Search

Objectives: To investigate the efficiency of piracetam and acyclovir in treating sudden hearing loss., Patients and Methods: Eightyone patients (44 males, 37 females; mean age 40.4 year; range 18 to 72 years) who had treatment between January 2002 and December 2006 with diagnosis of idiopathic sudden hearing loss were evaluated retrospectively. These patients were divided into four groups according to the treatment they received. The patients who had combined treatment constituted the first group; those who had combined treatment and piracetam the second; those who had combined treatment and acyclovir the third; those who had combined treatment, acyclovir, and piracetam the fourth group., Results: For the four treatment groups, in the pre-and post-treatment (10th day) evaluation of the treatment efficiency made by calculation of the hearing thresholds in 250-8000 Hz frequencies, no significant difference between the groups was determined (p>0.05)., Conclusion: No additional benefit was obtained with acyclovir and piracetam in treatment.

Objectives: We investigated arterial blood gas abnormalities in patients presenting with dizziness., Patients and Methods: The study included 58 patients (39 females, 19 males; mean age 46 years; range 22 to 74 years) who presented during attacks of dizziness. The duration of vertigo complaints ranged from one day to 30 years. Arterial gas measurements were performed at presentation and one month after treatment. The patients were examined in five groups according to the diagnoses: Meniere's disease (n=14), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (n=13), vertebrobasilar insufficiency (n=12), vestibular neuritis (n=4), and craniocervical myofascial syndromes (n=15)., Results: At presentation, pH was low (acidosis) in two patients (3.5%), and high (alkalosis) in 15 patients (25.9%). After treatment, all abnormal pH values returned to normal. Twenty-four patients had high or low HCO3- values. High HCO3- values persisted in three patients together with dizziness. Patients with vestibular neuritis had significantly higher PO2 values compared to those with craniocervical myofascial syndrome and vertebrobasilar insufficiency (p<0.05). However, one month after treatment, there were no significant differences between five groups with respect to PO2 levels (p>0.05). Consecutive blood gas measurements did not differ significantly within each diagnosis group (p>0.05)., Conclusion: Our results suggest that arterial blood gas abnormalities may be related to vertigo attacks.

Objectives: The aim of surgery for choanal atresia is to remove the atretic plate completely and to assure long-term patency. We evaluated the effectiveness and results of endoscopic transnasal approach in the treatment of choanal atresia., Patients and Methods: The study included eight patients (1 male, 7 females; mean age 25.8 years; range 17 to 53 years) who were treated with endoscopic transnasal approach for choanal atresia. One patient had bilateral involvement. The diagnosis was based on findings of physical examination, endoscopic examination, and computed tomography. The follow-up period ranged from 10 months to four years., Results: Only one patient developed partial obstruction which was reconstructed with mushroom-head forceps at a subsequent operation. One patient died from primary disease (nasopharyngeal cancer). The remaining patients became symptom-free., Conclusion: Endoscopic transnasal approach for the treatment of choanal atresia is a safe procedure, with a high success rate and low morbidity, enabling detailed evaluation of the anatomic structure.

Several problems have been observed when performing the classic endoscopic technique for voice restoration following laryngectomy. An easy and safe method is described for the insertion of a Provox voice prosthesis using a Yankauer tonsil suction tube and an antrum trocar with an irrigation cannula.