Posterior nasal nerve neurectomy for the treatment of rhinitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Summary: Background. Posterior nasal nerve neurectomy (PNNN) is a surgical option for the treatment of refractory chronic rhinitis. It can be performed by surgical dissection, cryotherapy, or laser ablation. This systematic review aimed to assess the effect of PNNN on Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) in adults with chronic rhinitis. Methods. A systematic review of EMBASE, MEDLINE, PubMed and ClinicalKey databases was conducted in November 2021. Studies reporting PNNN performed as a single procedure in adult patients with allergic, non-allergic or mixed chronic rhinitis, and TNSS as the outcome measure, were included. Results. Database search identified 39 articles, of which 8 (463 patients) were included in the review. Two were randomised sham-controlled trials and six were prospective single-arm, unblinded and uncontrolled studies. Pooled analysis of data from the two randomized controlled trials found active treatment was associated with a significantly greater responder (≥ 30% reduction in TNSS from baseline) rate (OR 3.85, 95%CI 2.23-6.64, p < 0.00001). Conclusions. This systematic review identified there is some limited evidence to suggest cryotherapy or radiofrequency ablation of the posterior nasal nerve can improve TNSS in adult patients. However, this is from a limited number of trials with short follow-up. Future research should focus on prospective randomised controlled trials with larger numbers of participants and medium to long term follow up in order to help draw more valid conclusions regarding the true effectiveness of PNNN in this patient cohort.

Views of the public about Snacktivity™: a small changes approach to promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviour.

BACKGROUND: Many people do not meet the recommended health guidance of participation in a minimum of 150-300 min of moderate intensity physical activity per week, often promoted as at least 30 min of physical activity on 5 days of the week. This is concerning and highlights the importance of finding innovative ways to help people to be physically active each day. Snacktivity™ is a novel approach that aims to encourage people to do small, 2-5 min bouts of physical activity 'snacks' throughout the whole day, such that they achieve at least 150 min of moderate intensity activity per week. However, before it can be recommended, there is a need to explore whether the concept is acceptable to the public. METHODS: A survey to assess the views of the public about Snacktivity™ was distributed to adult patients registered at six general practices in the West Midlands, UK and to health care employees in the same region. RESULTS: A total of 5989 surveys were sent to patients, of which 558 were returned (9.3%). A further 166 surveys were completed by health care employees. A total of 85% of respondents liked the Snacktivity™ concept. The flexibility of the approach was highly rated. A high proportion of participants (61%) reported that the ability to self-monitor their behaviour would help them to do Snacktivity™ throughout their day. Physically inactive participants perceived that Snacktivity™ would help to increase their physical activity, more than those who were physically active (OR = 0.41, 95% CI: 0.25-0.67). Approximately 90% of respondents perceived that Snacktivity™ was easy to do on a non-working day compared to 60% on a working day. Aerobic activity 'snacks' were preferred to those which were strength based. CONCLUSIONS: The Snacktivity™ approach to promoting physical activity was viewed positively by the public and interventions to test the merits of such an approach now need to be developed and tested in a variety of everyday contexts.

