Biomedical subjects

A Taibah

Publications and source records attributed to A Taibah.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Titration streptomycin therapy in Meniere's disease: long-term results.

As soon as the use of streptomycin was started for the treatment of tuberculosis, its ototoxic effect was discovered. Initial reports demonstrated that streptomycin was successful in reducing vestibular responses while preserving cochlear activity. Streptomycin sulfate has been used for almost half a century for the treatment of vertigo in patients with Meniere's disease. At the Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza, Italy, between 1987 and 1995 we treated 16 patients with either bilateral Meniere's disease or with Meniere's disease in their only hearing ear, adopting the titration streptomycin therapy protocol of Graham et al. Three patients with follow-up periods of less than 2 years were not included in this study. The ages of the patients ranged from 36 to 64 years with a mean of 49.2 years. The patients were observed for 2 to 8.8 years. The dose of administered streptomycin varied from 14 to 49 gm. Episodic vertigo was totally relieved in all of the patients after initial treatment, whereas hearing remained the same or was improved when compared with the pretreatment levels. Five of the patients experienced recurring vertigo during a period of 4 to 24 months after initial treatment. Oscillopsia persisted in two patients and ataxia in darkness persisted in another two patients. Hearing was unchanged in 14 ears, improved in 2 ears, and worsened in 4 ears at the last follow-up evaluation. The overall outcome indicated that intramuscular titration streptomycin therapy seems to be one of the most important therapeutic options in the treatment of disabling vertigo in patients with either bilateral Meniere's disease or Meniere's disease in an only hearing ear.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

The system of the modified transcochlear approach: a lateral avenue to the central skull base.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to update the authors' experience with the modified transcochlear approach for the management of lesions of the central skull base. The surgical technique, classification, indications, and results also are presented. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of the charts of 66 consecutive patients treated in our centers by the modified transcochlear approach was conducted. SETTING: The study was performed in two tertiary referral centers. PATIENTS: All patients treated by the modified transcochlear approach were included. Thirty-five patients had extradural lesions, whereas 31 lesions were intradural. INTERVENTION: All patients were treated surgically using the modified transcochlear approach either in its basic form (type A) or with its extensions (types B, C, and D). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The outcome of surgery is evaluated with particular emphasis on the incidence of morbidity, mortality, and the degree of total tumor removal. RESULTS: Total tumor removal was accomplished in 58 cases either in single or staged procedures. A second-stage procedure for total tumor removal is planned in five other patients. Subtotal tumor removal was performed in three patients. Mortality occurred in two cases. Ipsilateral hearing loss and immediate facial nerve palsy constituted the major drawbacks of this approach. However, 67.5% recovered to grade III facial function or better 1 year after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: The modified transcochlear approach provides a relatively safe, wide, and versatile access to large lesions of the central skull base.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Mastoidectomy in noncholesteatomatous chronic suppurative otitis media: is it necessary?

Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) without cholesteatoma, the surgical treatment of which is still controversial, is a common diagnosis in otologic practice. A retrospective analysis of 323 patients who underwent surgery for noncholesteatomatous chronic otitis media in the Gruppo Otologica, Piacenza, Italy, between April 1983 and December 1993 is presented. Cases were separated into three groups according to different surgical treatment modalities and conditions of the ears at the time of operation. Group I (n = 53) consisted of cases of CSOM treated by tympanoplasty without mastoidectomy (TLWOM). Group II (n = 28) included cases of CSOM treated by tympanoplasty with mastoidectomy (TLWM). Intact canal wall technique was used in these cases. The ears in both these groups were discharging severely at the time of surgery. Group III (n = 242) included patients whose ears were dry at the time of surgery but who had had previous recurrent episodes of suppuration and who were treated by TLWOM. At the last follow-up, graft success rates for groups I, II, and III were 90.5%, 85.7%, and 89.2%, respectively, and mean residual gaps were 17.2 dB, 20.1 dB, and 19.4 dB, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference between the three groups either on graft success rates (p > 0.05) or on final functional hearing outcome (p > 0.05). TLWM is the preferable treatment modality for most surgeons in noncholesteatomatous CSOM. Nevertheless, in our experience TLWOM yields comparable results for this group of patients. In addition, we could not find any significant difference in results of graft success and final functional hearing rates between dry and discharging ears (p > 0.05).

