The application of xylocaine 10% pump-spray to improve immediate post-adenotonsillectomy pain in children: A randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: Post-adenotonsillectomy pain is often severe, requiring substantial analgesia in the first 48-72 h. This pain is not only distressing to the patient and his or her parents, but often reflects poorly on an otherwise well performed procedure. Safe, simple and effective post-adenotonsillectomy pain control is still clinically elusive, even though a multitude of surgical and analgesic interventions have been proposed. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the analgesic properties of immediate post-operative application of xylocaine 10% pump spray to the tonsillar fossae in children having undergone adenotonsillectomy and how this impacts on anesthetic emergence and pain control in the first 24-h. METHODS: In this double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 80 children were stratified into two groups: Group I (3-8 years-old) and Group II (9-14 years-old). Within these groups, participants were randomized to receive either xylocaine 10% pump spray or normal saline 0.9% post-operatively. A standardized anesthetic/analgesic regime was used intra-operatively. The same surgeon performed all surgeries using bi-polar diathermy. Outcome variables included state of anesthetic emergence; pain scores at specific intervals; need for rescue analgesia; post-operative nausea and vomiting; time to first oral intake and comfort associated with initial oral intake. RESULTS: Xylocaine 10% pump spray consistently provided superior pain control at all time intervals compared to normal saline 0.9% (p = 0.011). This was most pronounced in children 3-8 years old (Group I). Xylocaine 10% pump spray and normal saline 0.9% provided similar pain relief in children 9-14 years old (Group (II) (p = 0.640). Children receiving xylocaine had a decreased incidence of emergence delirium and consistently required less rescue analgesia (p = 0.005). Children who received xylocaine did not eat sooner post-operatively, but they experienced less pain when ingesting liquids (p = 0.003) and solids (p = 0.000). Children who received xylocaine did not experience increased post-operative complications (p = 1.000) or nausea and vomiting (p = 0.153). CONCLUSION: Xylocaine 10% spray may serve as a valuable adjunct to effective pain control post-adenotonsillectomy, especially if long acting opioids are contraindicated, as with patients with obstructive sleep apnea. The benefit of xylocaine appears to be negligible when a long acting opioid is administered. The benefits of xylocaine were most noteworthy in children aged 3-8 years old. This is the largest trial (n = 80) to date to assess the efficacy of xylocaine spray in isolation post-adenotonsillectomy. Xylocaine also offers improved comfort with oral intake and decreases emergence delirium and need for rescue analgesia without any increase in post-operative complications. Local anesthesia may decrease costs and help to solve the conundrum of a painless adenotonsillectomy especially in resource-limited settings.

Predictors of pediatric cochlear implantation outcomes in South Africa.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and describe predictors of pediatric cochlear implantation outcomes in a South African population. METHODS: A retrospective study of 301 pediatric cochlear implant (CI) recipients from five CI programs was conducted and cross-sectional outcome data were added at the time of data collection. Twenty potential prognostic factors were identified from the retrospective dataset, including demographical, CI, risk and family factors. Multiple regression analyses were performed to identify predictor variables that influence outcomes in terms of auditory performance (CAP scores), speech production (SIR scores), communication mode and educational placement. RESULTS: Although implanted children within this sample did not have equal opportunity to access a second implant, bilateral implantation was strongly predictive of better auditory performance and speech production scores, an oral mode of communication and mainstream education. NICU admittance/prematurity were associated with poorer auditory performance and speech production scores, together with a higher probability for non-oral communication and non-mainstream education. The presence of one or more additional developmental condition was predictive of poorer outcomes in terms of speech production and educational placement, while a delay between diagnosis and implantation of more than one year was also related to non-mainstream education. Ethnicities other than Caucasian were predictive of poorer auditory performance scores and a lower probability for mainstream education. CONCLUSION: An extensive range of prognostic indicators were identified for pediatric CI outcomes in South Africa. These predictive factors of better and poorer outcomes should guide pediatric CI services to promote optimal outcomes and assist professionals in providing evidence-based informational counseling.

