Effectiveness of transperforation myringoplasty in bilateral chronic otitis media patients undergoing contralateral tympanoplasty.

OBJECTIVES: Bilateral tympanic membrane perforation closure is usually performed by otosurgeons in two sittings. However, in this study, transperforation myringoplasty was performed alongside contralateral tympanoplasty in a single sitting. The effectiveness of transperforation myringoplasty procedure and the benefits of single sitting bilateral surgery were evaluated. METHODS: A prospective study of 50 selected patients with mucosal-type bilateral chronic otitis media was conducted. All patients underwent transperforation myringoplasty on the side that met the inclusion criteria and tympanoplasty on the contralateral side. Graft uptake and hearing improvement were evaluated after 6 months. RESULTS: At the 6-month follow up, the graft uptake rate was 82 per cent, the hearing gain was 11.5 dB and the air-bone gap gain was 11.6 dB. CONCLUSION: This procedure offers perforation closure in a single sitting to patients with bilateral chronic otitis media who meet the inclusion criteria.

Reproductive tract disorders among Afghan refugee women attending health clinics in Haripur, Pakistan.

Afghans comprise one of the largest groups of refugees in the world, with the majority living in Pakistan. The objective of this study was to identify commonly-occurring reproductive tract infections (RTIs), describe knowledge of women about RTIs, and assess physical and behavioural factors contributing to the development of RTIs. Afghan women presenting at Basic Health Units in refugee camps in Haripur, Pakistan, with reproductive health-related complaints, were included in the study (n=634). Data collection included implementation of an interviewer-administered questionnaire, along with a physical examination and laboratory tests. A descriptive analysis was conducted first. Qualitative data were coded and analyzed using predetermined themes. Chi-square test was used for determining the possible relationships between a binary outcome and categorical risk factors. Over three-fourths (76.7%) of those who reported to the health clinics with reproductive complaints had an RTI. Nearly half (49.5%) of these women were diagnosed with some form of vaginitis, and 14.7% were diagnosed with clinical suspicion of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Women with cervical prolapse (p = 0.033) or who cleansed after intercourse (p = 0.002) were more likely to have vaginitis. There was a significant difference (p = 0.017) in the prevalence of suspected PID among women who used mud only (11.1%), any water (18.8%), and an old cloth or toilet paper (9.8%) for cleansing after defaecation. Specific physical and behavioural contributors to the high prevalence of RTIs in this population were identified, and recommendations to ameliorate these factors are offered.