Underlay Myringoplasty Versus Overlay Myringoplasty: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Myringoplasty is still the most performed otological surgery. Nevertheless, the underlay vs. overlay approaches have yet to be determined. The purpose of this study is to compare the surgical and audiological outcomes of underlay and overlay myringoplasty in perforated tympanic membrane patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis synthesizing randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which were retrieved by systematically searching of Web of Science, SCOPUS, PubMed, and Google Scholar until January 25th, 2023. RevMan version 5.4 software was used to pooled dichotomous outcomes using the risk ratio (RR) with the corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). We registered our protocol in PROSPERO with ID: [CRD42023387432]. We included eight RCTs with 656 tympanic perforation membrane patients. Four RCTs had a low risk of overall bias, two had some concerns, and two had a high risk of bias. The underlay technique was significantly associated with a higher surgical success rate (n = 7 RCTs, RR: 1.21 with 95% CI [1.02, 1.43], P = 0.03) and audiological success rate (n = 4 RCTs, RR: 1.31 with 95% CI [1.18, 1.44], P < 0.00001). This meta-analysis underscores the potential superiority of the underlay technique in managing tympanic membrane perforations, with significant implications for surgical and audiological outcomes. However, more investigations are still necessary to confirm this result. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-023-04425-6.

Knowledge and Attitudes of Obstructive Sleep Apnea among Jordanian Otolaryngologists: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep-related breathing disorder that affects almost one billion individuals worldwide. An estimated 16.8% of adults in Jordan have been diagnosed with OSA. Given the importance of management of OSA by otolaryngologists, we assessed the knowledge and attitudes of Jordanian otolaryngologists in managing OSA in adult and pediatric patients. A survey, conducted anonymously online, was sent present otolaryngology residents and specialist in Jordan, in the English language. The participants were given the OSA Knowledge and Attitude questionnaire (OSAKA, OSAKA-KIDS), which have been previously validated. Data were obtained and then analyzed via SPSS software. A total of 140 residents and specialist of otolaryngology were selected. A significant difference in OSAKA scores were found between otolaryngologists under 30 years of age and those above, with higher scores for the older age group. The proportion of specialists who 'agreed' or 'strongly agreed' they are confident in their ability to manage patients with OSA was significantly higher that junior residents (73.8% vs 33.3%; p = 0.008). More than 10 years at practice was associated with statistically significant higher levels of knowledge towards OSAKA scale (AOR = 0.09; p = 0.044). Additionally, being a senior resident was significantly associated with more knowledge towards OSAKA-KIDS scale (AOR = 0.19; p = 0.03). Otolaryngology residents and specialists' knowledge of OSA was very good. Further improving in the level of the knowledge toward OSA among the otolaryngology resident doctors should be implemented as possible by following the updated guidelines for the diagnosis and management OSA. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-023-04180-8.

Long-Term Safety and Reliability of Using Tutoplast-Processed Fascia Lata to Refine the Nasal Dorsum in Primary and Revision Rhinoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Tutoplast-processed fascia lata (TPFL) is an allograft substance employed alongside cartilaginous materials to achieve optimal augmentation in rhinoplasty. Alternatively, it can be utilized to conceal and smooth irregularities of the nasal dorsum during the procedure. Despite its application, there is limited available data on the extended safety of TPFL. Consequently, our objective was to assess the enduring long-term safety and reliability of TPFL in both primary and revision rhinoplasty. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 300 patients who underwent primary and revision rhinoplasty with TPFL grafts. Baseline characteristics, types of surgical techniques, and surgical outcomes were evaluated. The surgical success and satisfaction rates were assessed as primary outcomes. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 27 for Windows, was used to conduct the statistical analysis. RESULTS: TPFL was used in both primary and revision rhinoplasty, with septal cartilage being the most common conjunction graft material. The overall surgical success rate was 97.3%, with only 2.7% of patients experiencing complications. The satisfaction rate was 92.7%, with no significant difference between primary and revision cases. The highest satisfaction rate was found in patients who underwent the crushed cartilage in fascia technique (96.3%). CONCLUSIONS: TPFL in conjunction with cartilaginous materials; is a safe and reliable option for dorsal augmentation and camouflage material in primary and revision rhinoplasty, with low complication and high patient satisfaction rates. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE III: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors   www.springer.com/00266 .

