to recognize that the human voice is a fragile communication instrument that can be damaged through harmful speaking techniques and alcohol and tobacco abuse.

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Two otolaryngologist--head and neck surgeons have validated a new survey instrument that assessed sinus infection, nasal obstruction, allergy symptoms, emotional distress, and activity limitations.

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More than 900 scientific presentations, symposia, and workshops highlight the 26th MidWinter Meeting on Hearing and Balance sponsored by the Association for Research in Otolaryngology (ARO). The conference is in Daytona Beach, FL, on February 23-27, 2003.

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Ten otolaryngologist--head and neck surgeons and members of the AAOHNS from northern and southern California have joined together for "Community ENT 2003," a one-day event sponsored by the California Medical Association to provide treatment for ear, nose, and throat disorders for children without access to specialty medical care.

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The American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, is launching, "Kids E.N.T. Health," a new public education initiative that will advise parents, caregivers, and other physicians on the latest diagnostic and treatment procedures for children's ear, nose, and throat problems.

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Findings of a new study demonstrate that administration of antibiotics by nebulization (versus oral or intravenous) was preferred by patients with chronic sinusitis whose infections persisted despite previous sinus surgery. This treatment also provided a longer infection-free period, up from six weeks to 17 weeks.

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Here are preventative measures to ensure that your hearing, voice, sinuses, sense of smell, and throat will come through the holiday season free of discomfort or serious illness. The American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery offers a holiday season survival guide to help you avoid ruining your holiday experience by suffering from an ear, nose, or throat illness.

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A research team has completed the first randomized, controlled study that specifically evaluates Canalith Repositioning Maneuver efficiency in treating Benign Positional Paroxysmal Vertigo in the very old. Because this procedure requires significant head and neck manipulation, the study incorporated modifications to make the procedure safe and effective.

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A new study from a department of otolaryngology in the United Kingdom finds that withdrawing the use of bipolar diathermy for dissection in adult tonsillectomy led to no significant reduction in adult secondary post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage rates.

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Past medical research has examined the complications associated with pediatric tracheostomies, but none have studied the factors influencing the need for tracheostomy in the preterm infant. In a first of its kind study, researchers have examined the events surrounding a tracheostomy in high-risk preterm infants by reviewing the charts of children admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit who required a tracheostomy, analyzing their co-morbidities and the indications for tracheostomy.

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A new research study from Sweden now provides evidence that men and women differ in their physiological predictors of sleep apnea, suggesting that the physicial examination for this disorder should incorporate gender differences.

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A research team from the University of Chicago hypothesized that subjects with perennial allergic rhinitis treated with a topical steroid nasal spray without benzalkonium chloride would have reduced nasal inflammation, improved quality of life, and unaffected nasal clearance. They also suggested that another popular intranasal steroid preparation with benzalkonium chloride would similarly reduce nasal inflammation and improve quality of life, but reduce nasal clearance.

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A new research study has found that treatment with a longer course of steroids in addition to antivirals is a preferred option for the treatment of sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

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A research team has reported some success with transtympanic steroid therapy for treatment of hearing loss in patients with various inner ear problems. They have concluded that direct inner ear steroid perfusion helps to achieve higher inner ear concentrations while minimizing systemic side effects.

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This study investigated the potential benefit of intratympanic steroids in the treatment of sudden hearing loss. The results of this protocol were compared to the results using oral steroids, since the latter have proven effective in SSNHL treatment.

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A study was undertaken in an Irish treatment center to examine the outcome of tympanoplasty in children and investigate the influence of the age of the child, the site and size of the perforation, history of ventilation tube insertion, and presence of a narrow anterior rim of tympanic membrane on the surgical result.

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This study attempts to measure objectively the impact of adenotonsillar disease and note the areas of concern by the child's caretakers. At the same time comparisons were made with other conditions, such as asthma and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Essentially, the research defines a framework within which treatment decisions can be examined and validated.

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This research presents the first results of a large-scale study that utilized a combined treatment approach of APC and topical estriol, one of the three naturally occurring estrogens, in Olser´s disease and recurrent nosebleeds. Estrogens are known to induce an epithelial metaplasia by changing the ciliary columnar epithelium into a keratinizing squamous epithelium.

