European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology

Bakhshaee, Mehdi; Ghasemi, Mohammad; Shakeri, Mohammad; Razmara, Narjes; Tayarani, Hamid; Tale, Mohammad

doi: 10.1007/s00405-007-0358-1pmid: 17639444

We evaluated the long-term speech intelligibility of young deaf children after cochlear implantation (CI). A prospective study on 47 consecutively implanted deaf children with up to 5 years cochlear implant use was performed. The study was conducted at a pediatric tertiary referral center for CI. All children in the study were deaf prelingually. They each receive implant before the program of auditory verbal therapy. A speech intelligibility rating scale evaluated the spontaneous speech of each child before and at frequent interval for 5 years after implantation. After cochlear implantation, the difference between the speech intelligibility, rating increased significantly each year for 3 years ( P < 0.05). For the first year, the average rating remained “prerecognizable words” or “unintelligible speech”. After 2 year of implantation the children had intelligible speech if someone concentrates and lip-reads (category 3). At the 4- and 5-year interval, 71.5 and 78% of children had intelligible speech to all listeners (category 5), respectively. So, 5 years after rehabilitation mode and median of speech intelligibility rating was five. Congenital and prelingually deaf children gradually develop intelligible speech that does not plateau 5 years after implantation.

Bauer, Miklós; Pytel, József; Vóna, Ida; Gerlinger, Imre

doi: 10.1007/s00405-007-0367-0pmid: 17562058

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the reconstruction of large ossicular chain defects with a combination of ionomer cement and an autogenous cortical bone graft. Different individual solutions are described if at least the handle of the malleus is present: restoration of a large defect of the long process of the incus, formation of the incus body and the long process, and replacement of the missing superstructure of the stapes with a short bone graft standing on the footplate. In a unique case, total reconstruction of the malleus handle was carried out. In further cases where the malleus and the incus were absent, the missing superstucture of the stapes was replaced by a bone graft fixed to the remnant of the anterior crus, supplemented with a cortical bone PORP. Between 1993 and 2005, 84 patients underwent middle ear operations with the use of ionomer cement. In 16 ears (9 males, 7 females), a combination of ionomer cement and autogenous cortical bone graft was used for ossicular reconstruction, with a documented follow-up of at least 6 months to 7 years. All operations were performed under general anesthesia. The components of the cement were mixed by hand and transferred to the bare bone surface with a curved needle. Complex structures were built up step by step. In seven cases, the tympanic membrane was simultaneously reconstructed. The postoperative air–bone gap was < 20 dB in 11/16, 68% of the cases. No columella rejection occurred. The reconstructed malleus handle is still intact, though the hearing has deteriorated. The audiological results are encouraging and a further prospective study is under design in order to analyze the efficacy of the combination of ionomer cement and an autogenous cortical bone graft for ossicular reconstruction. The simultaneous reconstruction of the superstructure of the stapes and the long process of the incus or the whole incus makes PORPs or TORPs superfluous, if at least the handle of the malleus is present.

Ban, Jae; Lee, Jong; Jin, Sung; Lee, Kyung

doi: 10.1007/s00405-007-0370-5pmid: 17598122

This prospective study attempts to explore the effect of glycerol on vestibular evoked myogenic potential (VEMP) in patients with definite unilateral Meniere’s disease (MD) and to investigate whether the test reflects different pathologic states of endolymphatic hydrops (EH) in the inner ear by comparing the results of glycerol pure tone audiometry (PTA). Twenty-eight patients with definite unilateral MD were studied. As a control group, 11 patients with vestibular neuritis were selected. Sixteen ears of normal volunteers were enrolled to acquire normal range of the test. Each MD patient underwent glycerol testing measure with both conventional PTA and VEMP testing. Eleven vestibular neuritis patients also underwent glycerol-VEMP testing. The difference ratio was adopted to compare the changes in p1-n1 amplitude and latency of VEMP after the administration of glycerol (1.3 g/kg). Significant changes in the VEMP wave after the glycerol loading were seen in amplitude, but not in latency with MD patients. On the affected side, the amplitude of the p1-n1 biphasic wave significantly increased in 11 of 28 (39.3%) ears and decreased in 2 (7.1%) ears. On the unaffected side, 5 (17.9%) ears showed significant increase in amplitude. Significant changes in PTA were noted after administration of glycerol in 14 of 28 (50%) patients with MD. However, there was no statistically significant correlation between the test results. Glycerol administration had no significant effect on VEMP in patients with vestibular neuritis. The amplitude of VEMP in some patients with MD was increased, but the latency was not influenced by oral administration of glycerol. The severity of EH appears to vary in different parts of the inner ear. Glycerol-VEMP test results in patients with vestibular neuritis suggest that the VEMP reflects potential abnormality in the sacculocollic pathway, while glycerol-VEMP identifies the existence of EH in the saccule. VEMP and PTA after glycerol administration provide potential status of MD.

