Does septoplasty improve the quality of life in children?

Objectives

The aim of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of septoplasty and the effects of septoplasty on the quality of life and to determine postoperative patient satisfaction in children using nose obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) and visual analog scale (VAS).

Methods

Only pediatric patients who underwent septoplasty were included in the study. Patients who underwent adenoidectomy, endoscopic sinus surgery, or turbinate surgery in addition to septoplasty and total septal reconstruction with open technique septorhinoplasty were excluded from the study. Patients and their parents were inquired about their nasal obstruction symptoms using the NOSE scale before and 3 and 12 months following the surgery. VAS was used to analyze overall satisfaction of the patients and their parents on the outcomes of surgery, at the last follow-up examination 12 months after the surgery.

Results

Thirty-five patients with a mean age of 13.4 ± 2.8 (8–16) were included in the study. There was a very significant improvement in NOSE score at 3 months after septoplasty. The mean subjective satisfaction score measured with VAS at the 12th month postoperatively was 7.9 ± 2.1. Improvement in NOSE score was correlated with patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

Septoplasty is a very effective and satisfactory treatment for nasal obstruction caused by nasal septal deviation in children. The NOSE scale can be used for the evaluation of nasal obstruction symptoms.     

Clinical indicators that predict the presence of moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea after adenotonsillectomy in children

Objective

To determine if clinical indicators can predict the presence of moderate to severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) after Adenotonsillectomy (T&A) in children.

Study Design

Retrospective study.

Setting

Urban Tertiary Care Pediatric Hospital.

Methods

Parents of children (< 18 yrs.) with OSA completed a 55-item questionnaire based on their child’s symptoms at the time of preoperative polysomnography and then again at the follow up polysomnography completed 3 to 6 months after T&A.

Main outcome measures

55 item questionnaire, polysomnography variables.

Results

97 children were included (59 Male and 38 Female). The mean preoperative apnea hypopnea index (AHI) was 30.5 ± 31.6/h and the mean postoperative AHI was 4.4 ± 6.0/h. After T&A, all 97 children had reduction in AHI, and 35 (36.1%) no longer had OSA (AHI < 1/h). The total symptom scores decreased from 15.8 ± 9.4 to 11.3 ± 8.7 after T&A (p < .0001). Fourteen symptoms highly predictive of moderate to severe OSA were identified in the univariate analysis (p < 0.1). Using a cut-point of 4, this 14-item subscale illustrated an overall predictability of 72.2% (73.7% sensitivity and 70.0% specificity) for identifying children with moderate to severe OSA.

Conclusion

A cluster of 14 clinical sleep symptoms are highly predictive of moderate to severe OSA and can serve as clinical predictor for the presence of moderate to severe OSA after T&A.     

Effects of zinc supplementation on serum zinc concentration and ratio of apo/holo-activities of angiotensin converting enzyme in patients with taste impairment

Objective

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of zinc supplementation on hypogeusia, serum zinc concentration and the ratio of apo/holo-activities of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE ratio) in patients with taste impairment. ACE ratio was used as an index of zinc nutritional status.

Methods

Forty patients complaining of taste impairment were divided into two groups: zinc deficiency taste impairment (n = 12) and idiopathic taste impairment (n = 28). Patients with zincemia values of less than 63 μg/dl with no history of other disorder or medication known to cause dysgeusia were diagnosed as zinc deficiency group, while those with the same condition and values more than 64 μg/dl were considered to belong to the idiopathic group. Patients orally received 150 mg of polaprezinc containing 33 mg of zinc every day. Subjective symptom was scored according to visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results

Zinc supplementation improved hypogeusia in both idiopathic and zinc deficiency groups. The mean improvements of VAS were 3.02 ± 3.03 in the idiopathic group and 3.13 ± 2.53 in the zinc deficiency group. Thus, there were no significant differences in idiopathic and zinc deficiency groups. Significant correlations were found between the improvement of VAS score and the ACE ratio after zinc supplementation in both idiopathic and zinc deficiency groups. On the contrary, significant correlations were not found between the improvement of VAS score and the zinc concentration in the serum after zinc supplementation in both groups.

Conclusion

The results of the present study indicated that zinc deficiency is a predominant factor underlying taste impairment and ACE ratio may be a predictor of the prognosis for taste impairment after zinc supplementation, in addition to a more sensitive indicator of zinc nutrition than zinc concentration in the serum.     

