Harold S. Pine, MD, FAAP, FACS, Editor

The articles have been written predominantly for the practicing pediatrician but I have no doubt there is worthwhile material for the general otolaryngologist as well as pediatric otolaryngologists. Those of us who take care of children are faced with the same routine kinds of cases but also a host of challenging perplexing problems eager for novel solutions.

Indications for surgery continue to evolve. There are new guidelines to review in the articles on ” Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy ” as well as ” Otitis Media and Ear Tubes .” We are learning more about the far-reaching implications of children with obstructive sleep apnea. Read the article on ” Pediatric Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome ” for a great review. Have your families ever asked about the benefits of cochlear implants? Read the article on ” Pediatric Cochlear Implantation: Expanding Applications and Outcomes ” and you will be armed with the latest outcomes research and an easy way to organize the host of benefits of implanting deaf children besides just giving them back the miracle of hearing. Hardly a day goes by in the clinic where reflux does not come up. ” Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease in Children ” will get you up to speed on the latest information in this rapidly evolving topic. The world of laryngology and voice has traditionally been an adult topic but now, because of some really innovative people and smaller scopes, ” Voice Disorders in Children ” can be diagnosed and treated more effectively. Noisy breathing in the newborn can be a frightening symptom for parents and doctors alike. Take a look through ” Laryngomalacia ” as well as ” Nasal Obstruction in Newborns ” for detailed reviews and excellent ways to approach these common clinical problems.

” Enlarged Neck Lymph Nodes in Children ” offers some great easy-to-read charts to help you formulate a broad differential diagnosis. What an exciting time for the parents of children who have Hemangiomas. The treatment of choice clearly has switched from high-dose steroids to propranolol. See this article, ” Infantile Hemangiomas of the Head and Neck ,” for a review and proposed guidelines for initiating treatment. ” Chronic Cough in Children ” and ” Pediatric Dysphagia ” address 2 frustrating problems seen in the pediatric population. Are you curious how buckwheat honey can help? Sinus issues in children continue to be very common especially in the face of increasing daycare exposure. Are you uncertain when to use the diagnosis of acute sinusitis or how the treatment regimens have changed? Do you know when it is appropriate to refer children for surgery? The article ” Chronic Rhinosinusitis in Children ” can help clear things up. Finally, the last decade has seen a real increase in the use of simulation for both medical student education and residency training. See ” Training: Simulating Pediatric Airway ” for one method of teaching complicated airway endoscopy in a controlled setting.

The world of pediatric otolaryngology is changing rapidly. I suspect there will soon be subcertification to recognize those surgeons who possess that evolving body of knowledge. How we learn and study is also changing. Gone are the days of backpacks full of heavy textbooks and highlighters. Today, it’s all about fancy tablets and instant access to almost anything. Be sure to check out the on-line version of this issue to take advantage of the cool videos within the individual articles. I certainly hope I can be involved with producing the first ever digital textbook of Pediatric Otolaryngology . A project like this will require the continued support and enthusiasm of all the wonderful authors who have contributed to this issue. I am thankful for their time and energy.

Finally, a word of thanks to some amazing people and mentors who have helped me along throughout the years. Thank you, Dr Amelia Drake, for introducing me to pediatric ENT and to Mr Martin Bailey in London, for showing me how to do things meticulously. Thank you, Dr Brent Senior, who brought me along to Vietnam, and the kind people at Resource Exchange International, who allow me to come back every year. Thank you, Dr Austin Rose, for standing by me through thick and thin and for remaining a great friend. Thank you to the whole team at UTMB Galveston. It is an honor to be on your team. And most of all, I want to thank my wife, Allie, and my 3 children, James, Nathan, and Sophie. You enrich me beyond measure and fuel the fire that allows me to get up every day and try to “take great care of kids.” I am on all of your personal or professional family trees.

With my sincerest gratitude,

EXPECT EXCELLENCE