Cochlear Implantation in Patients with Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media: Surgical Outcomes and a Management Algorithm.

BACKGROUND: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) was considered as a contraindication of cochlear implantation (CI) in the past. Recently, various surgical options have been adopted for CI in CSOM patients with showing a low complication rate. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate surgical outcomes of CI in patients with CSOM and to propose a management algorithm for those patients. METHODS: Thirty-six consecutive patients with CSOM who underwent single stage or staged CI were enrolled. Speech performance, including Categories of Auditory Performance (CAP) test and sentence score, and complications were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The average follow-up was 3.1 years (range 0.5-9.2 years). Postoperative median CAP and sentence scores were 6 and 78%, respectively. Three (8.3%) of the 36 patients had postoperative complications. One experienced breakdown of the ear canal closure. Recurrence of the pars tensa retraction was observed in another patient with adhesive otitis media who underwent CI and cartilage tympanoplasty as a single stage operation. Electrode extrusion occurred in another patient who underwent staged CI with maintenance of a previous open cavity. Subtotal petrosectomy and cavity obliteration were used to manage the latter 2 complications. All implant patients with good mastoid pneumatization exhibited no complications. There were no significant differences in postoperative speech performance and complication rates between single stage CI and staged CI. Based on these current findings, a management algorithm was proposed according to type of CSOM, presence of open cavity, and mastoid pneumatization. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with CSOM show good postoperative speech performance after CI. Proper surgical options according to type of CSOM, presence of open cavity, and mastoid pneumatization may help in reducing complications.

Circumferential Subannular Tympanoplasty: Panacea for revision tympanoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of Circumferential Subannular Tympanoplasty [CST] in cases of Revision tympanoplasty. METHODS: A retrospective statistical analysis of data of 81 patients who underwent revision tympanoplasty with CST technique [essentially Type I tympanoplasty] was done. An intact graft at the end of 6 months was regarded as a surgical success. RESULTS: Overall, we recorded a surgical success rate of 97.5% [79 out of 81 cases] with a 100% surgical success for anterior perforations. There was no impact of size or site of perforation on the outcomes of revision tympanoplasty by this technique. In addition, a statistically significant hearing improvement was recorded in the study. The mean pre-operative and post-operative ABG were 33.85 dB and 18.87 dB respectively. The mean ABG closure was 14.89 dB. The value of "p" by Chi square test was found to <.05. CONCLUSION: CST is an excellent technique for revision tympanoplasty and seems to address the shortcomings of conventional onlay and inlay techniques.

Risk factors of sensorineural hearing loss in patients with unilateral safe chronic suppurative otitis media.

PURPOSE: Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is the major cause of hearing impairment, especially conductive hearing loss. Few patients also had sensorineural component, the sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in CSOM is controversial, especially for safe mucosal type. This study aims to assess the relationship between the frequency of SNHL development in patients with safe mucosal CSOM and its relation to patient's age, sex, duration of disease, size of perforation and different audiological findings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a prospective study conducted from June 2016 to June 2017 in a tertiary referral hospital. 200 patients with unilateral mucosal type of CSOM with normal contralateral ear were included in the study. The diseased ears were taken as study ears and normal ears as control ears in all patients. Detailed otologic history, clinical and audiometric findings were recorded and analyzed. Results were statistically compared in all patients for both study and control ears using different parameters. RESULTS: Twenty patients had an average bone conduction threshold of all frequencies above 25dB, which implies SNHL (10%). The incidence of SNHL was statistically significant at higher speech frequencies. The incidence increased with the presence of Diabetes Mellitus, smoking, duration of disease, presence of active discharge and the increase in size of perforation. However, it is not age dependent and there was no difference between males and females. CONCLUSION: Safe mucosal CSOM can cause SNHL with multiple predisposing factors.

