Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), Videolaryngostroboscopy and Voice Analysis: A Triad of Non-Invasive Tools to Study Treatment Outcomes of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease (LPRD).

Study post treatment improvement of Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease (LPRD) using non-invasive tools of Reflux symptom index (RSI), Reflux finding score (RFS) grading of videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS) and voice analysis. This study from December 2020 to April 2022 enrolled 100 adults with complaints suggestive of reflux symptoms and having Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) more than 13. All patients underwent VLS along with voice analysis. VLS findings were graded using Reflux Finding Score (RFS). Patients were advised for lifestyle modifications and proton pump inhibitors for 8 weeks when post treatment RSI, VLS and voice analyses were again documented. The age range was from 18 to 75 years. Males predominated. Lifestyle modification compliance was seen in 85% of the patients. We found a significant association (P = 0.001) for difference in pretreatment and posttreatment for both Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) parameters & Reflux Finding Score Index (RFS) parameters. Voice analysis pre and post treatment showed a significant association (P = 0.001) for fundamental frequency, jitter, shimmer, harmonic-to-noise ratio and maximum phonation time. The gold standard of diagnosis of LPRD is 24 h pH monitoring but has many false negatives and false positives due to intermittent reflux and inaccurate probe placement. This costly, time consuming and invasive procedure is not widely available amongst our speciality. Excellent visualisation of VLS allowed accurate RFS calculation. Voice analysis permitted early diagnosis of LPRD induced hoarseness before it became clinically significant. It also documented the treatment outcome. We conclude that an 8-weeks proton pump inhibitor treatment combined with lifestyle modification resulted in a significant improvement in the parameters of the non-invasive tools of RSI and RFS and voice analysis.

Pattern of Food Allergen Sensitivity Amongst Adult Allergic Rhinitis Patients: A Four Year Central Indian Study.

AIMS: Only limited Indian data is available regarding the food allergy pattern among allergic rhinitis patients in Indian population. This study aims to assess the pattern of food allergen sensitivity amongst allergic rhinitis patients in central India. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 218 subjects with allergic rhinitis were enrolled in the study (from May 2018 to August 2022). Skin prick test was done in all subjects with proper technique and precautions by using 125 common food allergens and 75 aero allergens. The test readings were noted after 20 minutes by comparing the wheals so formed with the negative control of Saline and positive control of Histamine. Any reaction with a wheal diameter of 3mm or greater was considered as positive. RESULTS: While test results of both food and inhalant allergens were issued to individual patients, this study was restricted to detection and analysis of pattern of food allergens. Our study observed male preponderance with predominantly a third decade affliction. The most common food allergen in the study population was beetle nut (29.3%) followed by chilli powder and spinach (28.8% each). CONCLUSION: Along with aeroallergens, food allergens are also important provocateurs of allergic rhinitis. Diagnosing the offending food allergens and its avoidance reduces patient morbidity, need for pharmaceutical agents and subsequently drug dependence and its side effects. Offering subjects a replacement diet with food items of similar taste and nutritive character helps in sustainable avoidance therapy.

A Novel Two Surgeons Approach to Bronchial Foreign Body Removal by Optical Instruments- An 11 Years Institutional Experience.

A potentially life-threatening emergency in ENT practice is the aspiration of tracheobronchial foreign body. This commonly affects young children and requires early extraction. Successful removal provides immediate relief. However procedural complications can cause devastating morbidity like anoxic encephalopathy or instant death. The aim of this study is to describe the experience in our institution with two surgeons approach for removal of tracheobronchial foreign bodies by telescope and optical forceps. This is an observational study from the period of March 2010 to April 2021 in which 96 patients (59 males, 37 females; age range 3 months to 15 years) were diagnosed with foreign body aspiration. In all cases rigid bronchoscopy and FB removal under general anaesthesia was performed using the two surgeons technique. This technique was instituted once Storz make paediatric telescope (2.9 mm diameter 36 cm length), optical grasping forceps and optical suction were procured in March 2010. Aspirated material was inorganic or organic with varying location in right main bronchus, left main bronchus or the trachea. We highlight the OT setup, surgical algorithm and the advantages of this technique. Visual and tactile coordination between the two surgeons being the crux of this procedure; allows hands on mentoring of the next generation of budding surgeons in a real-life scenario without compromising patient safety. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-021-02847-8.

