Acta oto-laryngologica
-
Acta oto-laryngologica · Oct 2004
Otologic consequences of blast exposure: a Finnish case study of a shopping mall bomb explosion.
On 11 October, 2002, in the Myyrmanni shopping mall, Vantaa city, Finland, an explosion by a suicide bomber killed 7 people and injured at least 160,44 of whom had ear trauma. We investigated the acute and subacute otologic consequences of the explosion. ⋯ People often think that tinnitus and hearing impairment are naturally occurring phenomena after blast exposure, and if their symptoms resolve they do not seek medical advice. However, some of them may have substantial hearing impairment, particularly at high frequencies. Otologic consultation, or at least an audiometric screening test to exclude hearing impairment, should be performed regardless of symptoms, on the basis of exposure data only. Some symptoms, such as tinnitus and hearing loss, may be permanent consequences of a blast injury and their effect on quality of life may be substantial.
-
To examine the response decline that occurs upon repetitive galvanic vestibular stimulation (GVS) and hampers long-term clinical evaluations. ⋯ The current protocol, using a prehabituating binaural stimulus, showed that reproducible assessment of the GVS over a time course of days to weeks was possible starting from the second test.
-
Acta oto-laryngologica · Sep 2004
Case ReportsTransoral approach to drain streptococcus pneumoniae spinal epidural abscess in an HIV-infected adult.
Spinal epidural abscess due to Streptococcus pneumoniae is extremely rare in adults. It typically occurs in the thoracic, lumbar or lumbosacral epidural spaces, and less frequently in the cervical epidural space. The principal causative microbial agent is Staphylococcus aureus, representing 70% of cases, while 1.6% of cases are caused by S. pneumoniae. ⋯ Antibiotic therapy with cefotaxime plus vancomycin was initiated and a transoral surgical approach was used to achieve retropharyngeal and local debridement of the metatarsal abscess. Blood and pus cultures were positive for S. pneumoniae. After 4 months of follow-up the patient remained asymptomatic, without clinical or MRI evidence of recurrence.
-
Acta oto-laryngologica · Mar 2004
Case ReportsParapharyngeal angiolipoma causing obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.
Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is the cessation of airflow with the continuance of respiratory effort during sleep. OSAS associated with a neck mass is extremely rare. Angiolipoma is a rare, benign, fatty tumour composed of mature lipocytes and multiple areas containing angiomatous elements. ⋯ A histological study led to the definitive diagnosis of angiolipomal without evidence of malignancy. After surgery, the snoring disappeared and the patient remained tumour-free after 54 months of follow-up. This is the first case in the literature of a patient with nocturnal polysomnographic-documented OSAS caused by a left parapharyngeal angiolipoma.
-
Acta oto-laryngologica · Sep 2003
Case ReportsFourth branchial pouch sinus with recurrent deep cervical abscesses successfully treated with trichloroacetic acid cauterization.
A previously healthy 13-year-old girl presented with a left-sided deep cervical abscess. A CT scan demonstrated an abscess in the lower neck, anterior to the common carotid artery. Treatment with i.v. antibiotics and incision drainage resolved the condition. ⋯ Three cauterizations were needed to close the pyriform sinus opening. To date (Month 14) there has been no recurrence of the cervical abscesses. TCA chemocauterization seems to be a safe first-line treatment for patients with a pyriform sinus fistula.