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.

CHOLESTEATOMA PRESENTATION TRENDS IN KOHAT DIVISION

Objective: To discuss the presentation stages of Cholesteatoma in patients of various areas of Kohat division. Study Design: Case series study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Kohat, from Nov 2015 to Nov 2017. Methodology: A total of 60 patients having Chronic Suppurative otitis media with Cholesteatoma were selected from outpatient department. Disease process was evaluated by otomicroscopy as well as radiologically. Perioperative disease spread pattern was also assessed and documented. Results: Out of 28 patients with pars tensa cholesteatoma 28.5% were in stage II and 53.5% were in stage III disease. Out of 32 patients with pars flaccid cholesteatoma, 3.1% presented with stage 1 disease, 37.5% with stage II disease, 50% with stage III disease and 9.3% with stage IV disease. Conclusion: Appropriate measures should be taken for training of general physicians as well as otologists at National level to help early diagnosis and better outcome.

An increase in cases of complicated chronic otitis media: an indirect impact of COVID pandemic

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Chronic otitis media is the most common disease dealt by an otologist, the cases of complication of which are remarkably low. The use of antibiotics and mastoidectomies have resulted in the fall of the fatal complications. COVID-19 pandemic called for restrictions which lead to medical care delay.</p><p><strong>Methods:</strong> This study was conducted in the department of otolaryngology of GMC and associated hospitals, Jammu from June 2020 and May 2021. The data was retrospectively collected the data from March 2018 to June 2020. The study group included the patients diagnosed with Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) on otoscopy and the patients with complications of CSOM were evaluated for the symptoms of complication, type of complication, bacteriology, treatment and hospital stay.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The 38 (7.5%) patients among these were diagnosed with one or other complication, out of which 29 (76.3%) cases occurred during the COVID pandemic. The extra-cranial complications were more common and young to middle age group was more commonly involved.</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> COM is a common otological disease, the occurrence of which should not be taken lightly. Without timely and accurate treatment, the complications ensue which are difficult to treat and require expertise.</p>

A study to evaluate bone and cartilage ossiculoplasty in patients of ossicular disruption due to chronic suppurative otitis media

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Ossiculoplasty for ossicualar disruption in patients of chronic otitis media (COM) can be done by using either bone or cartilage. The present study was planned to compare bone and cartilage ossiculoplasty in patients of ossicular disruption due to COM.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> The prospective observational study was carried out in patients, who were admitted in the department of otorhinolaryngology of a tertiary care teaching hospital of Rajasthan during two years from November 2017 to November 2019. All patients with ossicular disruption due to COM and conductive hearing loss more than 40db were included in the study. Patients with sensorineural hearing loss were excluded from the study. Pure tone audiometry (PTA) was done before surgery. Hearing improvement was assessed 3, 6 and 12 months after surgery. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> In the present study 20 patients underwent bone ossiculoplasty using autologous incus and autologous cartilage was used in 80 patients for ossiculoplasty. Post-operative hearing gain was significantly more in autologous incus patients (22.7±4.2 db) compared to autologous cartilage (19.5±3.4 db) (p=0.002).</p><p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> The present study concluded that post-operative hearing gain was significantly better with autologous incus compared to autologous cartilage although both showed good results in terms of hearing gain. </p>

Mycobacterial profile and antibiotic susceptibility pattern in chronic suppurative otitis media: a cross- sectional study

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a disease of mucoperiosteal lining of the middle ear cleft. The poor compliance of patients to antibiotic treatment, Incomplete treatment, misuse/improper choice of antibiotics have resulted in changes in susceptibility to antibiotics and also development of resistant strains by microbes to commonly used antibiotics. This study aimed to identify the mycobacteriological profile and determine antibiotic susceptibility pattern in CSOM patients.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This cross sectional study was conducted on 120 clinically diagnosed cases of CSOM attending otolaryngology department. Ear discharges obtained were processed for microbial culture (aerobic, anaerobic and fungi). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> Of total 120 cases, pathogens were isolated from 114 cases. The commonest aerobic organism isolated was <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> (34.5%) followed by <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (29.4%). <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> showed maximum sensitivity to erythromycin (70%), followed by cotrimoxazole (62.5%) and ampicillin (55%). Maximum resistance was observed for ciprofloxacin (77.5%), followed by amoxiclave (55%). <em>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</em> showed maximum sensitivity to piperacillin (89.36%) followed by gentamicin (70.2%), amikacin (70.2%), moderate sensitivity to ceftazidime (51.06%); however resistance to carbpenicillin (60%). Ciprofloxacin which is the most prescribed topical antibiotic showing an increase in resistance to causative organisms of CSOM.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Hence, it becomes essential to study each case of CSOM bacteriologically to formulate local antibiotic policy for appropriate use of antibiotics. This will certainly help in achieving a safe ear and to control the organisms developing resistance to prevalent antibiotics.</p>

Antibiotic sensitivity and bacteriology of chronic suppurative otitis media in department of ENT in tertiary care centre St. John’s Medical College and Hospital Bangalore

<p><strong>Background: </strong>Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a disease of middle ear. The aim of this study is to know the antibiotic sensitivity pattern in CSOM cases attending to ENT out patient department (OPD) in a tertiary care hospital and device an appropriate antibiotic protocol to treat CSOM cases.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This is a prospective observational study. Fifty-eight patients of CSOM who present to the ENT OPD with ear discharge will be studied. Ear swabs of these patients will be collected and sent to microbiology to know the causative bacteria and their drug susceptibility.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Of the 58 patients studied 64% were males and 36% were females. Of the organisms isolated Stap aureus (53%) was most common followed by <em>Pseudomonas</em> (36%). All the gram-positive organisms were sensitive to cotimaxozole, amikacin and gentamycin and all gram-negative organisms were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, amikacin and netlimycin. </p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>It is better to collect an ear swab in all CSOM cases and then start antibiotics based upon the culture and sensitivity reports in order to improve the results and reduce the emergence of resistant strains, which can happen when antibiotics are prescribed randomly.</p>

A Review on Deviated Nasal Septum: Classification, Clinical Features and Management

The nasal septum separates the right and left part of the nasal cavity and columellar septum, membranous septum and septum proper are the parts of it. Deviation of nasal septum is a common case of nasal obstruction presented in a clinic. A lot of classifications have been developed to help ease the study of deviated nasal septum but none of them is used as a standard. Some of the classifications include the one given by Vidigal, Guyuron, Cerek, Mladina and Cottle’s. Apart from nasal obstruction other common clinical features involving deviated nasal septum are sinusitis especially in horizontal deviation type V. Pressure on lateral wall by spurs can also cause pressure headache. Due to increased air flow in the nasal cavity, dryness occurs causing epistaxis. Obstruction of nasal cavity causes mouth breathing in return either exaggerating or leading to obstructive sleep apnoea. Septal deviation also effects the choroidal thickness and choroidal blood supply. Histopathologically, lymphocytic infiltration and squamous metaplasia occurs in septal mucosa. These changes occur mostly due to change in the aerodynamic flow. There is decreased cilia movement and inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Thickness of inferior turbinate gains importance while septoplasty as, if thickened a lot, the inferior turbinate demands excision. The deviated nasal septum is associated with sinusitis, chronic suppurative otitis media and Eustachian tube dysfunction. Management involves sub mucus resection or septoplasty. Out of the two, septoplasty is preferred as it is a conservative surgery. Only symptomatic and cosmetically grossly disfigured cases require a surgical treatment while the asymptomatic cases are generally not indicated for surgery. This study tries to review the Classification, Clinical Features and Management of Deviated Nasal Septum.