Mr Hasan Beg, Consultant ENT, Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy, Fife, opened the meeting with a fascinating talk on 'Academic Babar'. The First Moghul Emperor of India was a genius. Not only because he was a great conqueror but the fact that he was a hard striving self made man, the story of rags to riches; he wrote his autobiography, the best known in the world by a reigning monarch. He is among the best known Turki poets, has two 'diwans'. He was a great naturalist and wrote about people, animals, birds, plants and flowers establishing a number of gardens. The presentation included old manuscripts and historical letters. The audience was very impressed by Mr Beg's command of history.

Mohammed Reda, Consultant ENT University Hospitals, Newcastle spoke on nasal valve surgery. This valve was originally described by Mink in 1903 and divided into external and internal portions. The internal valve accounts for the larger part of the nasal resistance and it is usually the narrowest part of the nose. Nearly 13% of the patients with chronic nasal obstruction have nasal valve collapse. This collapse can be divided depending on the structure that caused the collapse. In many cases, more than one structure is affected. The most common cause is probably septal deviation followed by nasal surgery, especially after removal of the nasal roof.

The angle between the upper lateral cartilage and the nasal septum is 10-15°. Internal nasal valve collapse occurs when, for some reason, this angle is diminished resulting in an increase in nasal resistance to airflow leading to nasal obstruction.

Diagnosis can be difficult if one does not visualize the valvular area. Examining the valve without disturbing it with a nasal speculum is important. The Cottle test is useful to evaluate nasal valve stenosis.

Septal cartilage is harvested in a standard fashion. Spreader grafts are placed in a submucosal pocket between the septum and the upper lateral cartilages. Alar battens are used to augment flaccid or absent lower lateral cartilages. Septal and conchal cartilages are an excellent source of graft material.

Other techniques used less frequently include columellar struts; tip suspension sutures, dorsal on-lay grafts, butterfly grafts, and inferior turbinoplasties. He presented some of his cases and emphasised the importance of assessing patients of nasal obstruction and the effect of nasal valve.

Mr Anwar Moin Khan from Cardiff spoke about the second forthcoming ear / sinus surgery charity project in December 2010 in Mirpurkhas, Sindh, Pakistan.

lt was hoped that experience gained in organising such projects would assist in ensuring further charity camps in the future and provision of essential equipment.

The meeting concluded with a lavish meal enjoyed by all. Paul Griffiths from Bien-Air UK supported the meeting.

ENT & AUDIOLOGY NEWS | VOL 20 NO 5 | NOV/DEC 2011