The equity impact of brief opportunistic interventions to promote weight loss in primary care: secondary analysis of the BWeL randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines recommend that clinicians should make brief opportunistic behavioural interventions to patients who are obese to increase the uptake of effective weight loss programmes. The objective was to assess the effect of this policy on socioeconomic equity. METHODS: One thousand eight hundred eighty-two consecutively attending patients with obesity and who were not seeking support for weight loss from their GP were enrolled in a trial. Towards the end of each consultation, GPs randomly assigned participants to one of two 30-s interventions. In the active intervention (support arm), the GP offered referral to a weight management group. In the control intervention (advice arm), the GP advised the patient that their health would benefit from weight loss. Agreement to attend a behavioural weight loss programme, attendance at the programme and weight loss at 12 months were analysed by socioeconomic status, measured by postcode using the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD). RESULTS: Mean weight loss was 2.43 kg (sd 6.49) in the support group and 1.04 kg (sd 5.50) for the advice only group, but these effects were moderated by IMD (p = 0.039 for the interaction). In the support arm, weight loss was greater in higher socioeconomic groups. Participants from lower socioeconomic backgrounds were more likely to accept the offer and equally likely to attend a weight loss referral but attended fewer sessions. Adjusting for these sequentially reduced the gradient for the association of socioeconomic status with weight loss from + 0.035 to - 0.001 kg/IMD point. In the advice only arm, 10% took effective action to promote weight loss. The decision to seek support for weight loss outside of the trial did not differ by socioeconomic status, but weight loss among deprived participants who used external support was greater than among more affluent participants (p = 0.025). CONCLUSION: Participants' responses to GPs' brief opportunistic interventions to promote weight loss differed by socioeconomic status and trial arm. In the support arm, more deprived people lost less weight because they attended fewer sessions at the programme. In the advice arm, more deprived people who sought and paid for support for weight loss themselves lost more weight than more affluent people who sought support. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, number ISRCTN26563137 . Date of registration: January 3, 2013; date of first participant recruited: June 4, 2014.

A pragmatic randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a facilitated exercise intervention as a treatment for postnatal depression: the PAM-PeRS trial.

BACKGROUND: Postnatal depression affects about 10-15% of women in the year after giving birth. Many women and healthcare professionals would like an effective and accessible non-pharmacological treatment for postnatal depression. METHOD: Women who fulfilled the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 criteria for major depression in the first 6 months postnatally were randomized to receive usual care plus a facilitated exercise intervention or usual care only. The intervention involved two face-to-face consultations and two telephone support calls with a physical activity facilitator over 6 months to support participants to engage in regular exercise. The primary outcome was symptoms of depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) at 6 months post-randomization. Secondary outcomes included EPDS score as a binary variable (recovered and improved) at 6 and 12 months post-randomization. RESULTS: A total of 146 women were potentially eligible and 94 were randomized. Of these, 34% reported thoughts of self-harming at baseline. After adjusting for baseline EPDS, analyses revealed a -2.04 mean difference in EPDS score, favouring the exercise group [95% confidence interval (CI) -4.11 to 0.03, p = 0.05]. When also adjusting for pre-specified demographic variables the effect was larger and statistically significant (mean difference = -2.26, 95% CI -4.36 to -0.16, p = 0.03). Based on EPDS score a larger proportion of the intervention group was recovered (46.5% v. 23.8%, p = 0.03) compared with usual care at 6 months follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: This trial shows that an exercise intervention that involved encouragement to exercise and to seek out social support to exercise may be an effective treatment for women with postnatal depression, including those with thoughts of self-harming.

Exclusive breastfeeding promotion by peer counsellors in sub-Saharan Africa (PROMISE-EBF): a cluster-randomised trial.

