Recent advances: Otorhinolaryngology

• Published in: BMJ Vol. 315; no. 7104; pp. 354 - 357
• Main Authors: Werner, Jochen A, Gottschlich, Stefan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London British Medical Journal Publishing Group 09.08.1997; British Medical Association; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Botulinum Toxins, Type A - therapeutic use; Botulism; Cancer therapies; CAS; Clinical Review; Cochlear implants; Cochlear Implants - trends; Computer assisted surgery; Deafness; Defects; Fluorescence; Head; Head & neck cancer; Head and neck neoplasms; Head and neck surgery. Maxillofacial surgery. Dental surgery. Orthodontics; Hearing aids; Hearing Aids - trends; Hearing Disorders - therapy; Humans; Implants; Larynx; Laser Therapy - trends; Lasers; Lipreading; Medical sciences; Mortality; Neck; Neoplasia; Noise; Otolaryngology; Otolaryngology - instrumentation; Otolaryngology - trends; Otorhinolaryngologic Diseases - therapy; Prostheses; Prostheses and Implants - trends; Reading; Signal processing; Speaking; Success; Surgery (general aspects). Transplantations, organ and tissue grafts. Graft diseases; Surgery of the ear, the auditive nerve and the facial nerve; Surgery, Plastic - trends; Surgical Flaps - trends; Surgical specialties; Therapy, Computer-Assisted - trends; Transplants & implants; Tumors; Human; Treatment; Implant; Prosthesis; Surgery; Laser; ENT disease; Technique; Computer aid; Inner ear
• ISSN: 0959-8138; 0959-8146; 1468-5833; 1756-1833
• DOI: 10.1136/bmj.315.7104.354

The development of "real" binaural interactive signal processing may provide even better hearing in noisy environments. 5 Summary points Digital hearing aids with multichannel and programming systems can reduce noise and greatly improve the hearing ability of the hearing impaired Auditory brainstem implants give patients with bilateral nerve deafness the chance to partly regain their hearing ability or to support their lip reading capability Injections of botulinum toxin type A are a fast and safe treatment in patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia Aesthetic surgery has been improved by using endoscopic facial plastic surgery and laser skin resurfacing to remove altered or photodamaged skin without bleeding Laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy may be useful for non-invasive early diagnosis of cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract Lasers are also being used in photodynamic therapy of cancer and for removal of hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers Reconstruction of the head and neck region after radical surgery or trauma with free flap transfer is a fast and reliable way to diminish physical, psychological, and social problems due to soft tissue defects in the head and neck region Auditory brainstem implant The past 15 years has seen much progress in restoring hearing to deaf patients. The computer provides a three dimensional picture based on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging scans taken before surgery and superimposes the position of the endoscope or microscope.\n In patients with a hopelessly advanced metastasis laser surgical resection can help to preserve the larynx for the remaining life time (fig 2 ) and increase the quality of life.