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Background Piriform sinus fistulas occur due to developmental abnormalities of the third and fourth branchial arches, and almost always occur unilaterally. They generally present as recurrent abscesses in the anterior-inferior neck, with concurrent thyroiditis. They have conventionally been managed with complete removal of the sinus tract, and thyroidectomy if required; however, endoscopic approaches have been increasingly favored. Herein we describe a case of bilateral piriform sinus fistulas, and present a review of the literature concerning their endoscopic management. Case presentation Our patient was determined to have bilateral piriform sinus fistulas based on computer tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and microlaryngoscopy. We performed electrocauterization of the proximal fistula tracts, followed by injection of fibrin sealent. Our patient has not had a recurrence in the ten months since his procedure. There were no complications. Twenty-three articles describing an endoscopic approach to these fistulas were identified through PubMed, and a search through the references of related articles was completed. Conclusion Of one hundred and ninety-five patient cases we reviewed, an endoscopic procedure success rate of 82% and complication rate of 5.6% was determined. Piriform sinus fistulas that occur bilaterally are a rare congenital abnormality of the neck. Endoscopic approaches are an acceptable alternative option to open procedures, with similar success and a lower rate of complications.

Purpose To evaluate the progress and challenges of a hearing screening program as well as review the incidence of pediatric hearing loss in grade school children participating in this program. Methods Medical students from the University of Ottawa established iHear, a grade school hearing assessment program that uses novel tablet audiometry. Over 3 years, children in grades 1 and 2 were assessed and those found to have abnormal results on iHear assessment were then referred to audiology for formal testing, and to otolaryngology if needed. Results From 2014 to 2017, 753 children aged 5–9 years old were assessed for hearing loss. Mean age of participants was 6.7 years, 51.9% of whom were female. Of the children assessed, 86 (11.4%) had abnormal results and 6 (0.8%) had inconsistent results, necessitating 92 referrals for assessment by a professional audiologist. Of the 65 participants who completed secondary audiologic assessment, 54 (83.1%) were normal and 11 (16.9%) had a definitive hearing loss or abnormal tympanometry. A total of 32 children were lost to follow-up. A total of 118 medical students were involved in the iHear program. Conclusions Hearing loss in grade school populations continues to go undetected across Canada. Programs such as iHear demonstrate that gaps in the provision of hearing assessment can be filled effectively by medical students equipped with tablet audiometry. Medical student exposure to audiology and otolaryngology increased through the iHear program. Graphical Abstract

Background Pediatric adenotonsillectomy (A&T) is associated with prolonged pain and functional limitation. Celecoxib is an effective analgesic in adult surgery patients; however, its analgesic efficacy on pain and functional recovery in pediatric A&T patients is unknown. Methods During 2009-2012, children (age 2-18 yr) scheduled for elective A&T were enrolled in a single-centre double-blind randomized controlled trial. Study participants received either oral placebo or celecoxib 6 mg·kg −1 preoperatively, followed by 3 mg·kg −1 twice daily for five doses. The primary outcome was the mean “worst 24-hr pain” scores during postoperative days (PODs) 0-2 on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS). Secondary outcomes for PODs 0-7 included co-analgesic consumption, adverse events, and functional recovery. The impact of the CYP2C9*3 allele – associated with reduced celecoxib hepatic metabolism – on recovery was considered. Results Of the 282 children enrolled, 195 (celecoxib = 101, placebo = 94) were included in the primary outcome analysis. While on treatment, children receiving celecoxib experienced a modest reduction in the average pain experienced over PODs 0-2 (7 mm on a VAS; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.3 to 14; P  = 0.04) and a “clinically significant” reduction (≥ 10 mm on a VAS; P  ≤ 0.01) on PODs 0 and 1. During PODs 0-2, the mean acetaminophen consumption was lower in the celecoxib group vs the placebo group (78 mg·kg −1 ; 95% CI: 68 to 89 vs 97 mg·kg −1 ; 95% CI: 85 to 109, respectively; P  = 0.03). No differences in adverse events, functional recovery, or satisfaction were observed by POD 7. The CYP2C9*3 allele was associated with less pain and improved functional recovery. Conclusions A three-day course of oral celecoxib reduces early pain and co-analgesic consumption; however, an increase in dose, dose frequency, and duration of dose may be required for sustained pain relief in the pediatric setting. The CYP2C9*3 allele may influence recovery. This trial was registered at: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT00849966.

