ABSTRACT
This study aimed to evaluate the various neuro-otological symptoms experienced by patients with COVID-19 disease. This is a retrospective study conducted from September 2020 to August 2021. Patients with positive RTPCR tests for COVID-19, aged between 18 and 60 years were included in the study. The patients were assessed for neuro-otological symptoms, the type, frequency, and character of these symptoms, their relation with age, gender and COVID-19 disease. Of the 286 patients, 64 (22.3%) had neuro-otological symptoms. The mean age of the patients was 36.3 ± 8.1 years. The frequency of neuro-otological symptoms was higher in females than males and was more frequent in the age group of 18-30 years as compared with other age groups. Of these 64 patients, 29 had vertigo (10.1%), 21 (7.3%) tinnitus, 16 (5.5%) experienced hearing loss. Like many viral diseases, apart from its typical prodromal symptoms, COVID-19 can also cause symptoms like tinnitus, hearing loss, and vertigo.
ABSTRACT
Aims and Objectives: : The aim of our study was to present an experience of elective tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients at our institute. Materials and methods: The present prospective study was conducted, after approval by Institutional Ethics Committee, in the Department of ENT, SMGS Hospital, GMC Jammu from May 2020 to March 2021 over 60 patients having need for prolonged mechanical ventilation and having tested positive for COVID-19 with nasopharyngeal swab on rtPCR assay testing. Detailed information regarding following aspects was gathered :Age, Gender, Comorbidities (Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, Pulmonary disease, Malignancy), time of endotracheal intubation to tracheostomy, time to wean sedation after tracheostomy, time to wean mechanical ventilation after tracheostomy, surgical complications, mortality, any health care worker in operating team getting infected by SARS-CoV-2. All 60 patients underwent Elective Open Tracheostomy Bed-side in the ICU section of our institute. Results: The mean age of presentation was 55.9 ± 2.34 years, with male preponderance. The most common indication for tracheostomy was ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) (56.6%). Out of 60 patients, co-morbidities were present in 44 patients (73.3%). The mean time between endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy was 12.2 ± 4.9 days. The mean time to wean mechanical ventilation after tracheostomy was 10.4 ± 2.31 days. The mean time to wean sedation was 2.2 ± 0.83 days. There were no deaths during the procedure. Out of 60 patients, 5 patients (8.3%) died due to complications of COVID-19. Conclusion: Our study provides important clinical data (such as timing of tracheostomy, pre-operative evaluation of patients, recommendations during procedure, outcomes of tracheostomy and postoperative care) on this threatening issue of tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients and might be of immense help to various Otorhinolaryngologists who are dealing with the same situation.
ABSTRACT
Introduction Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a dangerous infectious disease caused by a newly discovered severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that has various clinical presentations. Numerable cases with non-specific olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions in COVID-19 have been reported from all over the globe. This is important as awareness will let people to self-isolate and help in limiting disease spread. Objective To objectively evaluate the frequency of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction, which may occur independently or with other symptoms, in laboratory confirmed COVID-19 patients at an early stage of the disease. Methods Objective evaluation of olfactory and gustatory function of 322 COVID-19 patients treated at our hospital, (SMGS, Government Medical College, Jammu), from August 2020 until November 2020. Results Our study population included 127 (39.4%) males and 195 (60.6%) females. Two hundred and twenty-six (70.2%) COVID-19 patients experienced olfactory and gustatory disorders. One hundred and sixty-five (51.2%) cases experienced both olfactory and gustatory disorders. Isolated olfactory dysfunction was reported in 34 (10.6%) patients, while 27 (8.4%) patients experienced only gustatory dysfunction. Conclusion The olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions, without any nasal obstruction or rhinorrhea, are significant symptoms in the clinical presentation of early COVID-19 patients. This presentation can be recognized at the earliest one, and it can reduce the high communicability of the COVID-19 disease.