Karin Strömbäck

Surgical treatment of adult cholesteatoma: long-term follow-up using total reconstruction procedure without staging

Abstract Conclusions: A total of 330 cases of adult cholesteatoma were operated with canal-wall down (CWD) and total reconstruction procedure (TRP) without staging. Independent of preoperative middle ear conditions, cholesteatoma extent and localization, long-term improvement of hearing with a low incidence of residual and recurrent disease were achieved. Objectives: To evaluate long-term surgical and hearing results using a well-defined surgical technique without staging in adult cholesteatoma. Methods: The same CWD surgical technique, including obliteration of the mastoid cavity, reconstruction of the canal wall, and ossiculoplasty with autologous bone, was used by three senior surgeons (1982–2004). Preoperative and postoperative pure tone average (PTA) for air conduction (AC), bone conduction (BC), and air–bone gap (ABG) were assessed and compared 1, 3, and 6 years after surgery. Various prognostic factors with potential influence on long-term hearing outcome were evaluated. Results: Recurrence of AC occurred in 10%, residual disease in 3%. Six years after surgery all patients except one had a dry ear and over 92% of all cases were water resistant. Three patients developed complete deafness. Long-lasting improvement and/or preservation of hearing, with maintenance of PTA-ABG closure in 68% of all cases within 20 dB, were obtained. Sixty-four (19%) ossicular revisions were performed.

Non-echo planar diffusion-weighted MRI increases follow-up accuracy after one-step step canal wall-down obliteration surgery for cholesteatoma

Abstract Conclusion: Non-echo planar (non-EPI) diffusion-weighted (DW) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) increases the number of detected cholesteatoma after one-step canal wall-down (CWD) obliteration surgery for cholesteatoma compared with clinical evaluation alone. Objective: To evaluate the use of DW-MRI for detection of cholesteatoma after surgical treatment using a CWD obliteration technique. Methods: Thirty-eight adult patients (41 ears) treated with an identical one-step CWD obliteration surgical technique were included in a prospective and blinded study. All patients were investigated with non-EPI and EPI DW-MRI 1–9 months after the clinical examination. Follow-up time after primary surgery varied between 10 and 234 months. DW-MRI was assessed by two neuroradiologists and compared with clinical results. Inter-rater agreement was calculated. Positive non-EPI DW-MRI cases underwent revision surgery within 18–159 days after imaging. Results: Seven of 41 cases were evaluated as positive for cholesteatoma on non-EPI DW-MRI. Since one patient refused surgery six of these seven cases underwent surgical revision and all were verified. There was agreement between clinical and non-EPI findings in five of eight cases. EPI findings correlated poorly with non-EPI and clinical findings. Inter-rater agreement (Cohens kappa) was 0.91 for non-EPI DW-MRI (p < 0.001) and –0.062 for EPI DW-MRI (p = 0.43)

High frequency hearing following stapes surgery

Abstract Conclusion: Our results indicate that a pre-existing sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is not a potential risk factor for further hearing loss in stapes surgery. Objective: The study evaluated whether pre-existing SNHL in otosclerosis constitutes a risk factor for further hearing loss in stapedotomy. Methods: Preoperative and postoperative audiometric evaluation including air (AC) and bone conduction (BC) hearing levels were assessed together with collection of surgical records from 338 consecutively operated cases for primary otosclerosis using a database. Patients were operated by the same surgeon between 2000 and 2006. In all, 291 patients were operated on 1 side and 47 patients were operated on both sides. Ages ranged from 16 to 76 years. Stapedotomy was performed in all cases except five (stapedectomy). Cases were separated into four different groups based on preoperative AC hearing levels at 4, 6, and 8 kHz: group I, <30 dB HL; group II, 30–50 dB HL; group III, 51–70 dB HL; group IV, >70 dB HL). Results: Hearing deterioration at 4, 6, and 8 kHz (>10 dB) was observed in 6.5% of all cases. Patients with normal preoperative hearing were found to be more prone to further SNHL 4, 6, and 8 kHz (range 13–25 dB) at surgery, while patients in group IV, with preoperative SNHL impairment, remained unaffected.

A Randomised, Double Blind Trial of N-Acetylcysteine for Hearing Protection during Stapes Surgery

Background Otosclerosis is a disorder that impairs middle ear function, leading to conductive hearing loss. Surgical treatment results in large improvement of hearing at low sound frequencies, but high-frequency hearing often suffers. A likely reason for this is that inner ear sensory cells are damaged by surgical trauma and loud sounds generated during the operation. Animal studies have shown that antioxidants such as N-Acetylcysteine can protect the inner ear from noise, surgical trauma, and some ototoxic substances, but it is not known if this works in humans. This trial was performed to determine whether antioxidants improve surgical results at high frequencies. Methods We performed a randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled parallel group clinical trial at three Swedish university clinics. Using block-stratified randomization, 156 adult patients undergoing stapedotomy were assigned to intravenous N-Acetylcysteine (150 mg/kg body weight) or matching placebo (1:1 ratio), starting one hour before surgery. The primary outcome was the hearing threshold at 6 and 8 kHz; secondary outcomes included the severity of tinnitus and vertigo. Findings One year after surgery, high-frequency hearing had improved 2.7 ± 3.8 dB in the placebo group (67 patients analysed) and 2.4 ± 3.7 dB in the treated group (72 patients; means ± 95% confidence interval, p = 0.54; linear mixed model). Surgery improved tinnitus, but there was no significant intergroup difference. Post-operative balance disturbance was common but improved during the first year, without significant difference between groups. Four patients receiving N-Acetylcysteine experienced mild side effects such as nausea and vomiting. Conclusions N-Acetylcysteine has no effect on hearing thresholds, tinnitus, or balance disturbance after stapedotomy. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00525551

High-frequency hearing, tinnitus, and patient satisfaction with stapedotomy: A randomized prospective study.

