Diverse Anatomical Configuration Of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve In Relation To Inferior Thyroid Artery, An Experience With 51 Thyroidectomies.

BACKGROUND: Objective of the study is to elaborate the anatomical variants of recurrent laryngeal nerve in relation to inferior thyroid artery, encountered during thyroidectomy operation. It is descriptive, case series, conducted at the Department of Ear Nose & Throat, Combined Military Hospital, Abbottabad. The study was conducted from January 2016 to September 2017. METHODS: Fifty-one patients underwent extra-capsular thyroidectomy in general anaesthesia. The dissection was carried out in a standard way in all patients. Recurrent laryngeal nerves were identified and exposed in every patient, and their anatomical relations were recorded in database. RESULTS: Recurrent laryngeal nerve was seen over riding the ramification of inferior thyroid artery in majority of left sided dissected specimen, however on the right side the principal nerve was found to be ascending through the branches of inferior thyroid artery.. CONCLUSIONS: Iatrogenic vocal cord paralysis has sinister implication on quality of life of the patient undergoing thyroidectomy. Anatomic variants of recurrent laryngeal nerve are well known and frequent. The disastrous outcome of inadvertent recurrent laryngeal nerve trauma can be adequately prevented by thoroughly knowing its anatomical variants, and intra-operatively identifying and exposing the principal nerves.

Microbiological Profile From Middle Ear And Nasopharynx In Patients Suffering From Chronic Active Mucosal Otitis Media.

BACKGROUND: Chronic otitis media is described as a tympanic membrane perforation and ear discharge for more than six weeks duration. Ascending infection from the nasopharynx into the middle ear cleft has been attributed to prevent resolution of chronic otitis media. This research aims to determine the association between the microbiological flora of the nasopharynx with that of the middle ear in patients suffering from chronic (active) mucosal otitis media.. METHODS: Our study is a hospital-based cross-sectional survey. It was conducted from December 2015 to February 2017 at the Department of ENT, Combined Military Hospital, Abbottabad. Ear and nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from 65 patients of chronic active mucosal otitis media and sent for microbiological analysis. Microbiological culture and sensitivity test was performed to identify the microbial spectrum of each specimen. Performa bearing the result of otoscopy, aspirate and swabs were completed for middle ear and the nasopharyngeal culture with reference to each patient. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi square analysis were performed using SPSS-22. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are foremost microorganisms found in otorrhea culture isolated from patients of chronic active mucosal otitis media. Majority of the cultures from nasopharynx of these patients did not reveal any growth after incubation for 48 hours. CONCLUSIONS: A statistically insignificant association exists between the microbiological spectrum of the middle ear and the nasopharynx of patients suffering from chronic active mucosal otitis media. Micro organisms' exposure from a perforated tympanic membrane remains leading cause of persistent otorrhea, rather than ascending infection through the Eustachian tube.