Endoscopic investigation and evaluation of anxiety for the management of globus sensation

Objective

To verify whether the severity of globus sensation would be affected by the results of investigations on possible underlying serious pathology in the head, neck and esophagus.

Methods

Thirty-six patients with globus sensation were enrolled in this study. All the patients suffered relatively persistent globus sensation which remained after conventional laryngoscopy at their family doctors. These patients were investigated for possible underlying oropharyngeal and esophageal lesions using fiberoptic endoscopy. The severity of globus was evaluated by the visual analog scales (VAS), and the degree of anxiety was evaluated by the state section of State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-s). The questionnaires were administered at their first visits, and 9.6 ± 3.2 months after endoscopy. The follow-up data obtained from 22 patients were incorporated in the further evaluations. Multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationship between the improvement of VAS scores and that of STAI-s scores. Afterwards, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was measured. The recorded images of fiberoptic endoscopy were retrospectively verified by an expert of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Results

No malignancies were observed in the endoscopic examination. Despite no treatment administered during the follow-up period, significant improvement of VAS scores was observed from the initial scores (40 ± 21) to follow-up scores (27 ± 27, p = 0.014) in the patients examined in this study. The multiple linear regression analysis proved that the improvement of STAI-s scores was the only factor significantly affected the improvement of VAS scores (p = 0.029) among the dependent valuables. The retrospective evaluation of the recorded images revealed comorbid esophagitis in 10 out of the 22 patients. When patients were stratified with the presence of comorbid esophagitis, significant improvement of VAS scores was observed only in the group without comorbid esophagitis at their follow up (17 ± 20, p = 0.026) compared with their initial scores (36 ± 17). The multiple linear regression analysis proved that the improvement of VAS scores was significantly affected by the improvement of STAI-s scores (p = 0.047) in this group. Moreover, significant positive relationship between the improvement of VAS scores and that of STAI-s scores was observed only in the group without comorbid esophagitis (r = 0.61, p = 0.047).

Conclusion

Proper investigation to prove no underlying serious pathology may lead to the improvement of globus sensation in the patients without comorbid esophagitis through the reduction of their anxiety even when their symptoms are relatively persistent. Our results also indicated that some treatments against esophagitis may be helpful for the improvement of globus sensation in the patients with this comorbid disease.     

Surgical duration of cochlear implantation in an academic university-based practice

Objective

Establish the time to safely and efficiently perform cochlear implantation (CI) in a university-based academic center.

Study Design

Case series with chart review.

Setting

Academic neurotologic referral center.

Patients

424 patients who underwent CI surgery between 2002 and 2010.

Intervention

Unilateral, bilateral or revision CI using commercially available devices approved for use in the United States.Main outcome measures: mean surgical duration (SD) and mean total operative room time (TORT).

Results

Overall mean SD for all 424 patients was 83 ± 30 min (min) whereas the mean TORT was 135 ± 56 min. The mean SD for unilateral CI was 84 ± 18 min for the first implant and 82 ± 22 min for the second implant (p = 0.55). The SD for primary and revision CI was 83 ± 18 min and 85 ± 36 min, respectively (p = 0.51). The mean SD for pediatric and adult CI was 83 ± 21 min and 83 ± 18 min, respectively (p = 0.92). The mean SD without resident assistance was 74 ± 14 min whereas with the assistance of a resident the mean SD was 84 ± 20 min (p = 0.02). When ossification was encountered the mean SD was 90 ± 32 min compared to 82 ± 19 min when absent (p < 0.001). An association was found between TORT or SD, and the year of surgery, presence of ossification and the involvement of an assistant.

Conclusion

In a university-based academic center, CI surgery can be safely and efficiently performed, supporting future cost-effectiveness analysis of its current practice.     

Recovery of vocal fold immobility following isolated patent ductus arteriosus ligation

Objective

Identify laryngoscopic and functional outcomes of infants with vocal fold immobility (VFI) following patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation and identify predictors of recovery.

