1,720,965 research outputs found
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. The post-operative air bone gap (ABG) was calculated and chosen as benchmark parameter for the correlation analysis. RESULTS: 282 consecutive surgeries for middle ear and mastoid cholesteatoma were released in the study period on a total of 273 patients, with a mean age of 41.2 years. All patients were followed for an average period of 55.3 months. 54% of patients underwent M2c mastoidectomy (Canal Wall Down, CWD), while the remaining underwent Canal Wall Up (CWU) procedures, being M1b2a mastoidectomy the most common one (33%). Mean pre-operative and post-operative ABGs were 29.2 and 23.5 dB, with a significant improvement (p < 0.0001). ‘Mastoidectomy’ and ‘Ossicular reconstruction’ parameters of SAMEO-ATO showed significant association with postoperative ABG, with smaller residual gaps for the classes Mx and On, and worse hearing results for M3a and Ox. CONCLUSION: Our results show the utility of SAMEO-ATO framework, and in particular of ‘M’ (Mastoidectomy) and ‘O’ (Ossicular reconstruction) parameters, in predicting the hearing outcome
Recurrent tympanic perforation after myringoplasty: a narrative literature review and personal experience
The aim of the work is to review the current literature concerning recidivism of tympanic perforation after myringoplasty and to give some tips to improve the chance of success and manage the possible scenario of failure. An analysis of the existing literature is presented and, based on it and on our experience, an algorithm of management of tympanic perforation recidivism is proposed
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
The present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Multifocal intravestibulocochlear and intracranial vestibular schwannomas: illustrative case
BACKGROUND Eighth cranial nerve schwannomas represent a rare pathological condition, and their sporadic unilateral multifocal presentation is even more uncommon. Here, the authors present a rare case of multifocal intravestibulocochlear and intracranial vestibular schwannomas (VSs) and review analogous cases in the existing literature. OBSERVATIONS A 54-year-old female patient presented to the authors’ clinic in March 2024 with complaints of left-sided hearing loss, tinnitus, and vertigo. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI revealed a Koos grade III VS localized in the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) with extension in the internal auditory canal and a coexisting intravestibulocochlear schwannoma. CT imaging showed no cochlear fundus dilatation or bone erosion. The patient underwent a left transotic approach with blind sac closure of the external auditory canal. No continuity was observed between the inner ear and intrameatal-CPA VSs, confirming the presence of two distinct lesions. LESSONS This case emphasizes the importance of a preoperative radiological evaluation and the necessity of a multidisciplinary team to ensure optimal surgical treatment and complete tumor resection
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. Data concerning the period between the February 1 and the May 31, 2020 were collected from the main three hospitals in the district and compared with the same period of 2019.
Results: A substantial reduction was found in the number of ENT emergency interventions in 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, particularly in the main lockdown phase and in the tertiary referral centre.
Conclusions: The reduction in the absolute number of emergency ENT interventions can be only partially explained by social distancing and home confinement. We have reason to believe that some of these patients may have not sought medical support due to fear of nosocomial SARS-CoV2 infection. This study could represent a trigger for further implementation of health system responses to emergencies in a period of transition that is likely to last for a prolonged period of time
Variations on the Author
“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
Management of intracranial and orbital complications of acute rhinosinusitis and acute otitis media in the post covid-19 era in pediatric patients
Purpose: Acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) and acute otitis media (AOM) are common diseases in pediatric populations that rarely lead to intracranial infection and/or orbital complications. The incidence of these complications has increased in recent years and the main aim of this study is to analyze the tendency of this increase during the pandemic years, compared with the pre-pandemic era and to propose our management of ABRS and AOM. Method: Clinical data from children, admitted to our hospital during the period from January 2018 to March 2024 with a diagnosis of complicated ABRS and AOM was collected. The sample was divided into two groups: Group A (January 2018– December 2020) and Group B (January 2021- March 2024). Results: The retrospective cohort consisted of 35 patients, seven patients (20%) belong to Group A, twenty-eight patients (80%) belong to Group B. 67.9% of subjects during the COVID-19 era tested positive for SARS CoV-2 infection on average 5.5 months prior to hospital admission. Statistical analysis showed that there was a sharp increase in surgical cases of complicated AOM and complicated ABRS, after the lock-down period, compared to the previous years. Conclusion: The main findings of the present study are the significant increase of complicated ABRS and AOM as well as severe complications requiring surgical treatment, after the COVID-19 pandemic
Appropriate Similarity Measures for Author Cocitation Analysis
We provide a number of new insights into the methodological discussion about author cocitation analysis. We first argue that the use of the Pearson correlation for measuring the similarity between authors’ cocitation profiles is not very satisfactory. We then discuss what kind of similarity measures may be used as an alternative to the Pearson correlation. We consider three similarity measures in particular. One is the well-known cosine. The other two similarity measures have not been used before in the bibliometric literature. Finally, we show by means of an example that our findings have a high practical relevance.information science;Pearson correlation;cosine;similarity measure;author cocitation analysis
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. These scores were correlated with the surgical technique, as well as anatomical and functional results. RESULTS: 68 procedures were classified as CWUT and 78 as CWDT with obliteration. The mean follow-up was 65 months. Total and partial COMQ-12 scores did not show any significant difference between the two groups. Correlation analysis showed a significant direct association between the postoperative Air-Bone Gap (ABG) and both the COMQ-12 total score and functional subscore in the CWUT group. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study comparing CWUT and CWDT with obliteration with the COMQ-12, thus confirming the overlapping results in terms of QoL. These findings, together with the evidence of the significantly lower rates of recidivism, show that CWDT with obliteration should be considered as a good alternative to CWUT
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