Efficacy of perioperative lidocaine infusion on surgical field quality during functional endoscopic sinus surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis.

PURPOSE: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that assessed the efficacy of perioperative intravenous lidocaine versus placebo in improving the quality of surgical field during functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). METHODS: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL were thoroughly searched from inception until June 2023. The included RCTs were evaluated via RoB-2 tool. Our primary endpoint included intraoperative surgical field quality, and secondary endpoints involved operative duration, estimated blood loss, time for post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) discharge, postoperative pain, mean difference in heart rate (HR), and mean difference in mean arterial pressure (MAP). Continuous data were pooled as mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) via RevMan software. Also, the certainty of evidence for each outcome were assessed according to the GRADE system. RESULTS: Four RCTs with total of 267 patients were included. Regarding the intraoperative quality of surgical field, the results indicated a significant difference in favor of the lidocaine group compared to the placebo group (n = 3 RCTs, MD - 0.80, 95% CI [- 0.98, - 0.61], p < 0.001, moderate certainty of evidence). The trial sequential analysis showed there is a substantial and conclusive evidence. Regarding time for PACU discharge, there was a significant difference that favor lidocaine group (p < 0.05). On the contrary, there was no significant difference between lidocaine and placebo groups in terms of operative duration, estimated blood loss, postoperative pain, mean change in MAP and HR, (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our review revealed that lidocaine infusion, compared with a placebo, significantly improved the surgical field and shortened the time required for PACU discharge. However, lidocaine did not reduce surgery time, estimated blood loss, postoperative pain, MAP, or HR.

Analgesic Efficacy of Ropivacaine Infiltration on Early Post-Tonsillectomy Pain in Pediatrics.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the analgesic efficacy of ropivacaine infiltration in the tonsillar fossa among pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CENTRAL. REVIEW METHODS: Eligible randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were assessed for bias using Cochrane's risk of bias tool (version 2). Our primary outcome was postoperative pain within 24 h, and secondary outcomes included operative time, intraoperative blood loss, time to first analgesia, bleeding, and nausea/vomiting. Data were pooled as mean difference, standardized mean difference, and risk ratio with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Our review included 11 RCTs, with a total of 712 patients. The quality of studies varied and included low risk (n = 8 RCTs), some concerns (n = 2 RCTs), and high risk (n = 1 RCT) of bias. The primary endpoint of postoperative pain across all time points was significantly reduced in the ropivacaine group compared with the placebo group. Trial sequential analysis (TSA) of the postoperative pain depicted conclusive evidence and unnecessity for further RCTs. The mean operative time was significantly reduced in the ropivacaine group compared with the placebo group. However, there was no significant difference between both groups regarding additional clinical (i.e., mean intraoperative blood loss and mean time to first analgesia) and safety (i.e., rates of bleeding and nausea/vomiting) outcomes. CONCLUSION: This systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrated the safety and postoperative analgesic efficacy of ropivacaine versus placebo among pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy. There was no significant difference between both groups regarding intraoperative blood loss, time to first analgesia, and rate of postoperative bleeding. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level one Laryngoscope, 2024.

Efficacy of Ropivacaine Administration on Post-tonsillectomy Pain in Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Placebo-controlled Trials.

The objective of this investigation is to assess the efficacy of ropivacaine on intraoperative and postoperative endpoints like operative time, blood loss, pain, and bleeding among adult's patients undergoing for tonsillectomy. PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were screened from inception until November 2022. The included RCTs were evaluated for risk of bias via risk of bias tool (second version). All endpoints were summarized as mean difference (MD) or standardized mean difference (SMD) for continues outcomes, and risk ration (RR) for dichotomous outcomes, under random-effect model. Four RCTs met our PICOS criteria, comprising a total of 257 patients. Regarding postoperative pain, there was a significant difference that favor ropivacaine group compared with placebo group within hours (n = 4 RCTs, SMD = -0.92, 95% CI [-1.57, -0.26], p = 0.006), and within days (n = 4 RCTs, SMD = -050, 95% CI [-0.82, -0.18], p = 0.002). However, there were no significant difference between ropivacaine and placebo groups I terms of operative time (n = 3 RCTs, SMD = -0.17, 95% CI [-0.45, 0.11], p = 0.22), intraoperative blood loss (n = 2 RCTs, SMD = -0.37, 95% CI [-1.41, 0.67], p = 0.49), and postoperative bleeding (n = 4 RCTs, RR = 2.27, 95% CI [0.90, 5.73], p = 0.08). In conclusion, administration of ropivacaine was associated with less postoperative pain among adult's patients who undergoing tonsillectomy. However, there were no benefit in term of reduction in operative time, intraoperative blood loss, and postoperative hemorrhage.

