The Prognostic Value of Active Otitis Media on Tympanoplasty Success Rate-A Systematic Review.

Objectives: The aim is to investigate the influence of an active otitis media on the success rate of tympanoplasty in patients with a chronic otitis media (COM) and a tympanic membrane perforation.

Databases Reviewed: PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library.

Methods: The inclusion criteria were studies on closure rates of tympanoplasty performed in COM patients of any age with a tympanic membrane perforation caused by COM.

Patients with tinnitus use more primary healthcare compared to people without tinnitus.

Tinnitus is a heterogeneous condition not only in terms of nature of the sound, but also in co-morbidities such as mental health issues. Prevalence number range widely between 5 and 43%. Even though the etiologic pathway between tinnitus and its comorbidities remains unclear, in this study we aim to assess whether people with tinnitus use more primary health care than people without tinnitus.

Betahistine for tinnitus.

Background: Tinnitus is a symptom defined as the perception of sound in the absence of an external source. In England alone there are an estimated ¾ million general practice consultations every year where the primary complaint is tinnitus, equating to a major burden on healthcare services. Clinical management strategies include education and advice, relaxation therapy, tinnitus retraining therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, sound enrichment using ear-level sound generators or hearing aids, and drug therapies to manage co-morbid symptoms such as sleep difficulties, anxiety or depression.