Barrier for Particle Dispersion Control During Mastoidectomy

Abstract Introduction The China Health Authority alerted the World Health Organization (WHO) of several cases of pneumonia, and the WHO has declared the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) a global pandemic. Mastoidectomy is a high-risk aerosol generating procedure with the potential to expose the surgeon to infectious particles. Objective Aim to develop a low-cost prototype for a barrier device that can be used during mastoidectomy. Methods Describe the steps involved during otological emergency, requiring immediate surgical procedure, in untested patients. The Otorhinolaryngology Surgical Team of Walter Cantídio Hospital developed the barrier for particle dispersion presented here. Results During surgery, the prototype did not compromise visualization of the surgical field and instrumentation. Microscope repositioning was not compromised or limited by tent Instrumentation and instrument pouch under the Microscope-Tent (MT) performed surgery. After surgery, the plastic sheet was removed simply, without requiring strength. Bone dust and irrigation droplets were collected on the tent. Conclusion Our team developed and practiced, in an otologic emergency, a low-cost and reproducible barrier device that can be used in mastoidectomy in COVID-19 patients. Further tests on efficacy may be necessary.

Facial Nerve Intraoperative Monitoring in Otologic Surgeries under Sedation and Local Anesthesia - A Case Series and Literature Review

Abstract Introduction Local anesthesia with sedation has been employed for an increasingly number of otolaryngology procedures, and might be associated with lower surgical morbidity and costs. Facial nerve monitoring is often advisable in otology to minimize the risks of injuries to this cranial nerve, but the principles, techniques and parameters involved have only been studied for procedures under general anesthesia. Objective To report the preliminary outcomes of intraoperative facial nerve moni- toring during otologic procedures under sedation and local anesthesia. Methods A total of five procedures and their respective intraoperative electrophysi- ological main findings were described. Facial neuromonitoring was performed using the same device by an electrophysiologist. The monitor sensitivity was set at 100 mV, and a stimulating probe was used whenever needed. Results Progressively decreasing low-amplitude baseline values were usually obtained as the level of anesthesia increased, with isolated oscillations possibly related to some degree of voluntary muscular activity. These oscillations could be easily distinguished from those of the surgical manipulation or electrical stimulation of the nerve, which tended to be of much greater amplitude and shorter latency, occurring during specific surgical steps. Conclusion With a surgical team with proper procedural knowledge and broad expertise regarding the technique, intraoperative facial nerve monitoring under local anesthesia with sedation seemed both feasible and reliable. Thus, the need for intraoperative neuromonitoring should not be an obstacle for otologic procedures under less aggressive anesthetic management.

Nova proposta cirúrgica para reparação de lóbulo de orelha após o uso de alargador / Proposal of a new surgical technique to repair gauge earlobe defect

As deformidades nos lóbulos das orelhas causadas por adornos e ornamentos são muito comuns. O uso de alargadores e piercings nessa topografia gera uma fenda parcial de grandes dimensões, além do alongamento, o que causa prejuízo estético e social quando no abandono de seu uso. Várias técnicas cirúrgicas já foram propostas para a correção de defeitos nos lóbulos das orelhas. Nesse relato de caso, foi descrita uma nova abordagem cirúrgica, simples, rápida e com resultado estético satisfatório nos casos de fenda parcial de grandes dimensões: a técnica em "L" adaptada

Earlobes deformities caused by adornments and ornaments are prevalent. The use of plugs and piercings in this topography generates a large partial cleft in the earlobes, which causes aesthetic and social damage when abandoning its use. The literature has already proposed several surgical techniques to correct defects in the earlobes. This case report describes a new, simple, and fast surgical approach, which had satisfactory aesthetic results in significant partial cleft cases: the adapted "L-plasty" technique

Consideraciones perioperatorias para cirugía otológica en época de COVID-19 / Perioperative aspects in otologic surgery during COVID-19 era

