Multicentre cohort study of cochlear implantation outcomes in Thailand.

OBJECTIVES: To report the status and outcomes of cochlear implantation in Thailand. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary care and university hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who underwent cochlear implant surgery in Thailand. INTERVENTIONS: This project collected data from all government and university hospitals in Thailand where cochlear implant surgery was performed between 2016 and 2020. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Baseline characteristics, operation data, complications, audiological outcomes and quality of life were reported. RESULTS: This study included 458 patients, and nearly half of the patients were children and adolescents (46.94%). The mean age of the patients was 2.96±5.83 years. At 1 year postoperatively, the mean pure tone average of the hearing threshold in the implanted ear significantly improved from unaided preoperative baseline (mean difference (MD) 64.23 dB HL; 95% CI 59.81 to 68.65; p<0.001). The mean speech recognition threshold also improved (MD 55.96 dB HL; 95% CI 49.50 to 62.42, p<0.001). The quality-of-life scores of the EQ-5D-5L, PedsQL and HUI3 questionnaires at 1 year showed improved mobility (range, 0-5; MD 0.65; 95% CI 0.05 to 1.25; p=0.037), hearing (range, 0-6; MD 0.96; 95% CI 0.30 to 1.61; p=0.006) and speech (range, 0-5; MD 0.44; 95% CI 0.04 to 0.84; p=0.031). Common complications included electrode dislodgement (2.18%), vertigo (1.23%) and meningitis (1.93%). CONCLUSIONS: Excellent audiological outcomes and improvement in the quality of life in the mobility, hearing and speech domains were observed in patients who underwent cochlear implantation in Thailand.

Outcomes of an Ear Camp Conducted in Bhutan by Thai Rural ENT Foundation-A Descriptive Study.

BACKGROUND: The Thai Rural ENT foundation has been conducting ear camps in Bhutan for many years to address the shortage of ENT specialists in the kingdom where patients are examined and treated for various ear illnesses. However, there has been no study conducted to assess the outcomes of such camps. This is the first study of its kind to be carried out in Bhutan. OBJECTIVE: To study the spectrum of ear cases seen during the mobile ear camp, the intervention done and treatment outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study enrolled patients with ear disorders who presented to the mobile ear camp at Monggar Regional Referral Hospital, Bhutan, from January 6, 2020, to January 8, 2020. The following data were recorded: demographic details, preoperative clinical symptoms and otoscopic findings, preoperative audiogram, treatment or surgery done, postoperative middle ear and mastoid infection, wound infection, graft condition, any complications, and postoperative audiogram of operated cases. Patients who underwent surgery were followed up at 1 day, 6 weeks, and 2 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Two hundred ten patients presented with otologic conditions and 43 underwent surgeries. Otitis media was the commonest disease detected, and tympanoplasty was the commonest surgery performed. The tympanic membrane closure rate was 92.1%, and the rate of hearing improvement was 63.2%. CONCLUSION: The ear camp had beneficial effect and showed good results.