Covid-19 infection in pregnant women: Auditory evaluation in infants.

 Recent studies showed that COVID-19 infection can affect cochleo-vestibular system. The possibility of a vertical transmission is controversial. Some studies suggested that it is possible but unlikely, others find no evidence of vertical transmission. The objective of this study was to investigate whether exposure to COVID-19 during pregnancy or at birth has an impact on the hearing of the offspring. As part of the national hearing screening program, we performed in all newborns between January 2022 and February 2023, TEOAEs (Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions) at birth and at 3 months. For those "REFER" at the third month test, we performed aABR (Automatic Auditory Brainstem Response) at 6 months. We analysed separately result between infants born to COVID-positive mothers during pregnancy and those born to COVID-negative mothers. To statistical verify differences we performed "Chi-square test". We enrolled a total of 157 infants, of whom 16 were born to mothers who had a molecular PCR test positive for COVID-19. In the latter we tested a total of 32 ears and only 1 ear (3,1%) resulted "REFER". On the other hand, in the control group we tested a total of 282 ears and 22 (7,8%) were found to be "REFER". Our study showed no significant differences in audiological assessment between newborns exposed to COVID-19 infection during pregnancy or at birth compared to the unexposed group. However, further studies with a larger patient's sample will be necessary for a more comprehensive evaluation.

Extraperitoneal radical cystectomy and ureterocutaneostomy in octogenarians.

OBJECTIVES: Bladder cancer is the fourth more frequent tumour in men. Radical cystectomy is considered the standard treatment for muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). However, its role in elderly patients is still debate. Management of MIBC in the elderly population is considered an important issue in urological practice for the continuous ageing of the European population. Aim of our study is to evaluate the feasibility and relatively morbidity and mortality of radical cystectomy in octogenarian patients affected by MIBC. METHODS: From 2005 to 2009, we performed in octogenarian patients (83-92 years), affected by MIBC, 30 radical cystectomy with mono or bilateral extraperitoneal terminal ureterocutaneostomy in regional anaesthesia (spinal anaesthesia). Pre-operative patients' characteristics were evaluated with the American Society Anaesthesiologists score (ASA); peri- and post-operative complications were also recorded. Patients were revaluated at 3-6-9 months post-operatively with physical examination, serum analysis and ultrasound kidney scan. RESULTS: Radical cystectomy was always performed, median surgical time was 100 min (range 80-120 min), median blood replacement was 750 ml, and the overall morbidity rate was 13%. One patient died post-operatively. Median hospital stay was 8 days (range 5-12 days). Twenty-nine patients were alive at 9 months of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Extraperitoneal radical cystectomy with ureterocutaneostomy could represent a feasible option, associated with a limited mortality and mobility, in the management of MIBC in octogenarian patients.