Harmonic Scalpel Tonsillectomy Versus Coblation Tonsillectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) aimed to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of coblation versus harmonic scalpel methods among patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Methods: PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were systematically screened from inception until October 2022. The outcomes were summarized as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference/standardized mean difference (MD/SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random-effects model. Results: Six RCTs were analyzed, encompassing a sum of 461 patients (harmonic scalpel = 233 patients and coblation = 228 patients). The overall quality assessment was low risk of bias in two RCTs, some concerns of bias in three RCTs, and high risk of bias in one RCT. There was no significant difference between harmonic scalpel and coblation groups regarding the mean operative time (n = 6 RCTs, MD=-7.45 min, 95% CI [-15.26, 0.01], p = 0.06) mean intraoperative blood loss (n = 5 RCTs, MD=-36.03 ml, 95% CI [-77.46, 5.41], p = 0.09), and rate of postoperative hemorrhage (n = 5 RCTs, RR = 0.59, 95% CI [0.25, 1.39], p = 0.23). The overall postoperative pain score was significantly reduced in favor of the coblation group compared with the harmonic scalpel group (n = 5 RCTs, MD = 0.40, 95% CI [0.10, 0.69], p = 0.009)". Conclusions: The harmonic scalpel and coblation techniques share equal efficacy among patients undergoing tonsillectomy. The reduction in postoperative pain score provided by the coblation method is not clinically meaningful in clinical practice. Additional RCTs are needed to consolidate the power and quality of the presented evidence. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-023-04022-7.

Thermal Welding Tonsillectomy versus Monopolar Electrocautery Tonsillectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Objective: In hopes of contributing to the decision about the best surgical option in tonsillectomy, we performed this work to compare the effectiveness of the thermal welding system (TW) and monopolar electrocautery (ME) tonsillectomy in terms of postoperative pain, postoperative bleeding, and operation time in patients undergoing tonsillectomy, to determine which procedure is most expected to enhance the postoperative quality of life. Methods: Digital databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, were systematically screened from inception up to October 2022. The included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were evaluated for risk of bias via the Cochrane tool (version 2). The outcomes were summarized as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference/standardized mean difference (MD/SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random-effects model. Results: The three RCTs that met our criteria were included in the study. Overall, 151 patients had been enrolled in these three RCTs, in which 75 and 76 were allocated to the TW and ME groups, respectively. The postoperative pain levels were substantially reduced, favoring the TW arm over the ME arm [n=2 RCTs, SMD=-0.39, 95% CI (-0.67, -0.12), p=0.005]. Also, the analysis revealed a substantial variation between the TW and ME arms in terms of operation time [n=2 RCTs, MD=3.29 minutes, 95% CI (1.42, 5.17), p=0.0006]. However, the analysis revealed no substantial variation between the TW and ME arms in term of postoperative bleeding [n=3 RCTs, RR=0.40, 95% CI (0.06, 2.62), p=0.34]. Conclusion: This meta-analysis revealed that postoperative bleeding for tonsillectomy were similar between the ME and TW techniques. However, TW showed lower postoperative pain levels than ME statistically but without achieving significant clinical advantage.