[The specific features of the clinical course of acute suppurative otitis media of viral and mixed viral-bacterial etiology in the children of the preschool age]. / Klinicheskie osobennosti techeniia ostrogo srednego gnoinogo otita virusnoi i virusno-bakterial'noi étiologii u detei doshkol'nogo vozrasta.

The objective of the present study was to elucidate the spectrum of the pathogenic agents responsible for the development of acute suppurative otitis media in the children of the preschool age and to reveal the specific clinical features of this disease depending on its etiological factors. The study involved 138 patients (186 ears) of either sex at the age from 1 year to 84 months who presented with acute suppurative otitis media. The following methods were employed for the purpose of the study: analysis of the patients' complaints and the past medical histories, examination of the ENT organs, microbiological (bacteriological and virological) studies of secretion from the tympanic cavity, diagnostic endoscopy of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx, laboratory investigations. The study allowed to reveal the characteristic clinical manifestations of the pathology of interest depending on its etiology.

Preoperative Predictors in Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media for Ossicular Chain Discontinuity: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVE: Ossicular discontinuity may result from chronic suppurative otitis media and is usually detected intraoperatively. Our objective is to determine whether a preoperative audiogram can preoperatively predict the presence or absence of ossicular discontinuity. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was prospectively run on our patients, aged 12-75 years, ultimately operated on for chronic suppurative otitis media. Preoperative audiograms were analyzed to measure frequency-specific air-bone gap (ABG) cutoff values. Intraoperatively, ossicular chain integrity was carefully checked. Logistic regression analysis was done to obtain a predictive model. RESULTS: A total of 270 patients (306 ears) were included. Frequency-specific ABG cutoff values can predict ossicular discontinuity, namely: high ABGs at 1,000 Hz (>27.5 dB) and 2,000 Hz (>17.5 dB) are the most reliable variables associated with ossicular discontinuity. CONCLUSION: Preoperative audiograms can predict the presence of ossicular discontinuity in chronic suppurative otitis media. Large ABGs at both 1,000 and 2,000 Hz can predict ossicular discontinuity with a great degree of certainty.

Childhood otitis media is associated with dizziness in adulthood: the HUNT cohort study.

The objective of the study was to examine the association between otitis media in childhood and dizziness in adulthood. Longitudinal, population-based cohort study of 21,962 adults (aged 20-59 years, mean 40) who completed a health questionnaire in the Nord-Trøndelag Hearing Loss Study was conducted. At 7, 10 and 13 years of age, the same individuals underwent screening audiometry in a longitudinal school hearing investigation. Children found with hearing loss underwent an ear, nose and throat specialist examination. Adults diagnosed with childhood chronic suppurative otitis media (n = 102) and childhood hearing loss after recurrent acute otitis media (n = 590) were significantly more likely to have increased risk of reported dizziness when compared to adults with normal hearing as children at the school investigation and also a negative history of recurrent otitis media (n = 21,270), p < 0.05. After adjusting for adult age, sex and socio-economic status, the odds ratios were 2.1 [95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.4-3.3] and 1.3 (95 % CI: 1.0-1.5), respectively. This longitudinal cohort study suggests that childhood chronic suppurative otitis media and childhood hearing loss after recurrent acute otitis media are associated with increased risk of dizziness in adulthood. This might reflect a permanent effect of inflammatory mediators or toxins on the vestibular system. The new finding stresses the importance of treatment and prevention of these otitis media conditions.