Matković, Svjetlana; Vojvodić, Danilo; Baljosevic, Ivan

doi: 10.1007/s00405-007-0373-2pmid: 17643258

Chronic secretory otitis relates to the permanent presence of secretion in the middle ear for more than 3 months. The reason why applied therapy is often ineffective is that, for now, etiopathogenic molecular mechanisms responsible for the cause and the course of the secretory process in the mucus of the middle ear have not been precisely defined. Cytokines are the key mediators in middle ear inflammation with secretory otitis and regulating different inflammation states can add to the cause of the molecular processes that lead to hystopathological changes in mucus and submucus characteristically for the chronic state of secretory otitis. The aim of our work was to define the pro-inflammatory, immunoregulatory and allergy-associated cytokine levels in middle ear secretion samples of diseased children and to compare the defined values with the secretory process continuance in groups of patients who were diseased for more or less than 3 months. According to the results that have showed higher concentration of all ten examined cytokines in the secretion samples of the children who had secretory otitis for a longer time, it can be concluded that the disturbance expression regulation of the pro-inflammatory TNFα, TNFβ, IL1β, IFNγ, IL-6 and IL-8, as well as immunoregulatory IL-2 and IL-10, and allergy associated cytokines IL-4 and IL-5 relating to the hyper production can add to the conversion of the inflammatory process to the chronic state, which has been maintained for longer than 3 months.

Høyvoll, L.; Lunde, K.; Li, Henrik; Dahle, S.; Wentzel-Larsen, T.; Steinsvåg, S.

doi: 10.1007/s00405-007-0345-6pmid: 17530269

Nasal blockage is a common complaint in Family Practice. Decongestive nosedrops are frequently employed therapeutic measures. Due to a considerable risk of abuse and side effects, alternatives are wanted. The purpose of this study was to elucidate to what extent ENDS might represent an alternative to decongestive nose sprays (DNS). The effects of DNS (xylometazolin) and ENDS (BreatheRight ® ) on subjective and objective nasal blockage were compared in 89 patients. Main outcome measures were recordings of nasal symptom scores on visual analogue scales (VAS), minimal cross-sectional areas (MCA) and nasal cavity volumes (NCV) as measured by acoustic rhinometry (AR), and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF). ENDS significantly increased the MCA and the NCV in the anterior 0.0–3.0 cm of the nose compared to DNS, but had no effect on MCA from 3.0 to 5.4 cm behind the nostrils. In contrast to DNS, ENDS had no effect on the posterior NCV. ENDS and DNS gave comparable increase in nasal inspiratory flow as measured by PNIF, and in the subject’s own experience of nasal obstruction. ENDS may represent an alternative to DNS as a measure against nasal blockage.

Biswas, Deb; Crank, Stephen

doi: 10.1007/s00405-007-0350-9pmid: 17611767

A wide variety of lesions and not necessarily a malignant tumour can cause maxillary swelling. Non-specificity of clinical and radiological features of these maxillary lesions makes their diagnosis difficult. Review of literature adds a little regarding the aetiopathological distribution of the various lesions causing maxillary swelling. We present our finding regarding the relative distribution of various conditions causing maxillary swelling. The awareness of the spectrum of pathology related to maxillary swelling is essential for correct diagnosis and treatment. Forty-eight patients who presented with a swelling of the maxilla to our hospital between May 1998 and April 2001 were prospectively studied regarding the clinical presentations, radiological features and histological findings. Maxillary swelling was found to be caused by malignant tumours in 54.2%, benign neoplasms in 22.9% and non-neoplastic lesions in 22.9%. Overall squamous cell carcinoma (22.9%) was the commonest lesion, tumour of vascular origin was the commonest benign neoplasm and odontogenic cyst was the commonest among the non-neoplastic lesions.

Jiang, Wei; Xiao, Jian; Zhao, Su; Xie, Zhi; Zhang, Hua

doi: 10.1007/s00405-007-0360-7pmid: 17549504

The endoscope has recently been used to extensive sellar lesions, but the extended areas of the lesions and operative techniques vary from each study. Here we present our experience with extended endoscopic transseptal transsphenoidal (EETT) approach to 16 patients with extensive sellar lesion and evaluate the feasibility of EETT in different extensive sellar tumor resection. Sixteen patients with extensive sellar lesion were operated by EETT approach in this study. The approach included unilateral posterior septum mucosa resection, posterior septectomy, extended ethmoidectomy and sphenoidoctomy, four tumoral circumferences (bilateral, superior, inferior aspects) isolated and subsequently tumoral removal from outside to inside of the tumors obtained. This surgical procedure is satisfactory for sellar lesion with different juxtasellar extension. After surgery, CT scan and MR image showed that total removal of the tumor was achieved in 10 patients. Six patients who received subtotal resection were treated with postoperative radiation therapy or gamma knife surgery. Two patients developed postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak that was successfully managed by conservative treatment within 6 days after surgery. No other new postoperative endocrinological or neurological defects occurred. Six months to 5 years follow up indicated that all 16 patients with the visual disturbances and 4 patients with endocrine impairments have recovered or improved. One patient with malignant meningioma died due to recurrence of the tumor 2 years postoperation. Another one patient with malignant inverted papilloma recurred 1 year postoperation and underwent operation and radiation therapy again. The EETT approach might better facilitate the removal of different extensive sellar lesions with maximal preservation of important anatomical structures and nasal function.

