IntroductionHearing loss as a sequel of chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is often conductive, but recent studies have found an additional sensorineural component in these patients, thus demonstrating inner ear damage. The aim of the study was to determine the association between CSOM and sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and to assess the influence of patient’s age, duration of disease, and presence of cholesteatoma and ossicular erosion on the degree of SNHL.MethodsIn a retrospective study, the medical records of 119 patients who underwent surgery was reviewed. Seventy patients met the inclusion criteria of unilateral otorrhea, normal contralateral ear on otoscopy, and age between 10–65 years with no history of head trauma or ear surgery or familial hearing loss. Bone conduction (BC) thresholds for affected and contralateral ear were measured at frequencies of 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 13 with independent-samples t-test, Pearson correlation test, and two-tailed analysis. A p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsSignificant higher BC thresholds were found in the affected ear than in the normal ear for each frequency (p < 0.001), which increased with increasing frequency (7.00 dB at the 500 Hz and 9.71 dB at the 4000 Hz). There was a significant correlation between age and degree of SNHL (r = 0.422, p < 0.001) but no significant correlation was in duration of the disease (r = 0.119, p > 0.05). There was no relationship between presence of cholesteatoma and ossicular erosion with SNHL (p > 0.05).ConclusionThese findings demonstrate that CSOM is associated with some degree of SNHL and cochlear damage, and higher frequencies are more affected. Aging can act as a precipitating factor in this pathological process.

The use of intrathecal meperidine for caesarean section during spinal anaesthesia for the prevention of shivering cannot be recommended as its use is associated with increased incidence of nausea and vomiting.

Objective To assess the frequency of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and the effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) management on COVID-19 among patients with confirmed OSA. Design Cross-sectional telephone interview survey. Setting Academic sleep labs. Participants Iranian adults ≥ 18 years old with confirmed OSA. Results Among 275 participants with OSA, 20% (n = 55) were suspected to have history of COVID-19 but had no positive test, and 18% (n = 51) were in the definite COVID-19 group according to their reported symptoms or confirmed positive test. Having severe OSA (apnea hypopnea index ≥ 30) was associated with an increased risk of definite COVID-19, with an odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 2.31 (0.87-5.55) compared to having mild OSA in definite COVID-19 group. Those not undergoing treatment for OSA had an OR (95% CI) of 2.43 (1.26-4.67) for definite COVID-19 compared to those accepting treatment in definite COVID-19 group. Total sleep times (TSTs) were 354, 340, and 320 minutes in healthy, suspected, and COVID-19 groups, respectively; TST was associated with COVID-19 ( P -value = .04). Similarly, sleep efficiency (SE) scores were 75.7, 74.2, and 67.9% for the healthy, suspected, and COVID-19 groups, respectively ( P -value = .005); Beck Depression scores were 13.8, 13.0, and 17.7, respectively ( P -value = .056). Conclusions OSA as a proinflammatory condition with multiple comorbidities may be a contributing factor to developing COVID-19. Greater OSA severity, no treatment for OSA, and lower TST and SE were associated with increased COVID-19 prevalence among patients with OSA.

Venous blood gas values are an acceptable alternative to arterial blood gas values in patients undergoing lumbar disc surgery.

Introduction:Induction of anaesthesia and its associated spikes in blood pressure can cause rupture of an aneurysm during intracranial surgery. Lidocaine can reportedly provide hemodynamic stability when applied before endotracheal intubation. Rapid injection of large doses of lidocaine can cause unconsciousness.Case Presentation:Lidocaine was applied as the sole anaesthetic for induction and maintenance during aneurysm surgery in four patients undergoing intracranial aneurysm surgery. Blood pressure alteration after induction and during surgery, bleeding, brain laxity, intracranial pressure and extubation time were acceptable.Conclusions:Although propofol remains a standard agent for such types of surgeries, lidocaine proved equally effective and coupled with its low cost, minimal side effects and omission of other hypnotic agents was a plausible induction agent and a maintenance drug in the selected cases.