Endoscopic grading of adenoid in otitis media with effusion.

INTRODUCTION: Adenoid is thought to be one of the causes of otitis media with effusion, though it is controversial. Grading the adenoid by rigid nasal endoscope in patients with otitis media with effusion may justify adenoidectomy in otitis media with effusion in the future. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out at GMS Memorial Academy of ENT and head neck studies from 15th December 2005-April 2007. Study group comprised of 32 children with otitis media with effusion and control group of 28 children with clinically normal ear and nose. Rigid nasal endoscope was used for grading of adenoid in study and control group. The severity of otitis media with effusion was assessed by preoperative air-bone gap and thickness of the fluid aspirated from middle ear during ventilation tube insertion. RESULTS: In the study group 13 out of 32 had grade 4 adenoid hypertrophy. This grade 4 adenoid hypertrophy was found to be statistically significant in children with otitis media with effusion (P < 0.0002). In control group 15 out of 28 had grade 1 adenoid hypertrophy which was significant in the same group (P < 0.002). Air-bone gap and thickness of fluid did not correlate with the increasing grade of adenoid hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS: Grade 4 adenoid hypertrophy was statistically found to be significant with otitis media with effusion but severity of hypertrophy were not reflected by hearing loss and thickness of fluid.

Role of foley's catheter in removing foreign body of oesophagus.

Oesophageal foreign bodies are commonly removed with rigid oesophagoscopy under general anaesthesia, but spherical foreign bodies can also be removed using a foley's catheter under fluoroscopic control without anaesthesia. We present a case of successful removal of a spherical marble from the oesophagus in a four years old girl by a foley's catheter under general anaesthesia.

Oesophageal foreign bodies in children.

Foreign body ingestion is a common occurrence and carries significant morbidity and mortality. Failure to treat foreign bodies immediately can lead to various serious complications. This study was done to identify the types as well as site of foreign body ingested and its complication in children. A retrospective study of 122 cases of suspected foreign body ingestion in patients admitted in ENT and Head and Neck Surgery of TU Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu were done in between April 2004 to July 2008. Ages less than 12 years were included. In all cases x-ray soft tissue neck lateral and chest x-ray posterio-anterior views were done along with other preoperative investigations. Rigid oesophagoscopy or hypopharyngoscopy were done under general anesthesia to remove foreign bodies. There were 64.7% male and 35.3% female children. Foreign bodies were common in 0-4 year age group. Most common foreign body were coin (64.0%) followed by meat bone (14.0%). No foreign bodies were found in 2.4% patients as they were passed in stomach. No complications were noted during the entire period of this study. Most common foreign bodies in children are coin. Though complications with these foreign bodies are rare, these do occur due to delay in presentation and removal. No complications were noted in our series. Eventhough children who swallow foreign bodies are asymptomatic; we must maintain a high index of suspicion and undergo diagnostic procedure, if there is a positive history.

Size of typmanic membrane perforation and hearing loss.

This prospective study was done to assess the level of preoperative hearing impairment in different sizes of pars tensa perforation in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) tubo-tympanic type undergoing myringoplasty. A total of 50 patients were recruited from the outpatient Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery from June 2003 to May 2004. Cases of CSOM tubo-tympanic type with dry central perforation, conductive type of hearing loss were subjected to myringoplasty. Preoperative audiometric evaluations were done. While operating under microscope diameter of perforations were measured and perforations were grouped according to the size. It was observed that greater hearing loss was reported in group D perforation (44 dB), where as in group A, it was 31 dBHL. The average hearing loss at 500 Hz was 46.40 dB, at 1000 Hz was 30.90 dB and at 2000 Hz it was 31.9 dB. This shows that the hearing loss is more at lower frequencies and less as the frequencies increase. This study shows that as the size of perforation is increased, the hearing loss also increases. The hearing loss is more marked at lower frequencies as compared to higher frequencies.