Tracheostomy Decannulation: Suprastomal Granulation Tissue in Perspective

Background: Suprastomal granulation tissue is a complication of tracheostomy which maymake decannulation difficult and presents a therapeutic challenge to the Otorhinolaryngologists. The aims of this study therefore were to evaluate tracheostomy in black African population; determine the prevalence of suprastomal granulation tissue and provide updated information on it that will enable the otorhinolaryngologists to better understand and manage the lesion. Methods: We reviewed case files of patients who had tracheostomy between 1993 and 2007 at University College Hospital; Ibadan; Nigeria for essential clinical data.Results: Of the 256 patients who had tracheostomy; 133(51.95) had prior orotracheal intubation for 10 21days. Suprastomal granulation tissue complicated 16 (6.25) cases; this accounted for 88.89of cases of failed decannulation. Indications for tracheostomy in these patients included severe head injury in 12 (75); tetanus in 3 (18.75)] and intubation granuloma in 1(6.25) of these cases. Sixteen (4.3) cases had stomal infection. Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence of suprastomal granulation is high among our patients. There is a need for good surgical tracheostomy technique to prevent this complication and stomal infection should be promptly treated while cuffed orotracheal intubation for more than two weeks in unconscious and tetanus patients should be avoided

Meniere's disease: rare or underdiagnosed among Africans.

Meniere's disease can easily be misdiagnosed because several otological disorders mimic the disease. Conflicting reports on the incidence of this disease among the Africans had been documented. The goal of our study was to verify the prevalence and clinical features of Meniere's disease in WA sub-region. A 10 year (1996-2005) retrospective study carried out in our hospital. The diagnostic criteria for the disease were outlined and Oyedeji's social classification instrument was adapted for socio-economic stratification of patients. The method of treatment and prognostic out-come were discussed. Out of 11,463 patients seen within the period, 25 (16 females and 9 males) met the diagnostic criteria for Meniere's disease. The age ranged from 27 to 75 years (mean=47.2 SD13.2) and the most predominant age group was 41-50 years. Sixty-eight percent were of low socio-economic class and the rest high. About 84% had unilateral and 16% bilateral Meniere's disease. All the patients presented with tinnitus, vertigo and audiologically confirmed sensorineural hearing loss. CT-scan and MRI were used to rule out some differentials, while caloric and recruitment tests were used to strengthen the diagnosis. Treatment regimen (conservative) outcome: 72% had good improvement, 8% fair, while 20% absconded from follow-up. The prevalence of Meniere's disease in West African sub-region is 0.22%. This prevalence among Africans may not differ from the Caucasians. Under- or over-diagnosis of the disease previously must have been responsible for the contrasting results. Appropriate diagnostic tools are necessary for accurate diagnosis of the disease.

Challenges in management of childhood sensorineural hearing loss in sub-Saharan Africa, Nigeria.

The evaluation of a hearing-impaired child attempts to determine the aetiology, the degree of hearing loss and intervention to aid speech and language. This remains a challenge to practising otolaryngologists, especially in the developing countries as 85-90% of causes of hearing losses were never discovered leading to delayed intervention and irreversible effects. In a review of children presenting at the otolaryngology outpatient in the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria, sensorineural hearing loss was found in 103, giving a hospital prevalence rate of 14%, we still perceived this figure to be unrepresentatively and low, probably due to poor access to medicare, poverty and other factors. Genetic factor accounted for 25%, followed by measles infections 13% and meningitis 8%. About 60% of them had educationally significant hearing loss at presentation. Access to hearing aid was poor as only 12.5% of the patients could afford it and the rest were managed by deaf training. We conclude by suggesting an audiologic programme which has the comprehensive function of neonatal and infant hearing screening, subsidized hearing aid services and hearing rehabilitation surgery.

Malignant schwannoma of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses in a Nigerian.

An unusual case of malignant schwannoma with involvement of the forehead, external nose, right nasal cavity, paranasal sinus system (bilateral frontal sinus, right ethmoidal sinus), right orbit and anterior cranial fossa is reported in a Nigerian. Malignant schwannomas of the paranasal sinus are extremely rare, as only 20 well-documented cases have been previously published in English literature. No report in black Africans has been found in extant literature. The clinical features of this tumour are presented with detailed management. The patient had a wide surgical resection of the lesion with reconstruction of the resultant fronto-nasal defect using forehead musculofascial flap plus full thickness skin graft and adjuvant radiotherapy with satisfactory outcome. The good result of combined surgery and radiation regimens in this case demonstrates the usefulness of adjuvant radiation therapy in this condition.