Analysis of tinnitus severity and associated risk factors in patients with chronic otitis media: data from the multinational collaborative Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire-12 study.

BACKGROUND: Subjective tinnitus is a common symptom, and there is often an underlying otological cause. This study investigated the degree of tinnitus-related annoyance in patients with chronic otitis media and analysed whether associations with tinnitus severity exist. METHOD: The multinational collaborative Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire-12 study collected prospective data on 478 adult patients suffering from chronic otitis media across 9 otology referral centres in 8 countries. Based on this dataset, we investigated tinnitus severity using participant responses to item 7 of a native version of the Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire-12. RESULTS: With respect to tinnitus severity, 23.8 per cent, 17.4 per cent, 15.5 per cent, and 43.4 per cent of participants reported no, minor, moderate, and major inconvenience or greater, respectively. The absence of ear discharge, absence of cholesteatoma, and poorer disease-specific health-related quality-of-life were associated with increased tinnitus severity in patients with chronic otitis media, whereas age, hearing disability and geographical region showed no association. CONCLUSION: This analysis provided novel insight into potential risk factors for tinnitus in patients with chronic otitis media.

International recognition of the Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12.

OBJECTIVE: The Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12 was developed initially in the UK to assess patient-reported health-related quality of life associated with chronic otitis media. This study aimed to determine whether this tool is applicable to the Russian population, which has a materially different healthcare system. METHOD: A total of 108 patients with different forms of chronic otitis media completed the Russian Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12. RESULTS: The average Russian Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12 score was 19.4 (standard deviation = 8.3). The internal consistency of the Russian Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12 was high, with a Cronbach's alpha value of 0.860. CONCLUSION: The Russian version of the Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12 was found to be a reliable tool for the assessment of health-related quality of life in patients with chronic otitis media. This sets the scene for international collaboration, using this tool to assess the effectiveness of surgical treatments even amongst countries with different healthcare systems.

Myringoplasty outcomes in the UK.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the outcome of myringoplasty as undertaken by ENT surgeons in the UK, and to assess the current systems available for providing national outcome data. METHODS: A prospective national multicentre audit was conducted involving multiple hospitals throughout the UK. Participants consisted of ENT surgeons practising in the UK. RESULTS: Data were prospectively collected over a three-year period between 1 March 2006 and 1 March 2009 using the web-based Common Otology Database. In total, 33 surgeons provided valid and complete data for 495 procedures. The overall closure rate for myringoplasty was 89.5 per cent. The average hearing gain for successful primary myringoplasties was 9.14 dB (standard deviation = 10.62). The Common Otology Database provided an effective platform for capturing outcome data. CONCLUSION: Myringoplasty is a safe and effective procedure in the UK. With the introduction of revalidation by the General Medical Council, participation in national audits will be mandatory in the future. This study demonstrates that a web-based audit tool would be suitable for performing such audits.

Evidence-based management of otitis media: a 5S model approach.

OBJECTIVE: The 5S model proposes five hierarchical levels (systems, summaries, synopses, syntheses and studies) of pre-appraised evidence to guide evidence-based practice. This review aimed to identify and summarise pre-appraised evidence at the highest available 5S level for the management of different subsets of otitis media: acute otitis media, otitis media with effusion, chronic suppurative otitis media and cholesteatoma in both adults and children. METHOD: Data sources were pre-appraised evidence resources. Evidence freely available from sources at the highest available level of the 5S model were summarised for this review. RESULTS: System level evidence exists for acute otitis media and otitis media with effusion. Summary level evidence exists for recurrent acute otitis media and medical management of chronic suppurative otitis media. There is an absence of randomised controlled trials to prove the efficacy of surgical management of chronic suppurative otitis media and cholesteatoma. CONCLUSION: Until randomised controlled trial data are generated, consensus publications on the surgical management of chronic suppurative otitis media and cholesteatoma should be used to guide best practice.

COMQ-12 scores in adult patients without chronic middle ear disease.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the COMQ-12 score in an adult population without active COM. DESIGN: Analysis of COMQ-12 scores in participants without active COM. SETTING: East Anglia, United Kingdom. PARTICIPANTS: 70 healthy volunteers recruited from two local hospitals. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: COMQ-12. RESULTS: The median COMQ-12 score overall was two and the modal score was 0 with 27 (39%) participants achieving this score. CONCLUSION: We recommend that the 'normal' values defined in this study be seriously considered before contemplating intervention, especially when patients with low scores are considered for surgery.