Anzic, Srdjan; Dzepina, Davor; Kalogjera, Livije

doi: 10.1007/s00405-007-0368-zpmid: 17618447

Patients with allergic rhinitis demonstrate hyperreactive response in distilled water nasal provocation, shown by significant increase in nasal airway resistance (NAR). Antihistamines, including topical antihistamine, levocabastine, reduce response in non-specific nasal provocation tests. Furosemide is a diuretic which reduces hyperreactivity in lower airways, but the mode of its action is not yet fully understood. In this study, we hypothesized that either levocabastine or furosemide pre-treatment in allergic rhinitis patients reduced response to nasal challenge with non-isotonic aerosol. To test the hypothesis, we measured the effect of pre-treatment with levocabastine and furosemide in topical application on suppression of hyperreactive response to distilled water nasal inhalation. Nasal resistance was measured, prior to and after the provocation, by active anterior rhinomanometry in two randomized groups of patients, according to pre-treatment, either by levocabastine or furosemide, 20 patients in each group, respectively. Nasal airflow resistance and level of hyperreactive response considering nasal eosinophilia were tested. Significant increase in nasal resistance following provocation was found at baseline conditions (without pre-medication); pre-treatment with levocabastine and furosemide has suppressed such response. Patients with positive nasal eosinophilia showed a significantly higher increase in nasal resistance compared to those with negative smears. Furosemide has shown significantly better protective effect on nasal resistance increase in patients with positive eosinophils nasal smears. Levocabastine and furosemide pre-treatment suppress hyperreactive response to distilled water nasal provocation. Comparison of resistances (pre-treatment vs. without) showed more protective effect of furosemide, measured on both better and worse patent side of nose, in contrast to levocabastine group for which it was shown only on better patent side prior to provocation. Protection of furosemide was significantly more pronounced in patients with significant nasal eosinophilia.

Haderlein, Tino; Nöth, Elmar; Toy, Hikmet; Batliner, Anton; Schuster, Maria; Eysholdt, Ulrich; Hornegger, Joachim; Rosanowski, Frank

doi: 10.1007/s00405-007-0363-4pmid: 17571273

In comparison with laryngeal voice, substitute voice after laryngectomy is characterized by restricted aero-acoustic properties. Until now, an objective means of prosodic differences between substitute and normal voices does not exist. In a pilot study, we applied an automatic prosody analysis module to 18 speech samples of laryngectomees (age: 64.2 ± 8.3 years) and 18 recordings of normal speakers of the same age (65.4 ± 7.6 years). Ninety-five different features per word based upon the speech energy, fundamental frequency F 0 and duration measures on words, pauses and voiced/voiceless sections were measured. These reflect aspects of loudness, pitch and articulation rate. Subjective evaluation of the 18 patients’ voices was performed by a panel of five experts on the criteria “noise”, “speech effort”, “roughness”, “intelligibility”, “match of breath and sense units” and “overall quality”. These ratings were compared to the automatically computed features. Several of them could be identified being twice as high for the laryngectomees compared to the normal speakers, and vice versa. Comparing the evaluation data of the human experts and the automatic rating, correlation coefficients of up to 0.84 were measured. The automatic analysis serves as a good means to objectify and quantify the global speech outcome of laryngectomees. Even better results are expected when both the computation of the features and the comparison method to the human ratings will have been revised and adapted to the special properties of the substitute voices.

Saarinen, Antti; Sovijärvi, Anssi; Karhumäki, Lauri; Rihkanen, Heikki

doi: 10.1007/s00405-007-0385-ypmid: 17639442

Injection laryngoplasty restores voice in subjects with unilateral vocal fold paralysis, but knowledge of its effects on airflow dynamics is limited. Impulse oscillometry (IOS) is a non-invasive technique to investigate airway resistance. It is easily performed during normal breathing. A prospective study was conducted in order to investigate the effects of autologous fascia injection on airflow dynamics. IOS, flow-volume spirometry, acoustic analysis of voice, voice handicap index (VHI) questionnaire and subjective dyspnoea score were recorded before and 5–11 months after the operation. There was no significant change in respiratory resistance (Rres) or other variables of IOS. FEV1/FVC decreased from 0.80 to 0.77 ( P = 0.02), but other variables of spirometry did not change significantly. Acoustic properties of voice (noise-to-harmonics ratio, shimmer, jitter, maximal phonation time) and VHI improved significantly. No change in dyspnoea occurred. In conclusion, medializing of a paralysed vocal fold improves voice, but does not have a clinically significant adverse effect on breathing. Flow-volume spirometry is more sensitive than IOS to changes in airflow dynamics after medialization.