A Comparative Study of CT Scan and Nasal Endoscopic Findings of Lateral Wall of Nose, in Headache of Rhinogenic Origin.

Headache disorders are rated among the ten most disabling conditions worldwide. Contact points like septal spur, septal deviation, concha bullosa and bulla ethmoidalis can cause rhinogenic headache (RH). Diagnostic nasal endoscopy (DNE) is an essential part of evaluation of sinonasal disease and is the key to understanding anatomical variations. As compared to CT paranasal sinus (CT PNS), DNE is cheaper and has wider availability, being part of the basic training of present ENT curriculum. We conducted a prospective observational study from September 2018 to June 2020 on 202 patients who were diagnosed to have RH. The aim of this study was to the define the role of DNE as the primary examination for early and accurate diagnosis of rhinogenic headache as compared to CT PNS. RH patients were evaluated with DNE followed by CT PNS. Evaluation of the findings of anatomical variations of lateral wall of nose on DNE and CT PNS was done. In our study the most common anatomic variations in order of frequency in both DNE and CT PNS was deviated nasal septum, impacting spur and unilateral concha bullosa. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy of DNE for the various anatomical variations was statistically better than CT PNS findings. We conclude that DNE is a better than CT PNS as a diagnostic technique to detect various anatomical variations, thus initiating early management of RH.

Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma in Adolescent Female with Subsequent ICA Canal Dehiscence: An Unknown Entity.

Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma (JNA) is a benign vascular tumour typically occurring in adolescent males. Presentation beyond this age group and in female is rare. Classically it was surgically removed by various external approaches. Present gold standard of therapy is endoscopic excision. This is less morbid, avoids external scar and allows complete tumour removal under magnified view. Dehiscent internal carotid artery (ICA) canal is a rare condition which presents mostly as a pulsatile tinnitus or otalgia. Accidental injury to the exposed vessel during ear surgery may cause devastating consequences. Present case is a lady who was operated for left NPA 10 years back when she was 11 years age. Presently she presented with left ear pain which was diagnosed to be due to dehiscent ICA canal. We present a comprehensive review of world literature on the incidence of nasopharyngeal and extra-nasopharyngeal angiofibroma in women in the region of nose and para-nasal sinuses. There has been only 3 cases of NPA in adolescent females documented till date. This is the first documented case of NPA in adolescent female with subsequent ICA dehiscence. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-021-03008-7.

Comparative Study of Videolaryngostroboscopic Findings and Voice Handicap Index Before and After Treatment in Patients Presenting with Hoarseness Due to Non Malignant Lesions.

Voice personifies an individual. Change in voice can be the only presentation for a benign malady like vocal nodule or acute laryngitis but can also indicate life threatening malignancy. Hence every voice change must be evaluated. The aim of this pioneering study was to assess patients with voice change due to non-malignant conditions, using Videolaryngostroboscopy (VLS) and Voice Handicap Index (VHI) pre and post1 month therapy. Diagnosis determined conservative therapy or Co2 laser phonosurgery according to accepted medical protocol. On VLS, glottic closure pattern and wave form was noted both before and after treatment. Patient completed VHI form before and after treatment. There is no previous study comparing pre and post treatment VHI and VLS in a extensive etiology of conservatively managed patients. In our study, 100 patients were enrolled in the age group between 10 years to the eighties, with majority in their thirties. The male to female ratio was 1.9:1. The majority of patients belonged to level IV occupation. A wide gamut of diagnosis was noted, majority being vocal nodules, followed by polyps, cysts, vocal cord palsy etc. A statistically significant improvement was seen pre and post treatment VLS in glottic closure pattern, waves presence along with improvement in VHI. Thus, Voice Handicap Index and Videostroboscopy can be used to prognosticate the vocal cord lesions and measure the effectiveness of treatment in both surgically and conservatively managed patients.

Role of Orthopantomogram in Unexplained Earache.

Earache is one of the most common symptom for a patient to visit ENT doctor. It poses difficulty to diagnose the root cause when ENT examination is normal and still the pain persists, hence many a times patients are presumed to have psychosomatic element. While evaluation of earache dental status is often overlooked. 93 such patients of persistent earache with normal ENT examination were evaluated. In 70 of these patients the earache was attributed to either absent, unerupted or obliquely positioned upper or lower last molars which was confirmed by Orthopantomogram.