Separating the Physician and Patient: A Paradigm Shift for Routine Otolaryngology Examinations in COVID-19-Like Aerosol-Contaminated Environments.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the attitudes of physicians and patients toward physical examination in physically separated environments using a laryngoscopic examination model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six experienced laryngologists performed laryngoscopic examinations in 30 patients in a closed-chamber examination unit. The physicians and patients were asked to compare all domains with their previous standard laryngoscopic examination experience using a 10-point visual analog scale (0, poor performance; 10, good performance), including effectiveness of communication, difficulty of examination, perception of safety against airborne transmission of COVID-19, applicability of the unit for future examinations, perception of protective environment, and overall comfort. RESULTS: All laryngoscopic examinations were performed successfully. Effectiveness of communication, difficulty of examination, perception of protective environment, and overall comfort did not differ between physicians and patients (P > .05 for all comparisons). However, both physicians and patients found the examination to be difficult. While physicians evaluated the system as safe against airborne transmission of COVID-19, patients were not confident that the system was safe (8.70 ± 1.93 vs 2.87 ± 2.37, respectively, P = .001). Physicians also gave a higher score to future applicability of the unit for examinations than patients (8.90 ± 1.42 vs 7.10 ± 2.62, respectively, P = .001). CONCLUSION: Physically separating the physician and patient is a feasible method of physical examination in aerosol-contaminated environments.

Optimizing Early Detection: Validating Obstructive Sleep Apnea-18 (OSA-18) in Turkish-Speaking Pediatric Patients.

Objective: Quality of life (QoL) assessments are increasingly important for evaluating the well-being of children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). This study's objective is to culturally adapt and validate the Turkish version of the OSA-18 questionnaire, a commonly used tool for assessing QoL in children with OSAS. Methods: The OSA-18 questionnaire was translated and culturally adapted for use in the Turkish-speaking population. The study was conducted with 180 participants, 100 boys and 80 girls, with a mean age of 6.16±2.14 years. The participants were divided into two groups. The patient group comprised individuals with symptoms of OSAS based on clinical evaluation, including anamnesis, physical examination, and video recording of apnea and snoring. The patient group underwent adenotonsillectomy and their caregivers completed the Turkish version of the OSA-18 scale postoperatively. The control group comprised 90 children who were similar to the patient group in terms of gender and age. These children had no major complaints such as snoring, apnea, fatigue during the day, irritability, or distraction. In the physical examination of this group, no major tonsillar or adenoid hypertrophy, which causes significant stenosis in the upper airway, was observed. Internal consistency, reliability, validity, responsiveness, and factor analysis were assessed. Results: The Turkish version of the OSA-18 questionnaire demonstrated excellent reliability, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.929. The test-retest results were not statistically different. Validity was confirmed through a positive correlation between the OSA-18 score and external parameters, such as the Mallampati score, and tonsil and adenoid size. We found a statistically significant reduction in OSA-18 scores postoperatively, signifying a robust responsiveness to the intervention. Conclusion: Our study confirms the suitability of the Turkish OSA-18 questionnaire for assessing the QoL in children with OSAS. This quick and easy-to-use tool will be valuable for future research on Turkish-speaking children with OSAS, aiding in the evaluation of pediatric OSAS and QoL.

Prognostic importance of harvested lymph node number, metastatic lymph node number, and lymph node ratio in surgically managed laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma / Importância prognóstica do número de linfonodos coletados, número de linfonodos metastáticos e relação de linfonodos em carcinoma espinocelular de laringe tratado cirurgicamente

Abstract Introduction Lymph node metastasis is a well-known prognostic factor for laryngeal carcinoma. However, current nodal staging systems provide limited information regarding prognosis. Additional parameters should be considered to improve prognostic capacity. Objectives To assess the prognostic values of metastatic lymph node number, ipsilateral/contralateral harvested lymph nodes, and lymph node ratio in patients undergoing surgical treatment of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods Seventy-four patients diagnosed with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma primarily managed surgically were included in this study. The patients' pathological and survival data were obtained from their medical records. The effects of harvested lymph nodes and lymph node ratio on disease-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival were analyzed. Results Ipsilateral, contralateral, and bilateral evaluations of harvested lymph nodes showed no significant associations with prognosis. Lymph node ratio was significantly associated with overall survival when evaluated bilaterally. Metastatic lymph node number showed more suitable stratification than TNM classification. Conclusions Metastatic lymph node number and bilateral lymph node ratio parameters should be taken into consideration to improve the prognostic capacity of TNM.

