How does cochlear implantation affect five vestibular end-organ functions and dizziness?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate all five vestibular end-organ functions (lateral, anterior, posterior semicircular canal, utricule, and saccule) and to investigate the relationship between Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and vestibular functions prior to CI (cochlear implantation) and at postoperative day 3 and month 3. METHODS: A total of 42 patients (age 16-70years) with normal vestibular functions preoperatively and undergoing unilateral CI were included in this prospective descriptive study. Video head impulse test (vHIT) for three semicircular canal (SSC) functions, ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (oVEMP) for utricule function, cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potential (cVEMP) for saccule function and DHI for subjective vertigo symptoms were performed prior to CI and at postoperative day 3 and month 3. RESULTS: There was a significant impairment of vestibular function in 12 patients (28.5%) on the implantation side and significant DHI increase was observed in 13 of 42 (30.9%) patients at postoperative day 3 after CI (p<0.05). We found SSC dysfunction in 7 patients (16,6%) who underwent observation with vHIT, saccule dysfunction in 8 patients (19%) with cVEMP and utricule dysfunction in 5 patients (11.9%) with oVEMP on the operated side 3days after surgery (p<0.05). Posterior SSC functions (5 patients) were more affected than lateral SSC functions (3 patients). At postoperative month 3, six patients (14.2%) still had deteriorating results in the objective tests and significant DHI increase was continued in 4 (9.5%) patients (p<0.05). The deterioration in vHIT continued in only 1 (2.3%) patient (p>0.05). The deterioration in cVEMP continued in 5 (11.9%) patients (p<0.05). The deterioration in oVEMP continued in 2 (4.7%) patients (p>0.05). There was a significant correlation between DHI and objective vestibular tests both in the early and late postoperative period (r=0.795; p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study showed that both canal and otolith functions can be damaged after CI especially in the early postoperative period. Surprisingly, posterior SSC functions were more affected than lateral SSC. Therefore, a gold standard vestibular test battery that can evaluate each of three SSC canals and two otoliths functions is essential. Since a single vestibular test for this purpose is not available, we recommend the use of the three available vestibular tests together. This test battery, which is capable of evaluating five vestibular end-organ functions in preoperative and postoperative vestibular evaluations, can provide more accurate results not only for CI but also for most otologic surgeries.

Intratympanic Methylprednisolone versus Dexamethasone for the Primary Treatment of Idiopathic Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of intratympanic (IT) methylprednisolone and dexamethasone in the initial treatment of patients with idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (ISSHL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 46 patients with ISSHL who had been treated with IT methylprednisolone or dexamethasone were included in the present study. Dexamethasone (4 mg/mL) and methylprednisolone (20 mg/mL) were given transtympanically to 22 and 24 patients, respectively, one dosage per day for 5 consecutive days. Audiologic evaluations were performed pretreatment, daily in inpatient clinics, and in the first week and second month after discharge, using four-frequency pure-tone average (PTA) and speech discrimination score (SDS). Audiologic improvement was classified according to the Furuhashi criteria. RESULTS: According to the Furuhashi criteria, the therapeutic success rate was 62.5% (complete improvement 16.7% and marked improvement 45.8%) in the methylprednisolone group, whereas it was 54.6% (complete improvement 27.3% and marked improvement 27.3%) in the dexamethasone group. Therapeutic success was higher in the methylprednisolone group; however, it was not statistically significant. When the audiologic improvement was accepted as >10 dB in PTA, the therapeutic success rates were 83.3% in the methylprednisolone group and 72.8% in the dexamethasone group. The mean (±SD) improvement of PTA before and after treatment was 30.8±21.4 in the methylprednisolone group and 24.7±2.5 in the dexamethasone group. The mean improvement in SDS was 32.6±25 in the methylprednisolone group and 23.7±26.9 in the dexamethasone group. CONCLUSION: IT steroids are safe, effective, and well-tolerated agents in the initial treatment of patients with ISSHL. Despite having different pharmacokinetic characteristics, IT methylprednisolone and dexamethasone have no superiorities over each other in the primary treatment in patients with ISSHL.

The Effectiveness of Botulinum Toxin Type A Injections in the Management of Sialorrhea.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Botulinum toxin type A by injecting in the submandibular and parotid glands on the frequency and severity of sialorrhea. METHODS: Pediatric patients who were referred to our department with sialorrhea were evaluated using their parents' frequency and severity scores of sialorrhea with visual analog scales before and after 3 months of botulinum toxin type A injections. Bilateral submandibular and parotid glands were injected with Botulinum toxin type A. RESULTS: Twenty-seven pediatric patients who were referred to our department with a complaint of sialorrhea were included in this study. Seventeen patients were female and 10 were male. Severe sialorrhea with cerebral palsy was present in all the patients. There were no complications after the procedure. CONCLUSION: Botulinum toxin A injected in the major salivary glands in pediatric patients with neurological disorders is a safe and effective method.