Thermal welding tonsillectomy versus cold dissection tonsillectomy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of thermal welding (TW) versus cold dissection (CD) strategies among tonsillectomy patients. DESIGN AND SETTING: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials (RCTs). PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing tonsillectomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcomes were summarised as risk ratio (RR) or mean difference/standardised mean difference (MD/SMD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) in a random-effects model. RESULTS: Fourteen RCTs were analysed. The mean operative time (n = 14 RCTs, MD = -7.99 min, 95% CI [-12.88, -3.10], p < .001), mean intraoperative blood loss (n = 11 RCTs, MD = -57.18 mL, 95% CI [-71.58, -42.78], p < .001) and postoperative pain score on day 1 (n = 15 RCTs, SMD = -0.40, 95% CI [-0.75, -0.06], p = .02) were significantly reduced in the TW group compared with the CD group. However, there was no significant difference between both groups regarding the rate of reactionary bleeding (n = 13 RCTs, RR = 0.62, 95% CI [0.23, 1.71], p = .36) and delayed bleeding (n = 13 RCTs, RR = 1.03, 95% CI [0.46, 2.30], p = .95). CONCLUSION: Compared with CD, TW significantly reduced the operative time and intraoperative blood loss, without an impact on the rate of postoperative bleeding. The reduction in postoperative pain score provided by the TW strategy was not clinically meaningful in clinical practice. TW might appear superior to CD among tonsillectomy patients.

Characteristics of sudden hearing loss after different COVID-19 vaccinations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 vaccines are essential to prevent complications and reduce the burden of SARS-CoV-2. However, these vaccines showed side effects such as fatigue, pain, fever, and rarely hearing loss. In this review, we aim to summarize studies investigating hearing loss following COVID-19 vaccination and try to find the possible association and risk factors for this hazardous complication. METHODS: We performed a comprehensive search of five electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, google scholar, Cochrane) from inception until 9 October 2022. We finally included 16 studies after the first and second scans. We used SPSS to analyze the extracted data. RESULTS: A total of 630 patients were identified, with a mean age of 57.3. Of the patients, 328 out of 609 vaccinated patients took the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine, while 242 (40%) took the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. The mean time from vaccination to hearing impairment was 6.2, ranging from a few hours to one month after the last dose. The results found a significant difference between vaccine types in terms of incidence and prognosis of the condition, while they showed that the number of doses prior to the onset had no significance. CONCLUSION: SNHL has been reported in a small number of people who have received the COVID-19 vaccine, but it is unclear at this time whether the vaccine is directly causing this condition. However, the COVID-19 vaccine has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in preventing illness, and the benefits of vaccination are significant compared to any potential risks. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The protocol of this study was registered on Prospero CRD42022367180.

Efficacy and safety of rectal misoprostol versus intravenous oxytocin on reducing blood loss in cesarean section: A PRISMA-compliant systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials.

Blood loss is an inevitable complication and a major contributor to maternal morbidity and mortality at cesarean deliveries. We detected a potential preference regarding the efficacy and safety of rectal misoprostol over oxytocin as a uterotonic agent. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane, and other databases for the relevant trials from inception to September 2022. We included randomized clinical trials (RCTs) that compared rectal misoprostol versus intravenous oxytocin to control bleeding in women undergoing cesarean delivery. Our primary outcomes were the intra- and postoperative blood loss, and hemoglobin drop after delivery. Secondary outcomes included the need for blood transfusion, need for additional uterotonics, difference in operative time, as well as safety outcomes such as the incidence of shivering, pyrexia, nausea, and vomiting. Our search strategy revealed 1007 unique records, of them we retrieved full texts of 19 articles to check their adherence to our eligibility criteria. Seven RCTs with 1,090 participants were included. We found a significant reduction in postoperative blood loss [MD: -27.9; 95% confidence interval (CI): (-53.85, -2.10); p=0.03], and Hb drop after delivery [MD: -11; 95% CI: (-0.19, -0.03); p=0.01]. There is no significant difference regarding intraoperative blood loss, operative time, need for blood transfusion, or need for additional uterotonics. We could not find a significant difference between the two groups regarding safety outcomes, except for a higher shivering incidence in the misoprostol group [RR: 0.33; 95% CI; (0.16, 0.70); p=0.004]. We found a significant reduction in postoperative blood loss with a potentially favorable safety profile in women who administrated rectal misoprostol compared with oxytocin administration. Our findings recommend and prefer rectal misoprostol as a cheaper and effective uterotonic agent over oxytocin, which is expensive and requires an adequate cold chain for transportation and storage.