BACKGROUND: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is reported to be a life-saving intervention in low-income settings. The effect of breastfeeding counselling by peer counsellors was assessed in Africa. METHODS: 24 communities in Burkina Faso, 24 in Uganda, and 34 in South Africa were assigned in a 1:1 ratio, by use of a computer-generated randomisation sequence, to the control or intervention clusters. In the intervention group, we scheduled one antenatal breastfeeding peer counselling visit and four post-delivery visits by trained peers. The data gathering team were masked to the intervention allocation. The primary outcomes were prevalance of EBF and diarrhoea reported by mothers for infants aged 12 weeks and 24 weeks. Country-specific prevalence ratios were adjusted for cluster effects and sites. Analysis was by intention to treat. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00397150. FINDINGS: 2579 mother-infant pairs were assigned to the intervention or control clusters in Burkina Faso (n=392 and n=402, respectively), Uganda (n=396 and n=369, respectively), and South Africa (n=535 and 485, respectively). The EBF prevalences based on 24-h recall at 12 weeks in the intervention and control clusters were 310 (79%) of 392 and 139 (35%) of 402, respectively, in Burkina Faso (prevalence ratio 2·29, 95% CI 1·33-3·92); 323 (82%) of 396 and 161 (44%) of 369, respectively, in Uganda (1·89, 1·70-2·11); and 56 (10%) of 535 and 30 (6%) of 485, respectively, in South Africa (1·72, 1·12-2·63). The EBF prevalences based on 7-day recall in the intervention and control clusters were 300 (77%) and 94 (23%), respectively, in Burkina Faso (3·27, 2·13-5·03); 305 (77%) and 125 (34%), respectively, in Uganda (2·30, 2·00-2·65); and 41 (8%) and 19 (4%), respectively, in South Africa (1·98, 1·30-3·02). At 24 weeks, the prevalences based on 24-h recall were 286 (73%) in the intervention cluster and 88 (22%) in the control cluster in Burkina Faso (3·33, 1·74-6·38); 232 (59%) and 57 (15%), respectively, in Uganda (3·83, 2·97-4·95); and 12 (2%) and two (<1%), respectively, in South Africa (5·70, 1·33-24·26). The prevalences based on 7-day recall were 279 (71%) in the intervention cluster and 38 (9%) in the control cluster in Burkina Faso (7·53, 4·42-12·82); 203 (51%) and 41 (11%), respectively, in Uganda (4·66, 3·35-6·49); and ten (2%) and one (<1%), respectively, in South Africa (9·83, 1·40-69·14). Diarrhoea prevalence at age 12 weeks in the intervention and control clusters was 20 (5%) and 36 (9%), respectively, in Burkina Faso (0·57, 0·27-1·22); 39 (10%) and 32 (9%), respectively, in Uganda (1·13, 0·81-1·59); and 45 (8%) and 33 (7%), respectively, in South Africa (1·16, 0·78-1·75). The prevalence at age 24 weeks in the intervention and control clusters was 26 (7%) and 32 (8%), respectively, in Burkina Faso (0·83, 0·45-1·54); 52 (13%) and 59 (16%), respectively, in Uganda (0·82, 0·58-1·15); and 54 (10%) and 33 (7%), respectively, in South Africa (1·31, 0·89-1·93). INTERPRETATION: Low-intensity individual breastfeeding peer counselling is achievable and, although it does not affect the diarrhoea prevalence, can be used to effectively increase EBF prevalence in many sub-Saharan African settings. FUNDING: European Union Sixth Framework International Cooperation-Developing Countries, Research Council of Norway, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, Norwegian Programme for Development, Research and Education, South African National Research Foundation, and Rockefeller Brothers Foundation.

Sphenoid mucocele: an uncommon complication of a rare condition.

A 58-year-old white woman presented with sudden onset of diplopia, headache and vomiting with a history of tiredness and lethargy over the past four to six months. She had smooth, pale, hairless skin and on examination she was found to have left-sided third and sixth nerve palsy. Laboratory tests confirmed pan-anterior hypopituitarism. Computerized tomography scan of head and magnetic resonance imaging appearances were consistent with those of a sphenoid sinus mucocoele. Following adequate replacement with hydrocortisone and thyroxine she underwent sphenoid mucocoele drainage and endoscopic left sphenoethmoidectomy. Her symptoms were relieved over the next few days and she had a near-total recovery of ophthalmoplegia over the following three months. Pituitary function tests showed partial resolution of hypopituitarism with recovery of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and hydrocortisone therapy was withdrawn, but she continued to require thyroxine.

The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on suspected head and neck cancer two-week-wait referrals.