Methods

Retrospective review of patients with VFI following PDA ligation from 2001 to 2012 at a single institution. Inclusion criteria were: (1) PDA ligation as only cardiac surgical procedure; (2) left VFI documented by laryngoscopy; (3) minimum follow up 120 days, with at least 2 laryngoscopies performed. Resolution of VFI was determined at follow-up laryngoscopy. Univariate logistic regression models were used to identify variables associated with VFI recovery.

Results

66 subjects were included with median follow up of 3.0 (±2.1) years. The mean gestational age was 24.5 ± 1.4 weeks, mean birth weight 673 ± 167 g, and mean age at procedure was 18.6 ± 14.3 days. Patients presented with respiratory symptoms (39%), dysphonia (78%) and dysphagia (55%). Resolution of VFI was observed in 2/66 (3%) patients. Recovery was documented at 20 days and 11 months respectively. Respiratory symptoms, dysphagia, and dysphonia persisted at last follow up in 11%, 47%, and 20% of patients.

Conclusions

VFI associated with ligation of the ductus arteriosus has a low rate of recovery. Clinical symptoms frequently persist, and as such regular follow-up by otolaryngologists to mitigate morbidity is indicated.     

Beyond adenotonsillectomy: Outcomes of sleep endoscopy-directed treatments in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea

Objectives

In this study we determine the subjective and objective outcomes of pediatric patients with refractory OSA undergoing drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE)-directed surgical treatment.

Methods

31 consecutive children with OSA following TA underwent DISE. 26 completed DISE-directed operative management of the level(s) of ongoing upper airway obstruction. Pre- and postoperative OSA were assessed through a detailed history (of nighttime symptoms (NS) and daytime symptoms (DS)), physical examination, and polysomnography.

Results

Age ranged 5–18 years (mean 9.7 ± 3.4). Fourteen of 26 had trisomy 21 (51%). Operations were performed in the following frequencies: lingual tonsillectomy (LT) (22), midline posterior glossectomy (MPG) (16), revision adenoidectomy (11), inferior turbinate submucosal resection (7), uvulopalatoplasty (2), and supraglottoplasty (2). Overall, 92% reported subjective improvement. NS improved from 5.8 ± 2.9 preoperatively to 2.1 ± 2.5 postoperatively (p < 0.05), while DS improved from 2.1 ± 1.3 preoperatively to 0.6 ± 1.1 postoperatively (p < 0.05). Seventeen patients completed preoperative polysomnography, while only 11 of them also completed postoperative polysomnography. Mean OAHI fell from 7.0 (±5.8) events/hr to 3.6 (±1.8) events/hr (t-test, p = 0.09).

Conclusions

Individualized, multilevel, DISE-directed operative therapy was associated with substantial improvement in subjective measures of sleep.     

The use of sodium hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose to prevent postoperative mastication pain from harvesting of temporalis fascia

Objective

To evaluate the anti-adhesive and anti-inflammatory effects of sodium hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose (HA-CMC) in reducing postoperative pain after temporalis fascia harvest during tympanomastoid surgery.

Materials and methods

Between January and December 2009, 27 patients underwent tympanoplasty and open cavity mastoidectomy involving the harvesting of temporalis fasciae (more than 3 × 4 cm). At the end of surgery, patients were injected with 1.5 g HA-CMC or normal saline around the fascia harvest area. Beginning immediately postoperatively and for 2 months after surgery, patients scored their pain in the temporal area on a visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results

There were no significant postoperative complications, such as bleeding or hematoma, in either control group. VAS scores of both groups decreased over time and were negligible after 2 months. VAS scores of the HA-CMC and control groups differed significantly (p < 0.001 by repeated measures ANOVA for all VAS scores).

Conclusion

HA-CMC can decrease immediate postoperative pain arising from tissue adhesion and inflammation, thus reducing postoperative mastication pain.     

Kinezyterapia u pacjentów z obwodowym uszkodzeniem narządu przedsionkowego

Introduction

Kinesitherapy is widely accepted management in patients with vertigo and imbalance, but there has been inadequate evidence that one form of therapy is superior to another.

The aim

of the study was to compare effectiveness of two kinesitherapy protocols in patients with the peripheral vestibular system disorders.