La cirugía electiva en otología se ha visto afectada por la pandemia del COVID-19. No sabemos cuánto tiempo pasará hasta que veamos un descenso en el número de casos nuevos y podamos volver al ejercicio médico que conocíamos. Mientras tanto, debemos adaptarnos rápidamente a la nueva forma de funcionamiento de los servicios quirúrgicos en otología, siguiendo los protocolos que están surgiendo para la reactivación gradual y segura de esta clase de actividad. El objetivo de este artículo es realizar una revisión narrativa de la literatura sobre las nuevas recomendaciones para la reactivación de los servicios quirúrgicos otológicos durante esta pandemia, estableciendo pautas seguras en el manejo perioperatorio. Una de las metas más importantes es brindar una guía sobre la forma de comportarse dentro del ambiente de los quirófanos, sus cambios operacionales, el correcto uso de elementos de protección personal y dar a conocer métodos que busquen disminuir la exposición del equipo quirúrgico a la aerosolización, describiendo una técnica novedosa de vestido del microscopio de doble cubrimiento con extensión cefálica para el cirujano.

Otologic surgical procedures have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Is not known how long it will be until we see a decrease in the number of new cases and when we will be able to return to our usual medical practice. Meanwhile, we must adapt quickly to a new surgical practice in the COVID era. This article discuses recommendations for reactivating otological surgical services during the pandemic, establishing safe guidelines for ear surgery and for postoperative patient follow-up. One of the most important goals is to provide recommendations on how to behave in the operating room, how to use personal protection elements and to present new methods that seek to reduce the exposure of the surgical team to aerosolization. Here we describe a novel technique using the already described double draping technique and adding an extension for the surgeon´s protection.

Advances in the development of otologic surgery robots / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

In recent decades, surgical robots have made great progress and are widely used in many clinical departments.It can eliminate the doctor′s hands tremor, reducing postoperative complications and shortening the operation time due to the many advantages of robot such as stability, high precision and intelligence. Based on the huge economic benefits and good performance, the surgical robots have become a hot spot in the field of medicine and industry. Although no otologic robot has been approved for clinical use, many breakthroughs have been raised. This article reviewed the development of otologic robots in the past years and provided some ideas for future research.

Clinical diagnosis and surgical management of 110 cases of facial nerve schwannomas / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To elucidate the clinical behavior, causes of misdiagnosis, surgical management, and outcomes of facial nerve schwannomas (FNS).@*Methods@#A retrospective review in Chinese People′s Liberation Army General Hospital from January 1, 2002 to December 31, 2015 was carried out and evaluated 110 patients with FNS, including 50 males and 60 females, aged 16-67 years old. The appropriate surgical strategy was selected based on each patient′s clinical manifestations, facial nerve function, and imaging characteristics. After surgery, patients received follow-up visits to assess their facial nerve functions, with the effect of treatment compared to the reality before surgery. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to distinguish between the pre- and post-operation facial nerve functions in patients who had different facial nerve functions before the operations.@*Results@#110 cases of FNS mainly presented with facial paralysis, hearing loss, tinnitus, otalgia, dizziness, and facial spasm. 20 of the cases were misdiagnosed as Bell′s Palsy, 6 were mistaken for chronic otitis media/cholesteatoma with radical mastoidectomy, 3 were mistaken for Meniere′s disease, 1 was misdiagnosed as petrous bone cholesteatoma, and 4 were mistaken for acoustic neuroma. 81.8 % (90/110) of the patients had multiple segments of the facial nerve, including the vertical segment of the facial nerve, accounting for 65.5% (72/110), followed by the labyrinthine/geniculate segment, for 61.8% (68/110), and the horizontal segment, for 55.5% (61/110). The appropriate surgical approaches were chosed based on the sizes and scopes of the tumors evaluated by imaging: transmastoid approach in 73 cases, translabyrinthe approach in 14 cases, middle cranial fossa approach in 13 cases, retrosigmoid approach in 3 cases, transmastoid-middle cranial fossa approach in 3 cases, and transmastoid-neck approach in 4 cases, with all the patients undergoing a total/subtotal resection of the tumor. Eighty-seven patients had their facial nerves reconstructed. Among them, 6 received facial nerve end-to-end anastomosis, 55 received great auricular nerve graft, and 26 were subjected to facial nerve-hypoglossal nerve anastomosis. Because of long histories, facial muscle atrophies, or other reasons, the remaining patients were not received facial nerve reconstruction. The House-Brackmann(H-B) grading scale was used to evaluate the facial nerve function pre- and post-operation. Patients with better facial nerve functions and shorter history of facial paralysis before operation would get relatively better facial nerve function. The before and after operation comparisons revealed that the recovery of the facial nerve functions in patients with H-B Ⅰ-Ⅲ was better than the improvement in patients with H-B Ⅳ-Ⅴ. The difference was statistically significant (Kruskal-Wallis H test, H=8.508, P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#The diagnosis of patients with unknown facial paralysis, hearing loss, and tinnitus should take into account the possibility of FNS. CT and other imaging examinations of the temporal bone can avoid misdiagnosis and determine the tumor size and extent of lesions, as well as provide the basis for the choice of the surgical approach. After tumors have been completely resected, facial nerve reconstruction can be performed simultaneously, according to the defect of the nerve.

