A prognostic value of estimated pulse wave velocity in idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss.

PURPOSE: Arterial stiffness, represented by estimated pulse wave velocity (ePWV), is the independent surrogate marker for cardiovascular event. The aim of the study was to investigate the significance of ePWV in the treatment outcome of idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL). METHODS: One hundred and ten patients with idiopathic SSNHL who hospitalized between April 2019 and March 2022 were evaluated. Arterial stiffness was calculated with formula for ePWV and other cardiovascular parameters of body mass index (BMI), and serum lipid level was determined. All patients received systemic high-dose steroid therapy and intratympanic steroid injections as a salvage management. Treatment outcome was assessed at 6 months after treatment, and classified as recovery and nonrecovery groups according to hearing recovery. RESULTS: The initial pure-tone hearing threshold was 72.6 ± 23.8 dB and final hearing threshold was 52.63 ± 31.10 dB. After treatment, 60 (54.5%) patients included in recovery group and other 50 (45.5%) were classified as nonrecovery group. Age, days of onset to treatment, BMI, waist circumference, and ePWV were higher in the nonrecovery group compared to recovery group in univariate analysis (p = 0.039, p = 0.049, p = 0.003, p = 0.004, p = 0.007, respectively). In multivariate analysis, days of onset to treatment, BMI, and ePWV were associated with recovery (p = 0.030, p = 0.007, p = 0.022). CONCLUSION: Higher ePWV, a measure of arterial stiffness, was associated with a poor hearing recovery of SSNHL.

Comparison of postoperative cosmesis in transaxillary, postauricular facelift, and conventional transcervical thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: The most important advantage of remote-access robotic and endoscopic thyroidectomies is believed to be the excellent postoperative cosmesis. The purpose of this study was to compare directly the postoperative cosmetic outcomes of robotic/endoscopic thyroidectomy via gasless transaxillary and postauricular facelift approaches with those of conventional thyroidectomy. METHODS: We prospectively studied 100 patients who underwent robotic/endoscopic thyroidectomy using a gasless unilateral axillary (GUA) approach (50 patients) or a postauricular facelift approach (50 patients), and 50 who underwent conventional transcervical thyroidectomy. Postoperative cosmetic satisfaction scores and scar consciousness scores were evaluated at 3 months and 1 year after surgery using questionnaires developed by us. Vancouver scar scales were evaluated at the same time. The cosmetic satisfaction score was defined as the sum of the two cosmetic satisfaction questions with a rating scale of 1-5 each. The scar consciousness score was defined as the sum of the four scar consciousness questions with a rating scale of 0-3 each. RESULTS: The cosmetic satisfaction and scar consciousness scores were significantly lower (corresponding to greater satisfaction) in the transaxillary and postauricular facelift groups than the conventional group at 3 months and 1 year postoperatively. They did not differ between the transaxillary and postauricular facelift groups. However, the Vancouver scar scale score of the conventional group was significantly lower than those of the transaxillary and postauricular facelift groups (P < 0.001 in both). CONCLUSION: Robotic/endoscopic thyroidectomy via transaxillary or postauricular facelift approaches results in better cosmesis than the conventional approach. However, scar healing itself is worse in the transaxillary and facelift approaches than the conventional approach.

Feasibility and efficacy of intraoperative neural monitoring in remote access robotic and endoscopic thyroidectomy.

OBJECTIVES: We performed this study to assess the feasibility and efficacy of intraoperative neural monitoring (IONM) in remote access robotic and endoscopic thyroidectomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 104 consecutive patients (122 nerves at risk, NARs) who underwent robotic or endoscopic thyroidectomy via a postauricular facelift approach or transoral approach while performing intermittent IONM. RESULTS: IONM was successful in 86/104 patients (82.7%). The success rate was significantly lower in the first 15 cases using a transoral approach than in the subsequent cases (7/15 vs. 41/43, p < 0.001). The standard IONM procedure (obtaining V1/R1/R2/V2 signals) was performed on 32/42 NARs (76.2%) undergoing thyroidectomy via a facelift approach and 10/58 NARs (17.2%) undergoing thyroidectomy via a transoral approach (p < 0.001). Loss of signal occurred in 6/100 NARs in 86 patients receiving successful IONM. Of these 6 LOS, 5 were false positives, and 1 was a true positive. A false negative occurred in 1/100 NARs. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of IONM were 50.0%, 94.9% 16.7% and 98.9%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The failure rate of IONM in remote access thyroidectomy is relatively high and following the standard IONM procedure is also relatively difficult. However, IONM is more helpful in confirming the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) and predicting that it is functional in the limited working space available than it is in conventional thyroid surgery.