BACKGROUND: The impact of coronavirus disease 2019 extends far beyond the immediate burden on healthcare systems caused by hospitalisation of patients with the disease itself. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on the referral rate of patients to the suspected head and neck cancer two-week-wait clinic. METHODS: A multicentre retrospective study was performed investigating data collected for all patients attending the suspected head and neck cancer two-week-wait clinic in ENT departments in the West Midlands. RESULTS: A total of 509 fast-track referrals were received from February to April in 2019, compared to 399 referrals in 2020. April 2020 saw a 62.4 per cent reduction in referral rate compared to April 2019. CONCLUSION: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has resulted in changes to health-seeking behaviours, and healthcare provision and delivery. Urgent policy interventions may be required to compensate for the hidden impact that the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has had on those with cancer.

Remote Design of a Smartphone and Wearable Detected Atrial Arrhythmia in Older Adults Case Finding Study: Smart in OAC - AFNET 9.

Introduction: Screening for atrial fibrillation and timely initiation of oral anticoagulation, rhythm management, and treatment of concomitant cardiovascular conditions can improve outcomes in high-risk populations. Whether wearables can facilitate screening in older adults is not known. Methods and Analyses: The multicenter, international, investigator-initiated, single-arm case-finding Smartphone and wearable detected atrial arrhythmia in older adults case finding study (Smart in OAC - AFNET 9) evaluates the diagnostic yield of a validated, cloud-based analysis algorithm detecting atrial arrhythmias via a signal acquired by a smartphone-coupled wristband monitoring system in older adults. Unselected participants aged ≥65 years without known atrial fibrillation and not receiving oral anticoagulation are enrolled in three European countries. Participants undergo continuous pulse monitoring using a wristband with a photo plethysmography (PPG) sensor and a telecare analytic service. Participants with PPG-detected atrial arrhythmias will be offered ECG loop monitoring. The study has a virtual design with digital consent and teleconsultations, whilst including hybrid solutions. Primary outcome is the proportion of older adults with newly detected atrial arrhythmias (NCT04579159). Discussion: Smart in OAC - AFNET 9 will provide information on wearable-based screening for PPG-detected atrial arrhythmias in Europe and provide an estimate of the prevalence of atrial arrhythmias in an unselected population of older adults.

Smartphone and wearable detected atrial arrhythmias in Older Adults: Results of a fully digital European Case finding study.

Aims: Simplified detection of atrial arrhythmias via consumer-electronics would enable earlier therapy in at-risk populations. Whether this is feasible and effective in older populations is not known. Methods and results: The fully remote, investigator-initiated Smartphone and wearable detected atrial arrhythmia in Older Adults Case finding study (Smart in OAC-AFNET 9) digitally enrolled participants ≥65 years without known atrial fibrillation, not receiving oral anticoagulation in Germany, Poland, and Spain for 8 weeks. Participants were invited by media communications and direct contacts. Study procedures adhered to European data protection. Consenting participants received a wristband with a photoplethysmography sensor to be coupled to their smartphone. The primary outcome was the detection of atrial arrhythmias lasting 6 min or longer in the first 4 weeks of monitoring. Eight hundred and eighty-two older persons (age 71 ± 5 years, range 65-90, 500 (57%) women, 414 (47%) hypertension, and 97 (11%) diabetes) recorded signals. Most participants (72%) responded to adverts or word of mouth, leaflets (11%) or general practitioners (9%). Participation was completely remote in 469/882 persons (53%). During the first 4 weeks, participants transmitted PPG signals for 533/696 h (77% of the maximum possible time). Atrial arrhythmias were detected in 44 participants (5%) within 28 days, and in 53 (6%) within 8 weeks. Detection was highest in the first monitoring week [incidence rates: 1st week: 3.4% (95% confidence interval 2.4-4.9); 2nd-4th week: 0.55% (0.33-0.93)]. Conclusion: Remote, digitally supported consumer-electronics-based screening is feasible in older European adults and identifies atrial arrhythmias in 5% of participants within 4 weeks of monitoring (NCT04579159).

Accuracy and economic evaluation of screening tests for undiagnosed COPD among hypertensive individuals in Brazil.