Material and methods

Fifty patients (mean age 46.0 ± 13.1 year) with vertigo and balance instability lasting over 3 months with unilateral vestibular disorder, confirmed in Videnystagmography, were included in the study. Thirty patients underwent supervised and 20 patients home-based exercise programs. All of them were assessed three times at the baseline, after 4 weeks and 3 months, on vertigo intensity and frequency with the Vertigo Syndrome Scale (VSS), Vertigo Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and clinical unsteadiness with tests (Romberg, Amended Motor Club Assesment (AMCA), Eurofit test – standing on one leg.

Results

In both groups the clinical tasks and the intensity of vertigo in VAS significantly decreased. The mean value of VSS (part physical and emotional)score significantly decreased only in supervised group at the end of 4 weeks and 3 months (p = ns). Recovery was more dynamic in supervised group than home-based exercises group, in AMCA test (3.9 vs. 1.3 s, p < 0.05) in Eurofit tests eye open (14.1 vs. 0.9 s, p < 0.05) and eye closed (3.5 vs. 1 s, p < 0.05).

Conclusions

In patients with unilateral peripheral vestibular dysfunction supervised and home-based group kinesitherapy is an effective treatment method. In supervised group patients recovery has been faster.     

Auditory development after placement of bone-anchored hearing aids Softband among Chinese Mandarin-speaking children with bilateral aural atresia

Objective

To evaluate auditory developments of Chinese Mandarin-speaking children with congenital bilateral aural atresia after using Bone-anchored hearing aids (Baha) Softband and to compare them with matched peers with normal hearing.

Method

Sixteen patients (age ranging from 3 months to 6 years) with bilateral aural atresia and 29 children with normal hearing (age ranging from 8 months to 6 years) were studied. Auditory development was assessed at three time intervals: baseline, 6 months and 12 months. Infant-Toddler Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (IT-MAIS) was conducted for children under 4 years old; Meaningful Auditory Integration Scale (MAIS), Chinese Mandarin lexical neighborhood test (MLNT) and sound field pure tone audiometry (PTA) were used for children of 4–6 years old.

Results

Mean IT-MAIS scores were 41 ± 24%, 60 ± 22% and 73 ± 7%, respectively at three time intervals. Mean MAIS scores were 66 ± 7%, 90 ± 5%, and 99 ± 2%. Mean speech discrimination scores at the three time intervals were 74 ± 19%, 86 ± 16%, and 95 ± 4% with the easy disyllabic (D-E) list; 48 ± 18%, 73 ± 15%, and 81 ± 7% with the hard disyllabic (D-H) list; 55 ± 17%, 74 ± 22%, and 83 ± 14% with the easy monosyllabic(M-E) list; and 31 ± 14%, 61 ± 15%, and 71 ± 13% with the hard monosyllabic (M-H) list.

Conclusions

Baha Softband is suitable for infants and young children with bilateral atresia. Results from these auditory development testing are encouraging. Baha Softband should be used as a bridge for surgical implantations when the temporal bone is thick enough.     

Alkaline pH in middle meatus in cases of chronic rhinosinusitis

Study type

Prospective and observational study.

Methods

The study group was divided in two groups consisted of 50 normal subjects (100 meati) and 50 patients (100 meati) of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). All subjects underwent nasal endoscopy along with measurement of the pH of the middle meatus using a portable pH monitoring device. Statistical analysis was done to compare mean pH of normal middle meatus with the diseased one.

Results

The mean pH of normal 100 middle meati was measured to be 7.35(± 0.82). The mean pH of 100 middle meatii in CRS patients was higher 7.81(± 0.83) and was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.00011).

Conclusion

Alkaline pH (7.81) was observed in the middle meatus of CRS patients.     

Frequency of acne vulgaris and its exacerbation in facial and periorbital area after septorhinoplasty

Background

High prevalence of rhinoplasty, controversies about its cutaneous complications and lack of structured studies about relationship between acne vulgaris and rhinoplasty, point out the necessity for performing this study.

Purpose

To determine the frequency of acne and its exacerbation after rhinoplasty.

Materials and methods

In a longitudinal controlled study at a tertiary referral university hospital, the degree of acne before and 1 and 3 months after surgery was measured in 110 patients (30 Male, 80 Female, Mean age: 26.3 ± 6.8) with rhinoplasty and 80 patients (35 Male, 45 Female, Mean age: 24.5 ± 4.6) with septoplasty, based on Global Acne Grading System (GAGS). The data were analyzed by SPSS 16 software.