The intra-operative incidence of Fallopian canal dehiscence during surgery for cholesteatoma: a prospective case-control study and review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate Fallopian canal dehiscence (FCD) during cholesteatoma surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective case-control study. PATIENTS: Four hundred and one patients with cholesteatoma and 172 with otosclerosis. INTERVENTIONS: Therapeutic. SETTING: District general hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: (i) Intra-operative incidence of FCD during (a) surgery for cholesteatoma versus a homogeneous control group (patients with otosclerosis); (b) revision surgery for cholesteatoma as compared to primary surgery. (ii) Intra-operative incidence of a fistula if FCD is present. RESULTS: Data were prospectively collected and analysed using chi-square tests. FCD was found in 19% of cases versus 5.2% of controls. Intra-operative incidence of (i) FCD during cholesteatoma surgery versus otosclerosis surgery was statistically very highly significant (P < 0.0001, OR = 5.43); (ii) FCD during revision versus primary cholesteatoma surgery was not statistically significant (P = 0.83); and (iii) encountering a fistula in the presence of FCD during cholesteatoma surgery was statistically very highly significant (P < 0.0001, OR = 6.71). CONCLUSIONS: A surgeon is more likely to encounter FCD during cholesteatoma surgery than in stapes surgery. If during cholesteatoma surgery FCD is found, then a fistula is also more likely to be present, mainly of the semicircular canal. The incidence of FCD is not increased in revision surgery. These findings are very relevant for any otologist undertaking cholesteatoma surgery.

Consultant-led, multidisciplinary balance clinic: process evaluation of a specialist model of care in a district general hospital.

OBJECTIVE: A specialist balance clinic to effectively deal with dizzy patients is recommended by ENT-UK. We audit the patient pathway before and following the introduction of a consultant-led dedicated balance clinic. DESIGN: Process evaluation and audit. SETTING: ENT outpatients department of a district general hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The journey of dizzy patients seen in the general ENT clinic was mapped from case notes and recorded retrospectively. A consultant-led, multidisciplinary balance clinic involving an otologist, a senior audiologist and a neurophysiotherapist was then set up, and the journey was prospectively recorded and compared with that before the change. RESULTS: Of the 44 dizzy patients seen in the general clinic, 41% had further follow-up consultations; 64% were given definitive or provisional diagnoses; 75% were discharged without a management plan. Oculomotor examination was not systematically performed. The mean interval between Visits 1 and 2 was 8.4 weeks and the mean number of visits was 3. In the consultant-led dedicated balance clinic, following Visit 1, only 8% of patients required follow-up; 97% received definitive diagnoses, which guided management; all patients left with definitive management plans in place. In all patients, oculomotor assessment was systematically performed and all patients received consultant and, where necessary, allied healthcare professional input. CONCLUSIONS: By standardising the management experience for dizzy patients, appropriate and timely treatment can be achieved, allowing for a more seamless and efficient patient journey from referral to treatment. A multidisciplinary balance clinic led by a consultant otologist is the ideal way to achieve this.

Avoidance of BIPP allergy hypersensitivity reactions following ear surgery.

Bismuth Iodoform Paraffin Paste (BIPP) is one of the most commonly used packs after middle and external ear surgery. Only two retrospective case studies exist which found a 0.4% and 6% overall risk of BIPP allergy. The result of our prospective patch testing study identifies the true incidence of BIPP allergy to be 12% in those previously exposed and 1% in those not previously exposed. The component part responsible is iodoform not iodine. We recommend patch testing patients previously exposed to BIPP undergoing ear surgery, if postoperative BIPP packing is being considered. We recommend those patients allergic to BIPP should be tested with its constituent parts for future reference. It is important to determine whether there is allergy to iodine solution or not as this would preclude them from future iodine solution contrast studies and iodine solution skin prep before surgery. We do not recommend testing patients not previously known to be exposed to BIPP as the incidence of allergy is low and there exists a risk of sensitization.

