Otolaryngology is the branch of medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of ear, nose, throat, and head & neck disorders. The full name of the specialty is otolaryngology-head and neck surgery. Practitioners are called otolaryngologists-head and neck surgeons, or sometimes otorhinolaryngologists (ORL). A somewhat outdated, but nevertheless commonly used, term for this speciality is ENT (ear, nose and throat).

Explanation

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Otolaryngologists are medical doctors who complete at least five years of surgical residency training (one year in general surgery, four years in otolaryngology - head and neck surgery). Following residency training, some otolaryngologists elect to complete advanced subspeciality fellowships which are usually one or two years in duration. As with all medical fellowships, acceptance is highly competitive.

More on [ Otolaryngology ]

pubmed: 0165-5876

Effects of exposure to smoking on the microbial flora of children and their parents.
Brook I Related Articles Effects of exposure to smoking on the microbial flora of children and their parents. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 Feb 1; Authors: Brook I This review presents our studies that investigated the effects of exposure to direct and indirect smoking on the colonization with pathogenic bacteria and organisms that interfere with their growth. The flora of smokers (S) contained less aerobic and anaerobic organisms with interfering capability and more potential pathogens as compared with non-smokers (N-S). The high number of pathogens and the low number of interfering organisms found in the nasopharynx of smokers revert to normal levels after complete cessation of smoking. A high recovery rate of potential pathogens and low number of interfering organisms were observed in otitis media prone (OMP) children. This was not related to their parents smoking habits. The flora of S parents contains more potential pathogens that are similar to the one recovered from their OMP children, and less interfering organisms as compared to N-S parents. Parents that smoked were more often colonized by potential pathogens than parents that did not smoke. The flora of healthy children of S parents contained high number of potential pathogens similar to the one found in their parents and OMP children. Concordance with pathogens in the parent was high among the OMP children of S parents but this was not observed in OMP children of N-S. A higher recovery rate of potential pathogenic organisms was observed in OMP children of both S and N-S parents, as compared to healthy children whose parents were N-S. Since S parents harbor more potential pathogens and less interfering organisms they may serve as a source of pathogens that can colonize and/or infect their children. These studies illustrate the adverse effects of direct and indirect exposure to smoking on colonization with potential pathogens. PMID: 20129680 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
The Effects of topical viscous lignocaine 2% versus per-rectal diclofenac in early post-tonsillectomy pain in children.
Rhendra Hardy MZ, Zayuah MS, Baharudin A, Wan Aasim WA, Shamsul KH, Hashimah I, Suan YA Related Articles The Effects of topical viscous lignocaine 2% versus per-rectal diclofenac in early post-tonsillectomy pain in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 Feb 1; Authors: Rhendra Hardy MZ, Zayuah MS, Baharudin A, Wan Aasim WA, Shamsul KH, Hashimah I, Suan YA INTRODUCTION: Tonsillectomy is frequently associated with postoperative pain of considerable duration, which is usually accompanied by the substantial consumption of both opioid and non-opioid analgesic such as NSAIDs and local anaesthetics. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy between 2% viscous lignocaine and sodium diclofenac based upon the visual analogue scores (VASs), consumption of pethidine 0.5mgkg(-1) as the rescue drug postoperatively and time taken to resume feeding. METHODS: 130 patients aged between 5 and 12 years old were randomly allocated into 2 groups to be given either 2% viscous lignocaine 4mgkg(-1) body weight topically post-tonsillectomy or sodium diclofenac 1mgkg(-1) per-rectal post-induction of anaesthesia. Postoperatively visual analogues score was done for 24h, the amount of pethidine given and time when the patient start taking oral feeding of clear fluid, soft diet and normal diet were documented. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the visual analogue scores in both groups, however the requirement of pethidine as the rescue drug postoperatively was significant 2h post-tonsillectomy (p=0.023) in viscous lignocaine group compared to sodium diclofenac. The time taken to resume oral feeding and soft diet was also significant in viscous lignocaine group (p=0.016 and p=0.007) whereas there was no significant in taking normal diet. Conclusion: We concluded that 2% viscous lignocaine applied topically post-tonsillectomy is comparable to sodium diclofenac per-rectal in providing analgesia and faster oral feeding. PMID: 20129679 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Bupivacaine versus normal saline for relief of post-adenotonsillectomy pain in children: A meta-analysis.
