Contact:
Ken Satterfield
[email protected]
before 9-23 at 703-836-4444 or (in New Orleans: 9/23-29 at 504-670-5409)
or
Donna Krupa at 703-527-7357
NEW FINDINGS ON THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF A WIDE RANGE OF EAR, NOSE, AND THROAT DISORDERS HIGHLIGHT NEW ORLEANS GATHERING OF THE NATION'S OTOLARYNGOLOGISTS
More than 6,000 physicians will attend the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery Foundation Annual Meeting/Oto Expo, September 26-29, 1999, at the Ernest Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA
Alexandria, VA -- New research findings regarding the safety of outpatient tonsillectomies, estrogen's impact on head and neck cancers, and the danger posed by sleep apnea sufferers on the highway, are among the 420 scientific/medical studies being presented at the 103rd American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery Foundation Annual Meeting/Oto Expo, being held September 26-29, at the Ernest Morial Convention Center, in New Orleans, LA.
In addition to the scientific program, ear, nose, and throat specialists will have the opportunity to earn continuing medical education credits offered in more than 500 instruction courses and view the latest medical technology and services on display by 300 exhibitors.
At the meeting's September 26 opening session, Academy members will hear C. Everett Koop, MD, former U.S. Surgeon General, give the John Conley Lecture in Medical Ethics. Later that morning, Nancy Dickey, MD, past president of the American Medical Association, will be the featured speaker at a special forum on Women in Otolaryngology.
All abstracts for the scientific program can be viewed at www.newswise.com. Enter "Med News," then click on the banner announcing the Academy meeting. Among the key medical research findings are
Pediatric Disorders: If children must be taken to see a physician, it is most likely for an ear, nose, and throat disorder.
Evaluation of Post-tonsillectomy Hemorrhage and Risk Factors. (Presented September 28) More than 250,000 tonsillectomies are performed each year. A decade ago, the overwhelming majority were inpatient procedures; now, health cost containment measures require most tonsillectomies be performed on an outpatient basis. Is hemorrhaging a potential problem to the patient at home? A Mayo Clinic study examines the risks and reality of this question.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss in ECMO Survivors. (Presented September 29) ECMO (extra corporeal membrane oxygenation) is a modified form of heart lung bypass which supports children with severe respiratory or cardiorespiratory failure. Chicago pediatric otolaryngologists examined whether neonates who undergo this procedure are at increased risk for hearing impairment due to disorders of the cochlear division of the 9th cranial nerve (auditory nerve), the cochlea, or the retrocochlear nerve tracts.
The Role of Clinical vs. Technical Factors in the Success Rate of OtoScan (LAM). (Presented September 27) OtoScan laser-assisted myringotomy is a revolutionary technique for the treatment of otitis media or middle ear infection. This outpatient procedure, using laser technology, replaces the use of tubes for middle-ear ventilation, thereby avoiding anesthesia for at-risk children. This new study is one of the first examinations of how effective this technology is, and who most benefits from the procedure.
Middle Ear Disorders in Patients with Down's Syndrome. (Presented September 27) A medical research team set out to determine if children with Down's syndrome have a higher incidence of middle ear infections. The results of this study offer important information to the parents of these special needs children.
Sinusitis and Allergies: The Center for Disease Control estimates that more than 35 million Americans suffer from sinusitis, the third most common chronic medical disorder.
Prevalence of Allergy in Meniere's Disease. (Presented September 28) Meniere's disease is an inner ear disorder, characterized by vertigo (spinning or dizziness), nausea, vomiting, tinnitus (ringing in ears), and progressive hearing loss. Now, two medical researchers from the House Ear Institute have demonstrated the prevalence of allergy is much higher in patients diagnosed with Meniere's disease than the general population. This suggests that Meniere's disease is aggravated by the presence of allergies.
Prospective Analysis of Sinus Symptoms and Correlation with Paranasal Computer Tomography (CT) Scan. (Presented September 27) The research from Vanderbilt University provides the first link between a patient's actual sinus symptoms and the corresponding display of symptoms on a CT scan, a relationship not previously confirmed in existing medical literature.
Outcome Analysis of Recurrent Acute and Chronic Sinusitis Management. (Presented September 27) How does recurrent acute and chronic sinusitis respond to medical management offered at a disease management center? This study recounts an analysis of treatments provided at a university Asthma, Sinus, and Allergy Program.
Hearing Disorders: Otolaryngologists are specialists in the field of otology, the study, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of the ear and related structures.
