To compare ultrasonography-guided drainage versus conventional surgical incision and drainage in deep neck space abscesses.

The study was pre-registered on the National Institute of Health Research Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42023466809) and adhered to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The Medline, Embase and Central databases were searched. Primary outcomes were length of hospital stay and recurrence. Heterogeneity and bias risk were assessed, and a fixed-effects model was applied.

Of 646 screened articles, 7 studies enrolling 384 participants were included. Ultrasonography-guided drainage was associated with a significantly shorter hospital stay (mean difference = −2.31, p < 0.00001), but no statistically significant difference was noted in recurrence rate compared to incision and drainage (odds ratio = 2.02, p = 0.21). Ultrasonography-guided drainage appeared to be associated with cost savings and better cosmetic outcomes.

Ultrasonography-guided drainage was associated with a shorter hospital stay, making it a viable and perhaps more cost-effective alternative. More randomised trials with adequate outcomes reporting are recommended to optimise the available evidence.

Partly as a result of coronavirus disease 2019, YouTube has become a more frequent educational source for otolaryngology trainees. This study sought to assess the quality of flexible nasendoscopy and peritonsillar abscess drainage videos.

YouTube was systematically searched using 13 terms related to flexible nasendoscopy and peritonsillar abscess drainage. Two independent reviewers assessed the quality of each video using the Laparoscopic Video Educational Guidelines.

Twenty-seven videos were deemed suitable. The mean total Laparoscopic Video Educational Guidelines scores for videos on flexible nasendoscopy (18 videos) and peritonsillar abscess drainage (9 videos) were 10.3 (standard deviation = 3.1) and 11.7 (standard deviation = 4.6), respectively. Most of the videos were deemed of medium quality. The Laparoscopic Video Educational Guidelines score correlated positively with flexible nasendoscopy video length and how recently a peritonsillar abscess drainage video had been uploaded.

The limited high-quality videos on YouTube are difficult to identify from the search metrics available. Trainees and ENT induction programmes would benefit greatly from an online platform that contains a catalogue of high-quality surgical videos.

The junior otolaryngologist is responsible for recognition and drainage of the peritonsillar abscess. Although other simulators have been proposed, there is still a need for an accessible, educationally useful, low-cost peritonsillar abscess simulator to build skills and confidence in the novice.

The peritonsillar abscess simulator was constructed from basic disposable healthcare equipment and a party balloon. Evaluation of this Newport Quinsy Simulator was performed by expert and novice clinicians, who provided feedback in the form of Likert scales and free-text qualitative responses.

Overall, 24 clinicians evaluated the simulator. All felt the simulator was useful for the novice otolaryngologist, and represented the key anatomy and motor skills needed to drain a peritonsillar abscess. Qualitative evaluation highlighted the educational usefulness of the simulator as a peritonsillar abscess training device.

The Newport Quinsy Simulator is affordable, accessible, easy to use and educationally valuable to the novice otolaryngologist.

Deep neck space abscesses are common head and neck surgery emergencies. Traditionally, surgical incision and drainage has been the main treatment for deep neck abscesses. Recently, it has been suggested that ultrasound-guided drainage of neck abscesses can be an effective and less invasive alternative to incision and drainage.

Patients with deep neck space abscesses referred to the emergency department of Amiralam Hospital were assessed and enrolled to the study if they met the inclusion criteria. Patients were randomly assigned to incision and drainage or ultrasound-guided drainage groups using sealed envelopes.

Sixty patients were evaluated, with 30 patients in each group. There was a significant difference (p < 0.001) in mean length of hospital stay between patients who underwent ultrasound-guided drainage (5.47 days) and those who underwent incision and drainage (9.70 days).

Ultrasound-guided drainage is an effective and safe procedure, leading to shorter hospital stay, and thus may be a suitable alternative to incision and drainage of deep neck abscesses.

This study aimed to identify the pattern of post-operative drainage following partial superficial parotidectomy with and without the use of a bipolar vessel-sealing device.

Of the 49 patients undergoing parotidectomies, a bipolar vessel-sealing device was used for 20. Predictive factors included in the analysis were age, sex, body weight, operating time, tumour pathology, and diabetes mellitus, hypertension and smoking status.

In multivariate analyses, body weight (p = 0.026) and non-use of a bipolar vessel-sealing device (p = 0.009) were significantly associated with increased post-operative drainage after 24 hours. There was also a trend towards increased drainage in diabetic patients. Operating times were significantly shorter in the bipolar vessel-sealing device group.

Although 24-hour drainage appears adequate for most patients, in obese and diabetic individuals there is a risk of requiring increased drainage. Therefore, the drain should be left in place for a longer period. The bipolar vessel-sealing device is safe and time-efficient, and decreases the post-operative drainage period.

A large variety of techniques have been used for auricular haematoma management. The open surgical management of auricular haematoma involves incision, evacuation and the obliteration of dead space using biodegradable mattress sutures. Our goal was to describe open surgical management for primary, recurrent and spontaneous auricular haematoma.

Auricular haematoma patients who underwent open surgical management were prospectively audited (2010–2013). Information was collected on demographics, clinical presentation, aetiology, examination findings, previous interventions, details of open surgical management and post-operative follow up.

In all, 12 male and 3 female patients with a mean age of 33 years (range 16–86 years) were evaluated. Contact sport injury was the most common aetiology. Ten patients had undergone previous unsuccessful interventions to treat auricular haematoma before open surgical management was performed. All patients were managed successfully without significant recurrence. One patient had a minor local reaccumulation which required reinsertion of a mattress suture. One elderly patient developed localised cellulitis which responded well to antibiotics.

Open surgical management of auricular haematoma has been successful. The technique is simple and reliable, and can be accomplished in a clinical setting under local anaesthesia.

To review the safety of thyroidectomy combined with cervical neck dissection without drainage, in patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma.

Two groups were defined depending on whether cervical neck dissection was or was not performed (groups one and two, respectively).

Group one included 153 patients with central neck dissection and 52 patients with central and lateral neck dissection. Group two included 121 patients. Post-operative drainage was not used in either group. Overall, 17 patients (5 per cent) developed post-operative haematoma and/or seroma: 12 patients (6 per cent) in group one and 5 patients (4 per cent) in group two. There were no major bleeding episodes; only minor bleeding or seroma was encountered, not requiring surgical intervention. Overall, 91 per cent of patients had a post-operative stay of 1 day. The number of peri-operative local complications and length of stay did not differ significantly between the two groups.

Thyroidectomy plus cervical neck dissection without drainage is safe and effective in the treatment of papillary thyroid carcinoma.

To describe a new treatment for perichondritis and haematoma of the pinna. At present, the existing treatment for these conditions is initially medical (which usually fails), followed by surgery (incision, drainage and compression to prevent recurrence) with accompanying medical management. However, the result is often a failure, resulting in partial or complete ‘cauliflower ear’ deformity.

The described treatment involves draining the site of infection and irrigating with streptomycin solution. The cavity is then filled with a solution of streptomycin, hyaluronidase and triamcinolone.

The described treatment avoids the conventional surgical procedure, which is cumbersome for surgeons and harrowingly painful for patients.

The new treatment may be recommended for universal use.