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Background: This paper reports a case of chondrosarcoma deriving from the left arytenoid cartilage that was resected via an anterior laryngofissure using the Tritube in situ, thus eliminating the need for a (temporary) tracheostomy. Case report: A 49-year-old male with a chondrosarcoma deriving from the left arytenoid was treated with local resection of the tumour through an anterior laryngofissure. The intralaryngeal lumen was too small for a normal endotracheal tube. Using the Tritube (outer diameter, 4.4 mm), the patient could be intubated and ventilated adequately during the procedure. The Tritube did not obstruct the surgical view during the procedure. Conclusion: The Tritube can be used for intubation and ventilation even in patients with a very narrow airway lumen, and does not obstruct the field of view during open laryngeal surgery, thereby avoiding the need for peri-operative tracheostomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Description of two siblings with unexplained, progressive, perceptive hearing loss after head trauma. Design: Case report. Subjects: Two siblings aged six and eight years old with bilateral, intermittent but progressive hearing loss. Results: These patients had a c.1172G.A (p.Ser391Asn) mutation in the SLC26A4 gene, which has not previously been reported and which caused Pendred or enlarged vestibular aqueduct syndrome. The diagnosis was based on the perceptive hearing loss, computed tomography findings and mutation analysis. The patients were each fitted with a cochlear implant because of their severe, progressive, perceptive hearing loss with deep fluctuations. The results were good. Conclusion: Further testing for the presence of an enlarged vestibular aqueduct is recommended when children present with sudden progression in perceptive hearing loss, whether or not in combination with head trauma. Cochlear implantation is indicated in patients with persistent, progressive hearing loss that leads to deafness. Implantation can be undertaken successfully despite cochlear hypoplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]