A multi-center retrospective study of ossiculoplasty surgery under oto-endoscope in 45 cases of conductive hearing loss with intact tympanic membrane / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To explore the efficacy of ossiculoplasty surgery under oto-endoscope in patients of conductive hearing loss with intact tympanic membrane.@*Methods@#A retrospective study was conducted. The clinical data of 45 patients with conductive hearing loss who had undergone simple ossiculoplasty surgery between October 2015 and December 2017 from five hospitals in China (West China Hospital of Sichuan University, General Hospital of the People′s Liberation Army, Shanghai Ninth People′s Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University and Shenzhen Sixth People′s Hospital) were collected. There were 28 males and 17 females, with the age ranging from 12 to 69 years old. The tympanic membranes of those patients were intact before surgery. The lesion only occurred in the ossicular chain from CT and intraoperative exploration. The cases of otosclerosis, tympanosclerosis, cholesteatoma of middle ear, chronic suppurative otitis media, and tumor of middle ear were excluded. The postoperative complications, hearing improvements and operation time were observed. SPSS 23.0 software was used for statistic analysis.@*Results@#There was neither sensorineural hearing loss nor facial paralysis after surgery in this group. Seven patients had transient mild tinnitus after surgery and gradually relieved during the follow-up period. Nine patients developed dysgeusia after surgery. Two patients developed dizziness after surgery, and the symptoms were mild and relieved during 1 week without special intervention. The air-bone gap (ABG) range of pre-operation was 22.5-45.7 dB, and the average ABG was (25.3±8.6) dB. The ABG range in the third month after surgery was 5.7-26.8 dB, and the average ABG was (9.3±8.6) dB. The mean value of ABG was significantly lower in the third month after surgery compared with that of pre-operation (t=2.31, P<0.05). The operation time of the surgeons in each research center was similar. The overall average of operation time was (43.56±18.25) min. There was no significant difference in the duration of operation between the centers (F=3.26, P>0.05).@*Conclusion@#The ossiculoplasty surgery under oto-endoscope has good efficacy.

