Residual dizziness (RD) following the resolution of a benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BBPV) episode is frequently reported by patients. Possible causes are still under debate in the literature. This study discusses the possible role of otolithic function and of elapsed time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis in the genesis of RD. In total, 116 patients younger than 65 years with their first episode of BPPV and without any other comorbidities were enrolled in the study. Before a bedside examination, subjective visual vertical (SVV) was determined in the case of a history suggestive of BPPV. SVV was tested 1 week later in those patients with BPPV of the posterior semicircular canal, and in whom positioning maneuvers showed resolution of BPPV. At 1 week control, reported RD and Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) were recorded. Diagnosis and treatment of BPPV occurred within 4 days in 43 patients (group A), between 5 and 8 days in 38 patients (group B) and in more than 9 days in 35 patients (group C). Higher values of reported RD and DHI were recorded in group C, while higher values of SVV deviation were recorded in group A with an inverse relationship between SVV and DHI. Initial peripheral vestibular function asymmetry due to BPPV can induce a new central adaptation. This adaptation becomes better established the longer otoconia remain floating in the endolymph. Because of these changes, the brain is unable to quickly readapt to the old pattern after resolution resulting in more persistent RD.

The benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is a vestibular disorder cause of vertigo. The BPPV may be corrected mechanically by repositioning maneuvers but even after successful maneuvers, some patients report residual dizziness for a certain period afterward. Early recognition and treatment might decrease the incidence of residual dizziness in patients with BPPV, especially in those patients with psychiatric comorbidities and in the elderly, lowering the risk of falling. Many pathogenetic hypotheses for residual dizziness are under debate.The purpose of this review was to identify, evaluate and review recent researches about possible causal factors involved in residual dizziness and the implications on clinical practice. A literature search was performed using different databases such as Pubmed and Scopus. The following search terms were used: residual dizziness, otolithic membrane and BPPV. The search found a total of 1192 titles, which were reduced to 963 after a procedure of de-duplication of the found titles. The research was then restricted to an interval of time comprised between 2000 and 2016 for a total of 800 titles. Among these titles, only those including the terms benign paroxysmal positional vertigo were considered eligible for this review. Only publications in English language were taken into consideration and we excluded those with not available abstract. Finally, 90 abstracts were obtained and critically evaluated by two different Authors, and additional studies were identified by hand searching from the references of artiche of interest. Only 53 were included in this work.

The objective of this study is to assess different outcomes between endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (En-DCR) with and without silicone intubation. We retrospectively analyzed 84 patients (89 procedures), suffering from chronic epiphora for primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction, treated with En-DCR and divided into two groups depending on silicone stent intubation. The surgical outcomes were evaluated at 7 post-operative controls using Munk's score criteria. Functional success was defined as absence of epiphora, no further episodes of dacryocystitis, and a patent ostium after fluorescein irrigation. 45 En-DCR with stent and 44 En-DCR without stent were performed. Success rate after 18 months follow-up were, respectively, 82.2 % in the stent group and 88.6 % in the non-stent group (OR 0.59) with no statistical differences. The ostial size reduction has been reported in higher percentage in the stent group, mainly due to peristomal granuloma (OR 3.64), scar tissue formation (OR 2.25), and turbinoseptal synaechia (OR 1.76). The benefits of non-intubation are less patient discomfort, reduced surgical time and costs, simpler follow-up regimen and less intubation-associated complications. En-DCR without silicone stent intubation should be the first choice of procedure, stent intubation should be reserved in selected cases with poor local conditions pre and intra-operatively assessed.

No abstract

Children hospitalized in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU) present an increased risk for Sensorineural Hearing Loss (SNHL) due to prematurity, hypoxia-ischemia, hyperventilation, low birth weight and the use of ototoxic drugs. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of SNHL in newborns hospitalized in a NICU using Transient Evoked Otoacoustic Emissions (TEOAE) and Automated Auditory Brainstem Responses (A-ABR) and analyze the associated risk factors. A sample of 153 newborns hospitalized in NICU underwent TEOAE, A-ABR and clinical ABR to evaluate the presence of hearing deficits. Prevalence of SNHL was calculated and odds ratio for specific risk factors was measured. One-hundred fifteen babies (86.7%) presented normal hearing at TEOAE and A-ABR. Fifteen children had a REFER response at TEOAE and a PASS response at A-ABR. Twenty-five children (16.3%) had a REFER A-ABR and were addressed to clinical ABR. A diagnosis of SNHL was made in 12 (7.8%) newborns. An increased risk of SNHL was observed in preterm children <28 weeks (p=0.0135), in children with neurological disorders (p=0.02), that underwent surgery (p=0.0002), affected from premature retinopathy (p=0.0006), craniofacial malformation (p=0.007) and that had sepsis (p=0.04). Additional risk factors for SNHL in our sample were a maternal disease during pregnancy (p=0.0011), cesarean delivery (p<0.0001) and a twin pregnancy (p<0.0001). SNHL in newborns is correlated with hospitalization in NICU. An accurate hearing screening associated to a rigorous clinical medical collection of data is necessary to promptly identify cases of SNHL in children with a special attention to those hospitalized in NICU and plan proper intervention.

Purpose Time course of the recovery of otolithic dis-function caused by superior vestibular neuritis has been examined in fifteen patients. Methods The subjective visual vertical (SVV) and the ocular cyclotorsion (OT) have been measured four times after the acute episode up to 1 year Results In most of the patients the SVV tilt returned to control values within few months (3-6 months) after the acute episode, while OT remained out of normal range in almost all patients a year later. Conclusion The abnormal OT observed after 1 year from the acute episode of vestibular neuritis, suggests that the otolithic receptors remained altered for several months and the OT may be a good indicator of the entity of the residual peripheral otolithic lesion. Moreover, the dissociation between the SVV tilt recovery and that of OT supports the issue that the two signs of the otolithic disfunction are only partially linked each other with centrally or peripherally distinct re-balancing circuits.

The use of the questionnaire could however reduce the risk of a missed diagnosis of BPPV given its good reliability across all ages.

This is a study of Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV) perception during acute attacks of Ménière's disease (MD) with comparative evaluation of concurrent nystagmus. We studied 21 patients with unilateral MD during the acute phase and 7 days later. Of the nine patients with an initial attack of MD, seven had an alteration of SVV perception and of these, three indicated a match with canal functional signs, while four patients showed an opposite trend of SVV perception relative to the spontaneous nystagmus. Nine of the 12 patients with definite MD had a pathological SVV perception always in correspondence with the same type of canal event. At 1-week control, no patient with an initial MD attack had alteration of SVV perception, whereas 5 patients with definite MD presented a pathological SVV perception toward the affected side. In the course of acute attacks of unilateral MD, clinical manifestations may include otolithic involvement and this may have an opposite trend compared to concomitant canal signs, especially during initial attacks. This behavior allows us to distinguish clinical signs of maculo-canal "correspondence" and "dissociation" with a significant prevalence of the second indication in those subjects with an initial MD attack.