Follow-up on the diagnostic level of children covered by the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Program in Poland, divided into voivodships.

INTRODUCTION: Thanks to the Polish Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Program (PUNHSP), all newborns in Poland undergo a free, screening hearing examination. Between 2006 and 2015, the average number of tested children per year was 373,477. According to the analysis of The Central Database (CDB), only 55.8% of the children attended the detailed hearing examinations at the second level of the Program. AIM: The aim of this study is to analyse the dates concerning the attendance of the children at the diagnostic level of PUNHSP in different regions of Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To conduct an analysis of this fact and find out the reasons for low attendance at the second level in 2015, a telephone survey questionnaire was developed for parents who had not registered their babies for further consultation - 3,239 randomly selected parents. RESULTS: The analysis revealed that the number of children examined at the second diagnostic level of the program is in fact much higher than the results of The Central Database show. The actual number is 83.6% as opposed to 55.8%. As a result of the telephone questionnaire some inaccuracies in the input data to the CDB were detected. The main errors in gathering the information for the CDB were incorrect OAE test result and no examination performed. C onclusion: In Poland the worst results (i.e. questionnaire results compared to CDB) for the attendance at the diagnostic level were shown in Pomorskie, Lubelskie, Mazowieckie and Podlaskie regions. In many cases there was a large discrepancy between the reality and the information in the CDB. The improvement of clarity concerning the CDB application is important in order to minimise the possibility of malformation in the CDB.

The report of the Polish Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Program in 2016.

The Polish Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Program (PUNHSP) has been carried out in Poland for 14 years. The main aim of this Program is to organize hearing screening tests and to gather the information about risk factors of hearing loss in almost all newborns in Poland. It consists of 496 centers at 3 referral levels. A total of 5 458 114 children had been registered in the Central Database (CDB) of PUNHSP by the 22nd of August 2017. Bilateral sensorineural hearing loss was the most frequently appearing hearing impairment in children. It was diagnosed in 260 cases in 2016. This report presents the most important results and conclusions concerning the running of the PUNHSP in 2016.

Skin flap complications after cochlear implantations.

The objective of the study was to analyse and present the surgical management strategy for major skin flap complications (MSFC) after cochlear implantations. Patients fitted with a titanium-silicone-coated implant of the same kind, operated on between 1994 and 2013 with a standardised procedure (1076 medical charts) were analysed. Analysis aimed to identify and study individuals with skin problems related to the cochlear implant treatment, i.e. requiring surgical treatment in hospital defined as MSFC and focused on incidence, risk factors and treatment of MSFC. MSFC were diagnosed in 1.76 % of patients: 2.06 % of children and 1.35 % of adults, 2.43 % after implantation with a long "C"-shaped incision and 1.28 % after short retroauricular incision. Registered risk factors included head trauma, acute otitis media, poor hygiene in children, and general comorbidities in adults. The primary intervention was dependent on skin complication severity and included revision surgery with wound closure over an implant (52.6 %) and revision surgery with explantation (47.4 %). Revision surgery without explantation was successful in 40 % and the most effective approach was debridement with a two-layer rotational flap. Explantation led to ultimate wound healing in all cases. Major skin flap complications after cochlear implantation are rare, but their treatment is complex and difficult. Revision surgery with resection of infected tissue, formation of a rotational two-layer flap preceded and supplemented by intensive targeted antibiotic therapy can be effective and should be the first treatment option. Spontaneous implant explantation, abscess formation or unsuccessful primary treatment necessitate implant removal as the ultimate solution.

Polish universal neonatal hearing screening program-4-year experience (2003-2006).

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this paper is to share our experience and observations in running the Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Program on a national level, present results and indicate some problems that have arisen during these 4 years. METHODS: Polish Universal Neonatal Hearing Screening Program started back in 2002 in all neonatal units in Poland. Implemented testing methods consisted of test of transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE) performed in all new born children in their first 2-3 days of life and auditory brainstem response testing (ABR) conducted on children, who did not meet the TEOAE pass criteria. Additional questionnaire registered information on ototoxic drugs and family history of hearing impairment in every newborn. Diagnosed children were further referred for treatment and rehabilitation. RESULTS: After 4 years of running the program (between 2003 and 2006) a total number of 1,392,427 children were screened for hearing impairment, what stands for 96.3% of all delivered babies, registered in Poland. The screening program enabled to identify and refer for further treatment 2485 children with various types of hearing loss, 312 with profound (0.02% of population) and 145 with severe sensorineural hearing loss (0.11% of population). CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate the accuracy of newborn hearing screening which remain an issue. Although improvement is needed in both intervention systems and diagnostic follow-up of hospitals, the Polish Universal Neonatal Hearing Program fully has achieved the main goal, the identification and treatment of hearing impaired children.