Results

The frequency of acne exacerbation in first post-surgical visit was 27% in case and 3.5% in control subjects (P < 0.007). In case group, 42.9% of those who had no acne before surgery, developed mild acne and 14.5% of those with mild acne, turned into moderate acne. In second post-surgical visit 91.7% of those who had moderate acne in first visit, turned into mild acne and 80% of those with severe acne in first post-surgical visit changed into moderate acne without any specific therapy (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusions

Rhinoplasty has significant relationship with acne exacerbation. The severity of acne decreases gradually during 3 months after surgery. For determining the exact course and risk factors of this complication, further studies are needed.     

Chemosurgery with trichloroacetic acid for allergic rhinitis: Evaluation of the efficacy in terms of inhibition of Th2 cell infiltration

Objective

To examine local inhibition of Th2 cell infiltration as the basis for demonstrating the superior clinical effect of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) treatment for allergic rhinitis.

Methods

Mirror-image sections of the inferior turbinate mucosae of both sides were obtained from 26 patients who underwent TCA treatment on one side because of the nasal anatomy status and who eventually underwent bilateral inferior turbinectomy because of failure of the TCA treatment. Th2 cell counts, defined as counts of cells positive for anti-CD4 antibody and anti-CKR4 antibody (double-positive cells) were obtained for comparison. The differences between the TCA-treated and non-TCA-treated mucosae were analyzed by Mann–Whitney's U test.

Results

Th2 cell infiltration was characteristically found just beneath the epithelium and in the periglandular areas. The mean count ± standard deviation of Th2 cells was 4.96 ± 2.72 cells/mm² in the TCA-treated mucosae and 12.03 ± 7.19 cells/mm² in the non-treated mucosae, the difference being significant (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

TCA treatment induces inhibition of Th2 cell infiltration. This corroborates the suggestion that TCA treatment can inhibit local type I allergic reactions.     

Tongue pressure in patients with tongue cancer resection and reconstruction

Objective

Assessment of tongue function following tongue reconstruction is important to evaluate patient status. To assess tongue function in patients who had undergone tongue reconstruction, the surgical team used a simple, hand-held tongue pressure measurement device to measure tongue power.

Methods

Tongue power of 30 patients (25 males, 5 females; average age: 53.6 ± 15.0 years) was calculated using a hand-held tongue pressure measurement device, six months postoperation. The defects were classified into minimal glossectomy (MG) (n = 8), near-half partial glossectomy of the mobile tongue (PG) (n = 5), hemi-glossectomy (HG) (n = 4), more than half partial glossectomy of the mobile tongue (SG-MT) (n = 7), and subtotal glossectomy (SG) (n = 6). As seen in other tongue assessments, a simple articulatory test, food evaluation, and speech intelligibility assessment were also performed; resulting correlations were statistically calculated using tongue pressure values.

Results

The tongue pressure values were 94.0 ± 14.5% in MG, 48.5 ± 13.2^a % in PG, 40.4 ± 18.7^a % in HG, 19.3 ± 7.7^a,b % in SG-MT, and 15.3 ± 5.6^a,b % in SG (a: <0.05 vs. MG, b: <0.05 vs. PG). The Pearson r was 0.77, 0.67, and 0.74 when correlated with simple articulatory test, food evaluation, and speech intelligibility assessment, respectively.

Conclusion

Tongue pressure measurement in patients with tongue cancer resection and reconstruction facilitated determination of patients’ tongue function status.     

Nasal pH in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis before and after endoscopic sinus surgery

Purpose

Physiologically acidic nasal pH depends on intact nasal mucosal function. The aim of this study was to determine nasal pH in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and to investigate the changes in pH related to mucosal healing after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Materials and methods

Normal subjects and the patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who showed no recurrence after endoscopic sinus surgery were enrolled. Using a portable pH meter and a glass-tipped probe, nasal pH was measured in the inferior meatus in normal subjects and patients before and after surgery at 3 months.

Results

The mean (± SD) nasal pH was 6.5 ± 0.5 (5.9 to 7.3) in 19 normal subjects, and 6.7 ± 0.6 (5.3 to 7.6) in 19 CRS patients before surgery, which showed no significant difference between the groups. The nasal pH values were in the range of 3.8–7.7 (mean ± SD 5.7 ± 0.9) at 3 months after surgery, and significantly lower than the preoperative values in patients (P = .004). The patients showing pH lower than 6.0 accounted for 10.5% before surgery, but 68.4% after surgery.