Evidence review and ENT-UK consensus report for the use of aminoglycoside-containing ear drops in the presence of an open middle ear.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES OF REVIEW: The use of aminoglycoside drops in the presence of a perforation/grommet is still a common practice amongst the UK ENT community, in spite of theoretical risk of ototoxicity. Mindful of the need to produce clinical guidelines based on the best available evidence, it was the intention of the Clinical Audit and Practice Advisory Group of the British Association of Otolaryngologists - Head and Neck Surgeons (ENT-UK) to produce evidence-based guidelines. In the absence of good evidence, intentions were shifted towards producing consensus guidelines using validated methodology. TYPE OF REVIEW: Literature review, review of international guidelines and consensus guidelines. SEARCH STRATEGY: A MEDLINE literature search (1966 to August 2006) was conducted, using the following strategies: 'ototoxicity and drops', 'ototoxic and drops', 'vestibulotoxicity and drops', 'vestibulotoxic and drops', 'cochleotoxicity and drops', 'cochleotoxic and drops'. Foreign language articles were not excluded. RESULTS OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW: The inclusion of foreign language articles and manually searching the reference sections of identified articles revealed further evidence not considered in previous reviews on this subject. However, the available 'evidence' that does exist remains to be of poor quality, consisting of data from a number of case reports and small case series. Prospective studies into the ototoxic effects of aminoglycoside ear drops either support their use but lack power to statistically confirm this, or are performed in conditions that are not representative of normal clinical conditions. EVALUATION METHOD: In the light of issues raised from the literature review, a questionnaire was produced. The questionnaire was initially completed by council members of the British Society of Otology, then revised and presented at a meeting of the British Society of Otology, where a consensus panel was formed. CONCLUSIONS: ENT-UK recommends that when treating a patient with a discharging ear, in whom there is a perforation or patent grommet: if a topical aminoglycoside is used, this should only be in the presence of obvious infection. Topical aminoglycosides should be used for no longer than 2 weeks. The justification for using topical aminoglycosides should be explained to the patient. Baseline audiometry should be performed, if possible or practical, before treatment with topical aminoglycosides.

The learning curve in stapes surgery and its implication for training.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the 'stapedotomy' learning curve of 2 UK otolaryngologists. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of the outcome of the first 100 stapedotomy operations by each surgeon. Included in the study was a postal survey of the incidence of stapes surgery by UK otolaryngologists. SETTING: Two tertiary referral centres. PATIENTS: All ears in which primary stapedotomy was performed for otosclerosis. Non-otosclerotic cases and malleus stapedotomy cases were excluded. INTERVENTION: One surgeon used the technique of small fenestra stapedotomy with either a Teflon wire or titanium piston, but without vein graft interposition, whilst the second employed the technique of stapedotomy with vein graft interposition, and a Teflon piston. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The first 100 stapes operations performed by each surgeon were subdivided into consecutive groups of 10. Using a postoperative air-bone gap of 20 dB or better as a definition of 'success', the 'success rates' of each group were plotted on graphs - the learning curves. The end point of the learning curve was defined as the point 'where the curve reaches its plateau'. RESULTS: The learning curves of both surgeons included 70-80 operations. Both surgeons had one 'dead ear' in their first 15 cases. The postal survey showed that some trainers only perform a small number of stapes surgeries, whereas some otolaryngologists who regularly perform stapedotomies were not trainers. CONCLUSIONS: This is a mismatch of trainers and trainees in stapes surgery. If the current trend of decline in stapes surgery continues, it will take many years for some otolaryngologists to complete their learning curves.

How we do it: the viability of free mucosal grafts on exposed bone in lacrimal surgery - a prospective study.

To ascertain viability of free mucosal of grafts on bare bone and degree of contracture in vivo. Prospective study to ascertain graft survival where a small piece of mucosa, with a single centrally placed prolene suture for future identification, removed during endoscopic dacrocystorhinostomy (DCR) was replaced to cover exposed bone at the end of the procedure. The presence of the graft and the degree of contracture was assessed endoscopically in outpatients at the second and fourth weeks. All patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria who underwent DCR in the study period April-October 2002. All the grafts survived intact at 4 weeks after the operation. Grafts underwent up to 20% contracture over this period. Free mucosal grafts survive well when applied to denuded bone in DCR operation.