Resumo Introdução A metástase linfonodal é um fator prognóstico bem conhecido para o carcinoma de laringe. Entretanto, os sistemas atuais de estadiamento nodal fornecem informações limitadas sobre o prognóstico. Parâmetros adicionais devem ser considerados para melhorar a capacidade prognóstica. Objetivos Avaliar os valores prognósticos do número de linfonodos metastáticos, linfonodos ipsilaterais /contralaterais coletados e relação de linfonodos em pacientes submetidos ao tratamento cirúrgico do carcinoma espinocelular da laringe. Método Foram incluídos neste estudo 75 pacientes com diagnóstico de carcinoma espinocelular da laringe, tratados primariamente por meio de cirurgia. Os dados histopatológicos e de sobrevida dos pacientes foram obtidos de seus prontuários médicos. Foram analisados os efeitos dos linfonodos coletados e da relação de linfonodos na sobrevida livre de doença, sobrevida doença-específica e sobrevida global. Resultados As avaliações ipsilateral, contralateral e bilateral dos linfonodos coletados não mostraram associações significativas com o prognóstico. A relação de linfonodos foi significantemente associada à sobrevida global quando avaliada bilateralmente. O número de linfonodos metastáticos mostrou estratificação mais adequada do que a classificação TNM-N. Conclusões Os parâmetros número de linfonodos metastáticos e relação de linfonodos bilateral devem ser levados em consideração para melhorar a capacidade prognóstica da classificação TNM.

Nasal Septal Hematoma and Abscess in Children: An Uncommon Otorhinolaryngology Emergency Revisited.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the demographic factors, trauma type, treatment, and long-term results in patients with nasal septal hematoma (NSH) and nasal septal abscess (NSA) in pediatric age group. METHODS: Between the years 2006 and 2019, patients who received a diagnosis of NSA and NSH were included for the study. Demographic data, the surgical findings, and long-term follow-up results were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 68 patients were identified. Forty-five patients were diagnosed as NSA and 23 patients were diagnosed with NSA. Mean age of the patients was 7.00 ±â€Š3.33 years. Patients did not differ in terms of age, gender, and etiology. Mean duration of the symptoms was significantly high in NSA group (4.11 ±â€Š4.00 days for NSH and 7.61 ±â€Š7.71 days for NSA, P = 0.011). Associated nasal fracture was significantly high in NSH group. Previous nasal examination was significantly high in NSA group. Epistaxis was present significantly high in NSH group (P = 0.013). Fever and purulent nasal discharge was observed significantly high in NSA group. Forty-seven (n = 47) patients can be reevaluated for long-term deformity (NSH, n = 34 [72.34%] and NSA, n = 13 [27.65%]). Mean follow-up period of the patients was 8.7 years. In total, 61.7% of the patients experienced minor or major sequelae. Both NSA and NSH groups did not differ in terms of minor sequelae and major sequelae. No sequleae was significantly high in NSH group (for NSH n = 17/34-(50,0%); for NSA n = 1/13- (7,7%), p = 0.008). Both NSA and NSH groups did not differ in terms of no sequelae and minor sequelae. CONCLUSION: The NSH and NSA are uncommon conditions that needed prompt diagnosis and intervention.

Efficacy of topical isoconazole nitrate in the treatment of otomycosis.

PURPOSE: Various agents with various antifungal properties are widely used for otomycosis eradication. However, there is still no consensus on the most effective agent. Therefore, the present study aims to investigate the efficacy of topical 1% isoconazole nitrate cream in the treatment of otomycosis. METHODS: This prospective study included 43 patients who were applied to our outpatient clinic with complaints of ear pain, itching, aural fullness, and hypoacusis, and were diagnosed with unilateral otomycosis. After aspiration and cleaning, the external ear canal was filled with 1% isoconazole nitrate cream using an iv cannula and insulin syringe. Control examinations were performed on the 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th days. In the follow-up examinations, patients were asked about how many days after the cream administration the pain and itching completely relief and the answers were recorded. RESULTS: In the first control examination of 23 (92%) of 25 patients with pain, it was observed that the pain and otoendoscopic examination findings completely recovered. In the second control, it was found that both pain and otoendoscopic examination findings completely recovered in the remaining 2 patients (25 patients, 100%). 35 patients complained of itching and it was observed that itching and otoendoscopic examination findings completely recovered in 26 patients (75%) in the first control, 5 more patients (31 patients, 88.6%) in the second control, and 2 more patients (33 patients, 94.3%) in the third control examination. CONCLUSION: Isoconazole nitrate cream appears to be an effective and easily applicable agent for the treatment of otomycosis.

