Haroon Khan introduced the programme for the evening.

Mr.Khalid Ghufoor—Consultant Head and Neck at St. Bart's and London Hospitals spoke on management of laryngo-tracheal stenosis (adults) and benign laryngeal lesions(non-voice).

Management of adult laryngotracheal stenosis is not well established. He presented data that suggested that it is not necessary to treat all tracheal stenosis with open resection and anastomosis. His multidisciplinary airway reconstruction unit has successfully managed over 70% of these cases by endoscopic techniques.

Hasan Beg, Victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy, spoke on: “Some aspects in the history of Otolaryngology in 8th-13th century” highlighting the important achievements.

1. Hunain Bin Ishaq (809-873AD) wrote a complete treatise on dentistry.
2. Zakaria Razi(850-923AD) described first case of nasal allergy also differentiated between Chicken and Smallpox.
3. Ali Ibn Abbas Almajusi (died 994 AD) described Laryngotomy and used silk to ligate.
4. Abulqasim Zohravi (936-1013 AD) wrote a Textbook of Surgery used for 500 years in Europe. He illustrated two hundred surgical instruments and describes treatment for nasal mass, meatal atresia, nasal polypi to name a few and tonsillectomy in some details.
5. Ibn Seena’s (980-1037AD) book Qannon describes surgical principles on suturing of nerves.
6. Ibn Zuhr (1091-1161AD) described Tracheostomy, Mediastinal Abcess and Dysphagia.

Mr.Ishrat Yousuf from Chesterfield updated about the Ear Surgery project—from 2nd- 7th January 2011 in Mirpurkhas, Pakistan. This team included Haroon Khan from Dumfries, Shaukat Malik, Tanvir Shaikh and Ismail Hirani all from Karachi joined them.

They performed 12 Mastoidectomies, 15 Myringoplasties and 1 FESS. The U.K. team also donated equipment to the Hospital.

• A new Chinese microscope for OPD- Courtesy of Mrs. Gray from Dumfries.
• A new diathermy machine and anaesthetic monitor costing - £2000 (approx).

Mr.Anwar Moin Khan from Cardiff spoke about the follow up Ear Surgery trip from 28th-29th March 2011. He was accompanied by Mr.Noweed Ahmad SPR Northern Deanery, Newcastle and Mr.Shaukat Malik from Karachi.

Besides 2 Mastoidectomies, 4 Tympanoplasties and 1 Grommet /EUA-PNS they examined 11 new and 21 post-op patients from previous visits.

Experience gained by U.K. team will help to enhance and develop their career. He thanked Drs.A.Memon,.I. Memon and A. Kamali for organising this trip.

The main speaker Professor Shak Saeed of UCL Ear Institute, London spoke about Cochlear Implantation in the Developing World. Tracing the development of implantation in UK he stated that Cochlear implants were arguably one of the greatest success stories of 20th century in the world of hearing loss.

These developments led to the birth of the Cochlear Implant specialist and extensive cooperation between clinicians, engineers and scientists. There are numerous challenges in the 21st century, one of them being health care economics. He argued that less well developed countries were in difficult situations; whether one should do cochlear implants or give hearing aids or implement other preventable programmes e.g. immmunisations.

Haroon Khan agreed with Shak Saeed but preferred efforts to be undertaken for the poor in these countries; also thanked Ali Kalan of Northwick Park Hospital in organising the meeting.

The meeting concluded with a delicious meal and Paul Skinner from DTR Medical was thanked for supporting the meeting.