Impact of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic on private ENT consulting practice during the first month of lockdown in Réunion Island in 2020.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the impact of the first month of lockdown related to the 2020 SARS-Cov-2 epidemic on the consulting activity of private ENT physicians in Réunion Island. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multicenter prospective study analyzed the consulting activity of 12 ENT physicians in full-time private practice. The main endpoints were the number, characteristics and conditions of consultations. Secondary endpoints comprised presenting symptoms, diagnosis, prescriptions, adverse effects, and progression of monthly consulting turnover. RESULTS: Six hundred and ninety three consultations were performed during the study period (Appendix 1), with 50% emergency consultations. In 57.9% were face-to-face, 28.4% by phone and 13.7% video. In face-to-face consultation, the physician wore gloves in 53.8% of cases and a mask in 92.2%: surgical mask in 71.6% of cases and FFP2 in 28.4%. The three most frequent symptoms (48.5% of cases) were otalgia, hearing impairment, and vertigo. The three most frequent diagnoses (60.6% of cases) were otitis, intra-auricular foreign body (including wax), and pharyngeal infection. The three most frequently prescribed complementary exams (74.3% of cases) were imaging, hearing work-up, and specialist opinion. The three most frequently prescribed treatments (52.7% of cases) were intra-auricular drops, oral antibiotics, and nasal spray. The incidence of adverse effects was 0.001%. None of the physicians or patients seemed to have been infected by Covid-19 during the study period. There was a 47.3-91% (median, 75.6%) drop in monthly consultation turnover. CONCLUSION: The present study underscored the availability and adaptability of ENT physicians in the Réunion Island in an epidemic context, although economic impact was detrimental.

[Cancers of the supraglottic larynx: results and therapeutic indications apropos of 124 cases]. / Les cancers du vestibule laryngé: résultats et indications thérapeutiques à propos de 124 cas.

The authors report their experience of the treatment of the supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma in a retrospective study of 124 patients primarily treated in the ENT department of Grenoble University hospital. Fourteen patients received only radiotherapy, the others 110 patients were treated by surgery: partial or reconstructive surgery in 47 cases, total surgery in 63 cases. The carcinological results demonstrate the good prognosis of the intra-laryngeal tumors. Their treatment allows a good loco-regional control (tumoral recurrences: 4%, regional recurrences: 2%). The main prognostic factor is the nodal involvement with capsular rupture which is responsible for the most locoregional and metastatic recurrences.

Treatment of vaginitis with benzydamine: preliminary results of a randomized study.

The therapeutic efficacy of benzydamine vaginal douche is compared with that of placebo in a randomized clinical study presently underway. A total number of 200 patients, grouped according to different types of vaginitis, will be included in the study. Preliminary results on 102 patients confirm the positive therapeutic effect of benzydamine.