Effect of drilling on otolithic organ functions in mastoidectomy.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the effect of drilling during mastoidectomy on otolithic organ functions and development of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo using objective vestibular tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 45 adult patients diagnosed with chronic otitis media who underwent mastoidectomy with drilling. Pre-operative and post-operative assessments included tests for subjective visual vertical deviation and videonystagmography. RESULTS: Subjective visual vertical deviation was significantly higher in post-operative periods. On the third day, the subjective visual vertical deviation was at its maximum (1.4 degrees). Post-operatively, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo was detected in 14 patients (31.1 per cent). The most common type was ipsilateral lateral canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (57.1 per cent). CONCLUSION: The effect of drilling on otolithic organ functions in mastoidectomy seems to be temporary and subclinical; however, it potentially could be a risk factor for the development of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

Long-term follow-up of tonsillectomy efficacy in children with PFAPA syndrome / Acompanhamento em longo prazo da eficácia da tonsilectomia em crianças com síndrome de PFAPA

Abstract Introduction: The role of tonsillectomy in the periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis syndrome, is controversial. Although some studies reported high success rates with tonsillectomy, further investigations are needed with larger numbers of patients. Objective: To seek the long-term outcomes of tonsillectomy in periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis syndrome. Methods: Case series; multi-center study. The study comprised 23 patients with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis syndrome who underwent surgery (tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy) between January 2009 and November 2014. Results: 21 (91%) of 23 patients had complete resolution immediately after surgery. One patient had an attack 24 h after surgery, but has had no further attacks. One patient had three attacks with various intervals, and complete remission was observed after 3 months. Conclusions: Tonsillectomy is a good option for the treatment of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis syndrome.

Resumo Introdução: O papel da tonsilectomia na síndrome da febre periódica, estomatite aftosa, faringite e adenite é controverso. Embora alguns estudos tenham relatado altas taxas de sucesso com a tonsilectomia, são necessárias mais pesquisas com um número maior de pacientes. Objetivo: Avaliar os resultados em longo prazo da tonsilectomia na síndrome de febre periódica, estomatite aftosa, faringite e adenite. Método: Série de casos; estudo multicêntrico. O estudo avaliou 23 pacientes com síndrome de febre periódica, estomatite aftosa, faringite e adenite submetidos a cirurgia (tonsilectomia com ou sem adenoidectomia) entre janeiro de 2009 e novembro de 2014. Resultados: Dos 23 pacientes, 21 (91%) apresentaram resolução completa imediatamente após a cirurgia. Um paciente apresentou um episódio 24 horas após a cirurgia, mas sem recorrência posterior. Um paciente teve três episódios com vários intervalos e a remissão completa foi observada após 3 meses. Conclusões: A tonsilectomia é uma boa opção para o tratamento da síndrome de febre periódica, estomatite aftosa, faringite e adenite.

Long-term follow-up of tonsillectomy efficacy in children with PFAPA syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: The role of tonsillectomy in the periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis syndrome, is controversial. Although some studies reported high success rates with tonsillectomy, further investigations are needed with larger numbers of patients. OBJECTIVE: To seek the long-term outcomes of tonsillectomy in periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis syndrome. METHODS: Case series; multi-center study. The study comprised 23 patients with periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis syndrome who underwent surgery (tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy) between January 2009 and November 2014. RESULTS: 21 (91%) of 23 patients had complete resolution immediately after surgery. One patient had an attack 24h after surgery, but has had no further attacks. One patient had three attacks with various intervals, and complete remission was observed after 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Tonsillectomy is a good option for the treatment of periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and adenitis syndrome.

Evaluation of effects of anterior palatoplasty operation on upper airway parameters in computed tomography in patients with pure snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