Profound childhood hearing loss in a South Africa cohort: risk profile, diagnosis and age of intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To describe profound childhood hearing loss in a South African population of pediatric cochlear implant recipients in terms of risk profile, and age of diagnosis and intervention. METHODS: A retrospective review of patient files for 264 pediatric cochlear implant recipients from five cochlear implant programs was conducted. Data was captured from 264 eligible subjects, of which all were implanted between 1996 and 2013 and PCEHL was confirmed under the age of 5 years old. Data collected included demographical information, risk factors from case histories, diagnostic test procedures conducted, diagnosis (type, onset and degree of hearing loss) and documented ages of caregiver suspicion, initial diagnosis and intervention. RESULTS: Risk factors for permanent childhood hearing loss were present in 51.1% of cases, with the most prevalent risks being NICU admittance (28.1%), family history of childhood hearing loss (19.6%) and prematurity (15.1%). An associated syndrome was diagnosed in 10% of children and 23.5% presented with at least one additional developmental condition. Hearing loss for most (77.6%) children was confirmed as congenital/early onset, while 20.3% presented with postnatal onset of hearing loss. ANSD was diagnosed in 5% of children, with admittance to NICU (80%) and hyperbilirubinemia (50%) being the most prevalent risk factors for these cases. Hearing loss was typically diagnosed late (15.3 months), resulting in delayed initial hearing aid fitting (18.8 months), enrollment in early intervention services (19.5 months) and eventual cochlear implantation (43.6 months). CONCLUSION: Most prevalent risk factors in profound childhood hearing loss were admittance to NICU, family history and prematurity. Diagnosis and intervention was typically delayed predisposing this population to poorer outcomes.

Blood otorrhea: blood stained sweaty ear discharges: hematohidrosis; four case series (2001-2013).

INTRODUCTION: Hematohidrosis/hematidrosis/hemidrosis is a rare clinical condition in which human being sweats blood under condition of extreme physical or emotional stress [1. Jerajai HR, Bhagyashri Jaju, Phiske MM, and Nitin Lade. Hematohidrosis-a rare clinical phenomenon. Indian J Dermatol. 2009 Jul-Sep; 54(3): 290-292; 2. Martinez NL, Mas IB, Paz AFM, Boronat JL. Recurrent bleeding in an 18-year old girl. Arch Dermatol.2012; 148(8):960-961.] The capillary blood vessels that feed the sweat glands rupture, causing them to exude blood as sweat, under stressful conditions, occurring in religious (Jesus Christ prayer experience in Gethsemane) and non-religious (soldier sweat blood before battle) [2. Martinez NL, Mas IB, Paz AFM, Boronat JL. Recurrent bleeding in an 18-year old girl. Arch Dermatol.2012; 148(8):960-961.]. It is a condition where there is a spontaneous painless bleeding through unbroken skin in any part of the body. It is self-limiting in nature with a good prognosis [3. Patel RM, Mahajan S. Hematohidrosis: A rare clinical entity. Indian Dermatol Online J.2010 Jul; 1(1):30-2.]. The diagnosis of hematohidrosis is made on the presence of bloody discharge without any obvious cause through intact skin, witnessed and confirmed by health professional/doctor/nurse and the presence of blood components on biochemistry studies of the discharge. Hematohidrosis is a well-recognised diagnosis according to International Classification of Diseases (ICD-9-CM: 705-89) (ICD9 Data.com; 2013). CASE REPORT: This study reports the clinical finding, radiology, audiology and histology of four cases of a rare isolated otological hematohidrosis. Our cases are of particular interest because to our knowledge these are the first documented cases of psychogenic hematohidrosis isolated otological (ear) presentation. DISCUSSION: A comprehensive literature review was performed on reports documenting hematohidrosis/hematidrosis cases. The clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, pathophysiology and epidemiology of hematohidrosis. The purpose is to report and raise awareness of hematohidrosis among ENT patients.

Intralesional bleomycin injections in the treatment of benign lymphoepithelial cysts of the parotid gland in HIV-positive patients: case reports.

Benign lymphoepithelial cysts (BLCs) of the parotid gland are associated with human immunodeficiency virus. These cysts may grow large and uncomfortable, causing significant cosmetic embarrassment for the patient. Several treatment options have been described with varying successes. We report successful treatment of three adults with bleomycin. All three patients presented with bilateral parotid enlargements. They received a total dose of between 180 U and 270 U of bleomycin over a period of 6 to 10 weeks. They all responded completely without morbidity or recurrence. Bleomycin is effective in the treatment of BLCs of the parotid glands in HIV-positive patients.