Conventional approaches versus laser CO2 surgery in stapes surgery: a multicentre retrospective study.

PURPOSE: To analyze and compare surgical and audiological outcomes of conventional approaches versus laser CO2 surgery in stapes surgery. METHODS: 333 patients who underwent stapes surgery were enrolled in the study; the patient population was divided into three groups: group 1: 170 patients treated with conventional stapedotomy with manual microdrill (average age 49.13 years); group 2: 119 patients treated with conventional stapedotomy with electrical microdrill (average age 51.06 years); group 3: 44 patients (average age 50.4 years) who underwent CO2 laser stapedotomy. Intra-operative, postoperative outcomes and audiological results were investigated. RESULTS: The average surgical time of laser CO2 surgery was longer than for other surgical procedures. No statistical differences emerged in post-operative abnormal taste sensation. There was also no difference in postoperative dizziness. Air-bone gap (ABG) went down from 29.7 ± 10 dB (group 1) and 27.32 ± 9.20 (group 2) to 10 ± 6.9 dB (group 1) and 10.7 ± 6.03 dB (group 2). In group 3 the preoperative ABG was lowered from 28.3 ± 10.1 to 11.8 ± 10.9, with a statistical difference in auditory recovery (p = 0.0001); The group of patients treated with laser CO2 showed a percentage of patients with an ABG closure of between 0 and 10 dB higher than in the group treated with manual microdrills (77.2% vs. 60%, respectively; p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Overall surgical results of CO2 laser and conventional stapedotomy are comparable without any significant difference; however, the group treated with CO2 laser appears to have a percentage of patients with an ABG closure 0-10 dB higher than the group treated using the conventional technique.

Long-Term Subjective Outcomes of Barbed Reposition Pharyngoplasty for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Treatment.

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate long-term subjective outcomes of barbed reposition pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) treatment using a specific questionnaire, the Palate Postoperative Problem Score (PPOPS). Methods: 140 patients who underwent barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) surgery in the Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital of Forlì, Italy were enrolled in the study. Postoperative outcomes were evaluated in a short- and long-term follow-up using the PPOPS questionnaire. The average period of follow-up was 26 months. All patients received the PPOPS questionnaire by telephone in a period between April and August 2019. Results: 51% of patients complained of swallowing problems after surgery. In 91% of cases, the problem cleared up spontaneously. At the time of the interview, only 9% of patients had a residual swallowing difficult. At the time of PPOPS evaluation, rhinolalia was observed in 8% of patients, whereas nose regurgitation was present in 2% of patients. In 20% of patients, the foreign body sensation was present during follow-up. The value of apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) reduced from the preoperative value of 31.5 to the postoperative value of 11.4. Conclusions: BRP surgery proved to be an effective technique, appreciated by the majority of patients. Use of the PPOPS questionnaire has demonstrated that the BRP technique seems to ensure efficacy and lower morbidity, with few complications after surgery.