AIM: To investigate changes in upper airway volume parameters measured by computerized tomography scans in patients with surgically treated by anterior palatoplasty of whom having pure snoring and mild-moderate obstructive sleep apnea. METHOD: A prospective study on consecutively anterior palatoplasty performed pure snoring and obstructive sleep apnea patients. Computerized tomography scans were obtained preoperatively and following anterior palatoplasty procedure to measure changes in upper airway volume. Patients underwent diagnostic drug induced sleep endoscopy to assess the site of obstruction. Preoperative and postoperative measurements were compared using student's t test and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (16 men and 6 women, age 48.22 ± 9.23, body mass index 25.85 ± 2.57) completed the trial. Anterior palatoplasty was associated with an increase in total upper airway volume from 4.81 ± 1.73 cm3 before treatment to 6.57 ± 2.03 cm3 after treatment (p < 0.005). Change in soft palate thickness did not vary significantly (p < 0.039). The mean soft palate length has changed from 4.13 ± 0.41 to 3.93 ± 0.51 cm (p < 0.001). The preoperative and postoperative measurements of cross-sectional areas and volumes all showed significant difference except velopharynx minimal lateral airway dimension. The operational procedure increased the total upper airway volume much more in men than in women (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that anterior palatoplasty operation appears to produce significant increase in upper airway volume and cross sectional area. It does not seem to have an effect on lateral airway dimension. Computerized tomography is a quick and noninvasive imaging technique that allows for quantitative assessment of the velopharyngeal patency changes.

The Healing Effects of Autologous Mucosal Grafts in Experimentally Injured Rabbit Maxillary Sinuses.

OBJECTIVES: Healing processes of the nose and paranasal sinuses are quite complex, and poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to compare the effect of mucosal autologous grafts on the degenerated rabbit maxillary sinus mucosa with spontaneous wound healing. It is hypothesized that mucosal grafts will enhance ciliogenesis and improve the morphology of regenerated cilia. METHODS: Ten female New Zealand rabbits were included in the study. They underwent external maxillary sinus surgery through a transcutaneous approach. A total of 20 maxillary sinuses were randomly divided into 2 groups: 'spontaneous healing group' and 'autologous graft group.' The animals were sacrificed at the 14th day after the surgery. Scanning electron microscope (SEM), and light microscope were used for the evaluation. RESULTS: Cellular composition of the graft group is better than the spontaneous healing group. The graft group had larger areas covered with ciliary epithelium than the spontaneous healing group, and the mean length of the cilias were also longer. Additionally, there were wider cilia with abnormal morphology areas in the spontaneous healing group. CONCLUSION: In our opinion, covering of the denuded areas with a graft improves re-epithelization, and may prevent the early complications after sinus surgeries.

The effect of memantine on functional recovery of the facial nerve after crush injury.

The objective of this study is to establish whether memantine is an alternative and effective treatment on facial nerve recovery after crush injury, and also to analyze the effective doses of this promising agent. This is a randomized controlled animal study. 40 rats underwent crush injury to left main trunk of the facial nerve, and divided into 4 groups; (1) control (saline treated), (2) 5-mg/kg memantine, (3) 10-mg/kg memantine, and (4) 20-mg/kg memantine group. Facial nerve functions were evaluated by eye reflex, and whisker movement compared to the unaffected side. They were scored on a 3-point scale. On day 28, the rats were sacrificed, and the facial nerves were dissected. The paraffin sections were studied with caspase-3 immunostaining. According to statistical data, the recovery in Group 4 began significantly earlier than the other groups on the basis of restoring eye blink reflexes and whisker movement. Groups 2 and 3 showed faster recovery than Group 1 on the basis of whisker movement. The caspase-3 positive staining was rarely detected in all groups. The Kruskal­Wallis test revealed that Group 4 showed fewer apoptotic cells than other groups; this was statistically significant. However, the Mann­Whitney U test with the Bonferroni correction did not reveal any significant difference between the groups. In conclusion, this study revealed that memantine acted to restore facial nerve functions, and accelerate recovery after facial nerve injury by inhibiting apoptosis.

A new transcutaneous bone anchored hearing device - the Baha® Attract System: the first experience in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we reported our experience with a new transcutaneous bone conduction hearing device, the Baha® Attract System. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This multi-center clinical study included the first 12 patients (8 females, 4 males; mean age 27.6 years; range 5 to 65 years) in whom a new transcutaneous bone conduction system was implanted in Turkey. RESULTS: The mean air-bone gap was 41 dB. Bone smoothing around the implant was needed in five patients. We placed a sound processor in the fourth postoperative week for all patients. CONCLUSION: Our study results suggest that the new bone conduction implant is promising for the patients with conductive or mixed hearing loss who are unable to wear conventional air conduction hearing aid and comparable to percutaneous systems.