Effects of a Proton-Pump Inhibitor on Postnasal Drip Symptoms in Patients With Laryngopharyngeal Reflux

Background and Objectives@#Laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) is an increasingly common disease, characterized by stomach acid reflux reaching the upper airways. Postnasal drip (PND) is a known consequence of LPR, defined as mucus accumulation perceived in the posterior areas of the nose and throat. PND is among the most common causes of persistent cough, hoarseness, sore throat, and other symptoms, affecting the quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) on PND symptoms in patients with LPR. @*Methods@#We prospectively enrolled patients diagnosed with LPR at our institution between September 2019 and June 2020. The patients were randomly assigned to either the treatment group (20 mg of ilaprazole daily for 8 weeks) or the control group. The scores for the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), Reflux Finding Score (RFS), and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT)-20 were evaluated at baseline and at the end of treatment, focusing on PND symptoms. @*Results@#Eighty patients (28 men and 52 women; mean age, 48.8 years, range, 22–78 years) were enrolled, with 43 in the treatment group and 37 in the control group. The initial RSI, RFS, and SNOT-20 scores were similar between the two groups, and they decreased significantly only in the treatment group (p=0.002, p<0.001, and p=0.015, respectively). However, the PND symptom scores showed a significant decrease in the treatment group only in the RSI (p=0.012). @*Conclusion@#PPI treatment for 8 weeks may be effective in improving PND symptoms in patients with LPR.

Nationwide Mortality Data after Flow-Diverting Stent Implantation in Korea

OBJECTIVE: To investigate nationwide statistics on flow-diverting stent usage for cerebral aneurysm treatment and related mortality data. METHODS: We requested data extraction from the National Health Insurance Service claims database using electronic data interchange codes (J3207064, J3207073). Patient and hospital information as well as death statistics were collected from the database. RESULTS: A total of 169 procedures were performed using flow-diverting stents for cerebral aneurysm treatment from November 2014 to December 2016 in Korea. The majority of primary diagnosis was unruptured intracranial aneurysm. During the study period, nine subjects died, including one patient initially diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The crude mortality rate was 5.3%. Five patients died within one month after the procedure; therefore, the estimated periprocedural mortality rate was 3.0±1.3%. The mortality rate as of the last day of 2016 was 6.3±2.1%. CONCLUSION: In a 171 person-year follow-up in a Korean series, nine deaths occurred after flow-diverting stent treatment. The crude mortality rate in Korea (5.3%) was higher than that reported in a previous meta-analysis (3.8%).

Nationwide Mortality Data after Flow-Diverting Stent Implantation in Korea

OBJECTIVE: To investigate nationwide statistics on flow-diverting stent usage for cerebral aneurysm treatment and related mortality data.METHODS: We requested data extraction from the National Health Insurance Service claims database using electronic data interchange codes (J3207064, J3207073). Patient and hospital information as well as death statistics were collected from the database.RESULTS: A total of 169 procedures were performed using flow-diverting stents for cerebral aneurysm treatment from November 2014 to December 2016 in Korea. The majority of primary diagnosis was unruptured intracranial aneurysm. During the study period, nine subjects died, including one patient initially diagnosed with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The crude mortality rate was 5.3%. Five patients died within one month after the procedure; therefore, the estimated periprocedural mortality rate was 3.0±1.3%. The mortality rate as of the last day of 2016 was 6.3±2.1%.CONCLUSION: In a 171 person-year follow-up in a Korean series, nine deaths occurred after flow-diverting stent treatment. The crude mortality rate in Korea (5.3%) was higher than that reported in a previous meta-analysis (3.8%).