Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions as a clinical presentation of mild-to-moderate forms of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19): a multicenter European study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions in patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection. METHODS: Patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 infection were recruited from 12 European hospitals. The following epidemiological and clinical outcomes have been studied: age, sex, ethnicity, comorbidities, and general and otolaryngological symptoms. Patients completed olfactory and gustatory questionnaires based on the smell and taste component of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and the short version of the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders-Negative Statements (sQOD-NS). RESULTS: A total of 417 mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients completed the study (263 females). The most prevalent general symptoms consisted of cough, myalgia, and loss of appetite. Face pain and nasal obstruction were the most disease-related otolaryngological symptoms. 85.6% and 88.0% of patients reported olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions, respectively. There was a significant association between both disorders (p < 0.001). Olfactory dysfunction (OD) appeared before the other symptoms in 11.8% of cases. The sQO-NS scores were significantly lower in patients with anosmia compared with normosmic or hyposmic individuals (p = 0.001). Among the 18.2% of patients without nasal obstruction or rhinorrhea, 79.7% were hyposmic or anosmic. The early olfactory recovery rate was 44.0%. Females were significantly more affected by olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions than males (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Olfactory and gustatory disorders are prevalent symptoms in European COVID-19 patients, who may not have nasal symptoms. The sudden anosmia or ageusia need to be recognized by the international scientific community as important symptoms of the COVID-19 infection.

Feasibility of an implanted microphone for cochlear implant listening.

This study aimed at evaluating the feasibility of an implanted microphone for cochlear implants (CI) by comparison of hearing outcomes, sound quality and patient satisfaction of a subcutaneous microphone to a standard external microphone of a behind-the-ear sound processor. In this prospective feasibility study with a within-subject repeated measures design comparing the microphone modalities, ten experienced adult unilateral CI users received an implantable contralateral subcutaneous microphone attached to a percutaneous plug. The signal was pre-processed and fed into their CI sound processor. Subjects compared listening modes at home for a period of up to 4 months. At the end of the study the microphone was explanted. Aided audiometric thresholds, speech understanding in quiet, and sound quality questionnaires were assessed. On average thresholds (250, 500, 750, 1k, 2k, 3k, 4k and 6 kHz) with the subcutaneous microphone were 44.9 dB, compared to 36.4 dB for the external mode. Speech understanding on sentences in quiet was high, within approximately 90% of performance levels compared to hearing with an external microphone. Body sounds were audible but not annoying to almost all subjects. This feasibility study with a research device shows significantly better results than previous studies with implanted microphones. This is attributed to technology enhancements and careful fitting. Listening effort was somewhat increased with an implanted microphone. Under good sound conditions, speech performance is nearly similar to that of external microphones demonstrating that an implanted microphone is feasible in a range of normal listening conditions.

Systematic review of international guidelines for perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis in Head & Neck Surgery. A YO-IFOS Head & Neck Study Group Position Paper.

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is defined as an infection that occurs after a surgical incision or organ manipulation during surgery. The frequency reported for clean head and neck surgical procedures without antimicrobial prophylaxis is <1%. In contrast, infection rates in patients undergoing complicated cancer surgery are high, ranging from 24% to 87% of patients without antimicrobial prophylaxis. METHODS: Guidelines and recommendations about the use of antibiotics in head and neck surgery from 2004 to 2019 were reviewed. RESULTS: Four guidelines from Oceania, 5 from South America, 5 from North America, 2 from the United Kingdom, 11 from Europe, 1 from Africa, 1 from the Middle East, and 3 from Asia were included. A total of 118 papers were included for analysis and recommendation. CONCLUSION: Antibiotic prophylaxis can decrease the incidence of SSI. However, the risks associated with antibiotic exposure and the risk of antibiotic resistance need to be taken into consideration.

Rehabilitation of swallowing with polydimethylsiloxane injections in patients who underwent partial laryngectomy.

BACKGROUND: We conducted this longitudinal prospective study to illustrate a surgical technique for swallowing rehabilitation of patients after partial laryngectomy. METHODS: Nine patients with persistent swallowing impairment after partial laryngectomy were included in the study. Evaluation of swallowing was performed by fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES), and was quantified using 2 scales: a dysphagia score and a modified penetration-aspiration scale. The site of bolus inhalation was identified. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) was injected into the neoglottis to fill these passages, and to obtain a certain continence of the organ. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 25 months (range, 5-39). All patients showed an improvement both in the dysphagia score and in the modified penetration-aspiration scale. Average improvement was 2.6 points in the dysphagia score (p = .0042) and 2.1 points in the modified penetration-aspiration scale (p = .0043). CONCLUSION: PDMS injection can be considered as an option in surgical rehabilitation of swallowing in patients who underwent partial laryngectomy.