Sudden hearing loss after cialis (tadalafil) use: A unique case of cochlear hydrops.

We discuss a unique case of sudden sensorineural hearing loss after Cialis (tadalafil) use, a phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitor, and the implication of ipsilateral cochlear hydrops seen on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We report a case of a 53-year-old male with unilateral low-frequency sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) after ingestion of tadalafil. The SSNHL occurred 1 day after ingestion and was associated with aural fullness and tinnitus. There were no symptoms of vertigo. He received oral prednisone immediately after the onset of hearing loss without improvement. Delayed intravenous contrast-enhanced three-dimensional Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI revealed ipsilateral dilation of the cochlear duct without any hydronic change in the vestibular system. Acetazolamide therapy was initiated, and his symptoms improved. A posttreatment audiogram revealed an increase in threshold of 15 dB. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of cochlear hydrops visualized on imaging after a PDE5 inhibitor induced SSNHL. Tadalafil and other PDE5 inhibitors have a known association with SSNHL. Despite several proposed mechanisms, there is inconclusive evidence of a causal relationship. Our presented case suggests that cochlear hydrops may be one possible mechanism of PDE5 inhibitor-associated SSNHL. MRI should be considered in the evaluation of such patients who do not respond to oral steroids as initial treatment. Laryngoscope, 2615-2618, 2018.

Recurrent Vestibular Migraine Vertigo Attacks Associated With the Development of Profound Bilateral Vestibulopathy: A Case Series.

BACKGROUND: Bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) is a debilitating condition characterized by gait ataxia, oscillopsia, and imbalance. OBJECTIVE: Case series of patients with migraine-linked vertigo spells and profound BVP. PATIENT 1:: A 69-year-old man presented with a history of recurrent severe vertigo spells lasting up to 3 days in duration associated with prostrating migraine headaches starting at age 60. His symptoms were misdiagnosed as an anxiety syndrome. At age 68, electronystagmography (ENG) revealed bilaterally absent caloric responses and complete BVP. His hearing was normal. PATIENT 2:: A 51-year-old man presented with a history of "earthquake-like" vertigo, sharp head pain, and phonophobia. These episodes occurred a handful of times over a 7-year period. Previous ENG testing at age 43 was normal. However, his ENG at age 48 revealed complete BVP. He was started on acetazolamide and noted improved balance, although subsequent ENG was unchanged. PATIENT 3:: A 49-year-old woman presented with a history of recurrent migraines with visual aura associated with vertigo lasting 1 hour. ENG at age 50 revealed complete BVP. Subjectively, she noted improved balance with acetazolamide and subsequent ENG demonstrated mild improvement. PATIENT 4:: A 43-year-old man presented with a 5-year history of optical migraines and recurrent vertigo spells, lasting 30 seconds, which was misdiagnosed as positional vertigo. He additionally had a 10-year history of oscillopsia. ENG at age 61 revealed complete BVP. CONCLUSION: In these cases, vestibular migraine was linked to recurrent vertigo spells that eventually led to complete bilateral vestibulopathy.

Facial nerve stimulation following cochlear implantation for X-linked stapes gusher syndrome leading to identification of a novel POU3F4 mutation.

We report a case of a nine-year-old male who presented with facial nerve stimulation four years after cochlear implantation. Computed tomography was performed revealing a dilated internal auditory meatus and the cochlear implant electrode was found to be protruding into the fallopian canal at the level of the geniculate ganglion. Subsequent genetic analysis demonstrated X-linked deafness type 2 (DFNX2) caused by a novel c.769C > T nucleotide change in the POU domain, class 3, transcription factor 4 gene (POU3F4). Inactivation of electrodes 1 and 19-21 successfully abated facial nerve stimulation.

Surgical outcomes in the elderly patient after osteocutaneous free flap transfer.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Morbidity of free tissue transfer in the elderly patient is controversial. Recent studies have shown no significant difference in elderly fasciocutaneous free-flap donor site morbidity. The purpose of this study is to assess surgical outcomes in elderly patients receiving osteocutaneous free-tissue transfer. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of patients 70 years and older undergoing osteocutaneous free flaps from 2000 to 2013. METHODS: Fibular, radial forearm, and scapular flaps were reviewed. Younger patients randomly selected from the same time period served as controls. Data collected included donor site morbidity, flap complications, feeding tube and tracheostomy dependence, and hospital stay. RESULTS: Forty-four osteocutaneous free flaps were performed in elderly patients. Overall, there was no significant difference in donor site morbidity between older and younger patients (P = 0.50) (tendon exposure, P = 1.00; split-thickness skin graft loss, P = 0.36; infections, P = 0.52; dehiscence, P = 1.00; and seroma, P = 1.00). There was no significant difference between older and younger patients being decannulated (P = 0.61) or the time to decannulation (P = 0.24). There was no difference in those who returned to baseline diet (P = 0.67). All patients returned to baseline ambulatory and shoulder status. Length of postoperative hospitalization (P = 0.78) and intensive care unit stay (P = 0.94) were also equal. The only significant difference was that more elderly patients were discharged to skilled nursing facilities (SNF) (40.9% vs. 15.9%, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Elderly patients undergoing free tissue transfer have similar flap and donor site outcomes, feeding tube and tracheostomy outcomes, ambulatory status, and hospital stays compared to younger patients. They are, however, more likely to require SNF care posthospitalization. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

AlloDerm with split-thickness skin graft for coverage of the forearm free flap donor site.