Safety and Effectiveness of Endoscopic Ear Surgery: Systematic Review / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate that usefulness of the endoscopic ear surgery (EES) through the systematic review. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We searched literatures in literature databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, etc.). Inclusion criteria is 1) studies of patients with chronic otitis media, otitis media with effusion, cholesteatoma, conductive hearing loss, mixed hearing loss etc. 2) studies in which a transcanal endoscopic surgery was performed; and 3) studies in which one or more of the appropriate medical outcomes have been reported. We excluded that 1) non-human studies and pre-clinical studies; 2) non-original articles, for example, non-systematic reviews; editorial, letter and opinion pieces; 3) research not published in Korean and English; and 4) grey literature. Finally, 65 articles were selected and those results were analyzed. RESULTS: The safety of the EES was reported in 61 articles. Some studies reported damaged facial nerve or perilymph gusher but these are the complications that can arise due to the characteristics of the disease and not due to the EES and other reported complications were of similar or lower level in the intervention group rather than the microscopy group. The effectiveness of the EES was reported in 23 articles. The EES tended to show improved effects in terms of graft uptake status, cholesteatoma removal, and hearing improvement although effective outcomes of most studies reported no significant difference between EES and microscopic ear surgery. CONCLUSION: EES is a safe and effective technique and as it is less invasive than the microscopic ear surgery.

Impact of single-pedicle muscle flap with bone pate on vestibular function after mastoid obliteration / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of mastoid obliteration withsingle-pedicle muscle flap covered by bone pate on vestibular stimulation. METHODS A retrospective study was performed on 59 patients who were treated for chronic otitis media with or without cholesteatoma by two techniques: canal wall down tympano-mastoidectomy(CWD) and subsequent mastoid obliteration(MO). The postoperative vestibular functions of all the patients in both groups were assessed by vestibular function tests and questionnaires. Finally, the data of examination a nd symptoms were a nalyzed. RESULTS After a minimum follow up period of 12 months, the rate of ear dry was 84％(22/26) for MO group and 55％(18/33) for CWD group(χ2=4.72, P <0.05). The dry ear time were 5.46±1.39 weeks for MO group and 8.67±2.3 weeks for CWD group(t =6.2529, P <0.05). When compared latent period of Caloric testing in the MO group (10.3±2.57)s and CWD group (12.7±3.33)s, significant differencewas found(t =3.1639, P <0.05). The postoperative caloric vestibular tests revealed an average nystagmus count of 52.96±20.82 beats per minute in the MO group and 69.94±18.98 beats in the CWD group(t =3.2688, P <0.05). By analyzing the questionnaire, 30％(10/33) of the patients who received CWD treatment reported vertigo by caloric stimuli such as wind, water compared with MO group(0)(χ2=7.45, P <0.05). The rate of suction cleaning induced vertigo was 48％(16/33) in CWD group and 23％(6/26) in MO group(χ2=3.17, P =0.075). CONCLUSION Our technique of mastoid obliteration with single-pedicle muscle flap covered by bone pate results in small cavities with complete epithelialization of all surfaces. Furthermore, obliteration of mastoid cavities provides protection to the labyrinthine organ and reduces postoperative vertigo to caloric stimulation.

A Comparison of the Operative Techniques and the Postoperative Complications for Bone-Anchored Hearing Aid Implantation

Abstract Introduction Bone anchored hearing aids (BAHA) represent a useful surgical option for patients with single sided deafness. Objectives To compare multiple techniques for BAHA implantation regarding postoperative complications, operative time, and duration between the surgery and the first use of the BAHA. Methods A retrospective study was conducted of all patients receiving implantation of a BAHA from August of 2008 to October of 2014. Data collected included: patient age, gender, side operated, abutment length, operative time, duration until first use of the BAHA, operative technique, and postoperative complications. The statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), Tukey pairwise comparison, chi-square, and paired t-test. Statistical significance was determined using a level of p< 0.05. Results A total of 88 patients (43 female and 45 male) were included in the data analysis. A total of 80 complications were documented, and these complications were classified according to the Holgers criteria. A significant difference in the total postoperative complications existed between the six techniques used (ANOVA; p< 0.01). In addition, there was also a significant difference among the six techniques employed regarding the operative time (ANOVA; p< 0.01). The average time duration until fitting of the BAHA processor among the various techniques trended toward but did not reach statistical significance (ANOVA; p= 0.16). Conclusions Significant differences in the operative outcomes exist among the various techniques for BAHA implantation. Based on the statistical analysis of our data, the BAHA Attract system (Cochlear Ltd., Sidney, Australia) requires greater operative time, but it is associated with less postoperative complications than percutaneous techniques and its processor may be fitted significantly sooner.

