Pediatric inferior turbinate surgery: A review and meta-analysis of midterm nasal patency.

OBJECTIVES: The surgical treatment of children with enlarged inferior turbinates is still controversial. Foundational evidence for indicating turbinoplasty is still scarce, and there is a myriad of proposed techniques. This work aimed to address the midterm nasal obstruction outcomes of pediatric inferior turbinate surgery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A Literature search across PUBMED and Cochrane collaboration databases was undertaken, using the MeSH terms: turbinates, nasal obstruction, surgery, and children. Articles focusing on turbinate surgery with an exclusively pediatric cohort were included. The minimum follow-up time for inclusion was set at four months, and only the latest available follow-up in each study was considered. All the integrated studies used objective instruments to quantify nasal obstruction before and after surgery. A comprehensive review and meta-analysis were performed to assess nasal outcomes after the intervention. The 95% confidence interval of the effect magnitude for each study was calculated to elucidate effect sizes. RESULTS: Seven studies met the inclusion criteria for review, and five were included in the meta-analysis, accounting for a total of 510 patients. The follow-up period ranged from 4 months to 1 year. Pooled results showed that nasal patency was significantly improved after surgery (p < 0.001) in the midterm follow-up. No significant differences were found between bone-sparing and bone-removal procedures (p = 0.38). CONCLUSION: This is the first meta-analysis to address midterm results of pediatric turbinate surgery. Our results suggest a positive impact of inferior turbinate surgery on nasal patency, irrespective of technique.

Laryngectomy: Phonation Alternatives and Their Impact on the Quality of Life.

Background The decision to consent to surgery is a life-changing moment. This study addresses the impact of total laryngectomy (TL) on phonation and its effect on the quality of life (QoL) of patients. The primary objective of this cohort study is to compare the alternatives in phonation rehabilitation, and the secondary objective is to identify concurrent predictors of vocal outcomes. Methodology To perform a comprehensive analysis, we reviewed data from patients who underwent TL with bilateral radical neck dissection in the Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António between January 2010 and October 2022. Adult patients who consented to participate in the study and underwent subjective evaluation were included in this study. Data regarding clinical history was primarily collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 26 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Different types of vocal rehabilitation formed the subgroups to be compared. An additional analysis was performed for baseline variables collected in the clinical records, and vocal outcomes were measured using the Self-Evaluation of Communication Experiences After Laryngectomy (SECEL) questionnaire. Furthermore, linear models taking SECEL scores as the outcome were developed. Results The first search identified a total of 124 patients operated during the study period. In total, 63 patients were alive at the time of the current follow-up, with 61 deaths (49%). Overall, 26 of the 63 alive patients completed the SECEL questionnaire. All patients were male. The mean age at diagnosis was 62.2 ± 10.6 years. The mean age at the time of subjective vocal assessment with the SECEL questionnaire was 66.3 ± 10.4 years. The mean time of follow-up after the initial diagnosis was 4 ± 3.8 years. A statistically significant difference was observed in esophageal speech (ES), which was inferior to other modalities (mean SECEL total score for ES: 46.6 ± 12.2 vs. mean SECEL total score for all other modalities: 33 ± 15.1; p = 0.03). The follow-up time correlated significantly with vocal function, as measured by the SECEL questionnaire (p = 0.013). Conclusions The SECEL questionnaire can be a valuable tool to evaluate QoL in laryngectomy patients, given its usefulness in assessing the psychological impact derived from vocal functionality in this group. ES appears inferior to other modalities regarding voice-related QoL.

