Prognostic Significance of Early Posttreatment Audiometry in Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the prognostic value of early posttreatment initiation audiometry findings in patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL). STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study. SETTING: The study was conducted at a single tertiary medical center. METHODS: A review was conducted on 299 ISSHL patients treated between 2007 and 2023. Patients underwent audiometry on Days 2 to 3 and 5 to 7 posttreatment initiation. Data on demographics, medical history, audiometry results, and prognosis were collected. Prognosis was categorized based on hearing recovery at 1 year postdiagnosis. RESULTS: Older age, worse initial speech reception threshold (SRT), ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents/transient ischemic attacks, hypertension, and diabetes were associated with a poorer prognosis. Posttreatment initiation audiometry findings on Days 2 to 3 and 5 to 7 significantly correlated with prognosis. Patients with a ≥30% improvement had substantial or complete recovery in over 80% of cases, while those with <10% had <30% recovery. Multivariate analysis identified a significant improvement on days 5 to 7 as an independent predictor of complete recovery (odds ratio = 4.25 [95% confidence interval 1.96-9.23], P = .0002). CONCLUSION: Posttreatment initiation audiometry findings, particularly on Days 5 to 7, hold significant prognostic value in ISSHL patients. A substantial improvement during this timeframe is strongly associated with favorable outcomes. These findings emphasize the potential of posttreatment initiation audiometry as a valuable tool for clinicians in counseling patients with ISSHL.

Pediatric Epistaxis-Effectiveness of Conservative Management.

OBJECTIVES: Epistaxis is an emergency medical condition that sometimes requires admission to the emergency department. Pediatric epistaxis differs from epistaxis in the older population in terms of etiology, severity, and management. Our objective was to identify the distinctive features of pediatric epistaxis and determine the appropriate management. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 231 medical records of children (<18 years old) with epistaxis of a total of 1171 cases in the general population who presented to our medical center's emergency department between 2013 and 2018. RESULTS: Among 231 admissions, 10 children (4.3%) presented more than once. Male patients accounted for the majority of cases (64.5%), and the average age was 9.4 years. Two children were treated with aspirin because of cardiac valve disease. Anterior bleeding was detected in 101 cases (43.7%), whereas posterior origin was observed in 8 cases (3.5%). In 122 cases (52.8%), there was no active bleeding observed. Nose injury was the cause of epistaxis in 24 cases (10.4%), and 16 admissions (6.9%) followed nasal surgical interventions. Nineteen children (8%) had abnormal coagulation tests, and 7 patients (3%) received blood transfusions. Chemical cauterization was performed in 89 cases (39.3%), and anterior packing was needed in only 9 cases (3.9%). Nine children required hospitalization (3.9%), and 2 needed surgical intervention to control bleeding. Compared with the adult population, there were significantly fewer cases of active bleeding, recurrent epistaxis, anterior packing, or need for hospitalization in the pediatric population. CONCLUSIONS: Epistaxis is significantly less severe in the pediatric population, with only a few cases requiring major intervention. Endoscopic examination of the entire nasal cavity and routine coagulation tests are not mandatory unless there is a history of recurrent epistaxis, known coagulopathy, antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy, or a suspicion of juvenile idiopathic angiofibroma. We suggest using absorbable packs, which offer advantages over cauterization or nonabsorbable packs.

Risk Factors for Severe Clinical Course in Epistaxis Patients.

Purpose: Epistaxis is a common medical emergency that may require admission to the emergency department (ED) and treatment by an otolaryngologist. Currently, there are no widely accepted indications for hospitalization, and the decision is based on personal experience. Methods: A retrospective study of 1171 medical records of patients with epistaxis treated at our tertiary medical center ED from 2013 to 2018 with no age limit. The presence of recurrent epistaxis, a posterior source of bleeding, the need for hospitalization, the need for blood transfusion, or surgical intervention defined severe clinical course. Results: The 1171 admissions included 230 recurrent admissions for a total of 941 patients (60% males) who were treated by an otolaryngologist. The average age was 57.6 in the adult population (>15) and 6.6 in the pediatric population (≤15). Of all patients, 39% had hypertension; 39% took antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy; 63% came during winter-a significant risk factor; 34 (2.9%) had reduced hemoglobin levels of >1gr%, but only 7 received a blood transfusion; 131 (11%) were hospitalized, and 21 (1.8%) required surgical control of the bleeding. Age (OR 1.02; CI 1.01-1.023), male sex (OR 2.07; CI 1.59-2.69), hypertension (OR 1.76; CI 1.27-2.45), and antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy (OR 2.53; CI 1.93-3.33, OR 1.65; CI 1.11-2.44, respectively), were significantly correlated with severe clinical course. Conclusion: Epistaxis is significantly more common and severe in older male patients with hypertension or antiplatelet/anticoagulation therapy. However, few need a blood transfusion or surgical intervention. In borderline cases with no definitive indication for hospitalization, we suggest adopting these factors as indications for hospitalization due to their marked influence on the clinical course. Routine coagulation tests are indicated in patients treated with warfarin or combined antiplatelet + anticoagulation therapy.