Adolescent↗

PubMed1997

Clinical observations on coexistence of sudden hearing loss and vestibular schwannoma.

It has long been recognized that sudden hearing loss (SHL) may be a harbinger of vestibular schwannoma (VS). Among 192 VS patients who underwent operation in the Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza, Italy, from April 1987 to October 1995, the charts of 14 (7.3%) cases with a history of SHL were examined. SHL was the first symptom in 8 (4.2%) patients. Eight (57.1%) of 14 VS cases with SHL anamnesis had reported recovery of their previous hearing either totally or partially before establishment of tumor diagnosis. Five (35.7%) cases had recurrent bouts of SHL. SHL was observed less frequently in cases with large tumors (>3 cm). However, the frequency of SHL in patients with small tumors did not differ from that of medium-sized tumors. Awareness about coexistence of SHL and VS, as well as concomitant use of auditory brain stem response and magnetic resonance imaging, is crucial to rule out the diagnosis of VS in a patient with SHL.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

Anatomical considerations of high jugular bulb in lateral skull base surgery.

In order to study high jugular bulb management in lateral skull base surgery, an anatomical study was conducted on 30 temporal bones by examining the relationship between the internal auditory canal (IAC) and the jugular bulb. The following parameters were measured: 1) Height of the jugular bulb (H)... distance between the level of jugular bulb dome and the line passing through the confluence of the sigmoid sinus with the jugular bulb (SS-JB), 2) Mastoid length (ML)... distance between the mastoid process and middle cranial fossa dura, 3) Distance between the most inferior part of the porus acousticus and jugular bulb dome (A), 4) Distance between the porus acousticus and SS-JB (B). The jugular bulb was defined as high when it occupied more than two thirds of (B). The incidence of a high jugular bulb was 23 per cent in this study. When the jugular bulb was high, the mean (H) and (A) were 9.4 +/- 1.9 mm and 2.7 +/- 0.5 mm, respectively. (H) was higher on the right side than on the left side. No statistically significant difference was found between small and large mastoids (t-test: p > 0.05). It was concluded that when a high jugular bulb was encountered during lateral skull base surgery, the jugular bulb position allows a very small working area inferior to the IAC. In these cases, a 3 or 4 mm depression of the jugular bulb is necessary in order to expose the lower cranial nerves. This can be accomplished by lowering the jugular bulb with the technique already described.

Humans↗

PubMed1996

Anatomical relationship between position of the sigmoid sinus and regional mastoid pneumatization.

In order to examine the relationship between the location of the sigmoid sinus (SS) and mastoid pneumatization, 25 adult temporal bones were dissected. Pneumatization was evaluated according to findings during dissections of three separate regions of the mastoid: i.e., the sinodural angle (SDA) area, inter-sinofacial area and mastoid apex. In addition, the SDA and distance between the SS and vertical portion of the facial nerve, were measured at the second genu (G) of the facial nerve, the junction (J) of the nerve and digastric ridge and the midpoint between G and J.A good correlation was observed between pneumatization of the cells surrounding the SDA and the distance between the SS and facial nerve at the mid-point of its vertical segment. However, pneumatization of the inter-sinofacial air cell tract could not be correlated with this distance. A significant decrease in the values of the SDA was found when the air cells surrounding the SDA were poorly pneumatized. This study indicated a correlation between the position of the SS and pneumatization of the mastoid in the area of the SDA.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

Vestibular schwannoma and the only hearing ear.

With the recent advances in the management of vestibular schwannomas, it is possible not only to save the facial nerve function but also preserve hearing in a small percentage of cases. Difficulties arise while managing patients with vestibular schwannoma in their only hearing ear. In this article we summarize our experience in managing seven of these patients. We recommended a watch and wait policy with a regular follow-up with audiometric testing and gadolinium-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Gamma knife radiosurgery is advised in cases with deterioration of hearing or increase in tumour size. Surgery is usually avoided unless there are brainstem compression symptoms.

Adult↗

PubMed1996

[Vestibular neurectomy by retrolabyrinthine approach in cases of untreatable Meniere's disease].