Impact of adenotonsillectomy in pediatric respiratory function / Impacto de la cirugía adenoamigdalar sobre la función respiratoria pediátrica

Introduction: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is an important health condition that leads to upper airway obstruction and constitutes the main cause of obstructive sleep disordered breathing (OSDB) in children. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of surgical intervention on spirometrical parameters of children with ATH/OSDB and upper airway recurrent infections (URTIs). Material and methods The study covered children treated surgically in a Pediatric Ambulatory Unit in a tertiary hospital. Spirometric tests were performed before and three months after surgery and results were compared. Results A total of 78 children were enrolled with a mean age of 6.95 ± 2,81 years. There was a significant improvement in forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and forced expiratory flow rate at 25% (F25) values after surgery in children suffering from OSDB (FVC pre: 1.52 ± 0.47 L vs FVC post: 1.85 ± 0.63 L, p < 0.001; FEV1 pre: 1.24 ± 0.38 L vs FEV1 post: 1.39 ± 0.40 L, p = 0.014; PEF pre: 2.04 ± 0.85 L/s vs PEF post: 2.33 ± 0.76 L/s, p = 0.014; F25 pre: 1.77 ± 0.77 L/s vs F25 post: 2.02 ± 0.73 L/s, p = 0.030). On a multivariate analysis model, preoperative tonsil size and performing tonsillectomy were the most significant determinants of improvement in spirometric values (p < 0.05). Children with isolated adenoid hypertrophy without tonsillar obstruction and those with URTIs alone did not show relevant differences in spirometric values after surgery (p > 0.05). No significant differences were found concerning pre-operative and post-operative forced expiratory flow rate at 75% (F75) and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% of the pulmonary volume (FEF25–75%) in any group (p > 0.05). Conclusions Surgery seems effective in ameliorating spirometry values in patients with OSDB and ATH, namely FVC, FEV1, PEF and F25. ... (AU)

Introducción: La hipertrofia adenoamigdalar (HAA) es una importante condición de salud que conduce a la obstrucción de las vías respiratorias superiores y constituye la principal causa de trastornos respiratorios obstructivos del sueño (TROS) en los niños. El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar el efecto de la intervención quirúrgica sobre los parámetros espirométricos de niños con HAA/TROS e infecciones recurrentes de las vías respiratorias superiores (IrVAS). Material y Métodos El estudio abarcó a niños operados en una Unidad Ambulatoria Pediátrica de un hospital de tercer nivel. Se realizaron espirometrías antes y tres meses después de la cirugía y se compararon los resultados. Resultados Se incluyeron un total de 78 niños con una edad media de 6,95 ± 2,81 años. Hubo una mejora significativa en los valores de capacidad vital forzada (FVC), volumen espiratorio forzado en el primer segundo (FEV1), flujo espiratorio máximo (PEF) y tasa de flujo espiratorio forzado al 25 % (F25) después de la cirugía en niños que sufrían de TROS (FVC pre: 1.52 ± 0.47 L vs FVC post: 1.85 ± 0.63 L, p < 0.001; FEV1 pre: 1.24 ± 0.38 L vs FEV1 post: 1.39 ± 0.40 L, p = 0.014; PEF pre: 2.04 ± 0.85 L/s vs PEF post: 2.33 ± 0.76 L/s, p = 0.014; F25 pre: 1.77 ± 0.77 L/s vs F25 post: 2.02 ± 0.73 L/s, p = 0.030). En un modelo de análisis multivariado, el tamaño preoperatorio de las amígdalas y la amigdalectomía fueron los determinantes más significativos de la mejora en los valores espirométricos (p < 0.005). Los niños con hipertrofia adenoidea aislada sin obstrucción amigdalina y aquellos con IrVAS sin TROS no mostraron diferencias relevantes en los valores espirométricos tras la cirugía (p > 0,05). ... (AU)

Olfactory Cleft Length: A Possible Risk Factor for Persistent Post-COVID-19 Olfactory Dysfunction.