In Brazil, prevalence of diagnosed COPD among adults aged 40 years and over is 16% although over 70% of cases remain undiagnosed. Hypertension is common and well-recorded in primary care, and frequently co-exists with COPD because of common causes such as tobacco smoking, therefore we conducted a cross-sectional screening test accuracy study in nine Basic Health Units in Brazil, among hypertensive patients aged ≥40 years to identify the optimum screening test/combinations to detect undiagnosed COPD. We compared six index tests (four screening questionnaires, microspirometer and peak flow) against the reference test defined as those below the lower limit of normal (LLN-GLI) on quality diagnostic spirometry, with confirmed COPD at clinical review. Of 1162 participants, 6.8% (n = 79) had clinically confirmed COPD. Peak flow had a higher specificity but lower sensitivity than microspirometry (sensitivity 44.3% [95% CI 33.1, 55.9], specificity 95.5% [95% CI 94.1, 96.6]). SBQ performed well compared to the other questionnaires (sensitivity 75.9% [95% CI 65.0, 84.9], specificity 59.2% [95% CI 56.2, 62.1]). A strategy requiring both SBQ and peak flow to be positive yielded sensitivity of 39.2% (95% CI 28.4, 50.9) and specificity of 97.0% (95% CI 95.7, 97.9). The use of simple screening tests was feasible within the Brazilian primary care setting. The combination of SBQ and peak flow appeared most efficient, when considering performance of the test, cost and ease of use (costing £1690 (5554 R$) with 26.7 cases detected per 1,000 patients). However, the choice of screening tests depends on the clinical setting and availability of resources.ISRCTN registration number: 11377960.

The changing face of rhinology in the NHS: a study of septoplasty, septorhinoplasty and rhinoplasty hospital episode statistics.

INTRODUCTION: In 2011, septorhinoplasty and rhinoplasty were reclassified as procedures of limited clinical value in the NHS. The criteria for funding these operations varies across England. We used hospital episode statistics and freedom of information requests to review the total number of rhinology procedures performed across the previous decade, looking at trends in practice related to time, demographics and commissioning policy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Hospital episode statistics for 2012-2019 were used to calculate the number of septoplasty, septorhinoplasty, rhinoplasty and reduction rhinoplasty procedures performed in children and adults. Freedom of information requests were also made to all clinical commissioning groups in England asking for number of procedures performed and number of individual funding requests made. RESULTS: A total of 158,031 procedures were performed over this period; the majority were in adult (99.0%) men (65.7%). Septoplasty was the most frequently performed operation; however, the total numbers declined by 5.4% over this period. There was a yearly reduction in the overall number of septorhinoplasty, rhinoplasty and reduction rhinoplasty operations. Four clinical commissioning groups provided a detailed breakdown of data by year and procedure. Those that required individual funding requests for all cases saw septorhinoplasty numbers fall by 81% and 75% over the period. Those that did not, saw numbers increase or remain the same. CONCLUSIONS: We found an overall year-on-year reduction in the number of rhinology operations being performed in the NHS, but variation in trends between different clinical commissioning groups. A reduction in operative activity likely represents the effect of underlying restrictions on commissioning rather than reduced clinical need.

Implementation of an acute tonsillitis management protocol within a clinical decisions unit.

INTRODUCTION: With tonsillectomy surgery subject to increasingly strict commissioning criteria over the past 20 years in the UK, the total number of admissions for acute tonsillitis has been rising steadily. Multiple single-centre studies have demonstrated how introduction of a standardised management protocol can be effective in improving the delivery of treatment for acute tonsillitis in the emergency department. METHODS: Using a novel approach, we aimed to implement an acute tonsillitis management protocol within a formal clinical decisions unit (CDU) pathway. Following a retrospective baseline audit, we carried out two post-intervention cycles of data collection to assess safety and efficacy. RESULTS: The median number of initial treatments increased significantly from two of five at baseline, to three of five in both the first (U = 86, p = 0.004) and second (z = 2.959, p = 0.003) audit cycles. Admission rate was reduced from 0.79 to 0.44 in the first cycle, representing a 44.6% relative risk reduction [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.304-1.012; p = 0.0547]. Admission rate remained reduced at 0.48 in the second cycle, with a relative risk reduction of 39.2% compared with baseline (95% CI 0.380-0.972; p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Utilisation of the CDU led to an improvement in the delivery of initial treatment, an extended period of observation and subsequently a greater percentage of patients being discharged. An acute tonsillitis management protocol within a CDU appears to be a safe and effective model and is now standard practice in our hospital.

