Viral Serologic Test in Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss and Acute Peripheral Facial Paralysis: Is It Always Necessary? / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) and acute peripheral facial paralysis (APFP) are common otologic diseases related to viral infections. In this study, we investigated the clinical necessity of viral serologic tests in the diagnosis of SSNHL and APFP. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was carried out for 348 patients with SSNHL, 121 patients of Bell's palsy (BP) and 37 patients of Ramsay Hunt syndrome (RHS). The serologic tests for IgM and IgG titers of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were performed within 10 days after onset in all patients. Clinical manifestations, abnormalities on MRI and prognosis were compared in relation to the results of viral serologic tests. Mean duration between the onset and the serologic tests was 4.6+/-2.9 days. The prognosis was determined using pure tone audiometry and House-Brackmann grading system after 6 months. RESULTS: The positivity of VZV IgM and titer of VZV IgG in RHS were significantly higher than those in the others (p.05). CONCLUSION: The serologic tests for IgM and IgG titers of HSV and VZV performed once in the acute stage are unlikely to provide additional information for the prognosis of SSNHL or APFP, but they might be helpful in the differential diagnosis process of APFP.

Continuous Measurement of Suspension Force during Suspension Laryngoscopy: Preliminary Report / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although suspension laryngoscopy is a very common procedure in the otolaryngoloical field and suspension force (Fs) is suspected to be related with the complications or laryngeal exposure, Fs has not been objectively measured yet. The objective of this study is to measure suspension force continuously during suspension laryngoscopy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Sixteen patients who had undergone laryngoscopic surgery were evaluated. The value measured with a load cell during the procedure was converted to Fs with calculation. The maximum force (Fsmax) and the mean force (Fsmean) were evaluated. The angle between the laryngoscope and the chest holder(angle alpha), and the angle between the chest holder and the horizontal plane (angle beta) were gauged. RESULTS: The mean values of Fsmax and Fsmean were 14.2 and 25.5 kgf, respectively. The mean values of angle alpha and angle beta were 124.0+/-4.3 degrees, and 19.0+/-2.6 degrees, respectively. CONCLUSION: The continuous measurement of the suspension force was executed successfully and quantitatively with a simple method.

Comparison of Polysomnographic Findings according to Obstruction Sites in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to identify differences in polysomnographic findings according to the upper airway obstruction level in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Eighty-four patients with OSA were included in this study. Every patient underwent polysomnography (PSG) and upper airway pressure measurement using a four-sensor catheter simultaneously. The catheter was positioned at the posterior nasal cavity, uvula tip, tip of the epiglottis, and mid-esophagus level, which was inserted through the nasal cavity down to the esophagus. The patients were categorized into two groups of single site obstruction and multi-site obstruction. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients showed single site obstruction and sixtythree patients showed multi-site obstruction. Apnea-hypopnea index, apnea index, and minimal oxygen saturation showed statistically significant differences between two groups. There was no difference in bony mass index (BMI). CONCLUSION: Upper airway pressure measurement can be a method to evaluate the upper airway obstruction site. This study shows that OSA patients with multisite obstruction have severer sleep apnea than those with single site obstruction.