Subtotal Petrosectomy and Blind Sac Closure of the External Auditory Canal: Single-Center Experience with 44 Cases

Objective:This study aims to share our experiences with subtotal petrosectomy, cavity obliteration, and blind sac closure of the external auditory canal.Methods:A total of 44 patients who underwent subtotal petrosectomy and cavity obliteration between January 2009 and April 2013 were analyzed retrospectively. Indications of operation, surgical findings, and complications were recorded.Results:Twenty-three male and 21 female patients with a mean age of 42±18 (8-73) years were included in the study. The mean postoperative follow-up period was 22±11 (9-52) months. Seven patients underwent primary cavity obliteration (6 with supralabirentin cholesteatoma and 1 with facial nerve schwannoma; all had total sensorineural hearing loss on the operated side). Obliteration was performed as a secondary procedure in 19 patients who had uncontrolled otorrhea and unserviceable hearing. During the procedure, the implantation processes of a Carina device in 2 patients, active middle ear implant (Vibrant Soundbridge- VSB) in 4 patients, and cochlear implant in 8 patients who had dry mastoidectomy cavities were performed. Removal of the hearing devices was carried out simultaneously with the procedure in 4 patients who had been administered an auditory implant previously. The complications of cerebrospinal otorrhea and mastoid cavity infection developed in 1 patient on the 7th postoperative day. This had been drained under general anesthesia, and recovery was obtained without any problems. Three patients had skin necrosis localized in the external auditory canal, which was repaired under local anesthesia.Conclusion:Subtotal petrosectomy and cavity obliteration procedure can be a good alternative to prevent recurrent infections and cavity problems in patients who have safe cavities with unserviceable hearing. Additionally, it is gaining more popularity in chronic otitis media patients to secure the implant electrode and to prevent cavity infection if they need to be rehabilitated with cochlear or active middle ear implants

The Score for Allergic Rhinitis study in Turkey, 2020

International audienceObjective: This study aimed to determine how prevalent allergic rhinitis (AR) is in Turkey and to compare the current prevalence with the figures obtained 10 years earlier.Methods: This study included 9,017 participants. The minimum number of participants required from each center was determined via a stratified sampling technique according to regional demographic characteristics as ascertained from the last census. For each region, both men and women were administered the score for allergic rhinitis (SFAR) questionnaire and a score for each participant was calculated based on the responses supplied.Results: A total of 9,017 individuals (55.3% men and 44.7% women) took part in this study. Of these, 94.4% were urban residents and 5.6% lived in a rural setting. Of the men, 38.5% self-reported as suffering from AR. The corresponding figure in women was 40.5%. The overall prevalence of AR, as deduced on the basis of the SFAR, was found to be 36.7%. Comparing the prevalence in different regions, we found that AR was the least prevalent in the Black Sea region with a frequency of 35.8%. The highest prevalence was in the Mediterranean region, where the prevalence was 37.7%. There was no statistical significance in the apparent differences in prevalence between different geographical regions. Despite this, however, there was a clear increase in the frequency of AR over the preceding decade. This increase was most pronounced in the South-Eastern Anatolian region, where the frequency rose from 21.0% to 36.9%.Conclusion: Our results indicate that there has been a marked increase in the prevalence of AR in every region in Turkey over the last 10 years. This could be related to living conditions in urban environments. Alterations in lifestyle, urban living, air pollution causing impairments in immune defense mechanisms, and other aspects of modern lifestyles may account for the increase in AR in Turkey