Bilateral axillo-breast approach robotic thyroidectomy (BABA-RT) versus transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of all comparative studies that evaluated the surgical outcomes between bilateral axillo-breast approach-robotic thyroidectomy (BABA-RT) and transoral robotic thyroidectomy (TORT). The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were screened until July 2022. The Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies for Interventions (ROBINS-I) tool was used to evaluate study quality. The data were summarized as mean difference (MD) or risk ratio (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) in a fixed-effects or random-effects model. Five comparative observational studies met the inclusion criteria comprising 923 patients (TORT = 408 and BABA-RT = 515). The study quality varied and included low (n = 4) and moderate (n = 1) risk of bias. There was no significant difference between both groups regarding the mean operative time (MD = 19.98 min, 95% CI [-11.33, 51.28], p = 0.21), mean hospital stay (MD = -0.14 days, 95% CI [-0.66, 0.38], p = 0.60), mean number of retrieved lymph nodes (MD = 0.42, 95% CI [-0.16, 0.99], p = 0.16), and rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (RR = 0.39, 95% CI [0.13, 1.19], p = 0.10). However, the TORT group had significantly reduced mean postoperative pain score (MD = -0.39, 95% CI [-0.51, -0.26], p < 0.001) and lower rate of hypocalcemia (RR = 0.08, 95% CI [0.02, 0.26], p < 0.001) than the BABA-RT group. TORT and BABA-RT have comparable surgical outcomes. Both methods are largely safe and effective when patients are carefully chosen. However, TORT appears to offer better results regarding postoperative pain and hypocalcemia. Further clinical trials with extended follow-up periods are needed to confirm our findings.

Monkeypox in Syria: Highlighting an awareness issue.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) verified 780 cases of monkeypox across 27 countries between 13 May 2022 and 2 June 2022. The aim of our study was to assess the level of awareness of human monkeypox virus among Syrian medical students, general practitioners, medical residents, and specialists. Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was performed in Syria between May 2 and September 8, 2022. The survey consisted of 53 questions within the following three categories: demographic information, work-related details, and monkeypox knowledge. Results: In total, 1257 Syrian healthcare workers and medical students were enrolled in our study. The animal host and incubation time for monkeypox were correctly identified by just 2.7% and 33.3% of responders, respectively. Sixty percent of the study sample thought that the symptoms of monkeypox and smallpox are identical. No statistically significant associations were found between predictor variables and knowledge regarding monkeypox (p-value > 0.05). Conclusion: Education and awareness regarding monkeypox vaccinations are of paramount importance. It is essential that clinical doctors are adequately aware of this disease, in order to avoid an uncontrolled situation, as experienced with COVID-19.

Syrians' awareness of cardiovascular disease risk factors and warning indicators: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

The awareness of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) contributes to the complications and fatality rates from these diseases among individuals; however, no previous study in Syria was conducted on this topic; thus, this study aims to assess Syrians' awareness of CVDs warning symptoms and risk factors. This online cross-sectional study was performed in Syria between the 1st and 25th of August 2022. The inclusion criteria for the sample were citizens of Syria over 18 who currently reside in Syria. The questionnaire included open- and closed-ended questions to assess the awareness of CVDs. A total of 1201 participants enrolled in the study with a response rate of 97.2%; more than half of the participants (61.4%) were aged 18-24. The most recognizable risk factors and warning signs when asking close-ended and open-ended questions were smoking (95.2%, 37.1%) and chest pain (87.8%, 24.8%), respectively. Overall knowledge scores for risk factors and warning signs were (61.5%). Regarding knowledge score of CVDs risk factors and warning signs, participants aged 45-54 scored higher than other age groups, and respondents with a university education level had a higher score than other educational levels (15.7 ± 0.3), (14.5 ± 0.1), respectively. Participants aged 45-54 have a higher probability of good knowledge of CVDs risk factors and warning signs than participants aged 18-24 (OR = 4.8, P value < 0.001), while participants living in the countryside were less likely to have good knowledge of CVDs risk factors and warning signs than city residents (OR = 0.6, P value < 0.05). According to our results, there is inadequate knowledge of the risk factors and warning signs of CVDs. Consequently, there is a greater need to raise CVD awareness and learning initiatives on the disease's risk factors and symptoms.