INTRODUCTION: To date, little is known about predisposing factors for persistent COVID-19-induced olfactory dysfunction (pCIOD). The objective was to determine whether olfactory cleft (OC) measurements associate with pCIOD risk. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three subgroups were recruited: group A included patients with pCIOD, group B included patients without olfactory dysfunction following SARS-CoV-2 infection (ntCIOD), and group C consisted in controls without past history of SARS-CoV-2 infection (noCOVID-19). Olfactory perception threshold (OPT) and visual analog scale for olfactory impairment (VAS-olf) were obtained. OC measurements were obtained through computed tomography scans. Results were subsequently compared. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients with a mean age of 39 ± 10 years were included. OPT was significantly lower in pCIOD patients (group A: 4.2 ± 2.1 vs. group B: 12.3 ± 1.8 and group C: 12.2 ± 1.5, p < 0.001). VAS-olf was significantly higher in pCIOD (group A: 6 ± 2.6 vs. group B: 1.7 ± 1.6 and group C: 1.6 ± 1.5, p < 0.001). OC length was significantly higher in group A (42.8 ± 4.6) compared to group B (39.7 ± 3.4, p = 0.047) and C (39.8 ± 4, p = 0.037). The odd of pCIOD occurring after COVID-19 infection increased by 21% (95% CI [0.981, 1.495]) for a one unit (mm) increase in OC length. The odd of pCIOD occurring was 6.9 times higher when OC length >40 mm. CONCLUSION: Longer OC may be a predisposing factor for pCIOD. This study is expected to encourage further research on OC morphology and its impact on olfactory disorders.

Let Us Not Forget About Bleeding: A Case Report and Brief Literature Review on Hemorrhagic Vestibular Schwannoma.

Hemorrhagic vestibular schwannoma (HVS) consisting of acute intratumoral and subarachnoid hemorrhage is a rare phenomenon. We present the case of a 31-year-old woman who attended the Otorhinolaryngology department with right-sided intense tinnitus, dizziness, imbalance, and headache. Brain computed tomography revealed a spontaneous hyperdensity in the posterior fossa with marked deformation of the brainstem, middle cerebral peduncle, and cerebellum, with the near collapse of the fourth ventricle. Ophthalmology evaluation confirmed bilateral papilledema. Brain magnetic resonance imaging confirmed a voluminous 33 x 28 x 29 mm extra-axial lesion centered on the right pontine-cerebellar angle cistern, extending from the plane of the trigeminal nerve/tent of the cerebellum. The acoustic pore was enlarged. The patient underwent retrosigmoid craniotomy and microscopic tumor resection showing significant improvement in the follow-up. Pathological findings confirmed HVS. Delayed treatment of HVS can increase morbidity or even be fatal. The objective of this work is to describe and revise HVS, in order to bring awareness to this uncommon entity.

SARS-CoV-2 and hearing: An audiometric analysis of COVID-19 hospitalized patients.

PURPOSE: COVID-19 associated hearing loss is still an ongoing matter of debate. No original studies exist on audiological effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitalized patients. The main objective was to determine whether SARS-CoV-2 may affect auditory function in clinically ill COVID-19 patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: COVID-19 patients with moderate-severe disease and without prior history of hearing abnormalities were enrolled from a tertiary referral center, and matched with controls. Participants performed an audiometric evaluation, and thresholds were compared. RESULTS: 120 ears from 60 patients were enrolled. Patients with COVID-19 showed worse mean auditory thresholds starting from 1000 Hz through higher frequencies, when compared to controls (1000 Hz: 18.52 ± 5.49 dB HL in controls vs 25.36 ± 6.79 dB HL in COVID-19, p < 0.001; 2000Hz: 17.50 ± 5.57 dB HL in controls vs 21.96 ± 7.05 dB HL in COVID-19, p = 0.010; 3000Hz: 17.97 ± 8.07 dB HL in controls vs 25 ± 9.38 dB HL in COVID-19, p = 0.003; 4000 Hz: 20.16 ± 10.12 dB HL in controls vs 29.55 ± 11.26 dB HL in COVID-19, p = 0.001; 8000 Hz: 31.09 ± 12.75 dB HL in controls vs 40.71 ± 19.40 dB HL in COVID-19, p = 0.030; Pure Tone Average: 20.42 ± 4.29 dB HL in controls vs 24.85 ± 5.62 dB HL in COVID-19, p = 0.001). Statistical significance persisted after adjusting for confounders such as age, gender and various comorbidities (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 may affect hearing in COVID-19 patients with moderate-severe disease. Results are in line with the previous suggested effects of COVID-19 on auditory system. This study is expected to encourage further research on this topic.