Atorvastatin in the management of tinnitus with hyperlipidemias

To determine the role of atorvastatin in management of tinnitus in patients with hyperlipidemia. Quasi-experimental study. ENT Department, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from July 2011 to August 2012. Ninety eight patients of tinnitus with sensorineural hearing loss having hyperlipidemia were included in the study. Their pre-therapy serum cholesterols were measured, and tinnitus scores were recorded on a 'Tinnitus handicap questionnaire'. They were administered tablet atorvastatin 40 mg once daily with low fat diet for 8 months. After 8 months of therapy, patients were purposefully divided into responsive and unresponsive group depending on serum cholesterol levels. Post therapy serum cholesterol levels and tinnitus scores were also recorded after 8 months and compared with pre-therapy records. Serum cholesterol came to within normal limits in 51 [52%] patients [responsive group], while it remained high in 47 [48%] patients [unresponsive group]. Improvement in tinnitus score in the responsive group was seen in 36 [70.5%] patients and in 2 [4.2%] patients of the unresponsive group. Improvement in tinnitus scores was compared in the two groups using Fisher's exact test and were found to be statistically better in the responsive group [p < 0.001]. Tinnitus, in patients having hyperlipidemia, can be successfully dealt with by treating hyperlipidemia with lipid lowering agent atorvastatin

Bipolar versus unipolar diathermy for per-operative haemorrhage control during tonsillectomy

To compare per operative haemorrhage control, and post operative pain during tonsillectomy using bipolar and monopolar diathermy. This retrospective study was conducted at Department of ENT CMH Rawalpindi. Data were collected from hospital admission and discharge register from March 2011 to June 2012. One hundred and twelve patients undergoing tonsillectomy were divided into two groups of fifty six each. All patients underwent tonsillectomy with bipolar diathermy being used in Group A and monopolar diathermy in Group B for haemorrhage control. No statistical difference was found among two groups regarding per operative haemorrhage control. While post operative pain control was significantly better in Group A. Bipolar as well as unipolar diathermy effectively control haemorrhage in tonsillectomy and bipolar diathermy is more effective controlling post operative pain

Needle aspiration an equal to incision and drainage in management of peritonsillar abscess

To compare needle aspiration with incision and drainage in treatment of Peritonsillar abscess. Randomized Control Trails. Department of ENT CMH Peshawar from 28th October 2009 to 1st November 2010. Fifty patients of either gender presenting with peritonsillar abscess for the first time were randomly divided allocated into two groups A and B. Group A underwent aspiration of pus on day 0 followed by reaspiration on day 1 and 2 if required. Group B underwent incision and drainage and evacuation of pus on day 0 followed by repeat drainage on day 1 if required. In about 72% of cases single needle aspiration was curative while 24% required two and 4% required three aspirations in group A. While in group B 80% of patients were cured with single sitting of incision and drainage and 20% required second sitting of drainage. This difference was statically insignificant [p=0.550]. Needle aspiration is as an effective method as incision and drainage for management of peritonsillar abscess