Is exercise associated with primary dysmenorrhoea in young women?

Anecdotal beliefs that exercise is an effective treatment for primary dysmenorrhoea have prevailed for many years although evidence is contradictory. Previous studies have also contained a number of methodological inadequacies. A questionnaire that assessed menstrual pain and levels of exercise was administered to 654 university students. Attempts were made to blind the purpose of the study. A response rate of 91.3% (597/654) was obtained. Analyses showed no association between participation in exercise and primary dysmenorrhoea. Prospective studies would be useful in further research.

Adult cavernous haemangioma of the vocal cords with a unique presentation of acute respiratory distress: a case report.

Laryngeal haemangiomas can commonly be seen in children, and first-line treatment is usually propranolol. However, in adults, cavernous haemangioma of the vocal cord(s) is an extremely rare condition - with this being the only published adult case presenting with acute respiratory distress - the mainstay of treatment is surgical excision under microlaryngoscopy. Presentation in adults can be unpredictable, but primarily consists of hoarseness which can be associated with, dyspnoea, dysphagia, and haemoptysis - and in one documented case stenosis of the aero-digestive tract led to death. Due to these airway difficulties, surgery can often prove challenging. In this study, we explore the unusual case of a previously well 71-year-old gentleman presenting to the Emergency Department, with worsening shortness of breath as his primary complaint. Uniquely, in this case, an awake fibre-optic intubation was undertaken to manage the difficult airway and a microlaryngoscopy was performed. A 20x10x15mm lesion was excised, which had characteristics in keeping with a cavernous haemangioma on microscopic examination.

Feasibility and acceptability of a brief routine weight management intervention for postnatal women embedded within the national child immunisation programme in primary care: randomised controlled cluster feasibility trial.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of obesity in women continues to rise and pregnancy is a high-risk time for excessive weight gain. The period after childbirth represents an opportunity to offer women support to manage their weight. The primary aim here was to investigate the acceptability and feasibility of delivering a self-management intervention to postnatal women to support weight loss, embedded within the national child immunisation programme. METHODS: The research involved a randomised controlled cluster feasibility trial. Data were collected at baseline and 3 months later. Twenty-eight postnatal women living with overweight or obesity were recruited via Birmingham Women Hospital or general practices. Babies are routinely immunised at 2, 3 and 4 months of age; the intervention was embedded within these appointments. The intervention involved brief motivation/support by practice nurses to encourage participants to make healthier lifestyle choices through self-monitoring of weight and signposting to an online weight management programme, when they attended their practice to have their child immunised. The role of the nurse was to provide external accountability for weight loss. Participants were asked to weigh themselves weekly and record this on a record card or using the online programme. The weight goal was for participants to lose 0.5 to 1 kg per week. Usual care received a healthy lifestyle leaflet. The primary outcome was the feasibility of a phase III trial to test the subsequent effectiveness of the intervention, as assessed against three stop-go traffic light criteria (recruitment, adherence to regular self-weighing and registration with an online weight management programme). RESULTS: The traffic light stop-go criteria results were red for recruitment (28/80, 35% of target), amber for registration with the online weight loss programme (9/16, 56%) and green for adherence to weekly self-weighing (10/16, 63%). Nurses delivered the intervention with high fidelity. DISCUSSION: Whilst participants and nurses followed the trial protocol well and adherence to self-weighing was acceptable, recruitment was challenging and there is scope to improve engagement with the online weight management programme component of the intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN 12209332 . Registration date is 04/12/18.