OBJECTIVE: Major causes of donor site morbidity after free flap harvest are lack of split-thickness skin graft (STSG) take and tendon exposure. Long-term cosmesis remains poor. AlloDerm has shown cosmetically better donor site healing, albeit prolonged healing. We sought to evaluate the use of STSG with AlloDerm compared with STSG alone. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Academic tertiary care medical center. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: Institutional review board-approved study. Microvascular database queried from 2002 to 2012. Subjects with forearm free flaps and either AlloDerm + STSG or STSG alone for donor site reconstruction were included. Morbidity outcomes were compared. RESULTS: Eighty patients (50 male, 30 female) received AlloDerm + STSG at the donor site. Major and minor donor site complications were 15.0% and 18.8% in the AlloDerm + STSG group compared with 10.2% and 16.9% in the STSG-only group (P = .30 and P = .72), respectively. Complete STSG loss (5.0% vs 3.0%, P = .48), tendon exposure (5.0% vs 5.4%, P = 1.0), functional impairment (2.5% vs 1.8%, P = .66), infection (8.8% vs 9.6%, P = 1.0), hematoma/seroma (5.0% vs 3.6%, P = .73), and paresthesia (1.3% vs 3.6%, P = .43) were not significant. No patients required a second STSG after loss in the AlloDerm + STSG group compared with 60% (P = .17). Cosmetic results were superior in the AlloDerm + STSG group as rated by the surgeon (3.5 vs 2.6, P = .03) and patients (3.7 vs 2.9, P = .05) on a scale of 1 to 5. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the use of AlloDerm with STSG can provide thicker coverage of the forearm defect, with minimal donor site morbidity and superior cosmetic results compared with STSG alone.

Efficacy of free flap reconstruction of the head and neck in patients 90 years and older.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of free flap reconstruction in patients 90 years and older. DESIGN: Retrospective medical chart review. SETTING: Academic medical center. PATIENTS: Patients 90 years and older who underwent a free flap reconstruction from 2002 through 2011 were identified. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Clinical, demographic, and procedural data were recorded. Complications of surgery were either medical or flap related. Long-term follow-up was recorded to determine late flap complications, donor site morbidity, and functional outcomes. RESULTS: Of 847 free flaps, 10 (1.2%) were performed in patients 90 years and older, with a median follow-up time of 8.5 months. Four medical complications (40%) occurred (1 case of pneumonia and 3 cases of arrhythmia). There were no mortalities. Two recipient site complications (20%) occurred (1 infection and 1 fistula). The flap failure rate was 0%. One late complication developed 7 months postoperatively involving infection and nonunion of the mandibular reconstruction. There was donor site morbidity in 1 patient. Functional status returned to baseline in 8 patients (80%) at the last follow-up visit. CONCLUSIONS: Medical and flap-related complications in patients 90 years and older are consistent with rates previously reported in elderly patients. Furthermore, patients 90 years and older can tolerate free flap reconstruction with favorable long-term outcomes.

Airway reconstruction in Wegener's granulomatosis-associated laryngotracheal stenosis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Open airway reconstruction is considered definitive treatment of laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS). Although most cases of LTS are not autoimmune, there are few data reported in patients with Wegener's granulomatosis. In this study, we aimed to assess outcomes of airway reconstruction in LTS patients with Wegener's compared to nonautoimmune patients. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of LTS cases managed with open airway reconstruction at an academic medical center. METHODS: Patients who underwent open airway reconstruction for LTS due to Wegener's or nonautoimmune causes were identified from 1995 to 2010. Clinical, demographic, and procedural data were recorded. Fisher exact test, Mann-Whitney U test, and McNemar's test were used to test for significance. RESULTS: A total of 53 patients were identified; eight Wegener's, 45 nonautoimmune, with median follow-up time of 8.3 and 1.8 years, respectively. Before reconstruction, there was no statistical difference between Wegener's and nonautoimmune patients with previous dilations (88% vs. 68%, P = .41) and tracheostomy dependence (50% vs. 42%, P = .72). Following reconstruction, 75% Wegener's and 36% nonautoimmune patients required further dilations (P = .05), with a decannulation rate of 75% and 58% (P = 1.0), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Wegener's patients have an increased need for dilations after open airway reconstruction for LTS. However, these patients can be decannulated after surgery at a rate similar to patients with nonautoimmune LTS.