POSTERSMethod: A retrospective review was performed in patients undergoing canal wall reconstruction with postauricular twin flap and type I tympanoplasty after canal wall down from 2009 to 2010. Shape of the canal after reconstruction, pre-and postoperative audiogram, and postoperative complications such as infection, delayed healing, and dehiscence of the wall were evaluated.Results: Seven ears of 7 patients underwent the canal wall reconstruction procedure after canal down and type I tympanoplasty. The ages of the patients ranged from 19 to 63 years. The mean duration of follow-up was 13.3 months with a range of 9 to 18 months. The shape of the canal was maintained in all ears, and no dehiscence of the canal wall was found in all seven ears. Postoperative hearing was variable depending on the hearing of preoperation, but no worsening was observed. Mean improvement of postoperative air conduction was 21.8 dB, and that of postoperative air-bone gap was 16.4 dB. Conclusion:The postauricular twin flap is thin and flexible enough to support the posterior surface of the canal skin and to fill the space remaining after surgery. The twin flap procedure for the reconstruction of the external ear canal showed a high success rate.Objective: Jugular bulb (JB) abnormalities including high riding JB and JB diverticulum can erode inner ear structures and cause hearing loss, dizziness, and tinnitus. This study investigates 1) the prevalence of JB abnormalities, and 2) their erosion into inner ear structures using temporal bone histopathology and computed tomography (CT).Method: A total of 1579 temporal bones and 100 CT of the temporal bones (200 ears) were reviewed. The presence of a high JB was recorded as was its erosion into inner ear structures. Accompanying demographic and clinical information was reviewed.Results: High JB was noted in 8.2% (130/1579) of temporal bone specimens, and in 8.5% (17/200) of cases radiologically. Histologically, high JB were more common on the left side, in women, and in those greater than 40 years old. There was no significant increase in the prevalence of high JB over age 40 years. High JB eroded inner ear structures in 34% (44/130) of cases histologically and 18% (3/17) radiologically. The vestibular aqueduct was most frequently dehiscent histologically (n = 41) and radiologically (n = 3). Posterior semicircular canal and facial nerve were infrequently dehiscent. Only 2 out of 41 histological cases of vestibular aqueduct dehiscence had hydrops or a clinical history of Ménière's disease.Conclusion: JB abnormalities are common. They are present in 8% to 9% of individuals and are acquired by age 40 years. In 1/3 of cases, high riding JB erodes the inner ear, most frequently involving the vestibular aqueduct. Contrary to expectation, dehiscence of the vestibular aqueduct is infrequently associated with endolymphatic hydrops clinically or histologically.

Introduction:The aim of this study was to study how the effect of eliminating oral contrast for computed tomography of the abdomen and pelvis (CTAP) in the workup of abdominal pain in the emergency department (ED) would affect the time from patient review to scan and time from review to discharge. Methods: In this retrospective study, we analysed all ED presentations with abdominal pain to our university affiliated tertiary hospital before and after a protocol that eliminated oral contrast-enhanced CTAPs were implemented in September 2018. Two equivalent periods between September and November of 2017 and 2018 were analysed. Patients were excluded if they had a history of anatomy-altering gastrointestinal surgery, history of inflammatory bowel disease, trauma, suspicion of foreign body ingestion or suspected gastrointestinal bleeding. Results: A total of 176 pre-protocol and 197 post-protocol patients were included in the study. We found that the elimination of oral contrast was associated with a decrease in mean time between ED review and scan by 110 min (379 vs. 269 min). We also found that the elimination of oral contrast did not significantly alter the pattern of radiological diagnoses seen between the two study periods, suggesting the absence of oral contrast does not affect diagnostic accuracy. Conclusion: Thus, eliminating the use of oral contrast in the workup of abdominal pain in the ED can lead to increased throughput and more timely patient care.

HighlightsThe symptoms of gastrocolic fistulae are often undifferentiated.Barium enemas are the most accurate for diagnosis but gastroscopy should be performed to rule out malignancy.The mainstay of treatment of gastrocolic fistulae is surgical.

No abstract