Otologic evaluation of patients with primary antibody deficiency.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) represents the most frequent primary immunodeficiency, often encountered in the ENT clinical practice. The clinical spectrum of CVID is quite broad, but otitis media are certainly among the most common clinical manifestations. This prospective study enrolled 60 patients (34 males, 26 females) with a previous diagnosis of CVID with the aim of performing an otologic evaluation and a more precision characterization of incidence, diagnosis, and treatment of otitis media in this group of patients. In consideration that Eustachian tube dysfunction (ETD) could be the 'primum movens' of otitis media, we wanted to assess whether a Eustachian tube dysfunction was present in these patients. Besides, we propose a possible diagnostic algorithm of middle ear pathologies to use in all cases of primary antibody deficiency patients. Results of our otologic examination showed that: 5 % of patients had chronic suppurative otitis media, 25 % bilateral otitis media with effusion and 10 % reported unilateral OME with associated contralateral ETD. There was bilateral isolated ETD and unilateral isolated ETD in 5 and 15 % of patients, respectively. All patients with unilateral OME had associated contralateral ETD. Finally, 40 % of patients were bilaterally negative at otoscopic examination and all otologic tests.

[The comparative analysis of the clinical and morphological picture of the various forms of chronic suppurative otitis media].

We present the results of the surgical treatment of 300 patients presenting with chronic suppurative otitis media. The changes in the mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity were revealed in 61% of the patients with mesotympanitis while spreading cholesteatoma occurred in 48% of the cases of «dry¼ perforations. The cholesteatomic process was documented in 64% of the patients with epitympanitis, the remaining patients presented with the pyo-carious process. The efficiency of the surgical intervention on the «dry¼ ear of the patients with the tubotympanic form of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) amounted to 91.4% compared with 85% in the case of the altered mucous membrane of the tympanic cavity, 85.5% and 92.9% in the patients with the pyo-carious and cholesteatomic forms of the tympano-antral lesions, respectively. Residual cholesteatomas were found in 7.8% of the patients suffering from epitympanitis during the three year follow-up period. It is concluded that the results of clinical and morphological observations taken together with intraoperative findings give reason to consider mesotympanitis to be a prognosticallyunfavourable form of chronic suppurative otitis media.

[Efficacy of Dioxidine antimicrobial preparation for the treatment of inflammatory diseases of the external and middle ear].

In this article, the comparative analysis of the clinical efficacy of drugs for local therapy in patients with acute external otitis, acute purulent otitis media and exacerbation of chronic suppurative otitis media is presented. The results of the clinical study, dynamic bacteriological investigation confirmed the high efficacy, safety and good tolerance of dioxidine in treatment of external and middle ear infections.

[The influence of dead lymphocytes from middle ear secretion on the development of sensorineural hearing impairment associated with acute otitis media].

The objective of the present work was to estimate the number of lymphocytes in the middle ear secretion that had died as a result of apoptosis or necrosis in the patients presenting with acute otitis media and to elucidate the relationship between this phenomenon and the development of sensorineural impairment of hearing. The study included a total of 106 patients suffering from acute middle otitis allocated two groups. Group 1 was comprised of 75 (70.8%) patients with hearing loss of the conductive type alone while group 2 contained 31 (29.2%) patients with the combined type of hearing loss. The contents of the tympanic cavity was obtained by means of tympanic puncture, the lymphocytes isolated from middle ear secretion were studied with the use of a flow cytometer in order to determine the number of dead cells. In the patients of group 1, 15.2±0.6% and 10.6±0.5% of all lymphocytes underwent apoptosis and necrosis respectively. In the patients of group, lymphocyte apoptosis was observed in 24.7±1.% of the cases (p<0.05) and necrosis in 14.0±0.5% ones (p<0.05). It was shown that liberation of intracellular proteolytic enzymes and cytokines taking place largely in the course of necrosis activates phagocytosis, stimulates the inflammatory reaction, and thereby promotes resolution of the pathological processes in the middle ear due to the prevention of their extension into the labyrinth.

[Exacerbation of chronic suppurative otitis media in the childhood].

Chronic suppurative otitis media has for many years remained one of the most serious forms otorhinolaryngological pathology in the children since its exacerbation may lead to the life-threatening extra- and intracranial complications. This disease is a most frequent cause of the loss of hearing in the childhood. The present paper is designed to present the analytical review of the relevant literature publications and compare its results with the original observations of the authors. Special attention is given to the etiopathogentic, therapeutic, and diagnostic aspects of exacerbation of chronic inflammatory pathology of the middle ear in the children. The most challenging problems of prophylaxis of this disease are discussed along with the available approached to their solution with the use of moderm methods for its diagnostics, conservative and surgical treatment.

