The surgical treatment to repair chronic tympanic membrane perforations is myringoplasty. Although multiple autologous grafts, allografts, and synthetic graft materials have been used over the years, ...no single graft material is superior for repairing all perforation types. Recently, the remarkable properties of silk fibroin protein have been studied, with biomedical and tissue engineering applications in mind, across a number of medical and surgical disciplines. The present study examines the use of silk fibroin for its potential suitability as an alternative graft in myringoplasty surgery by investigating the growth and proliferation of human tympanic membrane keratinocytes on a silk fibroin scaffold in vitro. Light microscopy, immunofluorescent staining, and confocal imaging all reveal promising preliminary results. The biocompatibility, transparency, stability, high tensile strength, and biodegradability of fibroin make this biomaterial an attractive option to study for this utility.
Abstract Objective Myringotomy and tympanostomy tube insertion (MT) is a common surgical procedure. Although surgical simulation has proven to be an effective training tool, an anatomically sound ...simulation model for MT is lacking. We developed such a model and assessed its impact on the operating room performance of senior medical students. Study design Prospective randomized trial. Methods A randomized single-blind controlled study of simulation training with the MT model versus no simulation training. Each participant was randomized to either the simulation model group or control group, after performing an initial MT procedure. Within two weeks of the first procedure, the students performed a second MT. All procedures were performed on real patients and rated with a Global Rating Scale by two attending otolaryngologists. Time to complete the MT was also recorded. Results Twenty-four senior medical students were enrolled. Control and intervention groups did not differ at baseline on their Global Rating Scale score or time to complete the MT procedure. Following simulation training, the study group received significantly higher scores ( P = .005) and performed the MT procedure in significantly less time ( P = .034). The control group did not improve their performance scores ( P > .05) or the time to complete the procedure ( P > .05). Conclusion Our surgical simulation model shows promise for being a valuable teaching tool for MT for senior medical students. Such anatomically appropriate physical simulators may benefit teaching of junior trainees.
This study investigated the performance of a cartilage slicer device referred to as the 'Hacettepe cartilage slicer'.
Forty-one cartilage pieces were harvested from eight fresh frozen human ears and ...measured in thickness with a digital micrometer. These pieces were randomly sliced using four different thickness settings and two different types of blades. The thicknesses of the slices and remaining pieces were measured also. Scanning electron microscopy was utilised to determine the surface smoothness of the slices.
Thickness results showed a proportional increase with the increasing thickness setting, with a ±0.1 mm margin of error. The measurements showed that over 95 per cent of the slices' structural integrity was preserved. Although both blades provided satisfactory results, scanning electron microscopy revealed that the slices cut with a single bevel blade had superior surface smoothness.
To our knowledge, the current study is the first to evaluate the performance of a cartilage slicer device. Based on the thickness results, the Hacettepe cartilage slicer fulfilled its design goals: to consistently produce slices at the intended thickness with a ±0.1 mm tolerance, and to preserve over 95.3 per cent of cartilage thickness thereby ensuring undamaged, strong cartilage slices.
The aim of this study is to evaluate whether closure of a tympanic membrane perforation with an intact ossicular chain results in a closure of the air-bone gap.
Prospectively collected data from 154 ...patients undergoing temporalis fascia myringoplasty for chronic otitis media simplex were identified.
Tertiary referral center.
Between 2001 and 2009, overall, 106 patients with a central tympanic membrane perforation and, an intact ossicular chain were further analyzed.
All patients underwent myringoplasty using temporalis fascia in an underlay technique.
Comparison of the preoperative and postoperative hearing results in patients undergoing myringoplasty for chronic otitis media simplex.
The mean postoperative air-bone gap (ABG) was 8.2 dB for the frequencies 0.5 to 4 kHz. Eighty-three patients (78%) showed postoperatively a mean ABG of 10 dB or lower. The ABG difference (improvement) was statistically significant for each single frequency (0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 kHz) (p < 0.0001). There is a linear correlation between the preoperative tympanic membrane perforation size and the postoperative ABG (p = 0.0017) for the frequencies 0.5 to 4 kHz. No statistical significant correlation was seen between the state of the middle-ear mucosa, temporal bone pneumatization, tympanometric middle-ear/mastoid volume, and the postoperative ABG.
Complete ABG closure by myringoplasty could be achieved in only approximately 20% of the cases. 80% respectively presented with a mean residual ABG of 8 dB. We found a significant linear correlation between the preoperative size of the tympanic membrane perforation and the postoperative ABG, whereas mastoid volume, temporal bone pneumatization, and the condition of the mucosa did not affect the outcome.
Tympanoplasty in children is a current and controversial theme. The success of tympanoplasty traditionally has been measured only by the post-operative integrity of the graft. Yet, there are other ...variables that may be used to determine success. The objectives of the present work were to analyze which factors are predictive of successful tympanoplasty in pediatric patients and to construct and validate a prognostic index that could be used as a tool to predict the success of tympanoplasty in children.
Department of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology, tertiary-care hospital, Mexico City.
Forty-eight patients, who were older that five years of age, had persistent perforation of the tympanic membrane, and had undergone tympanoplasty (January 2005-June 2008), were followed for a year.
The factors tested for their value as predictors were the following: age at time of surgery, state of contralateral ear, previous adenoidectomy, cause of perforation, size of perforation, infection at the time of surgery, state of mucosa, age at first occurrence of perforation, presence of craniofacial dysmorphia, and surgical technique. These factors were compared with the criterion, success, which was defined as attaining three positive outcomes: 1) integrity of the implant or membrane; 2) minimum of 10-dB gain in the auditory threshold or, in the case of normal hearing, conservation of same; and 3) air-filled space in the middle ear. The best model was obtained through logistic regression analysis; the model was validated.