Conclusions

Normal nasal pH was in the slightly acidic range, and the mean nasal pH of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis fell within normal limits as well, which indicates that chronic rhinosinusitis may not disturb the electrolyte milieu of the nasal mucosa. The average nasal pH measured at 3 months after endoscopic sinus surgery exhibited acidity of pH 5.7. The factors causing a fall in nasal pH during the healing period after the sinus surgery remain to be elucidated.     

Sleep related quality of life before and after adenotonsillar surgery in pediatric population

Objective

To assess the quality of life in children with adenotonsillar problems before and after adenotonsillectomy in short term follow-up.

Methods

Quasi-experimental study (before and after study) of children with adenotonsillar problems at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Amir’Alam hospital. Eighty six pediatric patients aged 3 through 13 years (58 boys and 28 girls) who underwent adenotonsillectomy, for treatment of sleep disordered breathing or recurrent throat infection, were recruited. Parents completed OSA-18 quality of life survey and Brouillette score questionnaire before and one month after surgery.

Results

Reliability of the Brouillette score and OSA-18 survey was established by evaluating the Cronbach α value. Cronbach α for Brouillette score was 0.70 and for OSA-18 survey it was 0.88. Preoperative values for the OSA-18 total and domain scores were high in children: mean ± SD; 61.65 ± 20.78. Preoperative values for the Brouillette score were: mean ± SD; 0.41 ± 2.34. The total OSA-18 survey score and the scores for all domains showed significant improvement after surgery: mean ± SD; 28.01 ± 9.09 (P < 0.001). Post-operative Brouillette score had a significant improvement: mean ± SD; −3.57 ± 0.91 (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Considering the OSA-18 survey and Brouillete score results, surgical therapy with adenotonsillectomy is associated with marked improvement in quality of life in both obstructive and infective adenotonsillar disease.     

Clinical advantages of cartilage palisades over temporalis fascia in type I tympanoplasty

Objective

To compare the post-operative outcomes in using temporalis fascia and full thickness broad cartilage palisades as graft in type I tympanoplasty.

Methods

This study, conducted at a tertiary referral institute, included 90 consecutive patients with mucosal type chronic otitis media requiring type I tympanoplasty with a 60/30 distribution of cases with fascia and cartilage palisades, respectively. The fascia group consisted of primary cases in adults and excluded revision cases, near-total or total perforations and pediatric cases. The cartilage group included pediatric, revision cases and near-total or total perforations. The fascia group utilized the underlay technique for grafting, whereas the cartilage group used tragal full thickness broad cartilage palisades with perichondrium attached on one side placed in an underlay or over-underlay manner. Post-operative graft take-up and hearing outcomes were evaluated after 6 months and 1 year with subjective assessment and pure tone audiometry.

Results

The graft take-up rate was 83.3% in the fascia group and 90% in the cartilage palisade group. The mean pure tone air–bone gaps pre- and post-operatively in the fascia group were 30.43 ± 5.75 dB and 17.5 ± 6.94 dB, respectively, whereas for the cartilage group, these values were 29 ± 6.21 dB and 7.33 ± 3.88 dB, respectively.

Conclusion

Cartilage grafting with full thickness palisades is more effective than fascia as graft material, particularly in “difficult” tympanoplasties fraught with higher failure rates otherwise.     

Metabolic alterations in children with obstructive sleep apnea

Importance

The incidence of obesity is rising in the United States and has been linked to Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) even in young children. Understanding the role that obesity and OSA play in alterations in metabolic variables that can lead to serious health issues is essential to the care and counseling of affected children.

Objectives

To evaluate the association of alterations in metabolic variables, including insulin resistance, to OSA in young, obese children.

Design

Retrospective, case-control series.

Setting

Tertiary care children's hospital.

Participants

Obese children aged 2-12 years who had undergone overnight polysomography and routine laboratory testing for lipid levels, fasting glucose, and insulin from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2012 were identified from a TransMed Bio-Integration Suite and Epic's clarity database search.

