Early experience on a modern, thin cochlear implant family. A retrospective, international multicenter study.

RATIONALE: Cochlear implantation is the most effective method of rehabilitation for patients with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss. Binaural hearing forms the basis of the development of hearing-associated cortical networks in infants and toddlers, but simultaneous bilateral implantation is often postponed due to the demands of classical surgical methods, which are associated with large incisions and a deep bony well. OBJECTIVE: The authors report on the use of a modern, thin implant type and the possibilities it provided to simplify the surgical technique. METHODS AND RESULTS: Recent models of the Cochlear™ Nucleus® implant family were studied in an international retrospective multi-center study: 6 otolaryngologists in 5 centers shared their experiences on 73 consecutively implanted, thin implants. The surgical incision could be made shorter than before and only shallow bony wells or none at all were created in 4 out of 5 centers. No complications occurred. DISCUSSION: This study underlines that implants with thin electronics capsules enable a simplified, fast and safe implantation procedure that allows simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation.

[Examiner variability of clinical findings in patients with sleep related breathing disorders]. / Variabilität klinischer Befunde bei Patienten mit schlafbezogenen Atmungsstörungen in Abhängigkeit vom Untersucher.

BACKGROUND: Clinical findings in sleep related breathing disorders (SRBD) and primary snoring are not only of diagnostic but also of therapeutic relevance because clinical findings may be used for the selection of surgical interventions such as uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP), maxillofacial surgery or radiofrequency induced surgical alternatives. We developed a standardized protocol for clinical examination of the upper airway using pictograms. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To determine the interinvestigators variability various parameters such as length of the uvula, position of tongue base, Angle-classification, webbing of posterior pillar and tonsil size were assessed by a number of residents and an assistant professor for Otorhinolaryngology and sleep medicine simultaneously. RESULTS: 95 patients (81 male and 14 female) with a mean age of 47.0 +/- 1.21 years, a Body-Mass-Index (BMI) of 27.2 +/- 0.46 kg/m2, and an Apnea-Hypopnea-Index (AHI) of 17.7 +/- 2.4 were examined. The appearance of the uvula has only little variations between different investigators (corr.: 0.943). The interinvestigator variability is also low for position of tongue base (corr.: 0.931) and Angle-classification (corr.: 0.893). The results of tonsil size and webbing assessment seems to have a higher variability (corr.: 0.880 and 0.693). Statistical significance for all parameters was p=<0.0001. CONCLUSION: As to our knowledge, this is the first controlled study to record intraobserver variations of clinical findings of the upper airway. Standardized protocols are mandatory, and the variability of the measurements must be taken into account if results of different investigations must be compared or if changes after therapeutic interventions are to be investigated.

[The ASA-score as a comorbidity index in patients with cancer of the oral cavity and oropharynx]. / Der ASA-Score als Komorbiditätsindex bei Mundhöhlen- und Mundrachenkarzinomen.

BACKGROUND: The American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status Scores (ASA-Score) may serve as a valuable indicator of comorbidity in head and neck cancer patients. METHODS: In 135 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity and/or oropharynx, the relation of disease free and overall survival and the ASA-score was evaluated in a univariate (logrank-test) and a Cox regression model. In the Cox model, age, tumor site and stage, and therapeutic modality served as covariates. RESULTS: In the univariate model, overall 5 year survival in ASA I and II patients was 44 %, and in ASA III and IV patients, it was 16 % (p < 0.005). The ASA-score also significantly influenced survival in the multivariate model. The hazard ratio (ASA I and II vs. ASA III and IV) was 2.1 (95 % confidence interval 1.3 to 3.4; p < 0,005). This corresponds to a 8 times higher risk to die, even when the effects of age, tumor site and stage, and therapeutic modalities are compensated for. CONCLUSION: The ASA-score is a valuable indicator of comorbidity in patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal tumors. An essential advantage is its easy availability in most clinical settings.

[Sleep-related breathing disorders. Sleep anamnesis questionnaire and determination of clinical results within the framework of staged diagnostics]. / Schlafbezogene Atmungsstörungen. Schlafanamnesebögen und klinische Befunderhebung im Rahmen der Stufendiagnostik.

Sleep-related breathing disorders (SBAS) affect approximately 8% of the population of middle aged adults. At the age of 20 years, approximately 10% of the population snore, while at the age of 60 about 50% of men snore. Some 9% of middle aged women and 24% of middle aged men have an apnea hypopnea index (AHI) of >5 (number of nocturnal apnea and hypopnea per hour of sleep). Sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome is found in 2% of the women and 4% of the men, i.e. they have an AHI>5 associated with daytime sleepiness. Forms, check lists, summaries and patient-readable questionnaires have proved helpful in the evaluation of SBAS.

[Critical analysis of complications and disorders in wound healing after tracheostomy in children]. / Kritische Analyse von Komplikationen und Wundheilungsstörungen nach Tracheotomie im Kindesalter.

BACKGROUND: The analysis of early and late postoperative results after tracheostomy in children. METHODS: A 6 year, prospective, observational cohort study was undertaken in 14 children of mean age 4 years 7 months (range 0.03 month-15 years) at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ulm. Children were included if they had at least two follow-up examinations postoperatively because of local disorders in wound healing of the tracheostoma. Etiologic factors, the type of tracheotomy, the size and type of the tracheostomy tube, primary and secondary local disorders in wound healing of the tracheostoma, and the clinical follow-up were analyzed. RESULTS: Formation of granulation tissue and tracheal stenosis were the most observed local disorders. In five patients, the tracheal stenosis was located below the stoma, in one patient also above the stoma. A stenosis of the stoma was found in two patients. One patient died because of a tracheoinnominate artery fistula. In 10 patients problems in swallowing and recurrent aspiration of saliva was observed early postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The tracheotomy in childhood is often related with late wound healing disorders. An association of wound healing disorders with a feasible lethal outcome is rarely found. Local formation of granulation tissue renders decannulation more difficult. The choice of a correctly fitting tracheostomy tube and special care of the tracheostoma in long-term cannulated children has to be emphasized.