[The clinical manifestations and diagnostics of otitis media caused by tuberculosis].

The objective of the present study was to clarify the characteristic pathognomonic features of middle ear lesions associated with tuberculosis and the approaches to their diagnostics under the present-day conditions. The study included 11 cases (18 ears) of tuberculosis otitis media and the related lesions of the mastoid process diagnosed with the use of clinical, roentgenological, cytological, bacteriological, pathomorphological, and molecular-genetic methods (including PCR diagnostics). The primary localization of tuberculosis in the middle ear was documented in 6 patients; in 5 patients, it was associated with pulmonary involvement. Five patients presented with smoldering exudative otitis media and the remaining six ones with suppurative perforating otitis media. The tuberculous process was diagnosed with the use of various methods including clinical examination, bacteriological (9%), cytological (27.3%), pathomorphological (18%) studies, and PCR diagnostics (55%). Diagnosis was made within a period from 1 month to 1.5 years after the application of the patients for medical assistance which suggests the difficulty of verification of tuberculous etiology of the disease of the middle ear. It is concluded that the high index of suspicion in the case of smoldering middle ear pathology facilitates its early diagnostics and successful treatment.

Eustachian tube function in patients with inner ear disorders.

The influence of Eustachian tube (ET) dysfunction on the inner ear fluid pressure and thus on the inner ear function in Meniere's disease has been discussed controversially. So far, most of the studies examining ET function in inner ear disorders indirectly analyzed ET function by tympanometric methods. The present study directly studied ET function in inner ear disorders by sonotubometry. Healthy subjects and patients with Meniere's disease, sudden sensorineural hearing loss, cholesteatoma and chronic suppurative otitis media were examined by sonotubometry. Mean increase of sound pressure intensity (dB) and mean duration of sound pressure increase (s) were analyzed. Highest mean increase of sound pressure intensity was seen in healthy subjects when using >5 dB peaks (11.6 ± 0.7 dB) and >0 dB peaks (9.6 ± 0.6 dB). Comparative analysis including bilateral ears showed decreased ET function in patients with cholesteatoma (p = 0.002) and in patients with Meniere's disease (p = 0.003) when using >0 dB peaks. Examination of each specific ET opening maneuver showed impaired ET function in pathological ears of patients with cholesteatoma and with Meniere's disease, during yawning (p = 0.001; p < 0.001), dry swallowing (p = 0.010; p = 0.049), Toynbee maneuver (p = 0.033; p = 0.032) and drinking (p = 0.044; p = 0.027). Mild ET dysfunction is detected in patients with Meniere's disease by direct sonotubometric assessment of ET function.

Evaluation of vestibular function in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess vestibular functions in patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) with and without sensorineural hearing loss. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective case study performed at a tertiary referral university hospital. Sixty patients with CSOM were included, and patients with a history of head trauma, diabetes, hypertension, previous ear surgery, use of ototoxic drugs, neurological deficits and suspected fistulae were excluded. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients underwent basic audiological evaluation, and clinical and instrumental vestibular evaluation. The incidence and extent of vestibular dysfunction in patients with CSOM were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 42 males and 16 females with a mean age of 29.5 years were included in this study. Forty ears had tubotympanic disease and 19 had cholesteatoma. There were 14 ears with sensorineural hearing loss. A positive history of vertigo was reported in 53.5% of the cases. Rotatory chair abnormalities were found in 70% of the cases, caloric hypofunction was found in 61.6%, and vestibular myogenic evoked potentials were abnormal in 25%. The only positive correlation with vestibular dysfunction was the duration of disease. CONCLUSIONS: The vestibular system is significantly affected in cases with CSOM. Both semicircular canals and the saccule are affected. All patients with long-standing CSOM should be evaluated for vestibular dysfunction irrespective of their hearing levels.