Efficacy of gelfoam middle ear packing in type-1 tympanoplasty: systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated the surgical outcomes of type-1 tympanoplasty with and without gelfoam middle ear packing. METHODS: PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases were screened from inception until October 2022. The included RCTs were evaluated for risk of bias, and the quality of each outcome was assessed according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) system. RESULTS: Nine RCTs with 773 participants (gelfoam = 381 and non-gelfoam = 392) were analyzed. The overall study quality varied: low risk (n = 4 RCTs), some concerns (n = 3 RCTs), and high risk (n = 2 RCTs). There were no significant differences between both arms regarding the graft uptake rate (moderate certainty), hearing improvement rate (moderate certainty), type of impedance audiometry (moderate certainty), and ear discharge (low certainty). The mean change in air-bone gap was significantly higher in the non-gelfoam arm compared with the gelfoam arm (low certainty). However, the non-gelfoam group had superior hearing improvement in only the early postoperative period (i.e., one month); however, after two, three, and six months, there were no significant differences between both arms. The rate of ear fullness was significantly higher in the gelfoam arm compared with the non-gelfoam arm (moderate certainty). CONCLUSION: Among patients undergoing type-1 tympanoplasty, the surgical outcomes did not significantly differ between both arms. The practice of middle ear packing with gelfoam needs to be standardized.

Bell's Palsy and COVID-19 Vaccines: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Once the COVID-19 pandemic was declared, the world was waiting for the clue that would be able to cut down the progression of the disease. Vaccines play a crucial role in reducing the disease and saving many people worldwide. However, there are several side effects of these vaccines, like pain, fatigue, fever, and neurological defects like Bell's palsy. In this systematic review, we presented evidence about the occurrence of Bell's palsy followed by COVID-19 vaccination. METHODS: We searched PubMed, SCOPUS, EBSCO, and Web of Science (WOS) from inception till October 2022. The quality assessment was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute, National Institute of Health, and Newcastle-Ottawa. The analysis was conducted on SPSS. RESULTS: Thirty-five records were involved in our study. The results of our cases revealed that most of the patients (62.8%) experienced unilateral facial paralysis. Also, the majority of the cases were reported after the first dose, and most cases were after Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Sputnik V vaccines, respectively. The patients who were treated with corticosteroids, IVIG, and anti-viral drugs, showed marked recovery afterward. CONCLUSION: The rate ratio of Bell's palsy after COVID-19 vaccination was 25.3 per 1,000,000. The ratio was higher after the first dose compared to the second dose and was higher among those who took Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine compared to other vaccines. However, this condition was reported in a small number of cases among a large number of vaccinated people worldwide. It is important to note that the benefits of getting vaccinated far outweigh any potential risks.

Efficacy of Harmonic Scalpel Versus Bipolar Diathermy in Hemorrhoidectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Nine Randomized Controlled Trials.

Hemorrhoidectomy is one of the most common surgical interventions to remove the third and fourth degrees of prolapse hemorrhoid. We carried out this systematic review and meta-analysis of the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to comprehensively evaluate the efficacy of harmonic scalpel (HS) versus bipolar diathermy (BD) methods in terms of decreasing intraoperative and postoperative morbidities among patients undergoing hemorrhoidectomy. Suitable citations were found utilizing digital medical sources, including the CENTRAL, Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, from inception until December 2022. Only RCTs that matched the inclusion requirements were selected. We used the updated Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) tool (version 2) to assess the quality of the involved citations. The Review Manager (version 5.4 for Windows) was used to perform the pooled analysis. Data were pooled and reported as mean difference (MD) or risk ratio (RR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) in random-effects models. Overall, there was no significant difference between HS and BD in terms of decreasing intraoperative morbidities like operative time, intraoperative blood loss, mean duration of hospital stay, and mean duration of first bowel movement (P>0.05). Similarly, the rate of postoperative complications like pain, bleeding, urinary retention, anal stenosis, flatus incontinence, and wound edema; was similar in both groups with no significant difference (P>0.05). In conclusion, our pooled analysis revealed there was no substantial difference between HS and BD in terms of intraoperative and postoperative endpoints. Additional RCTs with larger sample sizes are needed to consolidate the power and quality of the presented evidence.