With a growing ageing population, there is a higher prevalence of dementia in patients with conditions that can be managed surgically. Patients with dementia undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia often have poorer outcomes than those without. Therefore, local anaesthesia can be an option.

Two patients with severe dementia and advanced cholesteatoma were identified for operative management. They were deemed too high risk to proceed with general anaesthesia. This article describes our experience of performing mastoid surgery under local anaesthesia in the presence of a primary carer in the operating theatre.

The complete extirpation of cholesteatoma was achieved in both cases. The carers reported that local anaesthesia helped to facilitate communication and aid patient co-operation.

Our experience, albeit limited to two cases, illustrates an alternative individualised peri-operative strategy in the surgical management of patients with dementia and concurrent advanced cholesteatoma.

Work describing patient and family outcomes after tracheostomy has indicated that patients do not feel prepared at the time of discharge.

To assess healthcare professional–patient interactions in tracheostomy care and the current provision of care.

A global electronic survey was disseminated via e-mail.

The majority of respondents were nursing or speech and language staff, from over 10 countries. Only 23 per cent of respondents’ institutions routinely offered patients the ability to meet people with a tracheostomy pre-operatively. Only 31 per cent consistently provided or co-ordinated full nursing and equipment requirements on discharge. Only half of the institutions participated in tracheostomy quality improvement initiatives; less than one-third of these involved patients.

The provision of tracheostomy care in hospital and at discharge can be improved. The current practice of clinician-led audit is becoming less viable; future initiatives should focus upon patient-centred outcomes to ensure excellence in healthcare delivery.

Computed tomography is the standard pre-operative imaging modality for sinonasal papilloma. The complementary use of magnetic resonance imaging as an additional investigation is debated. This study aimed to establish whether magnetic resonance imaging can accurately detect tumour extent and is a useful adjunct to computed tomography.

A retrospective review was conducted on 19 patients with sinonasal papilloma. The interpretation of computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, by three clinicians, was conducted by comparing prediction of tumour extent. The perceived necessity of magnetic resonance imaging was compared between clinicians.

The addition of magnetic resonance imaging improved accuracy of pre-operative interpretation; specifically, this finding was significant in cases with frontal sinus involvement. Surgeons were more likely than a radiologist to request magnetic resonance imaging, particularly when computed tomography indicated frontal sinus disease.

Pre-operative combined magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography helped predict disease in the frontal sinus better than computed tomography alone. A close working relationship between the ENT and radiology departments is important for accurate tumour localisation.

There is variation regarding the use of surgery and interventional radiological techniques in the management of epistaxis. This review evaluates the effectiveness of surgical artery ligation compared to direct treatments (nasal packing, cautery), and that of embolisation compared to direct treatments and surgery.

A systematic review of the literature was performed using a standardised published methodology and custom database search strategy.

Thirty-seven studies were identified relating to surgery, and 34 articles relating to interventional radiology. For patients with refractory epistaxis, endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation had the most favourable adverse effect profile and success rate compared to other forms of surgical artery ligation. Endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation and embolisation had similar success rates (73–100 per cent and 75–92 per cent, respectively), although embolisation was associated with more serious adverse effects (risk of stroke, 1.1–1.5 per cent). No articles directly compared the two techniques.

Trials comparing endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation to embolisation are required to better evaluate the clinical and economic effects of intervention in epistaxis.

First-on-call ENT cover is often provided by junior doctors with limited ENT experience; yet, they may have to manage life-threatening emergencies. An intensive 1-day simulation course was developed to teach required skills to junior doctors.

A prospective, single-blinded design was used. Thirty-seven participants rated their confidence before the course, immediately following the course and after a two-month interval. Blinded assessors scored participant performance in two video-recorded simulated scenarios before and after the course.

Participant self-rated confidence was increased in the end-of-course survey (score of 27.5 vs 53.0; p < 0.0001), and this was maintained two to four months after the course (score of 50.5; p < 0.0001). Patient assessment and management in video-recorded emergency scenarios was significantly improved following course completion (score of 9.75 vs 18.75; p = 0.0093).

This course represents an effective method of teaching ENT emergency management to junior doctors. ENT induction programmes benefit from the incorporation of a simulation component.