Nationwide Analysis of Mortality Rates and Related Surgical Procedures in Hearing Disability Patients in South Korea

Background and Objectives: Hearing loss (HL) and its repercussions are major problems in today’s society. There are limited data on the relationship between degree of HL and otologic disorders. The aim of this study is to estimate mortality rates, rates of sudden idiopathic HL and related otologic surgical procedures in hearing disability patients in South Korea.Subjects and Methods: Retrospective medical data for 160,205 patients with hearing disability was extracted. Mortality rates, rates of sudden idiopathic HL and related otologic surgical procedures were compared with a normal control group consisting of 865,475 people; approximately 5 times the number of hearing disability patients.Results: According to the Korean National Disability Registry (NDR), 0.458% of the population in South Korea suffered from hearing disability in 2015. Higher rates of mortality and sudden idiopathic HL were reported in hearing disability patients, increasing up to a maximum of 1.594 times and 1,039.695 times, respectively, compared to the normal control group. Mastoidectomy surgery was 2.5 times more frequently performed and pressure equalizing (PE) tube insertion was about 15 times more frequently performed in hearing disability patients.Conclusions: Hearing disability is related to higher risks of mortality, sudden idiopathic HL and otologic surgical procedures, including mastoidectomy and PE tubing.

Stapled double head and neck drape for otological procedures

Introduction:During otologic surgical procedures, there is often a dilemma when ensuring that hair is kept out of the surgical field. For a surgeon, the simplest and commonest technique is to liberally shave the head, but this can cause aesthetic concerns for the patient. Failure to keep the area hair-free can lead to a range of adverse surgical outcomes including wound infection and poor scar cosmesis. We describe a technique used in our department to effectively control hair during otologic surgical procedures, with no post-operative aesthetic concerns.Methods:The use of re-usable or disposable surgical drapes with disposable skin staples can effectively exclude hair from the operative field throughout the procedure, without fear of the drapes slipping or losing adhesiveness.Results:The authors have obtained good results both during and after surgery, using this quick and easily learnt method, with no cases of long-term skin damage or scarring.Discussion:We find this to be an effective method of hair and skin preparation for otologic surgical procedures, and suggest it to fellow otorhinolaryngologists as a helpful alternative technique.

Otologic surgical procedures in an ear, nose and throat department in Subotica from 1987 to 2001

Introduction This paper deals with otologic surgical procedures performed in a an Ear, Nose and Throat Depertment during a 15-year period. The authors compared the number of otologic surgical procedures with the number of laryngomicroscopies and procedures performed in Waldeyer's ring. RESULTS From January 1, 1987 to December 31, 2001, 1184 patients underwent the following surgical procedures in total endotracheal anesthesia: 285 paracenteses, 473 ventilation tubes insertions, 175 antrotomies or mastoidectomies, 194 tympanoplasties, 34 radical mastoidectomies, 4 facial nerve decompressions, 5 exostoses or osteoma of the external auditory canal operations and 14 stapedectomies. DISCUsSION Otologic surgical procedures are presented in table 1. In Yugoslav literature Topolac reports approximately 700 tympanoplasties in a 10-year period (1968-1978). Radonjic and associates report 2272 ear operations in the period 1975-1985. Distribution of operations is presented in table 2, whereas in table 3 we can see that the number of operated ears is much greater than the number of operated patients. CONCLUSION We think that the number of operations is not bigger, because we operate only in critical cases. Our human and technical resources should provide advanced ear microsurgery, but only with financial and organizational support.

Remifentanil-based anesthesia versus a propofol technique for otologic surgical procedures

Otologic procedures require a still surgical field and are associated with a 50% incidence of emetic symptoms. Propofol reduces nausea and vomiting but not intraoperative movement. This study compares a remifentanil/propofol anesthetic to a propofol/fentanyl combination to determine which provides the best perioperative conditions for otologic microsurgery. Eighty healthy patients were randomly assigned to receive one of the anesthetic combinations. Demographic data, hemodynamic variables, movement, and bispectral index monitoring values in addition to anesthetic emergence, nausea, vomiting, pain, and other recovery variables were compared between groups with appropriate statistical methods. Both groups were similar. Times to eye opening (7.7 ± 0.7 vs 12.4 ±1.2 minutes) and extubation (9.8 ± 0.9 vs 12.4 ±1.0 minutes) were shorter with remifentanil. This group also had lower hemodynamic variables and movement (23% vs 65%) under anesthesia. Postoperative pain was mild in both groups, but remifentanil patients had more than the propofol group. All other postoperative parameters were similar. Remifentanil-based anesthesia produces better hemodynamic stability, less movement, and faster emergence after otologic surgery, with propofol's antiemetic effect, for the same cost.