Otosclerosis is a common disorder that leads to conductive hearing loss. Most patients with otosclerosis also have tinnitus, and surgical treatment is known to improve hearing as well as tinnitus. Some patients however experience worsening of tinnitus after the operation, but there are no known factors that allow surgeons to predict who will be at risk. In this prospective observational study on 133 patients undergoing stapedotomy, we show that postoperative air conduction thresholds at very high stimulus frequencies predict improvement of tinnitus, as assessed with proportional odds logistic regression models. Young patients were significantly more likely to experience reduction of tinnitus and patients whose tinnitus became better were also more satisfied with the outcome of the operation. These findings have practical importance for patients and their surgeons. Young patients can be advised that surgery is likely to be beneficial for their tinnitus, but a less positive message should be conveyed to older patients.

Evaluation of cost-utility in middle ear implantation in the Nordic School: a multicenter study in Sweden and Norway

Abstract Conclusion: Hearing restoration using an active middle ear implant (AMEI) is a highly cost-effective treatment for a selected group of patients with no other possibilities for auditory rehabilitation. Objectives: To evaluate the cost-utility of using an AMEI for hearing rehabilitation. Methods: This was a prospective, multicenter, single-subject repeated study in six tertiary referral centers. Twenty-four patients with sensorineural (SNHL), conductive (CHL), and mixed hearing loss (MHL) were implanted with the AMEI Vibrant Soundbridge® (VSB) for medical reasons. All patients were previously rehabilitated with conventional hearing aids. Multiple validated quality of life patient questionnaires, Health Utilities Index (HUI 2 and 3), and Glasgow Hearing Aid Benefit Profile (GHABP) were used to determine the utility gain and quality adjusted life years (QALY). Directly related treatment costs for the implantation were calculated and related to utility gain and QALY. Results: The cost/QALY for patients with SNHL was estimated at €7260/QALY, and for patients with C/MHL at €12 503/QALY.

Taste disturbance after stapes surgery: an evaluation of frequency, severity, duration, and quality-of-life.

Abstract Conclusion: The incidence of taste disturbance after stapes surgery is high (61.9%), whereas the majority (94.8%) recovers within 1 year. More severe surgical nerve trauma caused more disturbance, implying that the nerve should be handled carefully during surgery. Objectives: Patients operated on for otosclerosis seem more often to complain about post-operative taste disturbance than those operated on for chronic otitis media, although the chorda tympani nerve more seldom becomes maltreated in stapedotomy. These observations seem paradoxical. It is unclear to what extent a post-operative taste disturbance affects the quality-of-life. This study aims to shed light on the occurrence of post-operative taste disturbances, on possible prognostic factors, and to what extent post-operative taste disturbance impairs the quality-of-life. Methods: One hundred and thirty-four adults undergoing primary stapedotomy were included. Questionnaires on taste disturbance and quality-of-life (SF-36) were answered before and after surgery, until 1 year post-operatively. Results: Eighty-three (61.9%) study persons reported post-operative taste disturbance. Seven (5.2%) reported persisting disturbance at 1 year. Surgically more traumatized chorda tympani nerves correlated with more severe taste disturbance post-operatively than less traumatized. Taste disturbance at 1 year post-operatively correlate with a decrease of the physical function domain in the SF-36.

Surgical treatment of congenital aural atresia – is it still justified?

Abstract Conclusion: Surgery candidacy based on the surgical accessibility of the middle ear seems more valuable than the use of a preoperative grading system. Also patients with severe malformations can benefit from surgical reconstruction. Objective: To evaluate the long-term results of the primary surgical treatment of patients with congenital auricular atresia (CAA). Methods: One hundred patients with CAA underwent surgical reconstruction between 1985 and 2010. The mean follow-up time was 40 months. All patients were retrospectively scored using the Jahrsdoerfer grading scale and divided into two groups according to the grade of their malformation. Group 1 included 20 patients with scores of 4–6 and group 2 included 80 patients with scores of 7–10. Pre- and postoperative air conduction (AC), bone conduction (BC), pure-tone average ‘air–bone gap’ (PTA4-ABG), surgical findings, postoperative complications, and revision surgeries performed were determined and compared between the two groups. Results: For 90% of the patients in group 1 and 79% of the patients in group 2, the postoperative ABG was within 0 and 30 dB. The most common complications were recurrent infection, lateralization of the tympanic membrane, and restenosis of the ear canal.

Bifurcation of the intratemporal facial nerve: A rare anatomical anomaly

Abstract The anatomical position of the facial nerve is a critical factor in determining surgical candidacy in patients with congenital aural atresia (CAA). All patients with CAA must preoperatively be evaluated using a grading score based on information gained from a high resolution CT scan. In patients not suitable for surgical reconstruction, implantation of novel hearing implants is increasingly used for hearing rehabilitation. We, here, describe a bifurcation of the intratemporal part of the facial nerve in a 5-year old boy with CAA undergoing implantation with a bone conductive hearing device.

Human Cochlear Morphology and how it relates to Cochlear Implantation

Material and Methods: The sampled cochleae originated from unidentified autopsy materials and collection of inner ear mould created in Uppsala during the 70. No information regarding gender, age or hearing was present. Data were collected from 73 plastic inner ear moulds. Reference points were constructed from photographic reproductions taken at different angles. Hearing preservation technique was performed in 21 patients and the dimensions of the cochlea were studied preand postoperatively.