Relation between sense of pressure in the ear and electrocochleography: a diagnostic approach for early detection of endolymphatic hydrops

Is to investigate whether patients complaining of ear fullness or sense of pressure in the ear alone have early signs of hydrops. The study included 80 cases divided into [Group I] n=40: cases with normal hearing and complaining of sense of pressure [ear fullness] with no history of nausea or eustachian tube dysfunction and with or without history of vertigo, control group [Group II] which subdivided to [Group IIa] n=20: cases as normal controls with no ear problem and [Group IIb] n=20: cases with typical Meniere's disease. Audiological and Electrocochleography were done to all cases. Regarding SP/AP ratio, we found that group I [cases of aural fullness] and group IIb [cases of typical Meniere's disease] [100%] of cases were having an enhanced SP/AP ratio in the affected ears in comparison to cases of group IIa [normal control]. Cases with aural fullness associated with an enhanced SP/AP ratio in the electrocochleography can be considered as an early stage of hydrops

Effect of age on the vestibular evoked myogenic response potentials [VEMP]

To evaluate the effect of aging on the vestibular evoked potentials. Fifty males free from auditory and vestibular symptoms participated in this study. They were divided into 5 groups according to age; 15-25, 26-40, 41-55, 56-65 and 66 years and above. One channel recordings were obtained using three electrodes; active electrode placed on the upper half of sternocleidomastoid muscle ipsilateral to the stimulated ear, reference electrode placed on the lateral end of the upper sternum and a ground electrode placed on the fore head. Rarefaction clicks of 0.1 milliseconds duration were generated by D.C. pulse and delivered via a TDH-49 P. Telephonics ear phone. Monaural stimulation was employed with a stimulus presentation level of 95 dB nHL and stimulus repetition rate of 5 Hz. EMG signals were amplified and band pass filtered between 10 and 500 Hz. Each averaged response was based upon 100 stimulus sweeps and was replicated once. The results of this study showed that VEMP is a reproducible response the distinct morphology of which decreases by age. VEMP is a reproducible response that can be incorporated intoclinical use but results should be cautiously interpreted when dealing with older age groups as distinct morphology decreases with age

Eustachian tube reserves in tympanoplasty

This study comprised 70 adult patients who underwent different tympanoplasties. The conventional tests of Eustachian tube [ET] patency were evaluated in relation to the operative findings and postoperative results. Patients with preoperative ET obstruction [n = 28] were thoroughly examined during the surgery. Any obstructing lesion found at or near the ET tympanic orifice was cleaned out. The tympanoplasty results of this group were compared to those of a control group with preoperative patent ET [n= 42]. No significant difference was reported. This indicated good reserves of the ET in restoring normal function and providing better aeration to the middle ear by the proper surgery