Background Otitis media with effusion (OME) causes significant morbidity in children, but the causes of OME and methods for prevention are unclear. To look for potential infectious etiologies, we performed a pilot study using multiple-target real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for 27 infectious agents, including nine bacterial organisms and 18 respiratory viruses in middle ear fluids (MEFs) from children with OME. QPCR was also performed for the 13 Streptococcus pneumoniae serotypes contained in the current vaccine. Results Forty-eight MEF samples were obtained and qPCR detected bacterial nucleic acid (NA) in 39/48 (81 %) and viral NA in 7/48 (15 %). Alloiococcus otitidis and S. pneumoniae were both detected in 15/48 (31 %) MEFs, followed by M. catarrhalis in 14/48 (29 %), H. influenzae in 5/48 (10 %) and M. pneumoniae in 4/48 (8 %). Rhinoviruses were most common virus type detected, found in 4/48 (8 %) MEFs. Serotypes included in the current 13-serotype vaccine were detected in only 3/15 (20 %) S. pneumoniae qPCR-positive MEFs. Conclusions Bacteria may play an important role in OME, since over 80 % of MEFs contained bacterial NA. Further research into the role of A. otitidis in OME will be helpful. Serotypes of S. pneumoniae not included in the current 13-serotype vaccine may be involved in OME. Larger studies of OME S. pneumoniae serotypes are needed to help determine which additional serotypes should be included in future vaccine formulations in order to try to prevent OME.

Debate continues with respect to a \"watch and wait\" approach versus immediate antibiotic treatment for the initial treatment of acute otitis media. In this double-blind noninferiority trial, we compared clinical improvement rates at 14 days for children (6 months to 5 years of age) with acute otitis media who were randomly assigned to receive amoxicillin or placebo. We enrolled healthy children who presented to clinics or the emergency department with a new episode of acute otitis media during the fall and winter months in Ottawa (from December 1999 to the end of March 2002). The children were randomly assigned to receive amoxicillin (60 mg/kg daily) or placebo for 10 days. Telephone follow-up was performed on each of days 1, 2 and 3 and once between day 10 and day 14. The primary outcome was clinical resolution of symptoms, defined as absence of receipt of an antimicrobial (other than the amoxicillin in the treatment group) at any time during the 14-day period. Secondary outcomes were the presence of pain and fever and the activity level in the first 3 days, recurrence rates, and the presence of middle ear effusion at 1 and 3 months. According to clinical scoring, 415 of the 512 children who could be evaluated had moderate disease. At 14 days 84.2% of the children receiving placebo and 92.8% of those receiving amoxicillin had clinical resolution of symptoms (absolute difference -8.6%, 95% confidence interval -14.4% to -3.0%). Children who received placebo had more pain and fever in the first 2 days. There were no statistical differences in adverse events between the 2 groups, nor were there any significant differences in recurrence rates or middle ear effusion at 1 and 3 months. Our results did not support the hypothesis that placebo was noninferior to amoxicillin (i.e., that the 14-day cure rates among children with clinically diagnosed acute otitis media would not be substantially worse in the placebo group than the treatment group). Nevertheless, delaying treatment was associated with resolution of clinical signs and symptoms in most of the children.

Preoperative oral acetaminophen (30 mg x kg(-1)) was compared with topical 2% lidocaine ear drops for postoperative analgesia following bilateral myringotomy and tube placement (BMT) in children. In a randomized, prospective, double-blind trial, we studied 124 patients, six months to eight years, ASA physical status I or II, undergoing elective BMT under general anesthesia. The patients in Group I received acetaminophen 30 mg x kg(-1) orally in a grape flavoured syrup 30 to 60 min before surgery and 0.9% saline drops (placebo) in each ear upon insertion of tympanostomy tube. Patients in Group II received a placebo (grape flavoured syrup) before surgery and 2% lidocaine, 0.5 mL in each ear when ear tubes were inserted. Postoperative pain assessments were recorded every five minutes in the postanesthesia care unit, and every 15 min in the day care surgical unit (DCSU) using the modified Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario pain scale (mCHEOPS), a ten-point scale. Pain at home was documented by parents using a 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) scale. The median (range) mCHEOPS scores in the DCSU at 15 and 30 min were similar, i.e., 5 (4-9) in the acetaminophen group and 4 (4-8) in the lidocaine group. The proportion of patients receiving supplemental analgesics in the 24 hr following surgery was similar in both groups (45% and 42% respectively). Topical lidocaine and oral acetaminophen in a dose of 30 mg x kg(-1) provide similar analgesia following BMT.

