Evaluation of effects of anterior palatoplasty operation on upper airway parameters in computed tomography in patients with pure snoring and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

AIM: To investigate changes in upper airway volume parameters measured by computerized tomography scans in patients with surgically treated by anterior palatoplasty of whom having pure snoring and mild-moderate obstructive sleep apnea. METHOD: A prospective study on consecutively anterior palatoplasty performed pure snoring and obstructive sleep apnea patients. Computerized tomography scans were obtained preoperatively and following anterior palatoplasty procedure to measure changes in upper airway volume. Patients underwent diagnostic drug induced sleep endoscopy to assess the site of obstruction. Preoperative and postoperative measurements were compared using student's t test and Chi-square test. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (16 men and 6 women, age 48.22 ± 9.23, body mass index 25.85 ± 2.57) completed the trial. Anterior palatoplasty was associated with an increase in total upper airway volume from 4.81 ± 1.73 cm3 before treatment to 6.57 ± 2.03 cm3 after treatment (p < 0.005). Change in soft palate thickness did not vary significantly (p < 0.039). The mean soft palate length has changed from 4.13 ± 0.41 to 3.93 ± 0.51 cm (p < 0.001). The preoperative and postoperative measurements of cross-sectional areas and volumes all showed significant difference except velopharynx minimal lateral airway dimension. The operational procedure increased the total upper airway volume much more in men than in women (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Results of this study indicate that anterior palatoplasty operation appears to produce significant increase in upper airway volume and cross sectional area. It does not seem to have an effect on lateral airway dimension. Computerized tomography is a quick and noninvasive imaging technique that allows for quantitative assessment of the velopharyngeal patency changes.

Optimal time for intranasal splint removal after septoplasty: a prospective clinical study.

To investigate the effect of intranasal splint removal time on patient comfort and possible complications after septoplasty. One hundred and nine patients who had septoplasty operations were included in this study. The patients were divided into three groups. In the 1st group (n = 36), splints were removed on the 3rd day after septoplasty; in the 2nd group (n = 36), splints were removed on the 5th day; and in the 3rd group (n = 37), splints were removed on the 7th day. Pain and nasal fullness were evaluated with visual analog scale. Synechia, perforation, hematoma, infection and hemorrhage were recorded after the removal of the splints (postoperative 1, 8 and 24 weeks). For the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd groups, respectively, pain score was 1.96, 2.67, and 2.67; and nasal fullness score was 6.23, 6.04, and 5.48. Nasal synechia was detected in two patients in the 1st group and in one patient in the 2nd group. Early hemorrhage was detected in two patients in the 1st group and one patient in the 3rd group. Infection, septal perforation and hematoma were detected in three patients in the 1st group. There was no difference in hemorrhage, hematoma, synechia and perforation rates between the three groups. There are various opinions in the literature about the ideal removal time of intranasal tampons after septoplasty, but there is no consensus on this topic. Our study shows that removal time of intranasal splints has no effect on patient comfort or possible complications.

Diagnostic value of frequency-associated vestibular-evoked myogenic potential responses in Ménière's disease.

Thirty subjects with unilateral Ménière's disease (MD) and 18 age-matched controls underwent cervical (cVEMP) and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) testing using bilateral air-conducted stimulation (ACS) with stimulus frequencies of 500 and 1,000 Hz. The aim of this study is to determine the diagnostic value of frequency-associated responses in MD using oVEMP and cVEMP following 500- and 1,000-Hz ACS. In healthy controls and unaffected ears, responses to 500 Hz were found better than 1,000-Hz ACS in both oVEMP and cVEMP, while ears with MD responded to 1,000-Hz ACS better than to 500-Hz ACS in oVEMP. In cVEMP tests, affected ears responded to 500-Hz and 1,000-Hz ACS equally. Amplitude ratios of 1,000/500 Hz in both oVEMP and cVEMP were successful in differing affected ears from unaffected ears and healthy controls. This study showed frequency alteration of oVEMP and cVEMP can be used as a diagnostic test battery in MD.

