Yasar Cokkeser

Comparative External Versus Endoscopic Dacryocystorhinostomy: Results in 115 Patients (130 Eyes)

BACKGROUND: Epiphora is an annoying symptom, embarrassing the patient both socially and functionally. The two widely accepted treatment modalities of epiphora resulting from obstruction of the nasolacrimal ductus are external and endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). OBJECTIVE: The aim was to compare the results, operative time, and complications of external and videoendoscopic endonasal DCR performed between December 1994 and December 1998. METHODS: In group 1, conventional primary external DCR with or without silicone tube intubation was performed in 79 patients (66 women and 13 men) with unilateral dacryocystitis. In group 2, endoscopic primary endonasal DCR with hammer-chisel removal of bone located over the lacrimal sac was performed in 51 eyes of 36 patients, 33 women and 3 men (15 bilateral procedures). RESULTS: The follow-up period was 6 to 48 months (mean 25 months) after surgery. The age range was from 4 to 76 years (mean 38.5 years). The success rates of external and endoscopic hammer-chisel DCR were found to be 89.8% and 88.2%, respectively. A lower complication rate was observed in the endoscopic group, with minimal morbidity and shorter operative time compared with the external approach. CONCLUSIONS: Hammer-chisel endoscopic DCR is practical, less traumatic, less time-consuming, and cosmetically more convenient than the external approach. The success rate of the endoscopic DCR procedure is comparable with that of traditional external DCR, and it also allows simultaneous correction of any intranasal pathology. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2000;123:488-91.

Audio-vestibular evaluation in patients with Behçet's syndrome

A prospective controlled clinical study was carried out at the Department of Ophthalmology and ENT, Inönü University Medical Faculty, Turgut Ozal Medical Center, Research Hospital, to evaluate the audio-vestibular involvement in patients with Behçets syndrome compared with controls. Twenty-five consecutive patients with Behçets syndrome (mean age +/- SD, 34.96 +/- 8.50) and 20 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers (hospital staff) as control subjects (mean age +/- SD, 34.45 +/- 9.16) were included in this study. Behçets patients were divided into two groups according to the number of criteria, complete (all four major criteria) and incomplete (three major criteria without ocular involvement). The groups were compared with each other or controls regarding inner ear involvement. Audiometric pure-tone thresholds at 125 to 8000 Hz were obtained in all subjects in both groups, and pure tone average (PTA) hearing thresholds were calculated for the middle, high and low frequencies. In addition, short increment sensitivity index (SISI), tone decay and BERA examinations were performed in all Behçets patients. Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) was present in six of 25 patients with Behçets syndrome. Two Behçets patients had unilateral total SNHL, two had bilateral moderate level SNHL, one had bilateral low-frequency SNHL and one bilateral high frequency SNHL. In two, BERA, and in five SISI, examination disclosed inner ear involvement. In control subjects, the past medical history was normal and there was no consistent audio-vestibular complaint. Their PTA thresholds were all in the normal range. Otoscopic examination findings were normal, with intact, mobile tympanic membranes in both groups. The present study showed that audio-vestibular involvement is not infrequent in Behçets syndrome compared with age- and sex-matched healthy controls, and it is under-estimated. All Behçets patients should regularly be followed by an otolaryngologists and be given information about the possibility of inner ear involvement. According to our results, hearing loss occurs more often in older patients and also in the complete form of Behçets syndrome.

Lower skull base: anatomic study with surgical implications.

With advances in the lateral approaches to the skull base and the increasing success of the management of jugular foramen lesions, a thorough knowledge of the anatomy of this region is needed. The purpose of the present work is to study the detailed microsurgical anatomy of the lower skull base and the jugular foramen area as seen through the lateral approaches. Forty preserved skull base specimens and 5 fresh cadavers were dissected. The shape of the jugular bulb and its relationship to nearby structures were recorded. The different venous connections of the bulb were noted. The hypoglossal canal was identified and its contents were observed. The lower cranial nerves were studied at the level of the upper neck, at their exit from the inferior skull base, and in the jugular foramen. The results of the present study showed the complex and variable anatomy of this area. The classic compartments of the jugular foramen were not always present. Cranial nerves IX through XI followed different patterns while passing through the jugular foramen, being separated from the jugular bulb by bone, thick fibrous tissue, or thin connective tissue.

REVISION STAPES SURGERY : A CRITICAL EVALUATION

Fifty-six revision stapes surgeries performed during the last 9 years were evaluated retrospectively for their preoperative symptoms, intraoperative findings, and postoperative results according to the causes of failure, at the Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza, Italy. The most frequent causes of failure were found to be prosthetic misalignments, a reaction to the surgical trauma in the form of excess fibrous tissue reaction or new bony regrowth at the oval window, and ossicular chain problems. The location of the pathology was found to be an important factor in the outcome. Sixty percent of cases resulted in 0- to 20-dB air-bone gap. The causes of these failures, management, and their prevention during primary surgeries are also discussed.

The enlarged translabyrinthine approach for removal of large vestibular schwannomas

This study was carried out to validate the enlarged translabyrinthine approach for the surgical management of large vestibular schwannomas. A retrospective review of the charts of 53 patients with large tumours removed via the enlarged translabyrinthine approach at the Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza, Italy, during the last five years was carried out. The ability to control large tumours and the achievement of total removal with low morbidity and very few complications, demonstrate that tumour size does not influence the use of the enlarged translabyrinthine approach for managing large tumours.

