Hipoacusia súbita: experiencia de un año / Sudden hearing loss: a one-year experience

Introducción: La hipoacusia súbita es un cuadro clínico que presenta controversias tanto en su etiología, como en su tratamiento. Existen escasos estudios en la literatura nacional sobre este tema. Objetivo: Evaluar la incidencia del cuadro de hipoacusia súbita en un año, en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, analizar características epidemiológicas, clínicas, y del tratamiento. Material y método: Estudio retrospectivo realizado en el Hospital Clínico de la Universidad de Chile, revisando fichas clínicas entre Diciembre del año 2004 hasta Noviembre de 2005, con diagnóstico de hipoacusia súbita. Resultados: Se realizó el estudio con 43 pacientes con diagnóstico de hipoacusia súbita. La mayoría recibió tratamiento corticoidal. El 28% de los pacientes mejoraron, el 18,7% tuvo una recuperación parcial, 9,3% recuperación total, no presentaron mejoría el 72%. Se encontró asociación entre menor edad y mejoría en forma casi significativa. Se encontró una asociación entre mejoría y compromiso del oído derecho en forma significativa. Conclusión: La mayoría de los hallazgos son comparables con la literatura nacional e internacional, la asociación mejoría v/s oído derecho debe ser validada por nuevos estudios.

Introduction. Sudden hearing loss (SHL) is a medical condition somewhat controversial in its etiology and treatment. There are few reports of SHL in the local literature. Aim. Jo assess the incidence of SHL at the University of Chile Hospital during a year-long period, analyzing the epidemiological, clinical and treatment characteristics. Material and Method. Restrospective review of SHL clinical data between December 2004 and November 2005. Results. Forty three patients diagnosed with SHL were included. Most were treated with corticoids. In 28% of cases, there was an improvement of the condition. Of these, in 18.7% there was a partial improvement, and in 9.3% a complete recovery. There was no improvement in 72% of the cases. The relation between age and recovery was almost significant. A significant relation between improvement and right ear involvement was found. Conclusion. Most of our findings are similar to those reported in the literature; the association between recovery an right ear involvement should be validated by future studies.

Factores determinantes en el éxito de un tratamiento antitabaco / Factors associated with abstinence in a smoking cessation program

Smoking cessation programs have an efficacy of approximately 30 percent. Different factors related to the patients may influence this figure. Aim To identify determinant factors for smoking cessation after one year of treatment and to determine if bupropion and nicotine substitutes are effective in smoking cessation treatments. Material and methods: Follow up of 68 patients that attended a smokers clinic at a General Hospital. The patients filled up a questionnaire which included demographic, morbid and smoking habits data. They were subjected to a psychiatric interview to determine their treatment. One year later, patients were contacted by telephone and were asked if they remained without smoking. Results: After one year, 41 percent of patients responded that they were abstinent. On univariate analysis, male gender appeared as a protective factor associated to abstinence. On multivariate analysis, the use of bupropion appeared as a protective factor. A high score on the automatic item of the smoking motivation questionnaire appeared as a risk factor. The presence of respiratory diseases and the male gender were borderline significant protective factors. Nicotine substitutes were not associated with better abstinence rates. Conclusions: In this sample of smokers, the use of bupropion was associated with better abstinence rates and a high motivation to smoke appeared as a risk factor to continue smoking.