American journal of otolaryngology
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From November 2008 to October 2010, 565 military personnel sustained blast injury in Southernmost Thailand and 99 personnel, affected by multiple injuries, were transferred to Phramongkutklao Hospital. No data on the effect of blast injury to the ears among Thai military personnel have been reported. This study aims 1) to determine the prevalence of Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) and otologic manifestations from primary blast injury among military personnel, in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat Provinces, and 2) to evaluate the impact of explosive devices and distance from explosion on SNHL under various conditions. ⋯ Correlation among all three incident areas and two factors: impact of explosive devices and distance from explosion are risk factors of SNHL without significance.
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Unintentional mechanical manipulation anywhere in the distribution of the trigeminal nerve might activate a reflexive bradycardia. Neurosurgeons need to bear in mind detrimental consequences on cardiac function. A female patient (53 years) underwent a computer-assisted (CAS), paranasal sinus operation performed under general anesthesia. ⋯ During neurosurgical procedures, the incidence of the reflex varies between 10 and 18%. To the best of our knowledge, we report for the first time on a direct stimulation of the ethmoidal nerve with instruments (CAS probe) during paranasal surgery. Although normally cardioprotective, exaggeration of the diving reflex can be detrimental and has been implicated in cardiorespiratory disorders, including sudden death and the sudden infant death syndrome.
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An epiglottic abscess is considered a life-threatening medical situation that can cause death by obstruction the upper airways. We describe a 58-year-old man who presented to our hospital with sore throat, dysphagia and dysphonia. ⋯ Treatment consists of airway management if needed under anesthesia and draining of the abscess. An IV antibiotics plus corticosteroids should be administrated the moment a suspicion of epiglottitis is present.