Clinical application of a self-developed bone dust collector in mastoid cavity obliteration following mastoidectomy / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To introduce a self-developed bone dust collector designed by the authors and evaluate its efficiency in mastoid obliteration following mastoidectomy.@*Methods@#Consecutive patients, from April 2017 to March 2018, who prepared to receive mastoidectomy were randomly divided into two groups, and in each group the bone dust was harvested by self-developed bone dust collector or by conventional used method respectively in mastoidectomy. The amount of the harvested bone dust and the time consumed in the collecting procedure were compared between two groups. The infection of the bone dust after mastoid obliteration was also evaluated during follow up.@*Results@#33 patients were recruited in bone dust collector group, and 31 patients in conventional method group.There is no significance of difference between two groups in sex ratio, age and pneumatization of mastoid cells (P>0.05 for all). The median amount of bone dust harvested by bone dust collector was significantly larger than that collected by conventional method (1.8 g vs 1.1 g, P<0.05). The median time spent in bone dust collector group was significantly shorter than that spent in conventional method group (4 minutes vs 6 minutes, P<0.05). No bone dust infection was found in the follow-up in all patients.@*Conclusion@#The present self-developed bone dust collector is a easy and useful apparatus which can significantly improve the efficiency of collecting bone dust in mastoidectomy.

Nonshaved Ear Surgery: Effect of Hair on Surgical Site Infection of the Middle Ear/Mastoid Surgery and Patients' Preference for the Hair Removal

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aimed 1) to compare the rates of surgical site infection (SSI) between two groups with and without preoperative hair shaving, 2) to compare the bacterial colonization just before the skin incision between them, and 3) to evaluate people’s preference for the hair shaving. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The retrospective study enrolled cases in which middle ear and mastoid surgery was performed with as well as without hair removal. Main measurement outcomes were the SSI rate within 3 months following the surgery, bacterial culture results obtained from the incision area just before the skin incision, and questionnaire to evaluate the preference for hair shaving from patients with chronic suppurative otitis media but without experience with the ear surgery. RESULTS: This study did not show any difference in the rates of SSI and bacterial colonization between two groups with and without preoperative hair shaving. Most patients without experience with the ear surgery chose the nonshaved ear surgery, even though the questionnaire presented a comment as follow; “Your hair will always grow back as the growth speed of about 1.25 cm per month.” CONCLUSIONS: There is no evidence showing that preoperative shaving of the surgical site is helpful for the SSI than no hair removal. Nonshaved middle ear and mastoid surgery via postauricular approach appears to be preferable. Contrary to doctors’ popular belief, the hair shaving can cause psychological discomfort, especially for women. Now is the time to keep the balance between the professional’s perspective and the patients’ preferences.

Autogenous ossicles in ossiculoplasty: the auditory outcomes and prognostic factors / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

OBJECTIVE To explore the auditory outcomes and prognostic factors in ossiculoplasty using autogenous ossicles. METHODS A retrospective review was performed in 126 patients with cholesteatoma or chronic otitis media, who admitted to the Department of Otolaryngology in Jingzhou hospital affiliated to Tongji medical college from January 2014 to July 2016, and underwent canal wall-down tympanoplasty (CWDT) with ossiculoplasty using autogenous ossicles in a single stage. The postoperative complication and hearing thresholds were analyzed after 12 months' follow-up. RESULTS The rate of dry ear was 96.5％. We had not found any extrusion of prosthesis. There was no one with postoperative retraction pocket or recurrence of cholestatoma during the follow-up. Auditory outcomes showed air conduction threshold improved from (52.7±7.4)dB to (39.0±9.1)dB after operation, while the air-bone gaps improved from(27.4±6.9)dB to (20.8±6.2)dB. Postoperative outcomes were considered successful, if the postoperative air-bone gap was <20 dB. The successful hearing was achieved in 88 patients (69.8％). Prognostic factors were analyzed using multivariate analysis with logistic regression. And we found the presence of the stapes and the malleus handle was significantly favorable predictive factors. All the patients recovered well without severe complication. CONCLUSION Autogenous ossicles is very valuable in ossiculoplasty. The present stapes and malleus handle are important factors for the auditory outcomes in ossiculoplasty.