We report on a series of 35 Ménière's disease patients, all of whom had undergone retrolabyrinthine vestibular neurectomy between 1987-1993. The overall success rate of vertigo relief was 96.7% with no serious or permanent complications resulting from the procedure. The current literature is reviewed and our results are compared with those of previous reports. The technical elements of the operation, regarding our approach and those of the others are analyzed with special attention given to the anatomical features of the region and their influence on success or failure. We conclude that the retrolabyrinthine approach for nerve section remains a safe and highly successful technique which continues to be widely used.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Cerebrospinal fluid leak after translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma surgery.

Cerebrospinal fluid leakage is the most common complication of translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma surgery. This retrospective study reviews patients who had translabyrinthine acoustic neuroma surgery at the Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza, Italy, and ENT Department of Bergamo General Hospital, Bergamo, Italy, during the last 6 years. The incidence of postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leakage was 6.2%, and 75% of these patients underwent another surgery to control the cerebrospinal fluid leakage. A modification of translabyrinthine approach was used in patients with highly pneumatized temporal bones to prevent cerebrospinal fluid leakage in these high-risk patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Benign osteoblastoma of the mastoid part of the temporal bone: case report.

Osteoblastoma is a benign bone lesion that mainly affects the long bones and rarely the temporal bones. Very few cases have been reported in the literature. This paper reviews the literature, discusses the differential diagnosis, clinical presentation, and CT scan findings of such a condition and details our experience with a young patient who had a temporal bone (mastoid process) osteoblastoma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Canal wall down mastoidectomy: causes of failure, pitfalls and their management.

Managing patients with failed canal wall down mastoidectomy, requires a meticulous approach to control the disease and restore hearing. The present article reviews the causes of failure of the primary procedure and pitfalls encountered in 105 patients referred to our centre for revision canal wall down mastoidectomy. At post-revision surgery there were no cases with residual or recurrent cholesteatoma. The failures in our revision procedure were due to tympanic membrane perforation which occurred in five per cent (n = 4) and intermittent otorrhoea in two per cent (n = 2). A dry cavity with adequate middle ear space allowed for optimum audiological function even in revision canal wall down procedures.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Cholesteatoma surgery: the individualized technique.

A retrospective analysis of 433 cholesteatoma cases, surgically treated at the Gruppo Otologico, Piacenza, Italy, over a 7-year period, is reported. The purpose of this study was to delineate actual indications for individualizing open and closed procedures and to compare their results as regards residual or recurrent disease and hearing. The total incidences of residual and recurrent cholesteatoma in the open cavity procedures were 10% and 2.38%, respectively, while the closed procedures showed higher incidences of residual and recurrent cholesteatoma: 31.22% and 11.16%, respectively. The problem of a persistently discharging cavity was encountered in only 1 case of an open procedure, while 2 patients had persistent otorrhea among the closed cavity cases. The hearing results, although slightly better in the closed procedures, were not significantly different from those in the open procedures.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

Meningoencephalic herniation into the middle ear: a report of 27 cases.

Meningoencephalic herniation into the middle ear is a rare and potentially life-threatening condition that may require prompt surgical intervention. Preoperative diagnosis is based on a high index of suspicion. Sometimes, however, meningoencephalic herniation is discovered during surgery. High-resolution computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging should be performed to confirm the diagnosis and to evaluate the extension of the herniated tissue. This article discusses the diagnostic approach, management strategy, and surgical technique used in 27 patients with meningoencephalic herniation. In an attempt to avoid infective complications, the authors used the middle cranial approach in patients with large herniations.

Adult↗

PubMed1995

Modified Bondy technique.

Bondy operation is a type of modified radical mastoidectomy in which the mastoid cavity is exteriorized without disturbing the intact ossicular chain and pars tensa. It is indicated in cases of epitympanic cholesteatoma with intact ossicular chain, normal pars tensa, and good hearing. The advantages of the technique are one-stage surgery with preservation of preoperative hearing levels, which is not possible with any other procedure. This article presents the indications, technique, results, and complications.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

[Congenital cholesteatoma of the middle ear: a case series different from cases in the literature].

