Long-term effect of acoustic trauma on distortion product otoacoustic emissions in chickens.

Distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAE), 2F1-F2, were measured in chickens before and after exposure to a 1.5-kHz pure tone presented at 120-dB sound-pressure level for 48 h. The low-level component of the DPOAE input/output function was shifted to the right at all frequencies immediately after the exposure with the greatest effect occurring at and above the exposure frequency. The slope of the high-level component of the input/output also increased significantly for test frequencies close to and above the exposure frequency so that the amplitude of the DPOAE was equal to or greater than normal at high stimulus levels. DPOAE obtained at the highest and lowest frequencies were almost normal after 8 weeks of recovery; however, the input/output functions near the exposure frequency showed almost no improvement over the 8-week recovery period. The lack of recovery could conceivably be due to residual damage to hair cells that survived the exposure or to incomplete regeneration of the tectorial membrane.

Surgical advances in treating otitis media.

Surgical methods of treating otitis media and its sequelae are discussed, according to the classification of otitis media presented in an earlier report. Surgical management of otitis media with effusion and recurrent purulent otitis media includes myringotomy and use of ventilation tubes. Occasionally, otitis media with effusion will lead to structural and other pathologic changes in the middle ear, and conservative treatments such as use of medication or tubes will not suffice. Indications and methods for exploratory tympanotomy and reconstruction of the middle ear are discussed. In such instances, tympanoplasty can be used to the patient's benefit. Chronic otitis media with mastoiditis, defined by the presence of intractable pathologic tissue, generally requires surgical correction. Classic methods include simple mastoidectomy, modified radical (Bondy) mastoidectomy, and radical mastoidectomy. Current classifications of procedures would also include closed-cavity tympanomastoidectomy, open-cavity tympanomastoidectomy, and intact-bridge tympanomastoidectomy (a combined approach). The diagnostic and surgical approach to silent or subclinical otitis media is discussed. Diagnosis and treatment of sequelae of otitis media, including sequelae in the middle ear and, less commonly, in the inner ear, are discussed.

The true cost of protective loop colostomy.

Transverse loop colostomies are commonly used to "protect" low colorectal anastomoses after anterior resection for rectal carcinoma. However, anastomotic leaks occur despite proximal decompression. We studied 61 consecutive patients who underwent anterior resection to evaluate the cost of loop colostomy as reflected by morbidity, mortality, and length of post-operative hospital stay. Colostomy patients had significantly greater blood loss (736 vs. 500 ml, p = 0.004), more blood transfusions (1.55 units vs. 0.41 units, p less than 0.001), and longer operations (238 vs. 193 min, p = 0.005). They were also older (68 vs. 65, p = 0.13), had lesions closer to the anal verge (10.2 vs. 11.4 cm, p = 0.07), and had more infectious complications (13.6% vs. 2.6%, 0.05 less than p less than 0.1) than patients without colostomies. Colostomy was not related to sex or stage. There were no anastomotic leaks among those with colostomies and only one among those without colostomies; there were no associated mortalities. Patients with colostomies stayed an additional 10 days, on average, when readmitted for colostomy closure. The 22 patients who received loop colostomies had postoperative stays averaging one-third longer than patients without colostomies (16 vs. 12 days, p = 0.004). In both groups, the 8th postoperative day was the mean for resumption of a regular diet; all patients were eating a regular diet by the 12th postoperative day. The delay in discharging colostomy patients was due to the additional time necessary for patients to learn to change their appliance and irrigate their stoma. Proximal diverting colostomies may more than double the total dollar cost of anterior resection, although DRG reimbursement is the same with or without a colostomy. This additional cost could be reduced by initiating ostomy teaching in the preoperative period and by reducing the use of unnecessary colostomies.