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Similarities in neuro-biological models, patient psychological profiles, and treatment options warrant greater attention. A team of researchers set out to examine these similarities. Their objective was to find out how many chronic pain patients suffer from tinnitus, the relation of tinnitus to pain in onset or severity, and whether treatments received for chronic pain impact tinnitus.

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A team of otolaryngologists from Brazil have examined the skeletal surgeries carried out in treating primary snoring and mild and moderate OSAS. They focused on procedures limited to the palate, lower tongue and skeletal surgeries, and areas of the upper airway most receptive for treatment.

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A research team from the United Kingdom has conducted a prospective study, analyzing the role of routine CT scan of the chest in consecutive newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinomas in detecting synchronous tumors in the chest.

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A new study explores otolaryngologic applications of the da Vinci in the laboratory setting. Optimal location and setup for the robotic system were established for various surgical techniques, along with review procedures for the operative advantages of the da Vinci, its potential application in otolaryngology, and its current limitations.

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This study examined the existing medical literature comparing the two procedures for the surgical removal of tonsils (tonsillectomy). The criteria included resulting pain, morbidity, operative time, and intraoperative time from the two different methods, monopolar electrocautery and cold knife dissection.

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A new research study suggests examination of related inner ear physiology and disorders to seek an alternative treatment for Meniere's disease.

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A pediatric otolaryngologist and a research scientist have made their case that the next stage for the tonsillectomy will be the use of the contact diode laser (CDL).

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In their search for a less invasive, but equally effective technique, a team of ear, nose, and throat specialists revisited an old procedure, tonsillotomy, or partial tonsillectomy, but in this case, performed with contemporary technology. The procedure involves a reduction in the tonsil size, partially shaving them away using an endoscopic microdebrider, a very small, high-speed device that shaves soft tissue.

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A team of researchers have undertaken a longitudinal study in which a large number of children scheduled for adenotonsillectomy (AT) and a smaller number of controls (children with no clinical symptoms of SDB scheduled for non-airway procedures) are investigated by collecting PSG, cognitive and behavioral data at two distinct time points, just before surgery and one year later.

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This research addresses the possible treatment value of medical management for acoustic neuromas, where the patient is 65 or older, other medical conditions preclude surgery, and tumor growth is slow.

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A group of researchers from a Virginia medical college set out to: (1) determine the number of cochlear implant patients at their institution who use the telephone independently, require some form of assistance or have no telephone use; (2) to assess telephone understanding by patients who use the telephone independently, and determine characteristics that contribute to successful telephone communication.

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Alternobaric facial nerve palsy, or baroparesis, is a rapidly reversible facial palsy related to over-pressurization of the middle ear that usually appears during air flight ascent or while surfacing during scuba diving.

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Although nasal manifestations of these disorders have been described, there are no reports of an association between inflammatory bowel disease and chronic sinonasal disease. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of chronic sinus or nasal disorders in an IBD patient population.

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Chronic hoarseness appears to be an increasingly common problem in children. The conventional wisdom in the medical community is that benign vocal fold nodules are the most common cause of this problem. This assumption often lulls the clinician into failing to provide an accurate diagnose. Consequently, ineffective vocal therapy is too often begun without visualization of the larynx.

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For those undergoing acoustic neuroma surgery, the current success rates for hearing preservation in selected patients range from 15 to 68 percent. This spread may be a result of varying definitions applied to successful hearing preservation.

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Ear, nose, and throat specialists found that children may need repeated ventilation tube insertions or a tube in place for two years or more. In either case, concerns about complications have appeared, especially if a tube is retained for longer than expected. A retrospective study was undertaken to assess the complications of ventilation tubes retained for at least two 2 years and the need to remove them.

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Patients with chronic sinusitis, including those with previous sinus surgeries, often return to the physician with infections. The management of these patients routinely includes antibiotics. However, increasing levels of antibiotic resistance has caused many specialists to obtain cultures before prescribing medications.