External auditory canal atresia: surgical correction compared with bone anchored hearing device

The study evaluates the hearing result, complication rate and parental satisfaction following two different approaches in the management of external auditory canal atresia. A retrospective chart review of 30 patients with external auditory canal atresia was conducted. Twenty of them underwent external canal atresia surgery and 10 had Bone Anchored Hearing Aid [BAHA]. Hearing results, pre- and post-intervention, complications, parental satisfaction rate and speech improvement were measured. Closure of the air-bone gap [ABG] to 30 dB was seen in less than 50% in the surgery group. The BAHA group had closure of the ABG to less than 15 dB. Parental satisfaction was higher in BAHA group. The most common complications in the surgical and BAHA groups were group was soft tissue stenosis and adverse skin reactions for the BAHA group. In the treatment of auditory canal atresia, BAHA provides superior hearing results, greater parental satisfaction and fewer complications as compared to surgery

Initial experience with hemostatic fibrin glue as adjuvant during drainless parotidectomy

To evaluate the use of hemostatic Fibrin Glue in parotidectomy without the use of surgical drains. Prospective cohort study of 10 patients undergoing parotidectomy. Surgery as a one day admission without the use of surgical drains was planned. The complication and duration of the hospital stay were obtained. Parotidectomy was undertaken by one surgeon. Prior to wound closure, the skin flap and wound bed were approximated using Tisseel tissue sealant. Data regarding the incidence of any complication and the duration of the hospital stay were obtained. Patients were followed to assess surgical outcome and document any complications. The mean follow-up period was 8 months [range 4-12 months]. There were no major surgical complications. Two patients had facial nerve weakness due to adherence of the tumour in the facial nerve, in there was which complete recovery after few months. All patients were discharged the next day. None of the patients felt that the discharge had been premature. Parotidectomy can be undertaken safely without the need for surgical drains, therefore, allowing the patients to leave the hospital on the first postoperative day