Clinical otolaryngology : official journal of ENT-UK ; official journal of Netherlands Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology & Cervico-Facial Surgery
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Pre-operative assessment in some ENT departments is now nurse-led rather than doctor-led. Appropriately trained nursing staff can perform medical aspects of pre-operative assessment to the same or a better standard than a doctor. Almost all patients are satisfied with a nurse-led pre-operative assessment, and in some cases they prefer it.
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The implementation of the National Institute of Clinical Excellence improving outcome guidelines (NICE-IOG) manual for head and neck cancer may have a huge potential cost implication. Head and neck cancer is a rare disease which utilises large quantities of resources which can only be provided in a tertiary centre. ⋯ A new higher tariff rate for complex head and neck cancer cases is needed which recognises the true cost of this work. Each network should set its own tariff to make head and neck cancer care financially viable.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
An evaluation of Merocel and Series 5000 nasal packs in patients following nasal surgery: a prospective randomised trial.
The primary objective of this study was to compare postoperative pain levels between Merocel and Series 5000 nasal packs. ⋯ Both the Merocel and Series 5000 packs are effective packs regarding haemostasis and have equivalent pain levels while in situ. However, the Series 5000 pack was significantly less painful on removal of the pack.