Use of an Osteoplastic Flap for the Prevention of Mastoidectomy Retroauricular Defects

Abstract Introduction After mastoidectomy, patients usually complain of bone depressions in the retroauricular region in the surgical site, especially in procedures that require extensive cortical resections. This causes inconveniences such as difficulty wearing glasses, cleaning, and aesthetics complaints. Objective This study aims to describe a vascularized flap surgical technique that uses the mastoid cortical bone adhered to the periosteum, which is pedicled on the anterior portion and repositioned at the end of the surgery. This ensures the coverage of the mastoid cavity generated by surgery and prevents ear retraction into the cavity. This preliminary report describes the technique and intraoperative and immediate postoperative complications. Methods After retroauricular incision, periosteal exposure is performed. A U-shaped incision is required for the procedure and delimits a periosteum area appropriate to the size of the mastoidectomy. The cortical bone is opened using a 2.5 mm drill around the perimeter of the "U," at a 3 mmdepth. A chisel is introduced through the surface cells of the mastoid, and a hammer evolves into the anterior direction. The flap is lifted, leaving the periosteum adhered to it and forming a cap. The flap is anteriorly fixed to not hinder the surgery, and repositioned at the end. The periosteum is then sutured to the adjacent periosteum. Results The first 14 cases had no intraoperative complications and were firm and stable when digital pressure was applied during the intraoperative and immediate postoperative periods. Conclusion The osteoplastic flap pedicle is a safe and simple procedure, with good results in the immediate postoperative period.

Surgical Treatment for Recurrent Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

Abstract Introduction Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo is a generally benign condition that responds to repositioning maneuvers and frequently resolves spontaneously. However, for some patients it can become a disabling condition in which surgery must be considered. Two different surgical techniques exist, singular neurectomy and posterior semicircular canal occlusion. Objective The objective of this study is to review the current status of singular nerve section and posterior semicircular canal occlusion as treatments for intractable benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and to determine if there are published data available that favors one over the other. Data Sources MEDLINE and OLDMEDLINE databases of the National Library of Medicine. Data Synthesis Four studies regarding singular neurectomy and 14 reports on semicircular canal occlusion were analyzed. Both techniques are reported to provide similar symptomatic benefit, with low risk of hearing loss and balance impairment. However, anatomical and clinical studies of singular neurectomy show it to be a more challenging technique, and considering that it is indicated in a very small number of cases, it may be difficult to master. Conclusions Both singular neurectomy and semicircular canal occlusion can be safe and effective in those few patients that require surgery for intractable positional vertigo. Although semicircular canal occlusion requires a postauricular transmastoid approach, it is ultimately easier to learn and perform adequately, and thus may be considered the best alternative.

Factors of hearing preservation in acoustic neuroma surgery / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Over the past 50 years, the focus of acoustic neuroma surgery has shifted from low mortality and tumor resection to retention of neurological function. Hearing preservation is another point in addition to facial nerve function preservation. Hearing preservation rates overall ranged from 2% to 93% in recent studies. Characteristics such as approach, pre-operative neurological function, tumor size, nerve of origin and fundal fluid of the internal auditory canal have been reported as possible influencing factors. This review provides a summary of recent studies and describes the prognostic factors that predict hearing preservation.

