Laryngomalacia is the most common paediatric airway problem presenting as stridor in the neonate. This congenital anomaly is thought to be caused by inward inspiratory collapse of the supraglottic larynx due to a prolapsed, tall and tubular epiglottis with flaccid aryepiglottic folds. The natural history of this condition usually results in spontaneous resolution by the second year of life. Although acquired cases of adult laryngomalacia have been reported, a search of the literature has yet to show any cases of idiopathic laryngomalacia. We present two cases of idiopathic acquired laryngomalacia in adults.

In cases of thyroid surgery that require a drain post-operatively, the authors suggest the subcutaneous tunnelling of the drain to exit in the bra-strap line. This simple but effective technique hides the potentially unsightly resultant scars that may be of concern to women wearing clothes that expose the upper chest and lower neck. The bra-strap line can be easily found in the patient and the authors have found no additional complications with exiting the drain at this site.

The objective of this study was to assess patency of the internal jugular vein following modified radical or selective neck dissection and microvascular flap reconstruction by power Doppler ultrasound and its impact on free flap survival. In 23 patients who underwent selective or modified radical neck dissection and microvascular flap reconstruction the patency of the internal jugular vein was examined by power Doppler ultrasound on the first post-operative day and after follow-up of at least four months. On the first post-operative day in one patient partial thrombosis was found, while in the other 22 patients the internal jugular vein was normal patent. During follow-up in 17 (74 per cent) patients a normal patent internal jugular vein was found, while partial and complete thrombosis were found in three (13 per cent) patients each. On the first post-operative day 22 of the 23 (96 per cent) free flap veins were visualized. There was no free flap loss during follow-up. Power Doppler ultrasound is a valuable diagnostic technique for determination of internal jugular vein patency and may be useful as screening method or in case of clinical suspicion of thrombosis to determine internal jugular vein patency. Late internal jugular vein thrombosis may probably not effect free flap survival due to neovascularization.