Evaluation of the Presence of Sensorineural Hearing Loss and the Relationship With Intraoperative Findings in Cholesteatoma.

We investigated whether cholesteatoma is associated with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and the effects of a lateral semicircular canal (LSCC) fistula, destruction of stapes, localization of cholesteatoma, and air-bone gap (ABG) size on SNHL. The charts of 159 patients who had received surgery for unilateral cholesteatoma were examined retrospectively. In all patients, air conduction and bone conduction (BC) thresholds in both ears were measured at 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. Differences in BC thresholds between ears with cholesteatoma and contralateral ears were calculated. Demographics, localization of cholesteatoma, presence of LSCC fistula, condition of stapes, and ABG size on the affected ear were evaluated. There were significantly greater BC thresholds in ears with cholesteatoma than in normal ears for each frequency. Comparing the average BC differences at the different cholesteatoma locations, there were significant differences between the tympanic cavity + all mastoid cell group and attic, attic + antrum, and tympanic cavity + antrum groups. The BC differences at 4000 Hz were significantly high in patients with LSCC fistula. There were no significant relationships between the condition of the stapes and BC differences at any frequencies. There were significant correlations between average ABG and BC threshold differences at all frequencies. A significant relationship was found between cholesteatoma and SNHL. Patients with advanced cholesteatoma had significantly higher levels of SNHL. The BC threshold differences increased with increases in the ABG.

Prognostic importance of harvested lymph node number, metastatic lymph node number, and lymph node ratio in surgically managed laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Lymph node metastasis is a well-known prognostic factor for laryngeal carcinoma. However, current nodal staging systems provide limited information regarding prognosis. Additional parameters should be considered to improve prognostic capacity. OBJECTIVES: To assess the prognostic values of metastatic lymph node number, ipsilateral/contralateral harvested lymph nodes, and lymph node ratio in patients undergoing surgical treatment of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: Seventy-four patients diagnosed with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma primarily managed surgically were included in this study. The patients' pathological and survival data were obtained from their medical records. The effects of harvested lymph nodes and lymph node ratio on disease-free survival, disease-specific survival, and overall survival were analyzed. RESULTS: Ipsilateral, contralateral, and bilateral evaluations of harvested lymph nodes showed no significant associations with prognosis. Lymph node ratio was significantly associated with overall survival when evaluated bilaterally. Metastatic lymph node number showed more suitable stratification than TNM classification. CONCLUSIONS: Metastatic lymph node number and bilateral lymph node ratio parameters should be taken into consideration to improve the prognostic capacity of TNM.

Accessory Nerve Anatomy in Anterior and Posterior Cervical Triangle: A Fresh Cadaveric Study.

OBJECTIVE: To understand the variations and normal course of the accessory nerve (CNXI) to help more accurate and confident neck dissection. METHODS: The course of the CNXI in the neck, its relationship to the surrounding anatomic structures and the factors affecting its course were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 100 neck dissections were performed on 50 fresh cadavers. Eleven division variations were observed at the anterior triangle. The location of CNXI at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (PBSCM) was investigated and the ratio between the distance from the mastoid apex (MAA) to CNXI at the PBSCM and the distance from MAA to the posterior border where the PBSCM is attached to the clavicle increased as height of the subject increased (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: It must be kept in mind that it is better to search for CNXI in taller subjects more inferiorly at the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.

Ultrasonic identification of internal jugular vein fenestration.

OBJECTIVE: Anatomic variations have curicial importance during neck surgery. We present a fenestrated internal jugular vein variation and the accessory nerve passing through it. Also, we discuss preoperative diagnosis of this variation using ultrasonography. METHOD: The possible recognition of this variation by ultrasonography is introduced. RESULTS: The accessory nerve in an internal jugular vein fenestration can be seen using ultrasonography. CONCLUSION: Preoperative identification of this rare variation may secure surgeon from potential complications.