We present 44 cases of congenital cholesteatoma of the middle ear. Twenty-one patients had a cholesteatoma located in the posterosuperior mesotympanum. This finding was in complete contrast to the commonly reported anterosuperior location, seen in only 2 cases in our study. The remaining 21 patients had a cholesteatoma involving either the entire mesotympanum and/or epitympanum. The posteriorly located congenital cholesteatoma might represent a completely different entity and originate from epithelial cell debris trapped in the posterior mesotympanum during development of the temporal bone. All but one patient were treated with a closed tympanoplasty. Eight patients underwent single stage surgery. A preplanned second stage procedure was performed in 33 patients, while 3 are presently awaiting the second stage. Residual disease was seen in 19 patients (57%) who had undergone second stage surgery. No patient has had recurrent disease this far. Thirty-eight patients (85%) had a preoperative air bone gap of 30 dB or more. Of the 33 patients evaluated for hearing results, 16 (48%) had a postoperative gap within 10 dB.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1995

[Incidence of normal hearing in acoustic neuroma].

Unilateral or asymetrical sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus and instability classically represent the main symptoms for the suspected diagnosis of acoustic neurinoma. In literature there are very few studies which refer about acoustic neurinoma in patients with normal hearing. In this article we report the results of a retrospective analysis of 155 acoustic neurinoma cases with normal hearing managed in our center in the last 7 years. These patients are classified in two groups: 1) with normal hearing at the time of diagnosis and 2) with at least a mild sensorineural hearing loss. Of this 155 cases, 21 (13.5%) had normal pure tone audiogram. An important characteristic of these patients, in comparison with the group with normal hearing, is the younger age. Tinnitus, instability, sudden hearing loss with complete recovery and vertigo are the most common symptoms. The mean pure tone threshold is 14.7 dB, speech audiometry is positive in very few cases, while a large number of cases show false negative. ABR are positive in 90.5% of cases, and demonstrate its high sensitivity for retrococlear pathology. The mean tumor size shows significant differences between the group with normal hearing and this with hearing loss. We believe that the presence of this symptoms in a young patient should necessitate complete neurotologic examination and in the patients with normal hearing a high level of suspicion represents the first step for early diagnosis of small tumors; the next step is the through evaluation of patient with pure tone audiogram, ABR, and imaging studies, preferably MRI with gadolinium, as this permits the diagnosis of small intracanalicular tumor. Thus, in cases of small tumors with good hearing we feel that will be possible to adopt hearing conservation surgical approach like FCM and retrosigmoid approach in more cases.

Audiometry, Pure-Tone↗

PubMed1994

Surgical anatomy of the petrous apex as it relates to the enlarged middle cranial fossa approaches.

This work was designed to study the surgical anatomy of the petrous apex as it relates to the enlarged middle cranial fossa approaches, on 25 temporal bones. In this study we suggest dividing the petrous apex into two topographic areas: an anterior triangular and a posterior quadrangular area with respect to the posterior border of the Gasserian ganglion. Anatomic descriptions endorsed by relevant measurements of these areas are provided in this study.

Humans↗

PubMed1993

Atypical presentation of acoustic neuroma.

Unilateral progressive sensorineural hearing loss, tinnitus, and unsteadiness are the usual initial symptoms of acoustic neuroma. Of the last 100 consecutive cases of acoustic neuroma detected at our Centre, 14 had atypical symptoms, Five patients manifested sudden hearing loss; one of these had complete recovery. Three patients reported long-standing unilateral hearing loss, ranging from 10 to 20 years. Six patients had normal hearing, one of whom was diagnosed incidently when the investigations were performed for contralateral glomus tumor. A second patient, a young woman, experienced weakness of lower limbs. The remaining four patients had only subjective symptoms of hearing loss or tinnitus. Acoustic tumors could have been overlooked easily in these patients. It is important to have a high index of suspicion in all cases of sudden hearing loss, asymmetric sensorineural loss of any duration, subjective sensation of hearing loss, and tinnitus. It is mandatory to investigate these cases with auditory brainstem responses, any abnormality of which makes it necessary to perform magnetic resonance imaging with gadolinium.

Adolescent↗