Efficacy of Topical Epinephrine in Tympanoplasty.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To compare the hemostatic effects of commonly used concentrations of topical epinephrine in tympanoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial. METHODS: Patients undergoing tympanoplasty were randomized to receive topical epinephrine at 1:1,000 or 1:10,000. With the investigators blinded, hemostasis was assessed with a modified Boezaart scale. Vasoconstriction was measured by laser Doppler. Blood pressure and pulse were tracked. RESULTS: Thirty patients, 4 to 84 years old, were studied, with 15 patients per group. Boezaart scores dropped a mean of 67% and 62% with 1:1,000 and 1:10,000, respectively (P = .44). Capillary blood flow decreased a mean of 50.4% and 50.9% with 1:1,000 and 1:10,000, respectively (P = .95). The mean change in heart rate and mean arterial pressure after topical epinephrine exposure were -4.9 and -0.73 beats per minute (P = .15), and -0.60 and -0.73 mmHg (P = .96) for 1:1,000 and 1:10,000 respectively. No adverse events occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Topical epinephrine at 1:10,000 has hemostatic efficacy comparable to 1:1,000 in tympanoplasty. Although both concentrations appear safe, use of topical epinephrine 1:10,000 should be considered over 1:1,000 to minimize the potential for adverse events. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2 Laryngoscope, 131:2319-2322, 2021.

Role of Interleukin 5 Inhibition in the Treatment of Eosinophilic Otitis Media.

OBJECTIVE: Eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) is a rare form of middle ear disease characterized by a viscous effusion rich in eosinophils, a resistance to conventional treatments, and an association with bronchial asthma. The relationship between asthma and EOM suggests similarities in pathogenesis and treatment possibilities. Recent biologic therapies, specifically those that target interleukin 5 (IL-5), have demonstrated efficacy in controlling eosinophil-driven asthma, yet their impact on the treatment of pathologically similar diseases remains unmeasured. This study identifies patients who have EOM, reviews their otologic clinical course, and investigates the impact of anti-IL-5 drugs on chronic ear disease. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: University of Florida Health, an academic medical center. METHODS: A review of 120 patients treated with benralizumab or mepolizumab was performed. Imaging evidence of otomastoiditis was used to identify 9 patients with possible EOM. Two patients were treated with benralizumab, and the remaining 7 received mepolizumab injections. RESULTS: After starting treatment, 5 patients had complete resolution of middle ear effusions (3 with mepolizumab and 2 with benralizumab); 1 had stable middle ear effusion; and 1 patient's disease status could not be determined due to a lack of follow-up. The remaining 2 patients did not have effusions at the time when anti-IL-5 therapy was initiated, and they have not relapsed since starting treatment. CONCLUSION: EOM is a rare disease that otolaryngologists should include in their differential diagnosis, especially in refractory cases. Anti-IL-5 agents show efficacy in treating EOM, and prospective multicenter clinical trials are needed to further characterize the effect of anti-IL-5 therapies.

Autoimmune inner ear disease: A systematic review of management.

OBJECTIVES: The study systematically reviewed the existing literature on the management of autoimmune inner ear disease (AIED). STUDY DESIGN: Systematic review. METHODS: We performed a literature search of Embase, NCBI, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases from April 1990 to April 2020. Inclusion criteria included studies that were retrospective or prospective in nature evaluating the treatment of AIED with audiometric data measuring hearing outcomes during treatment. Hearing improvement was the primary study outcome and improvement in vestibular symptoms was the secondary study outcome. RESULTS: Sixteen of 412 candidate articles were included in our study. Systemic steroid treatment is most commonly described. Alternative treatment modalities included intratympanic steroid treatment, methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, infliximab, etanercept, adalimumab, golimumab, methylprednisolone, rituximab, and anakinra. CONCLUSION: Systemic corticosteroids are the first line treatment of AIED. Intratympanic steroids are a potential adjuvant or alternative treatment for patients who cannot tolerate or become refractory to steroid treatment. Steroid nonresponders may benefit from biologic therapy. Alternative treatment modalities including nonsteroidal immunosuppressants and biologics have been studied in small cohorts of patients with varying results. Prospective studies investigating the efficacy of biologic and nonsteroidal therapy are warranted. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2.

Hearing Outcomes after Ossicular Reconstruction with Removal of the Malleus.

Objectives (1) Evaluate hearing outcomes of patients after planned malleus removal during ossicular chain reconstruction. (2) Analyze hearing results for titanium (Ti) and hydroxyapatite (HA) total ossicular prostheses (TOPs) and partial ossicular prostheses (POPs). (3) Compare Ti and HA partial prostheses. Study Design Retrospective case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary health care organization. Subjects and Methods A chart review was conducted of 139 consecutive patients who presented with chronic otitis media with perforation (with or without cholesteatoma) and were treated with initial-stage tympanoplasty (with or without mastoidectomy) and managed with TOP (n = 22) or POP (n = 117) between July 2010 and July 2015. The malleus was completely removed in all cases. Hearing was assessed via bone and air conduction pretone averages (0.5, 1, 2 kHz) pre- and postoperatively. Air-bone gap (ABG) and change in ABG (ΔABG) were analyzed. Pre- and postoperative values were compared. Results The overall mean ABG decreased from 29.4 ± 12.3 dB to 18.2 ± 11.4 dB postoperatively ( P < .001) with a mean ΔABG of 14.5 dB (95% CI, 12.793-16.203). Overall success was achieved by 69.1%. The POP group achieved higher success (70.9%) than the TOP group (59.1%; P = .0001). Mean ABG decreased significantly within surgical groups (TOP and POP) and prosthesis material groups (Ti and HA; all P < .001). Ti had statistically higher success than HA in both techniques: POP ( P = .0478) and TOP ( P = .0251). There was a 98% graft take rate. Conclusion Planned malleus removal during ossicular chain reconstruction, regardless of disease extent, allows for simpler reconstruction and comparable favorable results to preservation of the malleus and should be considered during surgical planning.

Loss of stapes prosthesis into vestibule during stapedectomy: a case report.

We present a unique case of intraoperative loss of a piston prosthesis into the right vestibule of a 47-year-old man during stapedectomy. Despite the fact that the prosthesis remains unfixed in the scala vestibuli at the basal turn of the cochlea, the patient has remained nearly asymptomatic in his right ear for approximately 2 years. We discuss the patient's presenting condition, operative course, and our diagnostic and management strategy in this case.