Revisional radical mastoidectomy surgeries——25 cases′experience / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To analyze the risk factors of failure to dry ear after radical mastoidectomy and discuss key points in revisonal surgery.@*Methods@#Clinical data of 25 patients(32 ears) with revisonal mastoidectomy were analyzed. The preoperative temporal bone CT findings, intra-operative findings, surgical procedures, postoperative operating cavities and aural abilities were recorded and analyzed.@*Results@#All patients received preoperative temporal bone CT followed by revisonal radical mastoidectomy under microscope and general anesthesia. Among the revisonal surgeries, 19 ears(59.4%) presented cholesteatoma and 13 ears(40.6%) had no cholesteatoma. In addition, the inadequate opening for mastoid cavity and incompleted removal of the pathological tissues accounted for 90.6%(29/32), the insufficient drainage of surgical cavity for 90.6%(29/32), the lesions in tympanic ostium of eustachian tube for 31.2%(10/32), the improper operation procedures and selection of incision for 15.6%(5/32). As for the re-operation of the modified canal wall down mastoidectomy, tympanoplasty(Ⅱ) plus plastic repairing of cavity of concha were performed in 14 ears(43.8%), the modified canal wall down mastoidectomy, tympanoplasty(Ⅱ) plus reconstruction posterior bony wall of ear canal in 2 ears(6.2%); the modified canal wall down mastoidectomy, tympanoplasty(Ⅲ) plus plastic repairing of cavity of concha in 10 eras(31.3%), the modified canal wall down mastoidectomy, tympanoplasty(Ⅲ) plus reconstruction posterior boney wall of ear canal in 1 ear(3.1%); the radical mastoidectomy plus plastic repairing of cavity of concha in 5 ears(15.6%). Lodoform gauzes were packed in surgical cavity for 2 weeks and the antibiotic was used for 3 days after surgery. All patients had dressing of ears and their ears were dropped with ofloxacin regularly. The dry ear time ranged from 4 to 8 weeks, the average point was the 5th week. During a period of 6-18 months for follow-up, all patients got dried ears. The epithelialization of the operating cavity was well and the tympanic membranes were integrity. There was not pus in surgical cavities. Neither granulation tissue nor cholesteatoma was found to reoccur. Both pure tone air hearing thresholds and air-bone gap decreased in 27 ears after the revisional surgeries, with statistically significant different in comparison to those before the operation (P<0.05).@*Conclusions@#There are many factors leading to the failure of radical mastoidectomy, including not fully opening of the surgical cavity , incomplete removal of the lesion tissue, poor drainage of surgical cavity, the lesions in the tympanic ostium of eustachian tube, and the improper operation procedures. Treatment strategies were taken according to above factors to obtain dry ear in revisional surgeries.

A combination use of endoscope and microscope in cerebral pontine angle surgery / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the application of combination use of microscope and endoscope in cerebral pontine angle (CPA) surgery.@*Methods@#A total of 72 patients undergone lateral skull base surgeries via endoscope under microscopic control from January 2006 to January 2015 was reviewed respectively. The patients including 35 males and 37 females were composed of 22 cases of vestibular swannnomas, 45 cases of cranial neuropathy and 5 cases of CPA chelesteatoma. Twenty cases of vestibular swannnomas, 15 cases of cranial neuropathy and 2 cases of CPA chelesteatoma undergone the surgery via retrosigmoid approach, while other cases undergone the surgery via retrolabyrinthine approach. Surgical procedures were accomplished under the control of microscope and different angular endoscope with imaging fusion. The surgical results were evaluated according to subjective and objective criteria, and all patients were followed up for 15 years.@*Results@#The symptoms was disappeared in the cranial neuropathy patients, without facial paralysis, complication of other nerves or hearing loss. Twenty-two patients with vestibular schwannomas got total tumor removal without facial palsy or neurological deficits; useful hearing was preserved in 16 of 22 patients (72.7%), and no tumor recurrence was found during 1-5 years follow-up. There was also no facial palsy or other complications in 5 cases of CPA chelesteatoma, which gained completely surgical removal; useful hearing was preserved in 3 of 5 cases of these patients and no recurrence was occurred during 1-1.5 years follow-up.@*Conclusions@#A combination use of endoscope and microscope could combine advantages and avoid disadvantages of two techniques. It can provide better exposure with minimal invasion in CPA surgery, and is especially applicable in surgery for cranial neuropathy, vestibular schwannoma and CPA cholesteatoma, which should be performed through retrosigmoid approach and retrolabyrinthine approach.

