Comparative Study of Outcome of Tympanoplasty by Postauricular and Permeatal Approach

Background: As from time of residency, tympanoplasty is the most common operation performed by an otolaryngologist. Because of the continuing efforts of otologists all around the world to produce the maximum surgical outcome, significant improvements in this surgical method have developed during the middle ages. Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the outcome of Tympanoplasty in Postauricular and Permeatal Approach.Methods:A total of 74 patients between the age group 15 to 44 years who were attending the ENT OPD, suffering from Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media (CSOM) were selected on the basis of type of perforation and their workup was done to assess the candidature for tympanoplasty. Comparative analysis between the two groups were done based on analysis using SPSS 24 software version. The level of significance was set to 5% (p < 0.05).Results:A total of 74 patients were included in the study and the overall graft take was 76.92% in cases of Permeatal technique as compared to 91.66% in the case of postaural underlay technique. The complication of postaural approach higher than Permeatal approach. There was a difference in hearing improvement with majority of the cases improving to the range of 10-22 dB in Permeatal technique compared to 08-18 dB in Postaural Underlay technique.Conclusion:In terms of complications and hearing improvement, the Permeatal method outperforms the Postauricular Approach, however the graft takes a higher percentage in the Postauricular Approach than the Permeatal Approach.

Underlay Versus Modified Circumferential Subannular Graft Technique in Endoscopic Tympanoplasty

Background and Objectives To describe and evaluate modified circumferential subannular tympanoplasty (MCST) via endoscopic approach, we compared the results of MCST to those of the underlay technique and the results of previous studies.Subjects and Method A retrospective comparative study was conducted of 31 patients who underwent endoscopic transcanal tympanoplasty. Patients were classified into the MCST group (n=11) and the underlay group (n=20) according to the graft technique. Demographic data, size and location of the perforation, pre- and postoperative hearing, operating time, complication rate, and graft success rate were analyzed in each group.Results No significant differences between the two groups were observed in the demographic data or the locations of the perforations. The sizes of the perforations were 31.4±14.3% and 25.0±18.1%, respectively. The average operating times were 68.6±16.5 min and 64.9±9.3 min, respectively, and canaloplasty was not required in any patient. The postoperative hearing improvement and air-bone gap were not significantly different. No postoperative complications were observed in either group.Conclusion MCST is a feasible and effective technique for endoscopic transcanal tympanoplasty. The postoperative results and operating times of MCST were comparable to those of other graft techniques. MCST showed more stable results in anterior perforation than in underlay graft.

Ossicular reconstruction of incudo-stapedial joint by glass ionomer—a study of 24 cases

Background Chronic otitis media is one of the major health issues worldwide resulting in partial or complete loss of conductive hearing mechanism including the tympanic membrane and ossicular assembly. The aim of the study is to assess hearing improvement after reconstructing the incudo-stapedial joint with glass ionomer cement. Here, a prospective observational study was done in a tertiary care hospital. Patients of chronic mucosal otitis media were operated, and intraoperatively incudo-stapedial joint discontinuity was restored using glass ionomer cement. Post-operative follow-up was done at 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 1-year intervals, and hearing was evaluated by doing pure tone audiometry with air conduction at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 kHz and bone conduction at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 kHz. Tabulation was done by calculating the air-bone gap in each patient. Results In our study, the patients showed statistically significant improvement in air conduction thresholds and near closure of air-bone gap post-operatively. The mean AC threshold is 15 dB with 91.67% patients having closure of ABG < 20 dB at the end of the 3rd month. Hearing was also evaluated at 6-month and 1-year intervals, which showed good improvement in hearing levels. Conclusions Glass ionomer is a simple, physiological, and cost-effective method of tympano-ossicular reconstruction with certain significant post-operative hearing improvement.