The most balanced prediction model was that in which the three success criteria were included, with age, surgical technique, and infection at surgery being excluded as variables. The additional 12 pediatric cases used in the validation had a probability of success >0.425 (best cut-off level); two patients (17%) had poor evolution.
This is the first study that validated a predictive index of the result of tympanoplasty in children. This index predicted 81% of the successful outcomes.
As a graft material cartilage produces an excellent anatomical result with a low risk of re-perforation. However, there is a controversy among surgeons regarding its sound conduction properties, due ...to the thickness and stiffness of the cartilage. The aim of this study was to evaluate results of cartilage type I tympanoplasty and to compare anatomic and audiologic results in pediatric and adult patients. Patients with chronic otitis media who underwent cartilage type I tympanoplasty were evaluated retrospectively. Patient age, gender, pre and postoperative hearing levels, surgical technique and postoperative complications were recorded. Hearing outcomes of the patients were measured with tonal audiometry by comparing the pre and postoperative hearing threshold calculated at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 kHz. Graft success rates and hearing outcomes of the pediatric and adult patients were compared. Of the 136 patients included in the study, 58 were male and 78 were female. The average age was 25.03. Forty-five patients were ≤16-year old and 91 patients were >16-year old. Intact graft was determined in 41 of 45 pediatric patients and 85 of 91 adult patients at the last follow-up visit. The overall graft success rate was 92.6 %. The mean pre and postoperative pure-tone average was 34.8 ± 8.5 and 23.4 ± 9.1 dB in adult patients, and 30.6 ± 7.7 and 17.8 ± 7.8 dB in pediatric patients. Cartilage graft provides a quite satisfactory anatomical result and perfect stability. Hearing outcomes of cartilage tympanoplasty are also acceptable in both children and adult patients.
To reveal the age distribution and capture the longitudinal trend in otolaryngological surgeries performed in Japan, where society is rapidly aging.
Using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination ...database, we extracted data on patients who were hospitalized and underwent any type of otolaryngological surgery in departments of otolaryngology or head and neck surgery from fiscal year 2007 to fiscal year 2013. Type of surgery, patient’s age, and fiscal year were compared. We categorized >200 types of surgeries into eight specialties: ear surgery, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), other types of paranasal surgery (except for malignancy), head and neck cancer surgery, benign tumor surgery, upper airway surgery (including pharynx and larynx), removal of foreign body, and other.
In total, 558,732 patients were included. The proportions of patients in each age category formed two peaks in middle age and in children aged ≤9years. The proportion of all surgeries made up by FESS, other paranasal surgery, benign tumor surgery, and head and neck cancer surgery gradually increased with age, forming a peak in patients in their 60s. The proportion of ear surgery was highest in patients aged ≤9years (34.0% of all surgeries, mostly myringotomy and transtympanic ventilation tube insertion) and formed a gradual peak in patients in their 60s (mostly tympanoplasty). The proportion of upper airway surgery (tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy) was highest in patients aged ≤9years (25.3% of all surgeries). The proportion of foreign body removal was highest in patients aged ≤9years (52.2% of all surgeries) and increased slightly with age. In 2013, compared with 2007, those aged 65–74 years and ≥75years made up a larger percentage of patients undergoing each specific surgery, including tympanoplasty, stapedectomy/stapedotomy, FESS, head and neck cancer surgery, pharyngolaryngectomy, total/subtotal glossectomy, thyroid lobectomy, parotidectomy (for a benign tumor), submandibular gland resection, tonsillectomy, and vocal fold polypectomy.
The age distribution of otolaryngological surgeries varied by specialty. We found an increased proportion of patients aged 65–74 and ≥75years in most specific surgeries.
To analyze the therapeutic effect of endoscopic myringoplasty.
A retrospective analysis of 523 patients with chronic otitis media who underwent endoscopic myringoplasty between June 2016 and June ...2017 in eight tertiary hospitals in China. Among all the patients, 256 were male and 267 were female, aged from 18 to 68 years old. The grafts used to repair the tympanic membrane were all tragus cartilage-perichondrium complex. All patients were followed up at 1 month, 3 months, 6 months, 9 months, and 12 months after surgery, at least 3 months. The closure rate of tympanic membrane perforation by different factors, the hearing results, and the incidence of postoperative complications were analyzed. SPSS 21.0 software was used to analyze the data.
Three months after operation, the closure rates of anterior, inferior, posterior and subtotal perforation were 92.4% (109/118), 94.9% (93/98), 95.6% (129/135), and 89.0% (153/172) respectively, the difference was not statistically significant (χ(2)=5.779,
0.123). The closu
This prospective study evaluated the effects of continuous sedation using midazolam, with or without remifentanil, on postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing myringoplasty.
...Sixty patients undergoing myringoplasty were sedated with midazolam in the presence of remifentanil (group MR), or after saline injection instead of remifentanil (group M).
Three patients (10%) in group M complained of nausea; two vomited. Four patients (13%) in group MR complained of nausea and vomited within 24 h after surgery. Rescue drugs were given to the six patients who vomited. No significant difference was detected between the two groups regarding the incidence or severity of nausea, incidence of vomiting, or need for rescue drugs.
Midazolam-based continuous sedation can reduce PONV after myringoplasty. Compared with midazolam alone, midazolam with remifentanil produced no difference in the incidence or severity of nausea, incidence of vomiting, or need for rescue drugs.