Role Of CO2 Laser & Microdebrider In The Treatment Of Juvenile Onset Recurrent Respiratory Papillomatosi.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of two main treatment modalities of microdebrider and carbon dioxide laser excision for juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. Methods: The retrospective study was conducted in May 2021 at the Combined Military Hospital, Kharian, Pakistan, and comprised data from July 1, 2007, to January 31, 2020, of patients of either gender aged 2-12 years who were treated for juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis either with microdebrider excision in group A or carbon dioxide laser excision in group B. Extent and severity of disease was documented as per the Derkay-Coltrera grading system. Data was analysed using SPSS 20. RESULTS: Of the 39 patients, 23(59%) were girls and 16(41%) were boys. The overall mean age at the time of procedure was 6.62±2.06 years. Group A had 22(56.4%) subjects; 15(68.2%) girls and 7(31.8%) boys, while group B had 17(43.6%) cases; 8(47%) girls and 9(53%) boys. The mean operative time for group A was 40.91±11.50 minutes and for group B it was 60.59±19.51 minutes. Postoperative breathing and oedema status was better for group A (p<0.05), while there was no significant difference regarding postoperative pain, residual disease and repeat surgeries (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Microdebrider was found to be superior to carbon dioxide laser excision in the treatment of juvenile onset recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

A Novel Technique for Thyroplasty Type 1, With Prolene Mesh Implant.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy of a modified approach to thyroplasty type one using prolene mesh implant. STUDY DESIGN: Interventional study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Combined Military Hospital Kharian, Pakistan, in Ent department, from July 2020 to Jan 2021. METHODOLOGY: Medialization thyroplasty with prolene mesh was performed on the patients satisfying the inclusion criteria. They were analyzed objectively as well as subjectively in terms of Mean Maximum phonation time, maximum word count, and visual analog score about the quality of voice. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 20. Pre-operative and post-operative records were compared using paired sample t-test. RESULTS: A total of 39 patients underwent vocal cord medialization with prolene mesh implant. The Mean age for medialization was 41.09 + 13.37. 23 patients were females and 15 were males. 26 patients had unilateral and 13 patients had bilateral vocal dysfunction. 18 of them had vocal dysfunction due to thyroidectomy, eight had idiopathic causes and 13 had miscellaneous. The improvement in mean visual analog score was 2.87 postoperatively. Median maximum phonation time increased about five seconds postoperatively, seven seconds in males, and 4.5 seconds for females. The maximum word count increased from 11.33 preoperatively to 18.28 postoperatively. There were no major complications observed in our study. CONCLUSION: These results were comparable to many other studies for vocal cord medialization with different implant materials. But prolene mesh implant offers an easily available yet cost-effective alternative with similar benefits. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III (Treatment benefits: Non-randomized controlled cohort/follow-up study).

Atorvastatin in the management of tinnitus with hyperlipidemias.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of atorvastatin in management of tinnitus in patients with hyperlipidemia. STUDY DESIGN: Quasi-experimental study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: ENT Department, Combined Military Hospital, Rawalpindi, from July 2011 to August 2012. METHODOLOGY: Ninety eight patients of tinnitus with sensorineural hearing loss having hyperlipidemia were included in the study. Their pre-therapy serum cholesterols were measured, and tinnitus scores were recorded on a 'Tinnitus handicap questionnaire'. They were administered tablet atorvastatin 40 mg once daily with low fat diet for 8 months. After 8 months of therapy, patients were purposefully divided into responsive and unresponsive group depending on serum cholesterol levels. Post therapy serum cholesterol levels and tinnitus scores were also recorded after 8 months and compared with pre-therapy records. RESULTS: Serum cholesterol came to within normal limits in 51 (52%) patients (responsive group), while it remained high in 47 (48%) patients (unresponsive group). Improvement in tinnitus score in the responsive group was seen in 36 (70.5%) patients and in 2 (4.2%) patients of the unresponsive group. Improvement in tinnitus scores was compared in the two groups using Fisher's exact test and were found to be statistically better in the responsive group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Tinnitus, in patients having hyperlipidemia, can be successfully dealt with by treating hyperlipidemia with lipid lowering agent atorvastatin.

Carotid body paraganglioma.

Carotid body tumours are benign neoplasms. This case report describes two patients with this rare tumour with diagnostic workup and treatment options. The first case was a 36-year-old gentleman who presented with 6 months history of painless swelling on the left side of neck. The second patient was 60-years-old man who presented with slowly growing swelling on the right side of neck for the last 20 years. Both patients had transmitted pulsations over the swelling. On suspicion of a vascular lesion, a contrast enhanced CT scan and Doppler's ultrasound of neck was advised which suggested the diagnosis of a carotid body tumour. Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) confirmed the diagnosis. Excision in collaboration with vascular surgeon was planned for the first case. The second case was subjected to radiation therapy due to the large size of tumour and the patient's age.