Outcome indicators for cross linking in pediatric keratoconus.

Purpose: To evaluate the predictive factors for successful corneal collagen cross-linking (CXL) in pediatric patients with Keratoconus (KC). Methods: This retrospective study was conducted using a prospectively built database. Patients (18 years old or younger) underwent CXL for KC between 2007 and 2017, with a 1-year follow-up period or longer. The outcomes included changes in Kmax (delta [Δ] Kmax = Kmaxlast - Kmaxpre) and LogMAR visual acuity (ΔLogMAR = LogMARlast - LogMARpre).The effects of CXL type (accelerated or non-accelerated), demographics (age, sex, background of ocular allergy, ethnicity), preoperative LogMAR visual acuity, maximal corneal power (Kmax), pachymetry (CCTpre), refractive cylinder, and follow-up (FU) time on the outcomes were analyzed. Results: One hundred thirty-one eyes of 110 children were included (mean age, 16 ± 2 years; range, 10-18 years). Kmax and LogMAR improved from baseline to last visit: from 53.81 D ± 6.39 D to 52.31 D ± 6.06 D (p < 0.001) and from 0.27 ± 0.23 LogMAR units to 0.23 ± 0.19 LogMAR units (p = 0.005), respectively. A negative ΔKmax (meaning corneal flattening) was associated with a long FU, low CCTpre, high Kmaxpre, high LogMARpre, and non-accelerated CXL on univariate analysis. High Kmaxpre and non-accelerated CXL were associated with negative ΔKmax in the multivariate analysis.A negative ΔLogMAR (meaning vision improvement) was associated with a high LogMARpre in univariate analysis. Conclusion: CXL is an effective treatment option in pediatric patients with KC. Our results showed that the non-accelerated treatment was more effective than the accelerated treatment. Corneas with advanced disease had a greater effect on CXL.

The association between COVID-19 vaccination and idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss, clinical manifestation and outcomes.

PURPOSE: Previous data demonstrated an increased incidence of Idiopathic Sensorineural Hearing Loss (ISSNHL) in 2021 compared to 2019-2020, suggesting an association with the anti-COVID-19 vaccine. We aimed to assess our center's incidence and compare the clinical manifestations and outcomes of vaccinated vs. unvaccinated patients. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of all patients diagnosed with ISSNHL during 2021 was conducted and compared to patients who presented in 2018-2020. Patient demographics, audiometry features, vaccination status, and prognosis were evaluated. RESULTS: Throughout 2021, 51 patients were diagnosed with ISSNHL, compared with 31 during 2020, 38 in 2019, and 41 in 2018, demonstrating a 64%, 34%, and 24% increase, respectively. Among patients who presented in 2021, 13 (25.4%) received the anti-COVID-19 vaccine within 30 days before their presentation, and 4 received it within 96 h. Most presented after receiving the second or third dose. Patient characteristics, audiometry features, and prognosis did not significantly differ between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. CONCLUSIONS: A marked incline was seen in the 2021 ISSNHL incidence at our medical center, of which 25% of cases were within a month post-anti-COVID-19 vaccination. No significant difference was found in clinical manifestations and outcomes between vaccinated and nonvaccinated patients. While other justifications could be sought, an association cannot be ruled out, and further research is needed.

Exploring the Trends of Acute Appendicitis Following Recovery or Vaccination From COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: The relationship that vaccination against corona virus disease 19 (COVID-19) or recovery from the acute form of the illness may have with the incidence or severity of acute appendicitis (AA) has not been explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate this relationship. METHODS: A single centre retrospective study of all consecutive adult patients presenting with AA in the 6 mo after the initiation of a national vaccination program was performed. The presenting characteristics and pathological data of patients who had either been vaccinated against or recovered from COVID-19 were compared with those who had not. In addition, historical data from the equivalent period 12 and 24 mo beforehand was also extracted. The incidence of AA was compared between each of these time-frames. RESULTS: Of the 258 patients initially identified, 255 were included in the analysis of which 156 had either been vaccinated and/or recovered from COVID-19 (61.2%) whilst 99 (38.8%) patients had not. When comparing these two groups, there were no significant differences in the presenting characteristics, operative findings or postoperative courses. There was also no significant change in the incidence of AA when comparing the study dates with historical data (median weekly incidence of AA 8.0 versus 8.0 versus 8.0 respectively, P = 0.672). CONCLUSIONS: Based on the data presented here, we failed to find a relationship between a national vaccination program and both the nature and incidence of AA presenting to a busy urban hospital.