Sociedad Venezolana de Otorrinolaringologia 2012

A report on the Sociedad Venezuelana de Otorrinolaringologia - 2012 Meeting

I had the opportunity to attend the VII Triologico 2012 meeting of the Sociedad Venezolana de Otorrinolaryngologia, the American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and the Sociedad Chilena de Otorrinolaryngologia at the Tamanoco International Hotel in Caracas, Venezuela from May 2 to May 5, 2012. I spoke for two sessions on the diagnosis of laryngeal voice disorders (Hallazgos profundos de la patologa Larngea) and questioning whether the frequent diagnosis of laryngeal reflux laryngitis is correct in any significant number of cases (Laringitis por Reflujo, existe?). 

More meeting photos

A Laryngology workshop (Procedimientos Laringeos en el Consultoria) put on by Drs. Monica Saavedra Ortega and Drs. Diana Murillo-Omuku included lectures by Dra. Magda Miklos, Dra. Pooneh Syeddi and Dr. Jos Calil, followed by a demonstration of the office treatment of dystonias and paralysis. Dra. Saavedra, Dra. Murillo and Dr. Thomas utilized various techniques to demonstrate there is often more than one approach to a given problem. Injections of Restylane by the “trans-cervical - cricothyroid membrane” approach were compared to “trans-oral” approach while monitoring the injection via flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy. Botulinum toxin A was injected trans-cricothyroid membrane into the thryoarytenoid muscles guided by EMG for a laryngeal dystonia, followed by a trans-oral approach using a curved oral injector guided by a flexible fiberoptic scope in second patient with spasmodic dysphonia. A platysma and sternocleidomastoid muscle injection was performed for an anterior cervical dystonia impeding clear enunciation. Performing actual procedures allowed the audience to compare the ease of various office surgical approaches.

I also had the opportunity to judge a number of posters, where the first place poster was taken by Angel Joves (Infección Cervical Profunda. Angina de Ludwig en el siglo XXI). I noted an interesting poster by Dr. Pedro Smith et al (Incidencia de Estenosis Laringo Traqueales Post Intubacion y Post Traqueostomia en el lahula en el periodo comprendido entre Enero de 2006 - Diciembre de 2011). I noted in the poster that some patients were being left intubated up to a one month period - a significantly long period of time. I am seeing some rather significant stenosis in Portland even after 10 days of intubation so some combination of prolonged intubation and perhaps too high cuff pressures are leading to significant long-term breathing problems. Although many of the residents were nervous, the posters were well presented.

I was impressed by the number of physicians interested in laryngology as a sub-speciality. I was also impressed by the number committing the bulk of their practice to this area. In my experience many “laryngologists” dilute their experience by performing general otolaryngology. I call this diluting because how a laryngologist’s patients respond to various treatment, whether medical, surgical or by voice therapy continuously provides feedback to the physician and further improves care over time. I tend to find that physicians who limit their practice to one area, typically offer most often the most accurate diagnoses. A number of residents were attracted to laryngology as well, suggesting that the teaching done at these hospital programs are stimulating the wide and interesting scope of laryngology.