Changes in olfaction and taste in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 and their relationship to patient evolution during hospitalization

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Changes in olfaction and taste in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 and their relationship to patient evolution during hospitalization Via Associação Brasileira de Otorrinolaringologia e Cirurgia Cérvico-Facial Braz J Otorhinolaryngol. 2021 Nov 24:S1808-8694(21)00193-2. doi: 10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.11.002. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT OBJECTIVES: During the COVID-19 pandemic, several cases of changes in olfaction and taste associated with the infection have been reported. Therefore, otolaryngologists are frequently the first medical professionals sought by patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of olfaction and taste disorders in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, and their association with other clinical manifestations and patient evolution during hospitalization. METHODS: 248 patients, admitted to three public hospitals in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, were prospectively included: Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (HC-UFMG), Hospital Júlia Kubitschek (HJK) and Hospital Eduardo de Menezes (HEM), who, upon admission to hospital, presented with Severe Acute Respiratory Syndro me due to COVID-19. Clinical and laboratory variables and outcomes during hospitalization were prospectively collected from the electronic medical records. The collection of sociodemographic and symptomatology data during the acute phase was carried out prospectively in electronic medical records and confirmed with the patients at a subsequent outpatient visit. RESULTS: The most frequently reported symptoms were dyspnea (77.4%), cough (69.8%) and fever (55.2%). During the acute phase of the disease, 95 (38.3%) and 87 (35.1%) patients reported taste and olfaction disorders, respectively. There was a lower prevalence of dysosmia among patients with previous comorbidities (p < 0.05). Both symptoms were associated with less need for intensive care admission (p = 0.001 for dysgeusia and p = 0.021 for dysosmia) and a negative correlation with length of hospital stay (dysosmia: r = -0.175, p < 0.05; dysgeusia: r = -0.29, p < 0.001) and length of stay in the ICU (dysosmia: r = -0.136, p < 0.05; dysgeusia: r = -0.215, p < 0.05). The absence of taste disorders was also associated with a greater need for mechanical ventilation (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Changes in taste and olfaction were reported by a large number of patients in the acute phase of COVID-19. In this study, both were markers of better clinical patient evolution. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1B. PMID:34876382 | DOI:10.1016/j.bjorl.2021.11.002 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Combined underwater endoscopic and microscopic surgery for external auditory canal cholesteatoma: A case report

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Combined underwater endoscopic and microscopic surgery for external auditory canal cholesteatoma: A case report Via ear nose throat Ear Nose Throat J. 2021 Dec 7:1455613211064011. doi: 10.1177/01455613211064011. Online ahead of print. ABSTRACT Transcanal endoscopic ear surgery is a minimally invasive procedure that allows a clear visualization of the middle ear. Recently, indications for endoscopic surgery have been expanding. We performed combined underwater endoscopic and microscopic surgery for external auditory canal cholesteatoma, the computer tomography of which indicates the possibility of cholest eatoma not only in the canal wall but also in the mastoid. The 30° endoscope and underwater technique makes the surgical view clear, and we could remove the cholesteatoma without canalplasty. To the best of our knowledge, no case of external auditory canal cholesteatoma treated with underwater endoscopic and microscopic surgery has been previously reported. This case indicates that the procedure could be a good indication for external auditory canal cholesteatoma. PMID:34875889 | DOI:10.1177/01455613211064011 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Cerebrospinal fluid leak as a driving factor in chronic subdural hematoma formation: A histological study

xlomafota13 shared this article with you from Inoreader Cerebrospinal fluid leak as a driving factor in chronic subdural hematoma formation: A histological study Via leak of cerebrospinal fluid Surg Neurol Int. 2021 Nov 23;12:578. doi: 10.25259/SNI_950_2021. eCollection 2021. ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) represents the most common neurosurgical disease. Given the demographic shift toward an aging population, the overall incidence of this condition is increasing. Nevertheless, clarity in the pathophysiological process is yet to be made. Several etiological mechanisms have been proposed to initiate and consequently promote fluid collection in the subdural space. Traumatic injury of the bridging veins has long been considered the primum movens of the pathology but increasing evidence shows that trauma is not the only factor involved. Along with recent advances we sought to understand the role of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the buildup of the intense inflammatory reaction that characterizes CSDH. METHODS: In the present study, we examined histological features of reactive membranes secondary to extrac ranial CSF leakage with CSDH-related membranes. Similarity and differences between the specimens were examined by means of light microscopy. RESULTS: Histological similarities were consistently found between CSDH membranes and reactive membranes secondary to CSF leakage in the extracranial space. Activated histiocytes were highlighted in all specimens along with an intense inflammatory reaction. CONCLUSION: CSDH is most likely the result of a complex interaction among different pathophysiological events resulting from both traumatic and inflammatory etiologies. In the present work, we highlight how CSF leakage could be an early factor that leads to a cascade of events that culminates in CSDH formation. PMID:34877064 | PMC:PMC8645496 | DOI:10.25259/SNI_950_2021 View on the web Inoreader. Take back control of your news feed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook.