Tayfun Kirazli

Doppler echocardiography in adenotonsillar hypertrophy

OBJECTIVE Adenotonsillar hypertrophy causing upper airway obstruction may lead to the pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale. This study aimed to clarify the diagnostic methods of this complication, besides polysomnography, to find another objective criterion for surgical intervention and to demonstrate the curative effect of adenotonsillectomy on this complication using this objective criterion. METHODS We studied the outcomes of 17 children with pulmonary hypertension secondary to the adenotonsillar hypertrophy. Pulmonary arterial pressure measurement was performed noninvasively by Doppler echocardiography. RESULTS Mean preoperative pulmonary arterial pressure was 29.12+/-4.41 mmHg and decreased dramatically after relief of upper airway obstruction by adenoidectomy and/or tonsillectomy to the normal level of 12.06+/-3.09 mmHg. These results were analyzed by equal variances t-test and found very significant (P<0.01). Regarding the symptoms of upper respiratory obstruction, symptom scores of these children decreased very significantly and were analyzed by equal variances t-test (P<0. 01) in the postoperative period. For all the symptoms individually (snoring, mouth-breathing during sleep and daytime, hyponasal voice, restless sleeping, daytime somnolence, enuresis nocturna), comparing percentages of preoperative and postoperative symptoms by unequal variances t-test, we obtained very significant decrease (P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS This study illustrates that Doppler echocardiography is a safe, practical and noninvasive-method in diagnosing cardiovascular disturbances--one of the complications of adenotonsillar hypertrophy and especially for measuring the pulmonary arterial pressure. All the symptoms and disorders due to the adenotonsillar hypertrophy may be reversible by performing early adeno- and/or tonsillectomy.

Short-Term Effects of Vestibular Rehabilitation in Patients With Chronic Unilateral Vestibular Dysfunction: A Randomized Controlled Study

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the short-term effects of vestibular rehabilitation on symptom, disability, balance, and postural stability in patients with chronic unilateral vestibular dysfunction. DESIGN Randomized controlled trial. SETTING Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University Hospital. PARTICIPANTS Patients (N=42) with chronic vestibular dysfunction were divided into either a rehabilitation group (group 1) or a control group (group 2). INTERVENTIONS Patients in group 1 were treated with a customized exercise program for 4 weeks, while the patients in the control group did not receive any treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Subjects were assessed before and after the rehabilitation program with respect to symptoms (visual analog scale [VAS]), disability (Dizziness Handicap Inventory [DHI]), balance (Berg Balance Scale [BBS]), and postural stability (modified Clinical Test for Sensory Interaction on Balance [mCTSIB]). RESULTS Significant improvements in all parameters (VAS, DHI, BBS, mCTSIB) were observed in group 1 (P<.05). When the 2 groups were compared, there were significant improvements in postexercise VAS, DHI (emotional, functional, physical, total), BBS, and mCTSIB (standing on a firm surface with eyes open, standing on a foam surface with eyes open, standing on a foam surface with eyes closed, mCTSIB mean) in favor of group 1 (P<.05). No significant improvements were seen in any parameters in the control group (P>.05). CONCLUSIONS Significant improvements were seen in symptom, disability, balance, and postural stability in chronic unilateral vestibular dysfunction after an exercise program. Customized exercise programs are beneficial in treatment of chronic unilateral vestibular dysfunction.

CT imaging of superior semicircular canal dehiscence: added value of reformatted images.

Abstract Conclusion: Superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD) syndrome may present with various symptoms. CT scans previously interpreted as normal may show SSCD, especially if special reconstructions tailored for superior canal evaluation are added. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate prevalence of SSCD, its length and its correlation with symptoms in patients who had previously undergone temporal bone CT examination that was reported normal and to demonstrate the importance of reformatted images in the diagnosis of SSCD. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 108 patients who had undergone temporal bone CT examination for various symptoms and were reported as normal. High-resolution temporal bone CT imaging was performed with 1 mm slice thickness in the transverse plane. Each of the superior semicircular canals was evaluated in the plane of Pöschl and Stenver reformatted images together with axial images. Results: Ninety-three patients were included in the study. Nineteen patients with semicircular canal dehiscence were detected. The mean age of the study group was 45 years. Radiologic evidence of SSCD occurred in 23 of 186 temporal bones with a radiologic prevalence of 12%. The most common symptoms in dehiscent patients were vertigo, hearing loss and tinnitus. Defect lengths varied between 1 mm and 6.5 mm.

Clinical assessment of topiramate therapy in patients with migrainous vertigo.

(Headache 2010;50:77‐84)

Jugular Bulb Diverticula: Clinical and Radiologic Aspects

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to determine the clinical presentation of jugular diverticulum and its relevance with the extension of the lesion. STUDY DESIGN: The records and high-resolution CT scans of 1474 patients, with otologic symptoms or related clinical findings, were evaluated retrospectively. In 17 cases in which CT scans revealed the presence of jugular diverticulum, sensorineural symptoms were evaluated with respect to a reference line, perpendicular to the basal turn of the cochlea and tangent to the vestibule in axial CT scan images. RESULTS: When the extension of jugular diverticulum was posterior to the reference line, sensorineural symptoms with vertigo were dominant in most patients (72.7%) in this group. On the other hand, for the patients with anterior-extending jugular diverticulum, sensorineural symptoms without vertigo were detected in 50% of patients, whereas 33.3% had sensorineural symptoms with vertigo. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a relationship between the extension of jugular diverticulum and clinical symptoms. However, this relationship lacks statistical evidence because of the limited number of patients.

Comprehensive Analysis of Deafness Genes in Families with Autosomal Recessive Nonsyndromic Hearing Loss.

Comprehensive genetic testing has the potential to become the standard of care for individuals with hearing loss. In this study, we investigated the genetic etiology of autosomal recessive nonsyndromic hearing loss (ARNSHL) in a Turkish cohort including individuals with cochlear implant, who had a pedigree suggestive of an autosomal recessive inheritance. A workflow including prescreening of GJB2 and a targeted next generation sequencing panel (Illumına TruSightTM Exome) covering 2761 genes that we briefly called as mendelian exome sequencing was used. This panel includes 102 deafness genes and a number of genes causing Mendelian disorders. Using this approach, we identified causative variants in 21 of 29 families. Three different GJB2 variants were present in seven families. Remaining 14 families had 15 different variants in other known NSHL genes (MYO7A, MYO15A, MARVELD2, TMIE, DFNB31, LOXHD1, GPSM2, TMC1, USH1G, CDH23). Of these variants, eight are novel. Mutation detection rate of our workflow is 72.4%, confirming the usefulness of targeted sequencing approach in NSHL.

Single-shot, low-dose intratympanic gentamicin in Ménière disease: role of vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials and caloric test in the prediction of outcome.

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of single and low-dose intratympanic gentamicin therapy in patients with Ménière disease and who were monitored both with caloric tests and vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) to see if VEMPs have an additional role in predicting the efficacy of the drug. STUDY DESIGN This is a prospective cohort study. SETTING Tertiary referral center is the study setting. PATIENTS Twenty-five intractable Ménière disease patients were included as the study group. INTERVENTION(S) Low-dose (16 mg/mL), single-shot intratympanic gentamicin was applied. VEMP and caloric test were applied 2 weeks after the application. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Safety and efficacy of protocol were evaluated at the sixth month postoperatively with tonal audiogram and visual analog scale, respectively. RESULTS Mean average pure-tone hearing threshold at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8 kHz was 49.6 and 51.0 dB before and after the application, respectively (P > .05). Mean pretreatment and posttreatment visual analog scale scores of patients were 17.6 mm (10-30 mm) and 74.6 mm (41-100 mm), respectively (P < .01). Posttreatment VEMPs were absent in 17, deteriorated in 2, and not changed in 6 patients. VEMP was a significant predictor of posttreatment visual analog scale score, whereas caloric test was not (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS Low-dose, single-shot intratympanic gentamicin treatment proved to be effective and safe among intractable Ménière patients. VEMPs obtained at posttreatment second week were significant predictors of patients posttreatment sixth-month dizziness status and vertigo control.

Pre-emptive Effects of Ibuprofen Syrup and Lidocaine Infiltration on Postoperative Analgesia in Children Undergoing Adenotonsillectomy

We aimed to compare the effects of lidocaine and adrenaline with ibuprofen syrup (administered before adenotonsillectomy) on post-operative analgesia and initiation of oral feeding. One group of 20 children received 100 g/5 ml ibuprofen suspension (10 mg/kg) 1 h before anaesthesia; bleeding control was provided by pre-incisional administration of 1:200000 adrenaline solution (10 ml). The same amount of 0.5% lidocaine solution plus 1:200000 adrenaline was applied pre-incisionally in a similar manner in a second group of 20 children. No significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of the duration of operation and anaesthesia, post-operative pain scores, paracetamol requirements, times to initiation of liquid and solid food intake, or adverse side-effects. We conclude that ibuprofen syrup applied pre-incisionally and local infiltration with lidocaine are equally effective for post-operative analgesia.

Middle ear impedance measurements in large vestibular aqueduct syndrome

OBJECTIVE To assess the effect of inner ear pressure on middle ear impedance in patients with large vestibular aqueduct syndrome (LVAS). METHODS Data from admittance tympanometry and multifrequency tympanometry on 8 LVAS patients and control subjects were studied. RESULTS Static acoustic compliance (SAC) values for the ears with stable sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) were within the limits of the mean values of control groups except for two ears. The resonance frequency (RF) values of the ears with stable SNHL were lower than the mean values of control groups except for three ears. SAC values for the two ears with fluctuating SNHL were lower and the RF values were higher than the mean values of control groups. CONCLUSION Decreased SAC values and increased RF values found in the ears with fluctuating SNHL might be an indirect indicator of increased inner ear pressure, while low RF values in the ears with stable SNHL might reflect the decreased inner ear impedance.

Variations in Multiple Syndromic Deafness Genes Mimic Non-syndromic Hearing Loss

The genetics of both syndromic (SHL) and non-syndromic hearing loss (NSHL) is characterized by a high degree of genetic heterogeneity. We analyzed whole exome sequencing data of 102 unrelated probands with apparently NSHL without a causative variant in known NSHL genes. We detected five causative variants in different SHL genes (SOX10, MITF, PTPN11, CHD7, and KMT2D) in five (4.9%) probands. Clinical re-evaluation of these probands shows that some of them have subtle syndromic findings, while none of them meets clinical criteria for the diagnosis of the associated syndrome (Waardenburg (SOX10 and MITF), Kallmann (CHD7 and SOX10), Noonan/LEOPARD (PTPN11), CHARGE (CHD7), or Kabuki (KMT2D). This study demonstrates that individuals who are evaluated for NSHL can have pathogenic variants in SHL genes that are not usually considered for etiologic studies.