Limited evidence for the effect of sodium fluoride on deterioration of hearing loss in patients with otosclerosis: a systematic review of the literature.

Objective: To determine the protective effect of sodium fluoride on the deterioration of hearing loss in adult patients with otosclerosis.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and CINAHL.

Study Selection: A systematic literature search was conducted.

Outcomes of different laser types in laser-assisted stapedotomy: a systematic review.

Objective: To assess hearing results and complications following primary stapedotomy in otosclerosis patients, comparing different laser types.

Data Sources: Pubmed, Embase, The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Scopus.

Study Selection: A systematic bibliographic search was conducted to identify all original articles, comparing hearing outcome between different lasers used for fenestration in stapedotomy.

Laser versus conventional fenestration in stapedotomy for otosclerosis: a systematic review.

Objectives/hypothesis: To assess hearing results and complications following primary stapedotomy in otosclerosis patients comparing the use of laser and conventional techniques for fenestration.

Study Design: Systematic literature review.

Methods: A systematic bibliographic search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Scopus.

Pure-tone audiometry in otosclerosis: insufficient evidence for the diagnostic value of the Carhart notch.

Objective: To evaluate whether the Carhart notch on pure-tone audiometry is reliable as a diagnostic test for predicting otosclerosis in patients with conductive hearing loss. Data Sources PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Scopus.

Methods: A systematic search was conducted.

Clinical practice guidelines on the management of patients with common otologic pathology toward European consensus: outline of approach.

Objective: To achieve a European consensus about the best-evidence informed-management of patients with common otologic-related problems.

Design: Consensus process, supported by the European Academy of Otology & Neuro-Otology.

Setting: The European Academy of Otology & Neuro-Otology.

Local versus general anesthesia in stapes surgery for otosclerosis: a systematic review of the evidence.

Objective: To assess hearing results following primary stapes surgery in patients with otosclerosis, comparing local and general anesthesia.

Data Sources: PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and Scopus.

Review Methods: A systematic search was conducted, followed by assessment of directness of evidence and risk of bias.

Remarkable differences between three evidence-based guidelines on management of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome.

Objectives/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to compare available guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) regarding their content, conclusions on the available evidence, and recommendations.

Study Design: Literature review/systematic review.

Methods: We retrieved guidelines from Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, and Web sites of several health care improvement centers and with a Google Scholar search.

The value of a mandibular repositioning appliance for the treatment of nonapneic snoring.

In this evidence-based case report, the authors addressed the following clinical question: What is the effect of a mandibular repositioning appliance (MRA) in patients with nonapneic snoring on the snoring loudness, partners' sleep disturbance, and quality of life? The authors retrieved relevant publications from Embase, PubMed, Cinahl, CENTRAL, and Web of Science. They used title and abstract field searches with relevant synonyms for the domain, patients with nonapneic snoring, and for the determinant, MRA. The search yielded 499 records.

Salvage laryngectomy after primary radiotherapy: what are prognostic factors for the development of pharyngocutaneous fistulae?

In this evidence based case report we addressed the clinical question: which factors predict the occurrence of a pharyngocutaneous fistula after total laryngectomy in patients that already were treated with radiotherapy for a squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx? We searched for relevant synonyms for the domain, being patients earlier treated with radiotherapy for a squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and having a recurrence for which a salvage total laryngectomy is necessary, with the outcome being the development of a post-operative pharyngocutaneous fistula. We searched for relevant publications in Embase, Pubmed and Web of Science using search terms in title and abstract fields. The search yielded 1764 records, of which three were relevant and valid for our clinical question.

The diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging in detecting a residual cholesteatoma.

In this evidence-based case report, we address the following clinical question: What is the predictive value of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW MRI) for detecting a residual cholesteatoma in patients with chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma who have previously undergone a canal-wall-up procedure? We searched for relevant synonyms for the determinant, MRI, and for the outcome, cholesteatoma, and retrieved relevant publications in Embase, PubMed, Cinahl, and Web of Science by using search terms in the title and abstract fields. The search yielded 683 records, of which 11 were relevant and valid for our clinical question. We pooled the data of the MRI findings of the included studies by adding the two-by-two tables of the individual studies.