February 1, 2009 Michael M. Paparella, MD
December 1, 2008 Serdar Karahatay, MD, Yavuz Fuat Yilmaz, MD, Hakan Birkent, MD, Hakan Ay, MD, and Bulent Satar, MD
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Abstract
We conducted a prospective study to determine the incidence of middle ear barotrauma in patients who were undergoing hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT). We also investigated the value of the nine-step inflation/deflation test and otoscopic findings before and immediately after the initial HBOT session in predicting barotrauma in an attempt to establish some criteria for prophylaxis. The study was conducted on 36 ears of 18 adults who had no history of eustachian tube dysfunction. Patients were being treated with HBOT for sudden hearing loss, wound-healing complications, or complications of diabetes. After 7 days of HBOT, barotrauma was seen in 12 of the 18 patients (66.7%) and in 18 of the 36 ears (50.0%). The nine-step inflation/deflation tests, which were performed before and immediately after the initial HBOT session, were not predictive of barotrauma (p = 0.095 before and p = 0.099 after). However, otoscopic findings obtained immediately after the first session of HBOT were predictive of barotrauma, with a sensitivity and specificity of 83 and 100%, respectively. We conclude that patients with even minor positive pathologic findings on otoscopy immediately following HBOT are at increased risk of middle ear barotrauma if HBOT is to be continued without prophylaxis.
October 31, 2008 Maroun T. Semaan, MD and Jose N. Fayad, MD
June 30, 2008 James R. Tysome, MA, MRCS, Jonny Harcourt, MA, FRCS, Manish C. Patel, FRCR, Ann Sandison, FRCPath, and Leslie Michaels, MD, FRCPath
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Abstract
Aggressive papillary tumors of the middle ear are rare, and their true origin is not clear. We describe the clinical, radiologic, genetic, and histopathologic features of a papillary epithelial tumor filling the middle ear of a 68-year-old woman. Imaging revealed no evidence of petrous temporal bone apex involvement, nor did genetic studies demonstrate the von Hippel-Lindau mutation. A literature search revealed 24 previously reported cases of such a papillary epithelial tumor of the middle ear. All except 2 cases demonstrated apical petrous temporal bone invasion on imaging, and it has been suggested that they arose from a primary endolymphatic sac tumor, which has a similar papillary epithelial histology. Substantial numbers of cases of papillary epithelial tumors involving the middle ear are reported to be associated with von Hippel-Lindau disease, as are known cases of endolymphatic sac tumor. This is the third reported case of papillary epithelial tumor of the middle ear that does not show apical petrous temporal bone invasion on imaging, suggesting that such neoplasms do not always arise from a primary in the endolymphatic sac.
June 30, 2008 Marc K. Bassim, MD and Jose N. Fayad, MD
April 30, 2008 Eric P. Wilkinson, MD and Rick A. Friedman, MD, PhD
March 31, 2008 Adnan Safdar, FRCS, Joseph P. Hughes, FRCS, and Rory McConn Walsh, FRCS
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Abstract
We report the case of a 34-year-old man with pulsatile tinnitus and a reddish mass in the anteroinferior quadrant of the middle ear. Physical examination and imaging were unable to establish a diagnosis, so an exploratory tympanotomy was performed. Exploration revealed the presence of an ectatic aberrant internal carotid artery in the middle ear. Aberrations of the internal carotid artery in the middle ear are rare. Even so, our case is unusual in that all initial investigations had failed to establish the diagnosis. This case highlights the limitations of modern imaging techniques in certain situations.
February 1, 2008 Kavadi T. Rajkumar, MBBS, DLO, Ahmed A. Orabi, FRCS, MSc, and Michael S. Timms, FRCS
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Abstract
Spontaneous leak of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) into the middle ear occurs rarely and can easily be missed, especially in adults. Although the presenting symptoms can be subtle, early suspicion and confirmatory imaging can establish the diagnosis. Most previously reported cases of spontaneous CSF leak into the middle ear occurred on the right side. We report a case of left-sided single-defect spontaneous leak.
January 1, 2008 Thabet Abbarah, MD, FACS and M. Aiman Abbarah, MD
October 31, 2007 Arthur H. Allen, DO
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Abstract
A retrospective chart review was conducted at a community-based hospital to determine whether intravenous access is necessary during the performance of myringotomy with tube insertion. The study included 50 pediatric patients divided equally into 2 groups: group 1, who did not have intravenous access established before the procedure, and group 2, who did have intravenous access established. To be enrolled, patients in both groups had to be ≤12 years of age, have an American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification of P1 or P2, and had to have undergone no adjunctive procedure with the myringotomy. Induction time was significantly shorter in group 1 (average: 6.96 ± 2.72 minutes) than in group 2 (average: 9.80 ± 3.82 minutes; p = 0.004). Operating time and total operating room time were not significantly different between the two groups. Additionally, 24 of 25 patients in group 1 had their pain managed with acetaminophen or no medication at all, while 9 of 25 group 2 patients received acetaminophen and 13 received intravenous pain medication. Interestingly, no patients in group 1 required antiemetics, whereas 4 patients in group 2, who were given intravenous or intramuscular narcotics, received antiemetic medications. These findings indicate that myringotomy with tube insertion can be safely accomplished without establishing intravenous access. Induction times and time under general anesthesia were significantly increased when intravenous access was obtained. The findings also suggest that acetaminophen provides adequate postoperative pain control in this patient population and that the use of intravenous or intramuscular narcotics increases the risk of postoperative nausea.
