Latex biomembrane: a new method to coat the open cavity in tympanomastoidectomies.

UNLABELLED: The new cavity created after an open cavity tympanomastoidectomy (OCTM) is filled with an antibiotic impregnated cotton pack (cotton tape, umbilical tape, gauze). The removal of this pack usually causes some bleeding and discomfort for the patient. We propose the use of a latex biomembrane to cover the cavity, which will act as an interface between the raw bone surface and the packing. STUDY DESIGN: clinical prospective. AIM: To study the performance of the latex biomembrane as an interface between the raw bone surface and the pack, and to analyze its role in cavity epithelization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 64 ears of patients submitted to OCTM were studied. The biomembrane was used in the packing of 54 ears and in the 10 remaining ears the regular cotton tape packing was used. RESULTS: In the majority of the cases where the biomembrane was used the packing was removed much easier with no bleeding or pain for the patient and also showed an earlier cavity epithelization. CONCLUSION: The use of the latex biomembrane has proven to be an effective method to cover the mastoid cavity facilitating epithelization and removal of mastoid cavity packing.

Decision making in patients with natural myringostapediopexy: A study of the contralateral ear.

Naturally occurring myringostapediopexy frequently results in minimal hearing loss and is asymptomatic. Management decisions in such ears, however, often hinge on an appraisal of evolution toward cholesteatoma. The study of the contralateral ear has been used by our research team to infer the progression of chronic otitis media. This cross-sectional, comparative study describes the clinical findings of the contralateral ear in a series of patients with myringostapediopexy. This study included a historical and current sample of 46 patients divided into a pediatric (≤18 years) and an adult group. Patient distribution according to sex was similar (52.2% male), and 56.5% were adults. Mean conductive hearing loss ranged from 14.1 to 21.2 dB in ears with myringostapediopexy and from 16.0 to 26.6 dB in the contralateral ears according to the frequency assessed. The contralateral ear was normal in only 19.6% of the cases of myringostapediopexy. Central tympanic membrane perforation was found in 6.5% of the cases; perforation-retraction, in 17.4%; moderate or severe retraction, in 28.3%; and cholesteatoma, in 28.3%. The prevalence of cholesteatoma in the contralateral ear in the pediatric and adult groups was not significantly different (p = 0.5; χ(2) test). The presence of significant abnormalities, particularly cholesteatoma, in the contralateral ears suggests a probable unfavorable progression in cases of myringostapediopexy and may influence management decisions.

Myringostapediopexy: is it a natural type III tympanoplasty?

INTRODUCTION: Natural myringostapediopexy is an infrequent abnormality, and studies about resulting hearing loss are scarce. In several cases, natural myringostapediopexy may function as a Type III tympanoplasty. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated conductive hearing loss in myringostapediopexy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This cross-sectional comparative study included a historical and current sample of 46 patients, one with bilateral myringostapediopexy, at a total of 47 ears. All underwent pure tone and speech audiometry and were divided according to age into a pediatric (younger than 18 yr) and an adult group. The Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) 10.0 was used for statistical analysis, and the level of significance was set at p lower than 0.05. RESULTS: Patient distribution according to sex was similar (53.2% male), and 57.4% were adults. Mean conductive hearing loss in ears with myringostapediopexy ranged from 14.13 to 21.28 dB according to the frequency assessed. Pure tone average was 18.46 dB. A conductive hearing loss equal to or lower than 25 dB at all frequencies was found in 53% of the patients. The 2,000 and 3,000 Hz frequencies had the greatest prevalence of clinically nonsignificant conductive hearing loss (87% and 91%). Sensorineural hearing loss was found in 14 patients (30%), all adults, and 43% of the cases were mild. The comparison according to age did not reveal any significant differences in conductive hearing loss at any of the frequencies. CONCLUSION: Most patients with natural myringostapediopexy included in the study had clinically irrelevant conductive hearing loss. There were no differences in conduction loss between children and adults. The reconstruction of the ossicular chain and tympanoplasty, for purely functional reasons, are not justified in these cases, particularly not for patients with mixed hearing loss.

Implementação do programa de triagem auditiva neonatal universal em hospital universitário de município da região Sul do Brasil: resultados preliminares / Implementation of a program of universal newborn hearing screening in a university hospital in a city in south Brazil: preliminary results

Introdução: A triagem auditiva neonatal (TAN) possibilita identificar precocemente a deficiência auditiva nos primeiros meses de vida, o que permite diagnóstico e intervenção necessários nessas crianças. O objetivo desse estudo foi traçar o perfil epidemiológico de recém-nascidos submetidos à TAN em um hospital universitário. Métodos: Estudo transversal realizado em no período de Outubro de 2009 a Setembro de 2010. O teste de triagem auditiva neonatal foi efetuado em todos os recém-nascidos na maternidade da instituição. Resultados: O total de pacientes avaliados foi de 2..165 crianças, destas, 17% dos recém-nascidos falharam no primeiro teste de emissões otoacústicas; 4% falharam no reteste e destas 0,2% apresentaram deficiência na audição. Um recém-nascido recebeu prótese. Conclusões: Os dados obtidos nesse estudo estão condizentes com a literatura atual. Firmar programas como a TAN em um serviço universitário torna-se essencial para promover melhora no manejo das crianças afetadas por perda auditiva.