Cochlear Implantation in the Elderly: Results and Quality of Life Assessment. (Presented September 28) Many contend that due to its costs (approximately $30,000) and risks, cochlear implantation is an impractical solution for the severely hearing impaired elderly. A Minnesota study offers a new perspective on this issue.
Transtympanic Steroids for Treatment of Sudden Hearing Loss. (Presented September 29) A Tulane-based otolaryngologist has found that injecting steroids directly into the ear has benefitted those suffering from sudden hearing loss. This study contends that this procedure is a significant improvement over conventional treatment of taking steroids systemically (orally).
Recurrence Chance Determination for Congenital Deafness. (Presented September 27) Inherited hearing loss (defined as sufficient to inhibit normal speech development) occurs in approximately 1 in 2,000 newborns, yet is often indistinguishable from non-hereditary hearing loss. What is the chance that parents with an only one child, suffering from a hearing loss, of having another similarly affected child? Valuable information to parents is offered in this study.
Snoring and Sleep Apnea: More than 40 million Americans snore and are constantly seeking a permanent solution to this disorder. More dangerous to long-term health is obstructive sleep apnea, or the absence of breathing while sleeping.
A Comparative Model in Sleep-Disordered Breathing vs. Alcohol Impaired Controls. (Presented September 26) Who is a greater threat on the highway: a legally drunk 27 year old or a middle-aged man with obstructive sleep apnea? Stanford otolaryngologists offer a surprising answer.
Radiofrequency Volumetric Reduction of the Palate: An Extended Follow-Up Study. (Presented September 26) More than two years ago, radiofrequency was approved as a treatment for sleep-disordered breathing, specifically snoring. This procedure has received extensive media coverage, but how effective is it as a long term treatment? This study examines this question.
Head and Neck Cancers: These types of cancers are rarely reported on. More reporting needs to be done -- the incidence of head and neck cancers has increased in the last decade, and the mortality rate remains high.
Oral Cancer in Machine Workers. (Presented September 28) The results of a case control study on the role of occupational factors will be presented. The findings from a team of German otolaryngologists discuss how exposure of industrial workers to various types of dust can impact the risk for oral cancer.
Estrogen Metabolism as a Risk Factor for Head and Neck Cancer. (Presented September 27) Estrogen metabolites have been associated with the pathogenesis of breast and cervical cancer. Given the growing problem of head and neck cancer among women, estrogen metabolites may also play an important yet previously undefined role in the upper digestive tract. This study demonstrates that men and women with head and neck cancer metabolize estrogen differently than healthy control subjects, and these differences may constitute a risk factor in head and neck cancer.
Aches and Pains: Otolaryngologists diagnose and treat maladies that are not life threatening, but have a significant impact on the daily quality of life.
Botulinum Toxin Type A for Treatment of Migraine Headaches: An Open Label Assessment. (Presented September 27) Migraine is an episodic disorder affecting 17 percent of women and six percent of men. Recently, UCLA specialists found that pericranial injections of Botulinum Toxin Type A (BOTOX) alleviated symptoms. They embarked on a new study to determine if their initial results can be repeated, thereby offering a new regimen for long-term treatment.
Unusual Presentations of Cat Scratch Disease. (Presented September 28) New research findings from a team of otolaryngologists from Washington DC provide evidence that cat-scratch disease (also called cat-scratch fever) may be a more common culprit for swelling of the parotid salivary gland, with or without facial paralysis.
Tobacco-Induced Activation of the Epstein-Barr Virus Lytic Cycle. (Presented September 27) The Epstein-Barr Virus or "Yuppy Flu" is a herpes-virus that causes infectious mononucleosis and also is found in cell cultures of Burkitt's lymphoma; associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A study seeks a connection between tobacco use and activation of this debilitating disorder.
New releases on each of these research summaries will be available on www.newswise.com on September 22.
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Editor's Note: Coverage opportunities for the annual meeting of the American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery Foundation include:
1. Attending the Opening Ceremony on Sunday, September 26, at 9:00 a.m. to hear the keynote address by former Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, MD.
2. Interviews (phone or in-person) with authors of the scientific studies. Copies of the studies will be made available.
3. Attending the meeting as guests of the Academy. Media representatives will be issued press passes and have complete access to exhibits and the scientific program.
For additional information, contact Ken Satterfield at 703-519-1563, fax 703-299-1125, through September 21, or e-mail [email protected]. September 23-29, call 504-670-5409 at the Meeting Newsroom or contact Donna Krupa at 703-527-7357.
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