[Estimation of the quality of medical aid in otosurgery].

The objective of the present work was to develop a system of assessment of the efficacy and quality of the surgical treatment of the patients presenting with chronic otitis media as a method for the improvement of surgical aid to the subjects with this condition. The system of evaluation of the quality of medical aid to the patients with chronic suppurative otitis media was based on the criteria for the assessment of the efficacy and quality of the surgical treatment by both the attending physician and the patient. The proposed method makes it possible to standardize the approaches to the estimation of the quality of medical aid, objectivate its characteristics, and carry out the comparative analysis of the efficacy and quality of the new methods for the surgical treatment of the patients with chronic suppurative otitis media.

[The influence of chronic otitis media on the sensorineural component of hearing].

The objective of the present study was to estimate the influence of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) on the sensorineural component of deafness in the patients presenting with unilateral otitis media. A total of 49 patients with this pathology were included in the study. The bone conduction thresholds at the affected side were measured at a frequency of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz and compared with those in the unaffected ear. The loss of hearing was especially well-apparent in the examination at higher frequencies and significantly deteriorated with age. The study did not reveal a marked influence of duration of the disease on the development of the sensorineural component of deafness.

[Transmeatal aerodynamical otoendoscopy for otitis media].

This study was designed to compare the efficacy of various methods of transmeatal aerodynamical otoendoscopy based on the examination of 60 patients presenting with acute suppurative otitis media (CSOM), chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM), exudative and adhesive otitis media. Transmeatal aerodynamical otoendoscopy was performed with the use of otobarohydroendoscope. The results of the study demonstrate the advantages of the transmeatal aerodynamical otoendoscopic technique for the examination of the patients presenting with different clinical forms of otitis media.

[One-step rhinootosurgery. Clinical, economic and social aspects].

The objective of this work was to estimate from the clinical, economic, and social standpoints the efficacy of medical aid provided to the patients with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) and concomitant pathology of the nasal cavity by means of the one-step surgical intervention. The study included a total of 208 patients presenting with CSOM of whom 108 ones were treated by the traditional multistage method and the remaining 108 by simultaneous rhinootosurgery. The latter approach was shown to be much more efficacious in terms of clinical, economic, and social considerations.

[A new method for the fixation of sound-conducting elements of the middle ear during ossiculoplasty].

The objective of the present work was to estimate the possibilities of the application of platelet-enriched plasma as a filtering material for ossiculoplasty. The results of surgical interventions on 120 patients presenting with chronic suppurative otitis media are reported. All the patients underwent closed-type sanation surgery (differential atticoanthrotomy) including either complete or partial restoration of the sound conduction mechanism in the middle ear. Platelet-enriched plasma was applied into the tympanic cavity of 55 patients as a fixing material for the reconstruction of the chain of the auditory ossicles. Ossiculoplasty without additional fixation was performed in 65 patients comprising the control group. The results of the study indicate that a clot of platelet-enriched plasma may be a good fixing material for the reconstruction of the entire chain of auditory ossicles and can be used for all types of ossiculopasty.

[Local antibacterial therapy for the inflammatory diseases of the external and middle ear].

The objective of the present study was to estimate the efficacy and safety of candibioic designed for the treatment of the patients presenting with diffuse otitis externa and chronic otitis media. The open randomized trial included 40 patients with diffuse otitis externa and 40 ones with chronic otitis media who had undergone a surgical sanitation procedure. Their standard clinical and otorhinolaryngological examination was supplemented by the characteristic of clinical symptoms and personal complaints using the 10-score scale. The composite preparation candibiotic was found to be equally effective for the treatment of both diffuse otitis externa and chronic otitis media. The results of the study give reason to recommend the use of candibiotic as an efficacious and safe drug for the treatment of these conditions.