Introduction/aims: A BAOMS Oncology group survey revealed disparity in the practice of tracheostomy. Considering this, an earlier 107 patient audit at our unit, showed cases were either treated with tracheostomy (n = 47) or extubation (n = 60). With the potential complications of tracheostomy and associated increased inpatient stay, overnight intubation (ONI) may be a more appropriate alternative in selected cases. In this, ONI was introduced based on careful selection criteria. We outline our selection criteria.

Management of the airway after operations on the head and neck is potentially problematic. We describe leaving a guidewire in the trachea after successful extubation in two patients, to make reintubation easier if the airway was later compromised.

ObjectiveTo assess the effectiveness of two grading systems used to predict surgical outcome in nonapneic snorers.Study DesignA prospective observational study. Prior to undergoing palatal surgery, 20 patients completed a sleep nasendoscopic examination involving sequential steady‐state sedation with intravenous propofol. Using a combination of acoustic parameters of snoring sound as an objective outcome measurement, and the answers to a specifically designed questionnaire as a subjective outcome measurement, the effectiveness of each grading system in predicting surgical outcome was examined.ResultsDepending on the outcome measurement used, sensitivity in predicting success of surgery for snoring varied from 16.7% to 50.0% and specificity from 38.5% to 62.5% for the Pringle and Croft system, while sensitivity varied from 91.7% to 100% and specificity from 30.8% to 31.5% for the Camilleri system.ConclusionSleep nasendoscopy using these classifications cannot be recommended as a reliable predictor of surgical outcome in nonapneic snorers.EBM rating: C‐4