Introduction: The newborn hearing screening (NHS) provides early identification of hearing loss in the first months of life, allowing diagnosis and intervention needed in these children. The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiological profile of infants submitted to NHS in a university hospital. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted from Oct 2009 to Sept 2010. The newborn hearing screening test was performed on all newborns in the maternity ward of the institution. Results: The total number of patients was 2,165 infants; of these, 17% failed the first test of otoacoustic emissions, 4% failed in the re-test, and of these 0.2% presented hearing impairment. One newborn received a prosthesis. Conclusions: The data obtained in this study are consistent with the current literature. Establishing programs like the NHS at a university service becomes essential to promote improvement in the management of children affected by hearing loss.

Biomembrana de látex: novo método para o revestimento da cavidade aberta nas timpanomastoidectomia / Latex biomembrane: a new method to coat the open cavity in tympanomastoidectomies

As neocavidades pós-timpanomastoidectomias de cavidade aberta (TMCA) são normalmente preenchidas por cadarço ou fita cardíaca untados com pomada antibiótica. A remoção deste tampão usualmente causa sangramento e desconforto para o paciente. Propomos para tanto a utilização de uma biomembrana de látex natural para forrar a neocavidade, servindo como uma interface entre o osso cruento e o material de tamponamento. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico prospectivo. OBJETIVOS: Estudar o desempenho da biomembrana como uma interface entre o osso cruento e o material de tamponamento e analisar seu papel na epitelização da neocavidade. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foram analisadas 64 orelhas de pacientes submetidos à TMCA e meatoplastia. A biomembrana foi utilizada em 54 das orelhas operadas, sendo que nas outras 10 orelhas o tamponamento da cavidade foi realizado somente com fita cardíaca. RESULTADOS: Na maioria das 54 orelhas onde a biomembrana foi utilizada observou-se maior facilidade na remoção do curativo tampão (sem sangramento ou desconforto para o paciente), menor demanda de tempo para sua retirada, além da epitelização mais precoce da neocavidade. CONCLUSÃO: A utilização da biomembrana de látex revelou-se método eficaz no revestimento da neocavidade, facilitando a remoção do tampão e a epitelização da neocavidade.

The new cavity created after an open cavity tympanomastoidectomy (OCTM) is filled with an antibiotic impregnated cotton pack (cotton tape, umbilical tape, gauze). The removal of this pack usually causes some bleeding and discomfort for the patient. We propose the use of a latex biomembrane to cover the cavity, which will act as an interface between the raw bone surface and the packing. STUDY DESIGN: clinical prospective. AIM: To study the performance of the latex biomembrane as an interface between the raw bone surface and the pack, and to analyze its role in cavity epithelization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 64 ears of patients submitted to OCTM were studied. The biomembrane was used in the packing of 54 ears and in the 10 remaining ears the regular cotton tape packing was used. RESULTS: In the majority of the cases where the biomembrane was used the packing was removed much easier with no bleeding or pain for the patient and also showed an earlier cavity epithelization. CONCLUSION: The use of the latex biomembrane has proven to be an effective method to cover the mastoid cavity facilitating epithelization and removal of mastoid cavity packing.

Hipogonadismo hipogonadotrófico e anosmia: síndrome de Kallmann / Hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anosmia: KallmannÆs syndrome

A síndrome de Kallmann caracteriza-se pela associação de hipogonadismo hipogonadotrófico à anosmia ou hiposmia. É causada por um defeito na migração dos neurônios que produzem o GnRH e dos neurônios que formam os nervos olfatórios. A doença afeta somente a secreção de gonadotrofina, sendo que todos os outros hormônios hipofisários são secretados normalmente. Neste trabalho são relatados dois casos de síndrome de Kallmann e apresentada revisão da literatura.

O BERA como instrumento de avaliação funcional do tronco cerebral em cirurgias com hipotermia profunda e parada circulatória total / The ABR as a tool in the evaluation of brainstem function in surgeries with deep hypothermia and total cardiac arrest

OBJETIVO: Monitoramento do tronco cerebral através da análise dos traçados do BERA em cirurgia cardíaca com hipotermia profunda e parada circulatória total (PCT), registrando a recuperaçäo funcional (eletrofisiológica) do tronco cerebral. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Coorte Longitudinal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foram estudados o comportamento do traçado do BERA de 8 pacientes submetidos a cirurgia cardíaca com hipotermia profunda e PCT para correçäo de aneurisma de aorta torácica. Etapas: resfriamento corporal até 18ºC C; PCT por até 60 minutos; reaquecimento. Registros do BERA: 35ºC, 32ºC, 26ºC, 18ºC, 27ºC, 35ºC. RESULTADOS: Os traçados iniciais (35ºC) se apresentavam normais. Aos 26ºC há o desaparecimento de todas as ondas. Aos 18ºC o traçado do BERA mostrava um padräo isoelétrico. Aos 27ºC, recuperaçäo das ondas I, III e V. A partir de 35ºC as latências das ondas retornam ao normal. CONCLUSÄO: O BERA constitui-se em competente instrumento de monitoramento da integridade funcional do tronco cerebral em cirurgia cardíaca com hipotermia profunda e PCT. As ondas desaparecem no período de resfriamento corporal, atingem um padräo isoelétrico a 18ºC, e reaparecem durante o reaquecimento. No final do procedimento, os médicos anestesistas näo dispöem de exame clínico fidedigno para acessar a integridade funcional do tronco cerebral, devido ao uso de drogas depressoras do SNC. O reaparecimento das ondas do BERA é o parâmetro proposto para este fim. A manutençäo do padräo isoelétrico após o reaquecimento corporal sugere grave comprometimento funcional do tronco cerebral