The learning curve in stapes surgery and its implication to training.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the stapedotomy learning curve of two U.K. otolaryngologists. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of the outcome of first 100 stapedotomy operations by each surgeon. Included in the study was a postal survey of the incidence of stapes surgery by U.K. otolaryngologists. SETTING: Two tertiary referral centers. PATIENTS: All ears in which primary stapedotomy was performed for otosclerosis. Nonotosclerotic cases and malleus stapedotomy cases were excluded. INTERVENTION: One surgeon used the technique of small fenestra stapedotomy with either a Teflon-wire or titanium piston but without vein graft interposition, whereas the second used the technique of stapedotomy with vein graft interposition and a Teflon piston. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: A moving average with a window of 15 dB was used to plot learning curves for the postoperative air-bone gaps. Using a postoperative air-bone gap of 20 dB or better as a definition of 'success,' the success rates with the increase in surgical experience of both surgeons were plotted on graphs, the learning curves. The end point of the learning curve was defined as the point where the curve reached its peak, and the results were sustainable. RESULTS: There was no clear-cut end point in both learning curves, although it appears that there is a landmark point at 60 to 80 cases for both surgeons. Both surgeons also had one "dead ear" in their first 15 cases. The postal survey showed that some trainers only performed small numbers of stapes surgery, whereas some otolaryngologists who performed stapedotomies regularly were not trainers. CONCLUSIONS: The study supports a learning curve in stapes surgery. To maximize the training opportunity of trainee surgeons, it may be advisable for learning centers to form network to provide target training for the trainee who has demonstrated the necessary dexterity and temperament of an otologist.

Mastoid obliteration with hydroxyapatite cement: the Ipswich experience.

OBJECTIVE: This article reports the outcomes of a series of patients who underwent obliteration of the mastoid cavity using hydroxyapatite cement. A comparison is made with a group of patients who underwent similar surgery in the same period using hydroxyapatite granules. STUDY DESIGN: Nonrandomized observational analysis. SETTING: Tertiary otology unit. PATIENTS AND INTERVENTIONS: All patients requiring mastoid surgery and primary obliteration or revision mastoid surgery and obliteration. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Dry cavity with full epithelialization and good tolerance to swimming at 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: In four of eight patients who had obliteration using hydroxyapatite cement, there was infection of the obliteration site, requiring revision. All of the patients who had obliteration with hydroxyapatite granules had dry and well-epithelialized mastoid cavities at 1-year follow-up, with ears that tolerated swimming. CONCLUSION: The use of hydroxyapatite cement is not recommended in mastoid obliteration surgery.

Ipswich lacrimal tube: pedicle nasal septal tube for the reconstruction of lacrimal drainage passage.

Canalicular blockage of the lacrimal system still remains a major challenge for oculoplastic surgeons. The conventional treatment of conjunctival dacryocystorhinostomy using the Lester Jones bypass tube is often associated with tube migration and foreign body reaction. The authors report a new technique to reconstruct the lacrimal passage on a single patient with severe canalicular obstruction following repeated failures from previous Lester Jones tube operations. An epithelial-lined tube was recreated between the nasal cavity and the conjunctiva using a superiorly based mucoperichondrial flap from the nasal septum (Ipswich lacrimal tube). The pedicle of the flap was divided six weeks following the operation. The patient was still symptom free two years following the operation together with a positive dye test confirming the patency of the new lacrimal tube.

Ceravital revisited: lessons to be learned.