Results

A total of 76 patients were included for analysis. Forty-three (56.6%) were male, and the mean age was 8.3 ± 2.5 years (range, 2.4–11.9 years). The mean body mass index (BMI) z score was 2.8 ± 0.75 (range, 1.7–6.3), and all patients were obese (BMI z score > 95th percentile). Twenty two patients (28.9%) had an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) <1/h (no OSA), 27 (35.5%) an AHI≥1 < 5/h, 12 (15.8%) had an AHI ≥5 < 9.99/h, and 15 (19.7%) had an AHI≥10/h. There was no significant difference in total cholesterol, triglycerides, high and low density lipoprotein levels, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in those patients with or without OSA. Fasting insulin, blood glucose, and homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) were significantly higher in patients with OSA compared to those with no OSA (p < 0.01). AHI correlated to alterations in insulin as well as glucose homeostasis on multivariate analysis. Results from logistic regression analysis showed that fasting insulin (p < 0.01), and HOMA (p < 0.01) predicted severe OSA independent of age, gender, and BMI z score in these patients.

Conclusion

Metabolic alterations in glucose and insulin levels, known to be associated with obesity and increased risk for cardiovascular disease, appear to relate to the severity of OSA in young children.     

Detection of isolated covert saccades with the video head impulse test in peripheral vestibular disorders

Objectives

The function of the semicircular canal receptors and the pathway of the vestibulo-ocular-reflex (VOR) can be diagnosed with the clinical head impulse test (cHIT). Recently, the video head impulse test (vHIT) has been introduced but so far there is little clinical experience with the vHIT in patients with peripheral vestibular disorders. The aim of the study was to investigate the horizontal VOR (hVOR) by means of vHIT in peripheral vestibular disorders.

Methods

Using the vHIT, we examined the hVOR in a group of 117 patients and a control group of 20 healthy subjects. The group of patients included vestibular neuritis (VN) (n = 52), vestibular schwannoma (VS) (n = 31), Ménière's disease (MD) (n = 22) and bilateral vestibulopathy (BV) (n = 12).

Results

Normal hVOR gain was at 0.96 ± 0.08, while abnormal hVOR gain was at 0.44 ± 0.20 (79.1% of all cases). An abnormal vHIT was found in VN (94.2%), VS (61.3%), MD (54.5%) and BV (91.7%). Three conditions of refixation saccades occurred frequently in cases with abnormal hVOR: isolated covert saccades (13.7%), isolated overt saccades (34.3%) and the combination of overt and covert saccades (52.0%).

Conclusions

The vHIT detects abnormal hVOR changes in the combination of gain assessment and refixation saccades. Since isolated covert saccades in hVOR changes can only be seen with vHIT, peripheral vestibular disorders are likely to be diagnosed incorrectly with the cHIT to a certain amount.     

Comparison of nasal mucociliary clearance in adenoid hypertrophy with or without otitis media with effusion

Objective

To investigate pre- and postoperative mucociliary clearance in patients with adenoid hypertrophy or combined with otitis media with effusion.

Methods

Patients were divided into two groups: Group 1—patients with adenoid hypertrophy (AH), and Group 2—patients with AH and otitis media with effusion (AHOME). In all patients, AH size was recorded, and the Andersen saccharin and methylene blue tests were conducted before and 1 month after surgery to obtain mucociliary clearance time (MCT). Nasal cavity length was measured intraoperatively to establish mucociliary clearance velocity (MCV). Patients with allergic rhinitis, active infection, and history of nasal or ear surgery were excluded.

Results

This study included 64 patients with a mean age of 8.34 ± 2.98 years (range: 3–18 years). Pre- and postoperative MCT were 14.60 ± 4.83 and 9.48 ± 2.63 min in Group 1 and 16.03 ± 4.31 and 12.12 ± 3.78 min in Group 2, respectively. Pre- and postoperative MCV were 0.77 ± 0.30 and 1.16 ± 0.42 mm/min in Group 1 and 0.67 ± 0.16 and 0.89 ± 0.28 mm/min in Group 2, respectively. MCT and MCV were significantly improved postoperatively in both groups (p < 0.001). In addition, the postoperative MCT and MCV of Group 1 were significantly better than those of Group 2 (p < 0.001). Exposure to cigarette smoking and adenoid size had negative correlations with mucociliary clearance.

Conclusions

Otitis media was associated with impaired mucociliary clearance and further studies should be performed to demonstrate the causes of this deficiency.