Does endoscopic balloon dilatation improve intranasal drug delivery to the olfactory cleft? A pre-clinical cadaver feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Although systemic steroids have been shown to improve olfactory function, topical steroids have not demonstrated the same efficacy. This could a result of limited drug delivery to the narrow, superiorly placed olfactory cleft. This study aimed to examine the penetration of intranasal drugs to the olfactory cleft following endonasal balloon dilatation. METHODS: Balloon dilatation was performed in 12 thawed, fresh-frozen cadaver specimens. In the Mygind position, nasal drops mixed with blue food dye were administered into the nostril before and after the dilatation procedure. Endoscopic videos were recorded to assess dye staining of the olfactory cleft and osteo-meatal complex using a 4-point Likert scale. RESULTS: Prior to balloon dilatation, the mean penetration of nasal drops into the olfactory cleft was 1.34, which improved significantly (p < 0.05) to 2.66 following the procedure. There was no change in dye penetration into the osteo-meatal complex after balloon dilatation. CONCLUSION: The results of this exploratory study suggest that balloon dilatation may improve the delivery of nasal drops to the olfactory cleft area. The clinical applicability and impact on olfactory function will require further assessment.

Initial assessment of hearing loss using a mobile application for audiological evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare an Apple iOS mobile operating system application for audiological evaluation with conventional audiometry, and to determine its accuracy and reliability in the initial evaluation of hearing loss. METHODS: The study comprised 32 patients (16 females) diagnosed with hearing loss. The patients were first evaluated with conventional audiometry and the degree of hearing loss was recorded. Then they underwent a smartphone-based hearing test and the data were compared using Cohen's kappa analysis. RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 53.59 ± 18.01 years (range, 19-85 years). The mobile phone audiometry results for 39 of the 64 ears were fully compatible with the conventional audiometry results. There was a statistically significant concordant relationship between the two sets of audiometry results (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Ear Trumpet version 1.0.2 is a compact and simple mobile application on the Apple iPhone 5 that can measure hearing loss with reliable results.