OBJECTIVE: To report the long-term results in a series of ossiculoplasties using Ceravital prostheses. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case review. SETTING: District general hospital. PATIENTS: Ossiculoplasties using Ceravital prostheses were performed in 25 patients with a mean age of 39 years. Cholesteatoma was present in 9 cases and absent in 16 cases before surgery. The reconstruction was single stage in 23 cases and second stage in 2 cases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hearing gain and prosthesis-related complications. The mean length of follow-up was 6 years 6 months. RESULTS: In the short term, the mean air-bone gap improved from 43 dB preoperatively to 24 dB 6 months postoperatively. In the long term, the results were as follows: good in 4 cases, absorption of the prosthesis in 9 cases, slippage of the prosthesis in 4 cases, extrusion of the prosthesis in 3 cases, atelectasis of the tympanic membrane in 2 cases, and unknown in 3 cases. The mean time for complications to become apparent was 6 years 4 months for absorption, 3 years 3 months for extrusion, 7 months for slippage, and 1 year 9 months for atelectasis. Revision surgery was performed on 11 of the 18 cases in which the results were poor. CONCLUSIONS: Ceravital prostheses highlight the potential complication of absorption of ossicular prostheses. Absorption takes much longer to become apparent than other complications such as extrusion, slippage, or atelectasis. The much higher rate of absorption in this series than in previous series with shorter follow-up times suggests that the rate of absorption increases significantly over time.

Delayed hypersensitivity reaction to topical aminoglycosides in patients undergoing middle ear surgery.

Repeated exposure to a topical aminoglycoside in patients with ear discharge can induce a delayed hypersensitivity reaction eventually. A postal survey conducted by the authors showed that 75% of UK otolaryngologists routinely prescribe topical aminoglycosides to their patients following ear surgery. This is a prospective study on the result of skin patch testing on 119 patients with chronic otitis media and 30 patients with otosclerosis who were scheduled for otosurgery. Any history of previous exposure to antibiotic eardrops for each patient was recorded. Overall, 14.1% of the patients had a positive skin reaction to one of the aminoglycosides (13.4% for Gentamicin; 12.8% for Neomycin and 4.5% for Framycetin). Sixteen per cent (16%) of the patients with chronic otitis media and 6.7% of the patients with otosclerosis were allergic to one of the aminoglycosides commonly found in antibiotic eardrops. Patients who received more than five courses of antibiotics eardrops previously had a greater tendency of developing allergy to the aminoglycosides (35.3%).

A study of the intra-operative effect of the Argon and KTP laser in stapes surgery.

The intraoperative effect of the Argon and KTP laser was studied on 20 patients who had primary stapes surgery under local anaesthetic; 10 had Argon and 10 had KTP laser stapedotomy. Symptoms of inner ear disturbance such as dizziness and tinnitus were systematically recorded during the laser procedure. Both dizziness and tinnitus were relatively uncommon when the laser was used on the promontory. When the laser was used to transect the posterior crus, all the patients reported transient dizziness, probably from the thermal effect through the posterior crus into the inner ear. However, tinnitus was unusual during this stage. When the laser was used to fenestrate the footplate, only 30% of patients reported a transient dizziness as less laser energy was used. On the other hand, 55% of the patients experienced tinnitus during this stage, which indicates an acoustic effect on the inner ear. There is no difference between the Argon and KTP laser.

Analysis of the results of surgical endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: effect of the level of obstruction.

AIM: One of the main factors in determining success rate of lacrimal surgery is the level of obstruction in the lacrimal drainage system. There are only few reports which quantify this, and none on endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). METHODS: A case series of patients who had endoscopic DCR for anatomical obstruction of the lacrimal drainage system was performed. All patients who had lacrimal blockage referred to a district general hospital, irrespective of the level of blockage, had endoscopic DCR as the initial treatment by the authors. A total of 191 endoscopic DCRs were performed between 1994 and 1999. No other forms of lacrimal surgery were performed during this period. The level of the obstruction was assessed by the ophthalmologist before the operation and confirmed at surgery. All cases were followed up for a minimum of 6 months, and 96 cases were also reviewed 12 months after surgery. The outcome of the endoscopic DCR operation for each eye was categorised into complete cure, partial cure, or no improvement according to the degree of symptomatic relief following the operation. RESULTS: Complete relief from epiphora was achieved in 89% of cases overall at 6 months. The success rate in cases with lacrimal sac/duct obstruction (93%) or common canalicular blockage (88%) was comparable. In canalicular obstruction, however, the complete cure rate was lower at 54%. The benefit of the operation was maintained at 12 months. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the success rate of surgical (non-laser) endoscopic DCR is comparable to that reported for external DCR. Moreover, the technique is appropriate for initial treatment of patients with common canalicular or even canalicular obstruction.