Inlay butterfly versus underlay cartilage tympanoplasty

Background Tympanic membrane grafting is one of the most common otological procedures. Underlay technique of tympanoplasty was described by Shea in 1960. Utech in 1959 introduce the cartilage in middle ear surgery. The search for an ideal graft material and technique for tympanoplasty was adopted by numerous contributions from surgeons all over the world. Professor Roland Eavey in 1998 introduced a transcanal inlay technique which offers advantages of surgical ease and speed as well as patient comfort. Results This study included 46 patients; 23 patients had inlay butterfly myringoplasty (group A), and 23 patients had underlay cartilage tympanoplasty. In group A, 65 % of the patients had a completely healed tympanic membrane postoperatively. Mean AB gap closure was 3.94 db. In underlay group B, 82.6% of the patients had a completely healed tympanic membrane postoperatively. Mean AB gap closure was 4.7 db. These outcomes show no statistically significant difference between both groups in terms of graft take and hearing improvement (p > 0.1). Conclusions Inlay butterfly myringoplasty is an easy, reliable, and time saving procedure that should be possible as a choice to underlay procedure. Results are comparable with underlay technique in terms of graft take rate and hearing improvement. Procedure is better regarding diminishing operative time, postoperative pain, and duration before resuming usual activities.

Comparative study of outcomes of type 1 tympanoplasty with and without anterior tucking

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Type-1 tympanoplasty is the functional restoration of the normal middle ear by repairing the tympanic membrane (TM). Different techniques are still evolving to devise a way to give optimal graft uptake and hearing improvement with minimal instrumentation. Various studies have been done to assess the role of anterior tucking in type-1 tympanoplasty and to assess its superiority over other methods in repairing subtotal perforations and large perforations involving the anterior quadrant.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This study was done to compare the outcomes of endoscopic type-1 tympanoplasty with and without anterior tucking. 60 cases of chronic otitis media (COM) mucosal type were divided into 2 groups of 30 patients each. Group 1 underwent endoscopic type-1 tympanoplasty with anterior tucking and group 2 underwent endoscopic type-1 tympanoplasty without anterior tucking. The outcomes were evaluated after 6 months and compared in terms of graft uptake and hearing gain.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The mean air-bone gap improvement was 13.16±2.65 in group 1 and 12.90±3.78 in group 2, which had statistically insignificant differences indicating similar hearing outcomes in both the groups. 96.7% successful graft uptake was achieved in group 1 and 90% in group 2, showing statistically insignificant differences indicating similar graft uptake rates in both the groups.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Anterior tucking with endoscopic type-1 tympanoplasty could provide good graft support and efficient hearing improvement but cannot be labelled as a mandatory step in repairing subtotal perforations or large perforations involving anterior quadrant as the outcomes are comparable to the endoscopic type-1 tympanoplasty done without anterior tucking. </p>

Efficacy of Otomicroscopy Combined with Otoendoscopy Double-Lens Technology-Assisted Tympanic Membrane Repair on Elderly Patients with Chronic Suppurative Otitis Media

Objective. To investigate the effect of otomicroscopy combined with otoendoscopy double-lens technology-assisted tympanic membrane repair on elderly patients chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Methods. 120 elderly CSOM patients from January 2017 to July 2019 were selected and divided into the otomicroscopy group (n = 40), the otoendoscopy group (n = 40), and the double-lens group (n = 40) by the random number method. All patients were treated with tympanic membrane repair. The otomicroscopy group was assisted by otomicroscopy, the otoendoscopy group was assisted by otoendoscopy. and the double-lens group was assisted by otomicroscopy combined with otoendoscopy. The three groups of operations status, clinical efficacy, the incidence of adverse reactions, hearing improvement rate, and satisfaction rate with incision after 6 months were compared. Results. The operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization time, and VAS score of the otoendoscopy group and the double-lens group were all lower than those of the otoendoscopy group, and the operation time of the double-lens group was lower than that of the otoendoscopy group ( P < 0.05 ). The clinical efficacy of the double-lens group was better than that of the otomicroscopy group and otoendoscopy group ( P < 0.05 ). The adverse reaction rate of the otoendoscopy group and the double-lens group was lower than that of the otomicroscopy group, and the average postoperative air-bone conductance of the double-lens group was lower than that of the otomicroscopy group and the otoendoscopy group, and the hearing improvement rate was higher than that of the otomicroscopy and otoendoscopy groups ( P < 0.05 ). The satisfaction rate with postoperative incision in the otoendoscopy group and double-lens group was higher than that in the otomicroscopy group ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusion. The double-lens technology-assisted tympanic membrane repair has an obvious effect on elderly patients with CSOM. Compared with the single-use otomicroscopy, the operation time, intraoperative blood loss, hospitalization time, patient’s dry ear condition, degree of surgical pain, clinical efficacy, adverse reaction rate, hearing improvement rate, and patient’s incision satisfaction of the double-lens technology are better. Compared with the single-use otoendoscopy, the operation time, clinical efficacy, and hearing improvement rate of the double-lens technology are better.

