Nimodipine and Steroid Combination Therapy for Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment outcomes of nimodipine and steroid combination therapy for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSNHL). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: Tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Seventy-eight patients who were diagnosed with ISSNHL were divided into two group based on the treatment strategies used: steroid+nimodipine (SN, n = 36) and steroid only (SO, n = 42) groups. Based on the level of hearing loss before treatment, subgroup analysis (<90 dB HL, SN-S versus SO-S groups; ≥90 dB HL, SN-P versus SO-P groups) was performed. INTERVENTIONS: Nimodipine+dexamethasone versus dexamethasone alone. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hearing thresholds and complete/partial recovery rate after treatment. RESULTS: Hearing thresholds after treatment were not significantly different between the SN and SO groups (46.8 ±â€Š29.4 versus 54.8 ±â€Š27.6 dB HL, p = 0.218). However, the complete recovery rate was significantly higher in the SN group than in the SO group (41.7% versus 16.8%, p = 0.014). In subgroup analysis, the complete recovery rate was significantly higher in the SN-S group than in the SO-S group (60.9% versus 19.2%, p = 0.003), whereas the difference between the SN-P and SO-P groups was not significant (7.7% versus 12.5%, p = 0.672). The cumulative incidence of complete recovery was significantly higher in SN-S group than in the SO-S group (p = 0.005); the mean recovery time was 4.4 weeks (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-6.1) in the SN-S group and 8.8 weeks (95% CI, 7.0-10.5) in the SO-S group. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that nimodipine and steroid combination therapy for ISSNHL results in a higher complete recovery rate than steroid alone in patients with moderate to severe hearing loss.

The Usefulness of Respiratory Mechanic Instability in Evaluating the Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure for Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

OBJECTIVES: Respiratory mechanics instability (RMI) based on paradoxical movement is correlated with respiratory disturbance such as apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and reflects the severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The purpose of this study was to identify RMI as a method for assessing the effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in the management for OSA. METHODS: A total of 71 consecutive OSA patients with CPAP titration were included in this study. We compared sleep (sleep efficiency, arousal index, and sleep stages), respiratory (AHI, oxygen desaturation index ≥3% [ODI3], and lowest oxygen saturation), and RMI parameters (events, index, duration, and % of stage duration) between diagnostic polysomnography and CPAP titration data. RESULTS: All RMI parameters (events [157.5 ± 80.9 vs 80.0 ± 47.1; P < .001], index [25.3 ± 12.4 vs 12.7 ± 7.0; P < .001], duration [182.6 ± 96.2 vs 79.8 ± 88.9; P < .001], and % of stage duration [49.0 ± 24.4 vs 20.5 ± 21.3; P < .001]) were significantly improved by the alleviation of obstructive respiratory disturbance parameters (AHI [45.1 ± 23.0 vs 4.2 ± 4.3; P < .001], ODI3 [44.9 ± 22.6 vs 4.8 ± 4.6; P < .001], and lowest oxygen saturation [77.7 ± 7.3 vs 89.3 ± 3.8; P < .001]) compared to diagnostic polysomnography and CPAP titration data. CONCLUSION: RMI may be a useful method for evaluating the effect of CPAP in OSA patients.

A clinical prediction score to determine surgical drainage of deep neck infection: A retrospective case-control study.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this retrospective study was to identify predictors of an abscess guaranteed to be surgically drained successfully in patients with deep neck infection (DNI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We divided 97 consecutive patients with DNI into a drained group and a non-drained group. We then developed a clinical prediction score and validated it in 32 further patients. RESULTS: Significant predictors of successful surgical drainage (i.e., positive for pus) were rim enhancement on computed tomography, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio. The estimated cut-off values (excluding rim enhancement, which is a yes/no parameter) were 41.25, 56.5, and 8.02, respectively, and the clinical prediction score for each of the four other factors was determined to be 2, 2, 3, and 3 points, respectively. The cut-off score for the sum of these points was 6.5 and the scoring system had an accuracy of 87.5% in the validation group. CONCLUSION: Our clinical prediction scoring system can predict whether drainage is successful in patients with DNI.