Cochlear implantation has transformed management of children with severe to profound hearing loss but the influence of residual hearing on outcomes remains debatable.

This ambispective study analysed 48 prelingually deaf children aged 3–8 years to evaluate auditory, speech and language outcomes following unilateral cochlear implantation. Participants were grouped based on presence of residual hearing and tracked up to 3 years post implantation.

Early improvements in auditory and speech perception were significantly higher in candidates with residual hearing but equalised by 12 months. Language outcomes initially favoured RH group with no significant difference beyond 18 months. Owing to gradual development of language, it remained below age-appropriate levels. Parental satisfaction scores were consistently better in RH group, driven by early post-implantation gains.

Residual hearing positively impacts early outcomes in cochlear implant recipients but influence diminishes over time.

To determine if systemic administration of low-molecular-weight heparin impacts venous compromise in loco-regional flap reconstruction for head and neck subsites.

This prospective study was conducted on patients who had developed features of venous compromise of the flap. The case group received low-molecular-weight heparin (dalteparin).

Of the 73 patients who developed venous congestion, low-molecular-weight heparin was administered in 47 patients. In the low-molecular-weight heparin subset, 23 patients had either reversal or non-progression of venous compromise (48.9 per cent). Of the patients who had no response to low-molecular-weight heparin rescue, complete necrosis was seen in 4 and partial flap necrosis was observed in 19. The corresponding numbers in the control group were 13 and 12, respectively (odds ratio 23.9, p = 0.002). Additionally, the low-molecular-weight heparin arm had a lower incidence of partial or complete flap necrosis (p = 0.002).

Low-molecular-weight heparin salvage, when instituted early, is likely to result in a significant reduction in flap-related morbidity.