A study was conducted to see whether the turbinectomy technique used influenced the incidence of haemorrhage. In a group of 214 patients who underwent bilateral turbinate surgery, haemorrhage occurred in 0.9% of those who had anterior turbinectomy and 5.8% who had radical turbinectomy (P < 0.05). It is concluded that confining excision to the anterior end of the inferior turbinate offers the advantage of a lower incidence of haemorrhage.

Two cases of lateral sinus thrombosis in fit adults with no previous otological history are presented. One case occurred in association with Bezold's abscess and followed mastoiditis which was masked by previous antibiotic treatment. The other case occurred in association with an occipitoparietal scalp abscess and there was no obvious preceding middle ear infection. The causative bacteria were Streptococcus milleri and a variant Steptococcus intermedius. Lateral sinus thrombosis is discussed.

Provox™ voice prostheses are low-resistance speech valves available since 1990 for post-laryngectomy voice rehabilitation.Candida spp. mycelial growth has always been a major problem in all prosthetic valves causing leakage and limiting valve life. We found that the Provox™ new valves were not exempt from the old problem. We performed a preliminary clinical, mycological and scanning electron microscopic assessment ofCandida spp. growth on these valves. In contrast to studies done with other valves we found that theCandidamycelium on these new valves was a surface colony rather than growing into the valve substance, thus it might be feasible to control the mycelial growth by either mechanical cleansing or by using topical anti-fungal agents.

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