An Audit of Otorhinolaryngological Practice in a Tertiary Institution in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

The Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital (NDUTH) is a young tertiary hospital with recently established department in various specialties. In spite of this it caters for the health needs of a lot of the patients in Bayelsa state and its environs. The aim of this study therefore is to audit the otorhinolaryngological (ORL) practice in this center with the aim of establishing the pattern of ORL disease which is useful for the planning of effective ORL services Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients that presented to the ear; nose and throat department of NDUTH from January 2007 to December 2011. The patient's folders and clinic records were the source of data.Results: There were 2;275 patients seen within the period under study. The age ranged from 3months to 80 years. Patients who were in the 21-30 year age group (21.1) were the most frequently seen. There were 1;150(50.55) males and 1;125(49.45) females with a male female ratio of 1.02:1. The adults were 1;725(75.82) while the children were 550(24.18). Otologic conditions ranked highest in the clinic presentations with wax impaction being the commonest ear disorder encountered. There were about 573 (25.19) procedures done within this period. Aural syringing was the commonest procedure. There was no major theatre procedures carried out.Conclusion: The otorhinolaryngologic practice in the centre is growing and otologic diseases appear to be the most common conditions seen. There is therefore need to equip both the theatre and clinic so as to offer effective care. Audiololgical services also are relevant for the rehabilitation of these patients in view of the considerable number with hearing loss. The ORL practice here appears quite elementary. Therefore there is a need to vigorously equip the department

Emergency Ear; Nose throat Administrations at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital

Background: Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) emer-gencies are common in all communities. Early diagnosis and prompt management will result in reduction in morbidity and mortality.Objectives: To assess the size and distribution of ENT emergencies; obtain base line data and out-line preventive measures.Design: Clinical records of patients admitted for ENT emergency care at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital from 1st January 2000 to 31st December 2002 were studied with respect to sex; age; diag-nosis on admission and outcome of emergency care. Exclusion criteria were admissions for termi-nal cancer care.Results: A total of 750 patients made up of 476 males and 274 females were admitted for emer-gency care. The age range was 1 month to 100 years; mean age was 25.5 years and median age was 18.23 years. The commonest causes of emer-gency admissions were foreign bodies in the oe-sophagus in 310 (41.3

Le traitement des otomycoses: a propos de cinquante cas

L'otomycose devient une affection frequente dans nos services de consultation. A peu pres 20 pour cent des otites externes rentrent dans cette categorie. Leur diagnostic est tres souvent pose lors de l'examen otoscopique et confirme par l'examen direct et les cultures. En general un traitement bien conduit aboutit a une guerison clinique definitive. A condition de refrener l'abus de certaines gouttes auriculaires. Toute resistance au traitement doit faire suspecter une participation du terrain et rechercher d'autres localisations mycosiques; ainsi que la presence d'anticorps anti HIV I et II

The incidence of Meniere's disease in Kumasi - Ghana

Fifty-nine (59) patients with Meniere's disease confirmed according to defined criteria were selected from the sample of one hundred and ninety-eight (198) consecutive patients with the referral diagnosis of Meniere's disease seen at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi between the period of January 1982 to January 1992. This represents an incidence of 0.32 per cent of the total of eighteen thousand two hundred (18;200) new clinic evaluations for all the ENT diseases during the ten year period under the review. Meniere's disease is surely not uncommon in our subregion; the high success rate encountered after conservative treatment in our study shows that it may have a better prognosis among negroes. Because the sensorineural hearing loss stabilizes in most cases after the first 2-3 attacks during the 3 months period in which treatment is received; subsequent investigations; especially if done by a new researcher; will not find the existence of the triad of symptoms necessary for the diagnosis of the disease. Only eleven (11) of our patients continued to have vertiginous attacks with a progressive sensorineural hearing loss and disturbing tinnitus. We could not find any statistical evidence for smoking and alcohol as possible aetiological factors. There was gender balance in the distribution of the disease