repot of surgical complications in a series of 262 consecutive pediatric cochlear implantations in Iran

Cochlear implantations have become a routinely performed and successful surgical intervention in both adults and children. The current article reports the complications encountered in various age groups of consecutive children who underwent implantation in our center. We performed a prospective analysis of all profoundly deaf children who underwent cochlear implantation from March 2006 to July 2009 at Baqhiyatallah Cochlear Implantation Center. All patients were younger than 5 years old at the time of implantation. The minor complications occurred in 49 [18.7%] cases, The most common postoperative complications were temporary facial weakness detected in 15 cases [5.7%] all of which were reversible. Magnet wound was observed in 14 [5.3%] patients, keloid formation in 10 [3.8%], wound infection in 2 [0.8%], otitis media in 5 [2%], and electrode movement, meningitis, vertigo, Laryngospasm each in 1 [0.4%] case was detected among our patients. Cochlear implantation in children continues to be reliable and safe in experienced hands, with a low percentage of severe complications as long as the patient is monitored closely

Honey with coffee: a new finding in the treatment of persistent postinfectious cough

Persistent postinfectious cough [PPC] is a cough that persists longer than 3 weeks or perhaps for many months after a common cold oran upper respiratory tract infection [URTI]. PPC has poor response to routine treatment modalities, so it can be a vexing problem for the patient and the physician alike. Our hypothesis was that honey and/or coffee have some beneficial effects in the treatment of PPC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of coffee and/or honey in the treatment of patients with PPC. This was a double blind randomized clinical trial, conducted on adult patients during a 6-year period from 2003 to 2009. Included in this study were 84 adult participants that had experienced PPC longer than 3 weeks. All of them had the history of several referrals to different physicians and despite treatment, their cough had persisted. Patients with other causes of chronic cough, or systemic disease or with abnormal routine laboratory tests were excluded. All the included 84 participants were distributed into three groups. For all the participants, a jam-like paste was prepared. Each 600 grams of the product consisted of "70 grams original instant coffee" in the first regimen, "500 grams of honey" in the second regimen and "70 grams of instant coffee plus 500 grams of honey" in the third regimen. These participants were told to dissolve 25 grams of the prescribed product in about 200 [CC] of warm water [under 60° Degree[C]], and drink this solution every 8 hours for one week. All the participants were evaluated before and at the end of the first week of their treatment, to measure the frequency of their cough. In addition they were under observation for the first month. Comparing the effectiveness of all three treatment regimens, this study found "honey with coffee" as the most effective treatment modality for PPC[P< 0.001]. Combination of honey and coffee can successfully treat the PPC at a short time. Thus, it is recommended for the treatment of PPC