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V Moore-Gillon

Publications and source records attributed to V Moore-Gillon.

24 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

The nose after laryngectomy.

Previous studies of nasal function after laryngectomy have suggested that patients must accept complete and irreversible anosmia as an inevitable consequence of the operation, and that this is due to interruption of a poorly defined neuronal interaction between larynx and nose. In this study nasal function was investigated in 23 laryngectomees and 10 patients about to undergo laryngectomy. Scanning electron microscopy showed a more densely ciliated nasal epithelium in the laryngectomees compared with the preoperative controls, and nasal mucociliary transport, measured by saccharine clearance, was significantly faster (P less than 0.01) in laryngectomees. Olfactory acuity, as determined by the threshold for detection of insufflated pyridine vapour, was normal in laryngectomees. Some laryngectomees did have a relatively normal sense of smell; these were shown to be those who had discovered a technique of sniffing using buccopharyngeal rather than respiratory musculature. These findings have obvious implications for the rehabilitation of laryngectomees, many of whom may otherwise have to contend with distressing anosmia as well as the other physical and psychological consequences of the operation.

Adult↗

High frequency oscillations improve nasal mucociliary transport.

The saccharin clearance time technique was used to determine the effect upon nasal mucociliary transport of sine wave oscillations. Nasal air was oscillated at 8 Hz, 14 Hz, and 20 Hz by a loudspeaker attached to a nasal mask. Mucociliary transport was significantly increased at all frequencies with an overall mean rise of 161%. Because sine waves have zero mean pressure and flow, the improvement is more likely to be caused by changes in mucus viscoelasticity or ciliary function rather than by a direct physical effect on mucus velocity. This simple and comfortable technique may have practical application in patients with overproduction or retention of mucus within the nasal passages or intrathoracic airways.

Adult↗

Handedness and the side on which pharyngeal pouches occur.

Pharyngeal pouches present far more commonly on the left side of the neck than the right. Sixty one patients with a history of pharyngeal pouch were questioned about their handedness and about whether they had had symptoms or signs predominantly on one side of the neck before receiving treatment. There was a highly significant association between handedness and pharyngeal pouches on the opposite side of the neck. It is suggested that this is the reason for the rarity of right sided pouches.

Diverticulum↗

Constipation: what does the patient mean?

Constipation is a very common complaint but, in the absence of a universally accepted definition, misunderstandings may result between doctor and patient. Two hundred and eighty-seven patients attending this hospital completed a questionnaire which attempted to establish what patients themselves mean by the term. Almost half considered constipation purely in terms of frequency of bowel action, without considering difficulty or pain on defaecation. Women were more likely to have infrequent bowel actions than men, and men more likely to consider such infrequency harmful. A quarter of respondents believed in the benefits of regular purgation, surprisingly with no difference in attitude between age groups, but men were much less likely to have heeded their own advice.

Adolescent↗