The effects of different radiofrequency energy magnitudes on mucociliary clearance in cases of turbinate hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) application is a commonly used technique for the treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophies. As the number of RFA applications has increased, some problems have been reported regarding the patient discomfort. The most frequent problems among these are the extended turbinate crusting and nasal obstruction. METHODS: Patients who received RFA were divided into two groups based on the applied energy value during the employment of the technique. Each group was including 30 patients. The patients in the first group received 8 watts and those in the second received 12 watts of energy. Saccharin transport times (STT) were measured four times. First a baseline measurement was performed followed by measurements on the 15th, 30th, and 45th days after the initial procedure. Nasal obstruction was twice assessed by peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) measurements, which were taken both before the procedure and on the 45th day after the procedure. Turbinate surface crustings that were observed for more than 15 days were considered as an extended turbinate crusting. RESULTS: The STT and PNIF measurements taken before the procedure were not significantly different between the two groups. Postprocedure STT measurements were significantly higher than the preprocedure measurements taken in both groups, and were stable within the physiological range. The STT increase in Group II was significantly greater than in Group I. Postprocedure PNIF values in both groups were significantly higher than the preprocedure values. Group II had showed a significantly higher rate of crusting. CONCLUSION: Higher magnitudes of energy elongate the healing process of the turbinate tissue and they affect more extensively the mucociliary clearance. Elongation of the healing process of the turbinate tissue may increase the rate of postprocedural complications such as turbinate surface crusting.

An Unexpected Rhinoplasty Complication: Bilateral Nasolabial Cyst.

UNLABELLED: The nasolabial cyst also known as Klestadt's cyst is a rare non-odontogenic soft tissue lesion of the nasal alar region. Aetiopathogenesis of the nasolabial cysts is controversial. Embryonic and developmental theories were considered at pathogenesis of the nasolabial cyst. In addition, surgical or non-surgical trauma is one of the possible theories. This paper reports a case of a 33-year-old male patient that presented with bilateral nasolabial cysts after rhinoplasty and alar base reduction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE V: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266.

Association of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo with Osteoporosis and Vitamin D Deficiency: A Case Controlled Study.

OBJECTIVE: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a common type of vertigo caused by the peripheral vestibular system. The majority of cases are accepted as idiopathic. Calcium metabolism also plays a primary role in the synthesis/absorption of otoconia made of calcium carbonate and thus might be an etiological factor in the onset of BPPV. In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of osteoporosis and vitamin D in the etiology of BPPV by comparing BPPV patients with hospital-based controls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a case-control study comparing the prevalence of osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency in 78 BPPV patients and 78 hospital-based controls. The mean T-scores and serum vitamin D levels were compared. The risk factors of osteoporosis, physical activity, diabetes mellitus, body mass index, and blood pressure were all compared between the groups. To avoid selection bias, the groups were stratified as subgroups according to age, sex, and menopausal status. RESULTS: In this study, the rates of osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency detected in BPPV patients were reasonably high. But there was no significant difference in mean T-scores and vitamin D levels, osteoporosis, and vitamin D deficiency prevalence between the BPPV group and controls. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency is reasonably high in the general population. Unlike the general tendencies in the literature, our study suggests that osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency are not risk factors for BPPV; we conclude that the coexistence of BPPV with osteoporosis and vitamin D deficiency is coincidental.

Propranolol and venlafaxine for vestibular migraine prophylaxis: A randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: We compared the effectiveness of venlafaxine and propranolol for the prophylaxis of vestibular migraine (VM). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trial. METHODS: Sixty-four subjects with definite VM were enrolled. The subjects were randomly assigned to receive propranolol (group P, n = 33) or venlafaxine (group V, n = 31) for VM prophylaxis. Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) scores, the Vertigo Severity Score (VSS), and the number of vertiginous attacks were recorded before and 4 months after treatment. The Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) scores were also recorded to monitor the resolution of psychiatric symptoms. RESULTS: At 4 months after treatment, the DHI total score decreased from 55.8 ± 2.7 to 31.3 ± 3.7 and from 50.9 ± 2.5 to 19.9 ± 2.9 (P < .001), the mean number of total vertiginous attacks decreased from 12.6 ± 1.8 to 1.9 ± 0.7 and from 12.2 ± 1.8 to 2.6 ± 1.1 (P < .001), and VSS decreased from 7.3 ± 0.3 to 2.1 ± 0.4 and from 7.9 ± 0.3 to 1.8 ± 0.5 (P < .001) in groups P and V, respectively. However, the treatment effects were similar in both groups (P > .05). BAI scores significantly decreased in both groups, whereas BDI scores decreased only in group V. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided evidence that venlafaxine and propranolol show equal effectiveness as prophylactic drugs for ameliorating vertiginous symptoms in VM patients. However, venlafaxine may be superior to propranolol in ameliorating depressive symptoms.

Bilateral Nasolabial Cyst as a Rare Case Report.