Sun J, Wu X, Meng Y, Jin L Related Articles Bupivacaine versus normal saline for relief of post-adenotonsillectomy pain in children: A meta-analysis. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 Feb 1; Authors: Sun J, Wu X, Meng Y, Jin L OBJECTIVE: A meta-analysis was performed to explore the role of peri-operative bupivacaine infiltration in the relief of pain in adenotonsillectomy. METHODS: Data from Medline, EMBase, Springer and the Cochrane Collaboration database were searched. Reference lists from identified publications were scanned. RevMan 5.0 software was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS: 7 random controlled tests (a total of 286 cases) were included. Pain intensity was evaluated by VAS score or Cheops score. The pain of group bupivacaine (Group B) was less severe than group placebo (Group P). Analgesic requirement of Group B was less than Group P. Nevertheless the difference of complication between bupivacaine and placebo had no statistical difference. CONCLUSION: Bupivacaine infiltration is a safe and effective method for relief of pediatric post-adenotonsillectomy pain. PMID: 20129678 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Propranolol therapy for infantile haemangiomas: Review of the literature.
Zimmermann AP, Wiegand S, Werner JA, Eivazi B Related Articles Propranolol therapy for infantile haemangiomas: Review of the literature. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 Jan 29; Authors: Zimmermann AP, Wiegand S, Werner JA, Eivazi B OBJECTIVES: Haemangiomas are the most common tumors of infancy affecting approximately 1 in 10 children. Unlike other tumors, haemangiomas enter an involution phase, during which they usually regress over the next several months to years. Sometimes intervention is required due to proliferative growth which is complicated by ulceration, bleeding, persistent aesthetic deformity or infection. METHODS: Review of the literature. RESULTS: Propranolol, a nonselective beta-blocker, has recently been introduced as a novel modality for the treatment of proliferating haemangiomas. The exact mechanism of action of propranolol in the treatment of haemangiomas remains unclear, but vasoconstriction, down-regulation of angiogenic factors such as VEGF and bFGF and up-regulation of apoptosis of capillary endothelial cells may be responsible for the reduction of haemangiomas. Besides, an inhibition of MMP-9 and HBMEC expression by propanolol is discussed as possible mechanism influencing the growth of haemangiomas. However, there are different case reports of successfully treated infants in the current literature. CONCLUSION: There is the obtain that propranolol will detach steroids in the therapy for infantile haemangiomas. PMID: 20117846 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Sialendoscopy in children.
Jabbour N, Tibesar R, Lander T, Sidman J Related Articles Sialendoscopy in children. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2010 Jan 28; Authors: Jabbour N, Tibesar R, Lander T, Sidman J BACKGROUND: The definitive cause of most cases of recurrent salivary gland inflammation in children remains unknown. Relatively little has been written about the use of sialendoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in children. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of sialendoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for recurrent salivary gland inflammation in children. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Medical records of all patients who underwent sialendoscopy for recurrent salivary gland inflammation from a single tertiary-care pediatric otolaryngology practice were reviewed. Comparison of pre-procedure vs. post-procedure frequency and severity of disease was reviewed. Operative reports, images, and video were analyzed for causes of inflammation. RESULTS: Six patients (aged 3-16 years old) underwent sialendoscopy (3/6 bilateral parotid, 2/6 unilateral parotid, 1/6 unilateral submandibular). There were no complications. No post-operative recurrence was noted in 3/6 patients; decreased frequency of recurrence was noted in 2/6 patients; repeat sialendoscopy was required in 1/6. Operative findings from sialendoscopy from 10 parotid glands showed fibrinous debris (7/10), mucoid debris (1/10), purulent debris (1/10), or duct stenosis (1/10). No stones were noted. CONCLUSIONS: Sialendoscopy is a safe, minimally invasive procedure that may decrease the frequency of recurrences for salivary gland inflammation in children. In contrast to previously published work, the most common cause of salivary gland obstruction in this series was debris, rather than stones. Increased use of sialendoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool will allow for improved understanding of the causes of and management for recurrent salivary gland inflammation in children. PMID: 20116866 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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