Endoscopic versus microscopic stapes surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study to compare the outcomes and complications of endoscopic stapes surgery versus microscopic stapes surgery. METHODS: This study involved patients who underwent stapedotomy at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, Cukurova University between January 2012 and July 2014. The patients were divided into two groups. Patients in group I were operated with endoscope and patients in group II were operated with microscope. Pure tone audiometry was carried out in all patients preoperatively. Peroperative surgical findings, complications, and duration of surgery were noted and compared between the two groups. Air conduction and bone conduction thresholds were measured at frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000Hz, and the mean (±SD) air-bone gap was noted. RESULTS: Mean preoperative air-bone gap was 36.9±6.8dB (23.3-50dB) in group I and 35.1±6dB (26.6-50dB) in group II. Mean postoperative air-bone gap was 9.3±7.1dB (0-30dB) in group I and 13.5±9.7dB (1.6-35dB) in group II. The difference in preoperative and postoperative air-bone gap between the two groups was statistically significant (p=0.023). Patients in group I did not complain of postoperative pain but this was felt in four patients in group II. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.045). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic stapes surgery has many benefits such as good visualization, and easy accessibility to the stapes, oval window niche, and facial nerve. Removal of the scutum and manipulation of the chorda tympani nerve are less frequent with the endoscopic technique.

Alternative Techniques in Cochlear Implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To review the alternative techniques in cochlear implantation and to compare the complications with different techniques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who had undergone cochlear implantation were reviewed. Those patients who were operated using alternative techniques were selected and evaluated for the cause of their hearing loss and for the type of alternative technique that was utilized. Complication types and rates in these patients were evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 38 patients were operated using alternative techniques following preoperative or intraoperative findings. The mean age of the patients was 8.3 (1-51) years. There were 20 male and 18 female patients. Thirteen patients were operated with a suprameatal approach and 18 with a transcanal approach. Resection of the bony part of the external ear canal and reconstruction (canal wall down technique) was performed in seven patients. Postoperative complications included wound infection, hematoma, chorda tympani injury, and tympanic membrane perforation. CONCLUSION: Cochlear implantation is an effective method in the rehabilitation of sensorineural hearing loss. Complications are rare but can sometimes cause hematoma, taste impairment, tympanic membrane perforation, or wound infections. The standard procedure is not always suitable for patients with temporal bone abnormalities. Surgeons performing cochlear implantation should be aware of these variations and should be able to perform alternative implant techniques in these cases.

Radiological Imaging Findings of Patients with Congenital Totally Hearing Loss.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine and classify inner ear abnormalities in patients who had cochlear implants because of congenital sensorineural hearing loss using preoperative temporal bone computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients in the otolaryngology department who had cochlear implants because of congenital sensorineural hearing loss between January 2011 and December 2013 were included in the study. There were 167 male and 133 female patients, a total of 300. All of the patients were evaluated with 4-detector-row computed tomography and 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS: Inner ear abnormalities were found in 136 of 600 ears (20.3%). There were six ears with incomplete partition-II (4.4%), five ears with incomplete partition-I (3.6%), two ears with Michel deformity (1.4%), two ears with cochlear hypoplasia (1.4%), two ears with cochlear otosclerosis (1.4%), and one ear with common cavity deformity (0.7%). Dilatation of the internal acoustic canal was found in 42 ears (30.9%); also, 21 ears with cochlear nerve aplasia/hypoplasia (15.4%), 5 ears with internal acoustic canal aplasia, and 1 ear with internal acoustic canal hypoplasia (0.73%) were detected. There were 10 ears with posterior semicircular canal (7.3%), 10 ears with lateral semicircular canal (7.4%), 8 ears with superior semicircular canal aplasia/hypoplasia (5.9%), and 8 ears with lateral semicircular canal-vestibular dysplasia. An enlarged vestibular aqueduct was found in 16 ears (11.7%). High jugular bulbs were found in 21 ears; however, this variation was not considered to be an inner ear abnormality. CONCLUSION: Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are essential for the evaluation, determination, and classification of inner ear abnormalities in patients with congenital sensorineural hearing loss who are candidates for cochlear implant operations. Also, these radiological instruments aid in determining contraindications and predicting intraoperative difficulties. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings for these patients should be evaluated by an experienced radiologist before the operation.

Quality of Life in Pediatric Cochlear Implantations.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the satisfaction of patients with a cochlear implant using a Parents' Perspective Questionnaire and analyze the significant parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients who received a cochlear implant in Çukurova University between March 2002 and November 2012 were included in the study. Parents were asked to answer the Parents' Perspective Questionnaire. RESULTS: The age ranges of 62 patients were 2-5 years and of 99 patients were 6-11 years and over. In total, 144 parents were satisfied with the cochlear implant. Patients who attended school had more self-confidence, and users of an implant aged over 18 months had better social relations and self-confidence. CONCLUSION: Cochlear implants' positive effect on the quality of life is a fact, but parents have concerns in the preoperative and postoperative periods. Patients and parents should be informed carefully about cochlear implants. Also, patients' satisfaction is correlated with increasing duration of the implant and age.