Simultaneous triple semicircular canal plugging and cochlear implantation in advanced Meniere's disease / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the feasibility of combining simultaneous triple semicircular canal plugging (TSCP) and cochlear implantation (CI) to treat vertigo and hearing loss in advanced Meniere's disease(MD) patients, so as to provide an alternative surgical procedure for treating this disorder.@*Methods@#Data from seven patients, who were referred to our hospital and diagnosed with unilateral MD strictly meeting the criteria issued by Chinese Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Committee (2006), from Jan. 2015 to Jan. 2016, were retrospectively analyzed in this work. Seven patients, in whom the standardized conservative treatment had been given for at least one year and frequent vertigo still occurred, underwent simultaneous TSCP and CI under general anesthesia via mastoid approach. Postoperative follow-up time was more than six months. Vertigo control and auditory function were measured. Pure tone audiometry, speech perception scores, caloric test, head impulse test (HIT), and vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) were performed for evaluation of audiological and vestibular functions.@*Results@#All patients had bilateral severe sensorineural hearing loss preoperatively. One side hearing loss was due to MD and another side was due to reasons including sudden sensorineural hearing loss, mumps and other unknown reason. The total control rate of vertigo in seven MD patients was 100.0% in the six-month follow-up, with complete control rate of 85.7% (6/7) and substantial control rate of 14.3% (1/7). Improved hearing threshold and speech perception scores were observed in all study participants. Postoperative average aided hearing threshold was 32.5 dBHL, the average monosyllabic word score was 42.6% and speech perception scores of sentences tested in quiet was 52.3%. Tinnitus improved in five cases, and no significant change in two patients. Post-operatively, all patients suffered from temporary vertigo and balance disorders. Vertigo was disappeared in all patients within 3-5 days, while, an average recovery time of balance disorders was 19.7 days. Six months after treatment, loss of semicircular canal function by caloric test was found in the operation side of all patients and no change in cVEMP or oVEMP test was noted. All patients had no facial paralysis, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, and other complications.@*Conclusions@#A combined approach of TSCP and CI which could control vertigo effectively and improve hearing loss and tinnitus represents an effective and safe therapy for some advanced MD patients.

Clinical application of auricular cartilage in intact bridge tympanomastoidectomy / 中国耳鼻咽喉头颈外科

OBJECTIVE To investigate and evaluate the effects of intact-bridge tympanoplasty using auricular cartilage in treating chronic otitis media. METHODS A retrospective review of 86 cases undergoing an intact-bridge tympanomastoidectomywas performed from July,2013 to May,2016.The auricular cartilage was placed on the attic and tympanic antrum entrance to reconstruct the attic. RESULTS The outcome of dry ear and well-epithelialized mastoid cavities was achieved after 4-6 weeks. After 6-month follow-up no recurrence occurred. The pure-tone average threshold improved by (25.4±6.3) dB HL after operation,and the mean air bone gap was elevated. CONCLUSION On the basis of combination of closed and open techniques,the IBM technique is a optimal cure strategy for chronic otitis media,which can not only remove the pathological changes thoroughly to prevent disease recurrence but also maximally improve the hearing of the diseased ear.The closure of attic with auricular cartilage can ensure the space of the ossicular chain.