Importance of TORCH Profile in Hearing Impaired Paediatric Population Planned for Cochlear Implant: A Study From an Eastern India Tertiary Care Centre.

TORCH group of infections are one of the most common causes of bilateral profound hearing loss in a developing country like ours. Seroprevalance is quite high in eastern part of our country. Screening for TORCH infections in children's with profound hearing loss has significant prognostic, planning and policy forming implications. To evaluate the seroprevalance of TORCH infections in prospective cochlear implant children and its significance. Ours is a retrospective study conducted from 2017 to 2018 on 50 children with bilateral profound hearing loss attending the Department of ENT at AIIMS, Patna. Thorough clinical and audiological assessment of the patients was done using objective tests like OAE (otoacoustic emission), ABR (auditory brainstem response) and subjective tests like BOA(behavioural audiometry) and PTA (puretone audiometry) wherever feasible. Blood samples were collected and serotesting was done using ELISA for Toxoplasma, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) (TORCH). We found that IgM was negative for all patients. Seroprevalance for IgG was 16.3% for toxoplasma, 74.4% for rubella, 69.8% for CMV and 20.9% for HSV. All the children had bilateral severe to profound loss on ABR and bilateral REFER on OAE. As prevalence of TORCH infection is quite common in India and is an established risk factor for sensorineural hearing loss with multisystem involvement screening for the same will help in early identification and in decision making for cochlear implantation thus improving the prognosis and also aid in policy making.

OTOPLAN-Based Study of Intracochlear Electrode Position Through Cochleostomy and Round Window in Transcanal Veria Technique.

To study the postoperative visualisation of the electrode array insertion angle through transcanal Veria approach in both round window and cochleostomy techniques. Retrospective study. Tertiary care centre. 26 subjects aged 2-15 years implanted with a MED-EL STANDARD electrode array (31.5 mm) through Veria technique were selected. 16 had the electrode insertion through the round window, 10 through anteroinferior cochleostomy. DICOM files of postoperative computer tomography (CT) scans were collected and analysed using the OTOPLAN 3.0 software. Examined parameters were cochlear duct length, average angle of insertion depth. Pearson's Correlation Test was utilized for statistical analysis. Average cochlear duct length was 38.12 mm, ranging from 34.2 to 43 mm. Average angle of insertion depth was 666 degrees through round window insertion and 670 degrees through cochleostomy insertion. Pearson's correlation showed no significant difference in average angle of insertion depth between subjects with cochleostomy and round window insertion. Detailed study on the OTOPLAN software has established that there remains no difference between round window insertion or cochleostomy insertion when it comes to electrode array position and placement in the scala tympani. It is feasible to perform round window insertion and cochleostomy insertion through transcanal Veria approach as this technique provides good visualisation. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-022-03228-5.

Modifying Ways to Perform ICU Tracheostomies in COVID-19 Patients: Approach to a Safe and Secure Method.

Background This study outlines the unique modifications to surgical tracheostomy procedure to combat the extraordinary situation the world has found itself in due to COVID 19 pandemic. We explain the modifications employed to the operative setup, anesthetic considerations and surgical procedure to enable us to provide timely and safe tracheostomy to the COVID ICU patients requiring it, while simultaneously maximally protecting our surgical personnel from the deadly exposure. Methods- We conducted 55 surgical tracheostomies in severely sick ICU patients with the modifications deemed fit to achieve safe procedure for both the patient and the operating team. We analyzed the hospital record data of these patients and the surgical teams COVID 19 status to assesss the efficacy of our procedural modifications. Discussion- The COVID 19 pandemic has thrown the entire medical fraternity into a dilemma as to how to provide the best possible care to the patients while protecting ourselves from its grip. Severely sick COVID patients often require tracheostomy for improved prognosis. We performed bedside open surgical tracheostomy and induced transient apnoea periprocedur along with carinal intubation. By making these simple and cost effective modifications to the procedure, we have ensured that patients get tracheostomised as and when required but not at the cost of the health and lives of our health care workers.

Awareness of an Primitive Art for Treating Otological Diseases in Present Covid-19 Scenario: Need of the Hour.

In current scenario of Covid-19 pandemic spread of virus via aerosol generating procedures has become a special concern in otorhinolaryngology community. Motive of this study is to spread awareness of an ancient forgotten method of performing mastoidectomy through which risk of virus infection can be greatly reduced among otologic surgeons. Retrospective Observational study. Three patients of chronic otitis media with complication were operatively intervened with combined approach of otorhinolaryngology and neurosurgeons. Mastoidectomies were performed without drilling. Instruments used were small, medium and large size gouge, chisel and hammer, curettes, kerrison punches and other microscopic ear instruments. All three patients recovered well without any residual disease or cavity problems. Referring ancient practices like above in this COVID era may prove an important tool in addressing surgical urgencies while combating transmission risks at the same time. One should be vigilant and versatile in surgical techniques in order to serve the needy and save the saviours simultaneously.