Surgical and medical management for complications in 475 consecutive pediatric cochlear implantations.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to assess complications occurring after cochlear implantation (CI) in children and to discuss revision surgeries and medical interventions occurring during follow-up. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study of 475 consecutive pediatric cochlear implantations at a tertiary referral center. METHODS: The patients (n = 475) who received cochlear implants in our institution between March 2000 and March 2012 were followed up (range, 5 months-12 years). All complications were systematically reviewed, and their causes were analyzed for prevention and therapy. RESULTS: All children received unilateral CI. Mean age at implantation was 3 years 7 months (ranged from 10 months to 18 years). Forty-three patients (9%) experienced complications. Twenty-one patients (4.4%) had major complications, consisting of device failure (10 patients), flap necrosis (4 patients), meningitis (2 patients), electrode shifting (2 patients), hematoma (2 patients) and magnet migration (1 patient). Twenty-two (4.6%) had minor complications, consisting of acute otitis media (5 patients), skin lesion due to pressure reaction in contralateral ear during surgery (4 patients), flap swelling (3 patients), minor wound infection (3 patients), transient facial paralysis (2 patients), transient vertigo (2 patients), hematoma (1 patient), facial stimulation (1 patient), subcutaneous emphysema (1 patient). Complications led to reimplantation in 13 (30.2%) and other revision surgery in 7 (16.2%) of the 43 patients. One patient with meningitis cured with medical treatment and 22 patients with minor complications cured with either medical treatment or spontaneously. CONCLUSIONS: Cochlear implantation is a safe technique in experienced hands with a relatively low complication rate. Long term follow up is mandatory to minimize and control surgical complication.

Factors contributing to limited or non-use in the cochlear implant systems in children: 11 years experience.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and etiologic factors of non-use and limited use of cochlear implants. The patients' age, gender, duration of implantation and additional disabilities were investigated. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of the 413 (200 males, 213 females) pediatric patients (age under 16) implanted in our clinic between January 2000 and December 2011, 12 limited user/non-user cochlear implanted patients were selected who had a follow-up of at least 24 months. Preoperative and postoperative listening progress profile (LiP) and meaningful auditory integration scale (MAIS) tests were performed to analyze the auditory performances of the patients. RESULTS: In total of 12 recipients (2.90%) (7 male and 5 female patients; age range, 5-13 years), 4 (0.96%) patients were non-users and 8 (1.93%) patients were limited users. The patients had some additional disabilities as autism, cerebral palsy, moderate mental retardation, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ossified cochlea due to meningitis and learning disability-lack of family interest. None had experienced device failure. In the postoperative 24th month, listening progress profile and meaningful auditory integration scale test scores were better in the limited users as expected. CONCLUSIONS: It should always be considered in patients with additional factors like autism, mental-motor retardation, learning disabilities that they will show limited development from cochlear implantation. These patients are potential limited/non-users. These patients require unique rehabilitation and provide high family and educational interest.

Modified intratympanic treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

Steroids are the only proven drugs in the treatment for idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss. In the recent studies, it has been suggested that, steroids delivered through the intratympanic route obtained higher perilymph levels, resulting in better hearing outcomes. The purpose of this study is to compare the hearing outcomes of the two routes of steroid treatment: intratympanic route and systemic route. In this prospective study, 60 consecutive patients with idiopathic sensorineural hearing loss treated between January 2005 and September 2008 were enrolled: 29 were in the intratympanic steroid group (ITSG) and 31 were in the systemic steroid group (SSG). In the ITSG, 5 intratympanic injections of dexamethasone were performed with the dose of 4 mg/ml, consecutively. Oral methylprednisolone was given at the dose of 1 mg/kg, tapered every 2 days and stopped at 10 days, in the SSG. The pure tone averages (PTA), speech discrimination scores (SDS) and the percentage of the patients who made an improvement more than 10 dB were analyzed on the tenth day and 2 months after the treatment statistically. The improvement in PTA on tenth day and second month after treatment was 31.38 and 37.55 dB, in the ITSG and 19.35 and 20.68 dB in the SSG, respectively. The improvement in SDS in the same time period was 35.24 and 37.52% in the ITSG and 20.13 and 19.61% in the SSG, respectively. Also, 25 of the 29 patients (86.2%) in the ITSG and 16 of the 31 patients (51.6%) in the SSG made an improvement more than 10 dB on PTA in the second month control. Intratympanic steroids gave better hearing results than systemic steroids with no systemic side effects. Studies with more sample sizes will identify the best steroid for injection, application time, frequency and dose.

A thyroid tumor extending to the parapharyngeal space.

BACKGROUND: The metastasis of papillary thyroid carcinoma to the parapharyngeal space is rare and discussed in the English literature before. Encountering a parapharyngeal mass with cystic appearance on imaging, one should rule out thyroid malignancy as differential diagnosis. CASE PRESENTATION: The case presented here is a 22-year-old woman who was referred to our clinic with complaints of painless neck mass, dysphagia and hoarseness for two years. After radiologic and pathological examination, the mass thought to be relevant with the thyroid gland. Peroperatively, the tumor was found to originate from the superior pole of the right thyroid gland, with a narrow stalk, and extended following the neurovascular bundle to the lower part of the parapharyngeal space. The bulk was removed via transservical approach with total thyroidectomy. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of the follicular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma in the parapharyngeal space is extremely rare. The management of this rare case was discussed with the review of literature.