Outcomes of an Ear Camp Conducted in Bhutan by Thai Rural ENT Foundation—A Descriptive Study

Background: The Thai Rural ENT foundation has been conducting ear camps in Bhutan for many years to address the shortage of ENT specialists in the kingdom where patients are examined and treated for various ear illnesses. However, there has been no study conducted to assess the outcomes of such camps. This is the first study of its kind to be carried out in Bhutan. Objective: To study the spectrum of ear cases seen during the mobile ear camp, the intervention done and treatment outcomes. Materials and Methods: The study enrolled patients with ear disorders who presented to the mobile ear camp at Monggar Regional Referral Hospital, Bhutan, from January 6, 2020, to January 8, 2020. The following data were recorded: demographic details, preoperative clinical symptoms and otoscopic findings, preoperative audiogram, treatment or surgery done, postoperative middle ear and mastoid infection, wound infection, graft condition, any complications, and postoperative audiogram of operated cases. Patients who underwent surgery were followed up at 1 day, 6 weeks, and 2 months postoperatively. Results: Two hundred ten patients presented with otologic conditions and 43 underwent surgeries. Otitis media was the commonest disease detected, and tympanoplasty was the commonest surgery performed. The tympanic membrane closure rate was 92.1%, and the rate of hearing improvement was 63.2%. Conclusion: The ear camp had beneficial effect and showed good results.

Potentially predictive factors for hearing function improvement in pediatric cytomegalovirus infection therapy

Background Symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection has an impact mainly on neurological sequelae, including sensorineural deafness. Because of the long-term impact, early treatment of CMV infection is mandatory. However, predictive factors for hearing function improvement in CMV infection therapy remain unexamined. Objective To evaluate potential predictive factors for hearing improvement in pediatric CMV infection therapy. Methods All medical record data of patients aged 0-6 years with CMV infection who completed a 6-week course of ganciclovir therapy or a combination of a 4-week course of ganciclovir and a 2-week course valganciclovir from January 2013 to December 2017 were collected. Age at onset of therapy, gender, gestational age, nutritional status, multi-organ involvement, and neurological symptoms were studied as potential predictive factors of hearing improvement in CMV therapy. The effectiveness of CMV infection therapy on improving hearing function was measured with the brainstem evoked response audiometry (BERA) test. Results BERA tests proportion in the right, left, and best ear showed significant improvement after therapy. All variables analyzed were not statistically significant as predictive factors for hearing improvement in CMV infection therapy. Conclusion Ganciclovir/valganciclovir therapy in CMV infection patients accounted for the improvement of hearing impairment. However, none of the assessed factors were considered predictive for improving hearing function in CMV infection therapy.

Research of Ear Endoscopic Type I Tympanoplasty——Single-institution Experiences in China

Purpose: To assess outcomes of one-handed ear endoscopic Type I Tympanoplasty and summarize the experience. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed 34 cases (23 females and 11 males) of one-handed ear Endoscopic Type I Tympanoplasty. Result: The mean values of air conduction threshold before and after surgery were 48.22+18.36dB HL and 34.34+19.83dB HL, respectively. The mean values of the air-bone gap before and after surgery were 23.60+12.18 dB HL and 11.05+6.62 dB HL, respectively. The results showed statistically significant differences in hearing improvement(P<0.05). Among 34 ears, 30 ears had effective hearing improvement. No vertigo, intracranial infection, suppuration, and any other postoperative complications occurred. Although 1 ear occurred tympanic membrane perforation again, all ears achieved dry. Conclusion: Ear endoscopic Type I Tympanoplasty with fewer complications and shorter surgery time were suitable for the chronic suppurative otitis media. Healing of the tympanic membrane and recovery of hearing level was ensured. However, the experience is still insufficient in China, so a large number of clinical workers need to exchange experience to promote the development of ear minimally invasive surgery.