Follow-up of 366 ears after tympanostomy tube insertion: why is it draining?

OBJECTIVE Tympanostomy tube insertion is one of the most frequently performed procedures in otolaryngology. Complications, such as otorrhea, tympanosclerosis, and cholesteatoma, have been reported in the literature after its application. STUDY DESIGN This study reports the complications encountered with 239 children (439 ears) with a follow-up of 7 to 73 months (median, 29 months) after tympanostomy tube insertion. Hearing results and middle ear pressures were compared and complications were noted in 366 ears that were available for the study. RESULTS Otorrhea developed in 3 (0.8%) cases. Tympanosclerosis was seen in 74 (20.2%) cases. Tympanic membrane perforation, retraction pocket, granulation tissue, and atelectasis were seen in 4.6%, 5.2%, 1.1%, and 6%, respectively. No patients developed cholesteatoma after tube insertion. Hearing results were improved postoperatively in 93.4% of patients (median, 14.2 dB) and worse in 6.6% of patients (median, 8.3 dB). The average extrusion time was 7.3 months for grommet and 16.3 months for T-tubes. CONCLUSION Multifactor etiologies show some unsolved or misunderstood underlying pathology, or unmentioned environmental factor such as atopy due to rich flora and humidity might exist to consider in the pathophysiology of the otorrhea.

Effects of partial neuromuscular blockade on facial nerve monitorization in otologic surgery

Objective—Neuromuscular blockade (NMB) is administered as part of a general anesthetic in order to keep the patient immobilized during surgery and has been known to hinder intraoperative neuromonitorization. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of different levels of NMB on electrical stimulation thresholds of the facial nerve during otologic surgery. Material and Methods—Intraoperative facial nerve monitorization was performed in 29 patients with advanced middle ear disease. Electromyographic (EMG) responses were recorded by insertion of needle electrodes into the orbicularis oris and orbicularis oculi muscles. Minimal facial nerve stimulations causing EMG responses in the facial musculature were measured during full recovery from the effects of muscular relaxants and with 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% levels of NMB. These defined NMB levels were maintained by the administration of a drip infusion of atracurium and were assessed objectively by recording the hypothenar muscle action. Results—All of the patients had detectable EMG responses of the facial musculature at the 50% and 75% levels of NMB in response to the electrical stimulation of the facial nerve. The corresponding mean stimulation thresholds were 0.10±0.08 and 0.11±0.09 mA, respectively. No responses were measured in 31% of the patients when the level of peripheral NMB was 100%. Conclusion—This study suggests that a regulated 50% level of peripheral NMB provides reliable intraoperative EMG monitoring of the facial musculature in response to electrical stimulation and adequate anesthesia, with full immobilization of the patient.

Identification of internal acoustic canal in the middle cranial fossa approach: A safe technique

BACKGROUND: The middle cranial fossa approach (MCFA) is a very valuable functional approach in the armamentarium of the neuro-otologic surgeon. Identification of the internal acoustic canal (IAC) in MCFA is one of the most tedious steps. Many techniques have been described to locate the IAC safely when using the MCFA. OBJECTIVE: We sought to describe a safe technique for identification of the IAC and to demonstrate its feasibility in temporal bone dissections, as well as to discuss our clinical experience with this technique. METHODS: The surgical anatomy of the 20 temporal bones were evaluated and measured, especially by defining the medial and lateral ends of the IAC and relations to the nearby located structures. Measurements were obtained at 3 levels: the width of the IAC at the level of the fundus, the width of the IAC at the level of the porus, and the safe distance around the IAC at the meatal level. The medial and lateral IAC end widths were compared with each other and with the safe area at the meatal level. RESULTS: The smallest, the largest, and the mean values were recorded. The mean width of the IAC at the level of the porus was found to be more than 3-fold that of the width of the IAC at the level of the Bills bar, and the ratio between the width of the medial safe area around the IAC and the lateral end of the IAC was found to be more than 7-fold as wide. CONCLUSION: This technique offers direct quick exposure of the IAC, without handling the facial nerve and the inner ear structures. Forty-five cases of operations with the same technique showed excellent ease and safety of identifying the IAC medially in the MCFA. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001;124:94-8.)

Surgical Management of Epitympanic Cholesteatoma with Intact Ossicular Chain: The Modified Bondy Technique:

The results of 37 cases surgically treated with the modified Bondy technique during a 6-year period at the Gruppo Otologico-Placenza, Italy, are reported. This technique, indicated in epitympanic cholesteatoma with good hearing and intact ossicular chain and pars tensa, provides a one-stage mastoid cavity exteriorization with radical removal of cholesteatoma while preserving the preoperative hearing levels. The technique, indications, results, and comparison with other current techniques are discussed in this article.

SURGICAL ANATOMY OF THE PETROUS APEX AS IT RELATES TO THE ENLARGED MIDDLE CRANIAL FOSSA APPROACHES

This work was designed to study the surgical anatomy of the petrous apex as it relates to the enlarged middle cranial fossa approaches, on 25 temporal bones. In this study we suggest dividing the petrous apex into two topographic areas: an anterior triangular and a posterior quadrangular area with respect to the posterior border of the Gasserian ganglion. Anatomic descriptions endorsed by relevant measurements of these areas are provided in this study.