The 8th meeting of International Medical graduates(IMGs) took place at the famous Khan’s Restaurant in Bayswater, London. Mr M Khan welcomed the delegates who were around 25 in number. Some families also joined the meeting.

The main speaker for the evening was Shakeel R Saeed MD, FRCS (ORL), Professor of Otology I Neuro-otology, UCL Ear Institute, Consultant ENT and Skullbase Surgeon, The Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital and Royal Free Hospital, London, UK. Prof Saeed was congratulated on his prestigious appointment.

He spoke on: ‘Facial palsy - when to operate and what outcomes can be expected?’ He presented the various clinical situations in which a patient might present with facial palsy such as chronic suppurative otitis media, trauma (both surgical and non surgical), tumours both benign (facial neuroma) and malignant (parotid). About half of the cases in the series presented resulted from vestibular schwannoma surgery though the overall rate of significant facial nerve paralysis in his experience for this type of surgery is low (5% of all tumour sizes). The most frequent method of reanimation for vestibular schwannoma patients was the faciohypoglossal transposition. The other methods used were end-to-end anastomosis and cable nerve grafting. The House-Brackmann grading system was used as the main outcome measure and in the series presented, patients were scored at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. A favourable outcome was defined as House-Brackmann Grade Ill or more. All the patients in this study had a HB Grade VI paralysis before intervention. End-to-end anastomosis or cable nerve graft interposition was performed at the original operation where the nerve was lost and there was a viable proximal facial nerve stump at the brain- stem.

After surgery for VS in which the nerve was anatomically intact but the face remained paralysed despite a period of observation, a delayed reanimation procedure was undertaken. End-to-end anastomosis and cable nerve graft interposition were superior to the classic faciohypoglossal transposition in the series presented. Increasing age at the time of repair was associated with a poorer outcome. Contrary to some previous opinions improvement in facial function could still occur two years after surgical repair particularly with classic faciohypoglossal transposition in the series presented.

Anwar Moin Khan from Cardiff presented the planned Ear Surgery Project in Pakistan in November 2009. He outlined the charity aspects of this project and how this project will be accomplished. Four ENT surgeons are planning to go and operate on patients at the District Government Hospital in Mirpurkhas, Sindh. Mr Tanweer was the last speaker and he presented about the Practice Viva sessions held over a weekend in London on March 28th-29th, 2009 for the candidates planning to sit the Exit exams. He explained the objectives behind this wholly voluntary project; the gratitude for the consultants who volunteered their time and the candidates six in number who attended and benefitted from this.

As usual the meeting concluded with a lavish meal which all the delegates and their families enjoyed. The next meeting is planned for Autumn 2009.

ENT & AUDIOLOGY NEWS | VOL 19 NO 1 | MAR/APR 2010