Patterns and Predictors of Hearing Aid Rejection in Paediatric Patients: A Single-Centre Experience
Main Theme: Otology Introduction: Consistent auditory stimulation is essential for speech and language development. Non surgical bone conduction hearing aids (NSBCHAs) are widely used in paediatric patients with conductive or unilateral hearing loss, yet reasons for device rejection in children remain poorly described. Methods: Retrospective review of paediatric patients referred for NSBCHAs assessment at a […]
Who Progresses? Phenotyping Long-Term Audiological Trajectories Following Newborn Hearing Screening
Children identified through the NHS Newborn Hearing Screening Programme (NNHSP) who do not initially meet cochlear implant (CI) criteria represent a heterogeneous cohort with poorly defined long-term outcomes. The natural history and longitudinal audiological phenotypes of hearing loss progression in this population remain uncertain across biological and socio-environmental factors. This regional retrospective cohort study will […]
Do patients require ongoing medication for drooling despite salivary gland surgery?
Main theme: General Introduction: Drooling is a common and distressing problem in children with neurological conditions, significantly impacting quality of life. Surgical interventions targeting the salivary glands are increasingly used when conservative measures fail, however the proportion of patients requiring ongoing medical therapy following surgery is not well characterised. Aims: To evaluate the rate of […]
Does Clot Size Matter? Rethinking Anticoagulation Duration in Paediatric Otogenic Sinus Thrombosis
Background and aimsOtogenic cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (OCVST) is a rare complication of otitis media and mastoiditis, developing in an estimated 0–3% of cases, with a mortality rate of 5–10%. Despite widespread use of anticoagulation, no consensus exists on optimal treatment duration or how interval imaging should guide management. We aimed to determine whether the […]
Are sterile drapes and gowns necessary for all paediatric ENT operations? Assessing the exposure of bodily fluids during adenotonsillectomy procedures
BACKGROUND Tonsillectomies account for 17% of the UK’s elective workload, costing the NHS £68 million and generating 41kg CO2e per operation, equivalent to the monthly electricity consumption for a three-bedroom house.1,2 At Cambridge University Hospitals, usage of sterile personal protective equipment (PPE) in selected ENT operations cost £6,176 annually. The rationale for gowning requires interrogation. […]
Dynamic Four-Dimensional CT in the Evaluation of Paediatric Tracheobronchomalacia: A Ten-Year Single-Centre Retrospective Review
Background: Paediatric tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is a heterogeneous disorder of dynamic central airway collapse. Flexible bronchoscopy is the reference standard but is invasive, uninformative about extraluminal causes, and cannot be quantified. Dynamic four-dimensional CT (4DCT) is an increasingly used non-invasive adjunct whose role alongside bronchoscopy remains poorly defined. Objectives: To describe the diagnostic yield, concordance with […]
Paediatric ENT litigation in England: a retrospective analysis of NHS Resolution claims notified 2018–2023
INTRODUCTION: Paediatric ENT clinical negligence litigation carries significant financial and governance implications, yet remains poorly characterised. This study aimed to characterise the nature, cause, and cost of paediatric ENT claims notified to NHS Resolution and identify themes amenable to risk reduction. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of NHS Resolution data for paediatric ENT claims (aged 0–17) notified […]
Preliminary Safety and Efficacy of AK-OTOF Gene Therapy for Otoferlin Gene (OTOF)-mediated Hearing Loss
Main Theme: Otology Introduction: The otoferlin gene (OTOF) encodes otoferlin, a protein critical for signaling at the inner hair cell synapse. Individuals with OTOF-mediated hearing loss typically present with congenital, severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss, with preserved otoacoustic emissions early in life. Recent advances in gene therapy and intracochlear delivery support the potential to […]
Paediatric Eustachian Tube Balloon Dilatation: The First UK Experience
Theme: Paediatric Otology Introduction Eustachian tube balloon dilatation is a minimally invasive procedure for the treatment of eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD). Although widely adopted in adults, its use within paediatric patients remains limited with no UK-based published series. Eustachian tube balloon dilatation may be indicated in children with persistent otological symptoms despite conventional management. This […]
Paediatric one stop neck lump clinic: A pilot service evaluation
Introduction:- Neck lumps are a common paediatric referral causing significant parental anxiety. One-stop clinics integrating same-day assessment and ultrasound reduce appointments and time to diagnosis. 1 Evidence derives predominantly from adult cohorts; paediatric data remain scarce. Biopsy underpins most adult models but is poorly tolerated and often unnecessary given the predominantly benign aetiology of paediatric […]