Unilateral versus bilateral stapes surgery: A comparative study on auditory outcome and quality of life.

Otosclerosis is a well-known disease which mainly affects middle-aged female patients, causing conductive or mixed hearing loss. Diagnosis is essentially made through a complete audiometric battery testing, while treatment substantially relies on stapes surgery. In this study, we analyzed audiometric and Quality-of-Life data from 33 patients in order to refine the surgical indications (unilateral versus bilateral stapes surgery) and assess the best technique (stapedotomy versus partial stapedectomy) and timing of treatment.

Effects of Tranexamic Acid on Intraoperative Bleeding and Surgical Field Visualization During Middle Ear Surgery: A Narrative Review.

Tranexamic acid is an antifibrinolytic agent widely used in several surgical procedures to reduce intraoperative bleeding. Intraoperative bleeding is a crucial problem for the ear surgeon, as it prevents good visualization of the surgical field. The aim of this work was to analyze the relevant literature about the use of tranexamic acid in ear surgery.

Single-Sided Deafness and Hearing Rehabilitation Modalities: Contralateral Routing of Signal Devices, Bone Conduction Devices, and Cochlear Implants.

Single sided deafness (SSD) is characterized by significant sensorineural hearing loss, severe or profound, in only one ear. SSD adversely affects various aspects of auditory perception, including causing impairment in sound localization, difficulties with speech comprehension in noisy environments, and decreased spatial awareness, resulting in a significant decline in overall quality of life (QoL). Several treatment options are available for SSD, including cochlear implants (CI), contralateral routing of signal (CROS), and bone conduction devices (BCD).

Cognitive functioning and psychosomatic syndromes in a subjective tinnitus sample.

Introduction: Tinnitus is the perception of a sound in the absence of any corresponding external sound source. Current research suggests a relationship among emotional, cognitive, and psychosomatic symptoms and the occurrence or maintenance of chronic tinnitus. This study aimed to detect the prevalence and role of psychosomatic conditions, as defined by the Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research (DCPR), and cognitive functioning in a group of patients with tinnitus.

Endothelial Dysfunction and Metabolic Disorders in Patients with Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss.

Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is defined as a sensorineural hearing loss of 30 dB or greater on at least three contiguous audiometric frequencies occurring within a 72 h period. Although SSNHL is commonly encountered in clinical audiology and otolaryngology practice, its etiopathogenesis continues to be poorly understood. Scientific investigations have highlighted the vulnerability of cochlear microcirculation to blood flow alterations.

Quality of life after revision mastoidectomy with mastoid obliteration.

Aims: To evaluate the postoperative quality of life (QoL) after revision canal wall down mastoidectomy with mastoid obliteration (rCWD).

Material And Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients treated by rCWD for cholesteatoma between 2016 and 2019. A control group including all patients treated by primary canal wall down with mastoid obliteration (pCWD) for cholesteatoma between 2009 and 2014 was used for the comparison of the postoperative QoL, assessed by the COMQ-12.

The effect of cochlear implant and bimodal stimulation on tinnitus: a multinational survey.

Background: Tinnitus is a frequent symptom in cochlear implant (CI) patients. Many studies have shown that a CI leads to a significant change in the perception of tinnitus.

Aims: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of CI on tinnitus in patients with Unilateral Cochlear Implant (UCI), Bilateral Cochlear Implant (BCI), and Bimodal Stimulation (BMS).

Intralabyrinthine schwannomas: a two-case series and literature review with a focus on hearing rehabilitation.

Purpose: Intralabyrinthine schwannomas (ILSs) are an uncommon finding. Diagnosis is challenging and no gold standard treatment exists yet. In this article, we present a two-cases series and review the latest available literature to assess the best diagnostic and therapeutic scheme.

Quality of life after cholesteatoma surgery: comparison between surgical techniques.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term quality of life (QoL) in patients operated for cholesteatoma by canal wall-up tympanoplasty (CWUT) or canal wall-down tympanoplasty (CWDT) with mastoid obliteration.

Methods: QoL was evaluated by the Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire - 12 (COMQ-12). For each patient, the total score and three partial subscores, concerning disease activity, functional impairment and general impact on the patient's life were calculated.

Correlation between functional outcome and the SAMEO-ATO framework.

Purpose: To evaluate the recently proposed SAMEO-ATO framework for middle ear and mastoid surgery, by correlating it with the functional outcome in a large cohort of patients operated for middle ear and mastoid cholesteatoma in a tertiary referral center.

Methods: We retrospectively included all surgeries for middle ear and mastoid cholesteatoma undergone in our Department between January 2009 and December 2014, by excluding revision surgeries, congenital and petrous bone cholesteatoma. All surgeries were classified according to the SAMEO-ATO framework.

New laboratory predictive tools in deep neck space infections.

Introduction: Deep neck space infections (DNSIs) are a group of infective suppurative diseases involving deep neck spaces and cervical fascia. Necrotising and septic evolutions are rare, but severe complications can dramatically affect the prognosis and should be promptly managed. Clinical examination often has low sensitivity, although instrumental diagnosis may delay te treatment.

ENT surgical emergencies during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Introduction: The restrictive measures adopted by the Italian Government during the COVID-19 outbreak caused dramatic changes in routine public health care. Surprisingly, emergency activity also registered a reduction in frequency.

Methods: This multicentre retrospective study aims to investigate eventual changes in ENT surgical emergencies in a highly populated area of southern Italy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cross-cultural adaption and validation of the Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12 (COMQ-12) in the Italian language.

Purpose: The evaluation of Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic otitis media COM has gained attention over the past years and several questionnaires have been developed to evaluate it in affected patients. The Chronic Otitis Media Questionnaire 12 (COMQ-12) is a widely used disease-specific tool that evaluates the severity of symptoms, the specific impact on work and lifestyle, the effects on the health service, and general impact of the disease in patients with COM. The COMQ-12 questionnaire has been translated and validated into different languages; however, an Italian version is not yet available.