The etiology, clinical features, and treatment of an extremely rare case of a bilateral nasolabial cyst have been evaluated in this report. A 60-year-old female presented to our clinic with a pain-free swelling above the upper lip for a year and obstruction of the left nasal cavity for two months. On undergoing a physical ENT examination, she showed bulging of both nasal fossae and effacement of the bilateral nasolabial groove with a fluctuating smooth mass. A paranasal sinus CT scan showed a smooth, ovoid mass of 20×13 mm at the right side and 26×22 mm at the left side occupying the floor of the nasal fossa and restricted to the soft parts of the premaxillary region, without any bony destruction. The patient underwent surgical excision under general anesthesia via sublabial approach. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral nasolabial cyst. The patient was asymptomatic during 18-month of postoperative follow-up. Bilateral nasolabial cysts should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic masses of the nasal vestibule and deformities of the premaxillary region. Although endonasal endoscopic cyst marsupialization is a relatively new treatment, surgical resection with the sublabial approach is the treatment of choice.

Diagnostic value of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials in Ménière's disease and vestibular migraine.

Overlaps can be seen between vestibular migraine (VM) Ménière's Disease (MD) and diagnosis is difficult if hearing is normal. We aimed to investigate the sacculo-collic pathway in VM patients, MD patients, and healthy controls to define the diagnostic role of cervical VEMP (cVEMP). VEMP testing in response to 500 Hz and 1000 Hz air-conducted tone burst (TB) stimulation was studied prospectively in 22 subjects with definite VM (according to Bárány nomenclature), 30 subjects with unilateral definite MD, and 18 volunteers matched healthy controls. In VM subjects, response rate, p13 and n23 latencies were similar to healthy controls, but peak-to-peak amplitudes were bilaterally reduced at 500 Hz TBs (p= 0.005). cVEMP differentiated MD patients from VM and healthy controls with asymmetrically reduced amplitudes on affected ears with low response rates at 500 Hz TBs, and alteration of frequency dependent responses at 500 and 1000 Hz TBs. These findings suggest that cVEMP can be used as a diagnostic test to differentiate MD from VM. On the other hand, VEMP responses are symmetrically reduced on both sides in VM patients, suggesting that otolith organs might be affected by migraine-induced ischemia.

Evaluation of Cervical Vestibular-Evoked Myogenic Potential Findings in Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.

OBJECTIVE: Although there has been a wide consensus on the mechanism of nystagmus and clinical presentation of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), the neuroepithelial pathophysiology of BPPV still remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to clarify the pathophysiology of BPPV by evaluating the cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) findings of patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-six BPPV patients and 20 healthy volunteers were included. Bilateral cVEMP tests were performed on all participants. The participants were divided into the following three groups: those with a BPPV-affected ear, those with a BPPV-unaffected ear, and the healthy control group. RESULTS: There were no significant differences regarding the latencies of the first positive (p1) and negative (n1) peaks among the three groups. The mean normalized amplitude asymmetry ratio also did not differ between the BPPV and control groups. However, the normalized amplitudes of the BPPV patients (with both affected and unaffected ears) were significantly lower than those of the healthy control group. CONCLUSION: We detected that the cVEMP data of the affected and unaffected ears of the BPPV patients was similar and that their normalized amplitudes significantly differed from those of the healthy controls. Eventually, we concluded that even if the symptoms of BPPV were unilateral, the findings suggest that the bilateral involvement of the macular neuroepithelium is important in understanding the pathophysiology of BPPV. This finding supports the conclusion that the pathophysiological process starts with neuroepithelial membrane degeneration and continues with otoconia separation.

[Mean platelet volume play a role in disease severity in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome?]. / Tikayici uyku apne sendromunda ortalama trombosit hacminin hastalik siddetinde rolü var midir?

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to show the effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on platelet activation in patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-six patients (29 males, 17 females; mean age 48.2±7.6 years; range 40 to 56 years) with severe OSAS with apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) ≥30 were included in this study. Complete blood counts were analyzed and mean platelet volume (MPV) values were compared in patients before and after CPAP treatment at six months. RESULTS: The mean MPV values before CPAP were 8.9±1.3 (p<0.001), while the mean values were 7.7±1.1 (p<0.001) at six months after CPAP treatment in patients with severe OSAS. There was a statistically significant decrease in the MPV values after CPAP treatment. Patients' number of platelets which was measured six months after the CPAP treatment increased at a significant level compared to baseline (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Continuous positive airway pressure treatment caused a significant decrease in the MPV values in patients with severe OSAS. As a negative acute phase reactant, MPV can be used as a marker to exert the cardioprotective effect of CPAP.