Congenital CMV infection following a CMV PCR negative amniotic fluid result

Cytomegalovirus DNA PCR testing on amniotic fluid is a routine method to determine if a foetus is CMV-infected (congenital CMV infection, cCMV) following a diagnosis of maternal primary CMV infection. However, a negative CMV PCR result on an amniotic fluid sample taken at one time-point does not always preclude foetal CMV infection later in pregnancy, in the context of ongoing maternal CMV viremia. Here we describe a case of confirmed congenital CMV (cCMV) infection, diagnosed at birth in a baby, following a negative CMV PCR result on an amniotic fluid taken at 25 + 1/40 gestation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Effect of anaesthetic agents on tympanometry and middle-ear effusions

Following informed parental consent 93 children underwent bilateral grommet insertion. Tympanometry was performed pre-operatively, and immediately prior to myringotomy. A standardized anaesthetic was used. At myringotomy the presence or absence of fluid was recorded, as well as the time since induction of the general anaesthetic. A pre-operative type B tympanogram predicted a middle-ear effusion at myringotomy in 92 per cent of patients. A pre-operative type C2 tympanogram predicted a middle-ear effusion at myringotomy in 39 per cent of patients. Sixty tympanograms (30 per cent) changed following a general anaesthetic. Fourteen type B tympanograms changed to type A and eight of these had effusions. The duration of the general anaesthetic did not influence the probability of a middle-ear effusion being present at myringotomy. A pre-operative type B tympanogram is a good predictor of middle-ear fluid. The duration of the general anaesthetic is not significant in predicting the presence of a middle-ear effusion.

Do ventilated packs reduce post-operative eustachian tube dysfunction?

Nasal packing is associated with post-operative Eustachian tube dysfunction in patients undergoing nasal surgical procedures. The effect of cannulated nasal packs which may improve nasopharyngeal ventilation was investigated in a prospective randomized controlled trial. Adult elective patients without tympanometric evidence of pre-operative Eustachian tube dysfunction were recruited. All subjects underwent single or combined intranasal surgical procedures and were randomized to receive either bilateral cannulated or non-cannulated Merocel nasal packs. Middle ear pressures (MEP) were recorded pre-operatively and post-operatively before nasal pack removal. Left and right ear results were amalgamated for analysis and 40 adults, 20 in each group were analysed. There was no difference in pre-operative MEP, -15 dPa (median value) in both groups. Post-operatively the MEP changed in both groups P < 0.0001. There was no significant inter group difference in the post-operative median MEP, -85 dPa in the cannulated and -70 dPa in the control groups, (95% c.i. for the difference in the medians -25-55 dPa). Nasal surgery with post-operative packing leads to an objective reduction in MEP which is not altered by venting the packs.