Fusion of the leucine zipper gene HLF to the E2A gene in human acute B-lineage leukemia.

A t(17;19) chromosomal translocation in early B-lineage acute leukemia was shown to result in chimeric transcripts that contain sequences from the E2A basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor gene on chromosome 19, fused to sequences from a previously unidentified gene (HLF) on chromosome 17 that encodes a hepatic leukemia factor. The chimeric protein consisted of the amino-terminal transactivation domain of E2A linked to the carboxyl-terminal basic region-leucine zipper domain of HLF. HLF was normally expressed in liver and kidney, but not in lymphoid cells, and was found to be closely related to the leucine zipper-containing transcription factors DBP (albumin D-box binding protein) and TEF (thyrotroph embryonic factor), which regulate developmental stage-specific gene expression.

Surgery for Cushing's disease in pregnancy: our experience and a literature review.

Cushing's syndrome in pregnancy is a rare phenomenon and there is limited literature on its management. Cushing's disease in pregnancy is even less common and there is little guidance to help in the treatment for this patient group. Diagnosis of Cushing's syndrome in pregnancy is often delayed due to overlap of symptoms. In addition, there are no validated diagnostic tests or parameters documented. We present a case of a 30-year-old woman presenting to the antenatal clinic at 13 weeks of pregnancy with high suspicion of Cushing's disease. Her 21-week fetal scan showed a congenital diaphragmatic hernia and she underwent pituitary magnetic resonance imaging, which confirm Cushing's disease. She successfully underwent transsphenoidal adenomectomy with histology confirming a corticotroph adenoma. Tests following transsphenoidal surgery confirmed remission of Cushing's disease and she underwent an emergency caesarean section at 38 weeks. Unfortunately, her baby died from complications associated with the congenital abnormality 36 hours after birth. The patient remains in remission following delivery. To date, there have been no reported cases of congenital diaphragmatic hernia associated with Cushing's disease in pregnancy. In addition, we believe that this is only the eighth reported patient to have undergone successful transsphenoidal surgery for Cushing's disease in pregnancy.

A rare case of unilateral hemifacial spasm and facial palsy associated with an abnormal anatomical variant of the posterior basilar circulation.

Tortuous vertebral arteries are a rare anatomical variant. Mild tortuosity is usually asymptomatic whereas severe tortuosity may present with ischaemic symptoms or compressive symptoms (focal neurological deficit). While a resulting hemifacial spasm has been previously described, sparse literature exists for its association with facial palsy. We present a rare case of facial spasm along with facial palsy in a 67-year-old woman who was found to have an anatomical variant in the posterior basilar circulation with an ectatic basilar artery and significantly displaced posterior vertebral artery impinging on the facial nerve.

Patulous Eustachian tube obliteration using endovascular coils: a novel technique.

BACKGROUND: Patulous Eustachian tube is a distressing condition characterised by chronic patency of the Eustachian tube and its failure to close. Patients typically present with symptoms of autophony and aural fullness. In patients requiring surgical intervention, a variety of different procedures have been demonstrated (both transtympanic and endonasal), with limited success. Evidence of the effectiveness of a number of surgical interventions is limited to small case series only. OBJECTIVE: This paper describes a novel treatment for patulous Eustachian tube using a 3 mm VortX Diamond endovascular coil.Case reportA transnasal endoscopic approach was adopted, with cannulation of the Eustachian tube orifice using a Relieva sinus guide suction tube from a balloon sinuplasty set. The coil was deployed 1.5 cm deep into the Eustachian tube. Post-operative imaging was used to confirm correct positioning. Regular follow up was arranged. The patient reported complete resolution of her symptoms. CONCLUSION: The technique has so far proved highly effective and minimally invasive. It will be employed in more patients to fully establish its effectiveness in treating patulous Eustachian tube.