The immediate effect of adenotonsillectomy on Eustachian tube function in children

Tympanoplasty can be Concurrent with Adenoidectomy. Tube Factor Assessment

To assess changes in middle ear pressures following adenotonsillectomies in children, and to evaluate the possibility of performing tympanoplasty at the same surgical time. Prospective study in which tube function was assessed using tympanometry on the first postoperative day and on the seventh postoperative day after adenotonsillectomies. A total of 39 children aged 6.8 ± 2.6 years were evaluated. On the first postoperative day, 79.5% presented with changes in middle ear pressure. On the seventh postoperative day, only 12.8% maintained this change. Tube dysfunction following adenotonsillectomy is transient and would not preclude an associated tympanoplasty from being performed, thereby reducing costs and risks related to the surgical procedure.

Individualized Homeopathic Medicines in the Management of Symptomatic Adenotonsillar Hypertrophy in Children: A Prospective Observational Study

BACKGROUND

Globally, adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is one of the most prevalent upper respiratory tract disorders of children, with associated troublesome symptoms such as sleep apnea and cognitive disturbances. In this study, we evaluated the potential role of individualized homeopathic medicines in the management of symptomatic ATH in children.

METHODS

A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted at five institutes under the Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy, India. Primary and secondary outcomes (symptom score for adenoids, other symptoms of ATH, Mallampati score, tonsillar size, Sleep-Related Breathing Disorder of the Paediatric Sleep Questionnaire [SRBD-PSQ]) were assessed through standardized questionnaires at baseline and at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. Radiological investigations for assessing the adenoid/nasopharyngeal (A/N) ratio were carried out at baseline, 6 and 12 months. All analyses were carried out using an intention-to-treat approach.

RESULTS

A total of 340 children were screened and 202 children suffering from ATH were enrolled and followed up monthly for 12 months. Each patient received individualized homeopathic treatment based on the totality of symptoms. Statistically significant reductions in adenoid symptom score, Mallampati score (including tonsillar size), SRBD-PSQ sleep quality assessment and A/N ratio were found over time up to 12 months (p < 0.001). Homeopathic medicines frequently indicated were Calcarea carbonicum, Phosphorus, Silicea, Sulphur, Calcarea phosphoricum, Pulsatilla, Lycopodium and Tuberculinum. No serious adverse events were recorded during the study period.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that homeopathic medicines may play a beneficial role in the management of symptomatic ATH in children. Well-designed comparative trials are warranted.

Different techniques of adenoidectomy and its impact on middle ear pressure: a randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this work is to compare between different techniques of adenoidectomy: endoscopic microdebrider-assisted, coblation and conventional adenoidectomy and its effect on middle ear pressure.

BACKGROUND

Adenoidectomy, either alone or with tonsillectomy, is considered among the most performed procedures in pediatric otorhinolaryngology. This procedure usually related to the Eustachian tube function and middle ear status. Eustachian tube dysfunction is mainly caused by mechanical obstruction of the tubal orifice, insufficient swallowing and inflammation in the nasopharyngeal mucosa.

METHODS

This prospective randomized study was conducted on 90 patients with symptomatic adenoid hypertrophy confirmed by nasopharyngeal X-ray and endoscopic grading preoperatively. Patients were admitted at Otorhinolaryngology department of our institute during the period from January 2022 to January 2023. They were divided into three groups that were operated either by conventional (Group I), endoscopic microdebrider (Group II), or coblation technique (Group III). Each group was assessed through the audiometric parameters plus postoperative bleeding, and VAS results for pain score and postoperative endoscopic grading for adenoid recurrence.

RESULTS

Mean age in group A was 9.03 years and in group B was 8.99 years and was 8.99 years in group C with insignificant differences between three groups. There is significant improvement of tympanographic results comparing all groups of the patients at 6 months postoperatively. There is significant relation between the mean VAS comparing preoperative and postoperative results.

CONCLUSION

There are better results in tympanographic data at conventional adenoidectomy versus other techniques. However, there are also better postoperative results after either coblation or endoscopic microdebrider adenoidectomy over the conventional technique.

Evaluation of Auditory Changes in Patients Undergoing Temporomandibular Joint Discectomy

PURPOSE

Discectomy is 1 of the preferred TMJ surgical procedure for the treatment of internal derangements when conservative and minimally invasive treatments have failed. The purpose of the current study is to investigate whether a TMJ discectomy operation influences auditory function and clinical variables.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This prospective study was composed of patients who underwent a TMJ discectomy operation between 2016 and 2020. Auditory function was evaluated with pure tone audiometry, tympanometry, and acoustic reflex tests at preoperatively (T₀), postoperative first week (T₁), first month (T₂), and third month (T₃). Clinical parameters including maximum mouth opening (MMO) and TMJ pain were also evaluated at T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃, and sixth month (T₄).

RESULTS

The study consisted of 17 patients (5 males, 12 females) with a mean age of 42.65. A significant reduction in VAS pain scores and MMO values compared to baseline values was achieved in all follow up periods (P^T0-T1= .001; P^T0-T2/T3/T4 < .001). In pure tone audiometry, a significant increase in T₁-T₀ comparisons at 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, 6000 Hz, 8000 Hz frequencies, and pure tone average (P = .008; P = .005; P = .012; P = .002; P = .001) was observed. In T₃-T₀ comparisons, a statistically significant decrease was observed in pure tone thresholds at 125 Hz and 8000 Hz frequencies (P = .008; P = .01). There was no statistically significant difference in middle ear pressure and compliance values at T₁, T₂, and T₃ compared to T₀ (P ˃ .05). Type C tympanogram was seen in 3 patients at T₁ and in 1 patient at T₂. Acoustic reflex tests were positive in all patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Although mild changes occurred in auditory tests in the early postoperative period, TMJ discectomy procedure has no permanent effect on auditory function.

Curettage adenoidectomy versus endoscopic microdebrider adenoidectomy in children: A randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Adenoidectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures with different techniques and technologies. Although curettage adenoidectomy (CA) has been practiced conventionally for many years, endoscopic microdebrider adenoidectomy (EMA) has emerged as an innovative surgical method. Comparing physiological effects, efficacy and safety of the endoscopic microdebrider adenoidectomy (EMA) and curettage adenoidectomy (CA) in pediatric population is aimed with this prospective, single-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

METHODS

Sixty pediatric patients with type-A tympanogram according to Jerger classification in both ears before surgery were randomly assigned to receive the CA (n = 30) and the EMA (n = 30). Tympanometry evaluation for each ear was performed the day before surgery firstly and was repeated on days 1, 7 and 14 after surgery. Intraoperative time, complications during and after the operation were recorded. Postoperative pain was also evaluated for 10 days postoperatively.

RESULTS

Tympanometric evaluation revealed significantly reduced middle ear peak pressure levels with the EMA than with the CA for each ear on day 1 after surgery and for only left ear on day 7 after surgery (P < 0.05). In addition, statistically significant reduced pain scores in postoperative first 3 days were related to the EMA (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the methods in terms of duration of surgery and complications.

CONCLUSION

According to findings from this study, the EMA procedure may be as safe and rapid as the CA. Furthermore, the EMA may be more controlled and less invasive to the surrounding tissues. Further studies are advised to support these data.

Comparison between curettage adenoidectomy and endoscopic-assisted microdebrider adenoidectomy in terms of Eustachian tube dysfunction

Introduction

Adenoidectomy can be performed with many ways, including curettage and microdebrider endoscopic-assisted adenoidectomy. Those two techniques have advantages and disadvantages.

Objective

The objective of this study is to research the effects of curettage adenoidectomy and endoscopic-assisted microdebrider adenoidectomy on the tympanum pressures in pediatric patients with adenoid hypertrophy without otitis media with effusion.

Methods

This prospective descriptive study was performed with 65 patients who had a normal tympanic membrane and normal tympanogram and then underwent adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy for adenoid and tonsil hypertrophy. The subjects were randomly divided into two groups: curettage adenoidectomy group and endoscopic microdebrider-assisted adenoidectomy group. They underwent tympanometry, and the preoperative as well as 1st and 7th day postoperative values of the tympanum pressures were compared within and among the groups.

Results

There were 32 patients in the curettage adenoidectomy group and 33 patients in the microdebrider adenoidectomy group. Statistically significant differences were observed in the median tympanum pressure on the preoperative and 1st and 7th postoperative days for both the left and right ears with curettage adenoidectomy (p < 0.001, p < 0.001). This difference occurred on the 1st postoperative day, and the value returned to normal on the 7th day. There was no significant difference in the median tympanum pressure on the preoperative and 1st and 7th postoperative days for both the left and right ears in the microdebrider adenoidectomy group (p = 0.376, p = 0.128).

Conclusion

Postoperative Eustachian tube dysfunction is seen less often with the endoscopic-assisted microdebrider adenoidectomy technique than with the conventional adenoidectomy technique.