Preoperative oral acetaminophen (30 mg·kg^sup -1^) was compared with topical 2% lidocaine ear drops for postoperative analgesia following bilateral myringotomy and tube placement (BMT) in children. In a randomized, prospective, double-blind trial, we studied 124 patients, six months to eight years, ASA physical status I or II, undergoing elective BMT under general anesthesia. The patients in Group I received acetaminophen 30 mg·kg^sup -1^ orally in a grape flavoured syrup 30 to 60 min before surgery and 0.9% saline drops (placebo) in each ear upon insertion of tympanostomy tube. Patients in Group II received a placebo (grape flavoured syrup) before surgery and 2% lidocaine, 0.5 mL in each ear when ear tubes were inserted. Postoperative pain assessments were recorded every five minutes in the postanesthesia care unit, and every 15 min in the day care surgical unit (DCSU) using the modified Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario pain scale (mCHEOPS), a ten-point scale. Pain at home was documented by parents using a 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) scale. The median (range) mCHEOPS scores in the DCSU at 15 and 30 min were similar, i.e., 5 (4-9) in the acetaminophen group and 4 (4-8) in the lidocaine group. The proportion of patients receiving supplemental analgesics in the 24 hr following surgery was similar in both groups (45% and 42% respectively). Topical lidocaine and oral acetaminophen in a dose of 30 mg·kg^sup -1^ provide similar analgesia following BMT. La prise orale préopératoire d'acétaminophène (30 mg·kg^sup -1^) a été comparée à des gouttes auriculaires de lidocaïne à 2 % pour l'analgésie suivant une myringotomie bilatérale et la pose d'un aérateur tympanique (MBA) chez des enfants. L'étude randomisée, prospective et à double insu a été réalisée auprès de 124 patients de six mois à huit ans, d'état physique ASA I ou II, devant subir une MBA sous anesthésie générale. Les patients du groupe I ont reçu 30 mg·kg^sup -1^ d'acétaminophène orale dans un sirop aromatisé au raisin, 30 à 60 min avant l'opération, et des gouttes auriculaires de solution salée à 0,9 % (placebo) dans chaque oreille à l'insertion de l'aérateur tympanique. Ceux du groupe II ont eu un placebo (le sirop) préopératoire, puis de la lidocaïne à 2%, 0,5 mL dans chaque oreille à l'insertion des aérateurs. La douleur postopératoire a été évaluée toutes les cinq minutes à la salle de réveil, et toutes les 15 min à l'unité de chirurgie d'un jour (UCUJ) avec une échelle de douleur modifiée, en dix points, du Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. À domicile, les parents ont utilisé une échelle de 0 (aucune douleur) à 10 (la pire douleur imaginable). La médiane (limites) des scores de douleur à l'UCUJ à 15 et 30 min ont été similaires à 5 (4-9) avec l'acétaminophène et à 4 (4-8) avec la lidocaïne. Le taux de patients nécessitant une analgésie supplémentaire au cours des 24 h suivant l'opération a été semblable dans les deux groupes (respectivement 45 % et 42 %). La lidocaïne topique et l'acétaminophène orale en dose de 30 mg·kg^sup -1^ procurent une analgésie similaire à la suite d'une MBA.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]

Preoperative oral acetaminophen (30 mg·kg ) was compared with topical 2% lidocaine ear drops for postoperative analgesia following bilateral myringotomy and tube placement (BMT) in children. In a randomized, prospective, double-blind trial, we studied 124 patients, six months to eight years, ASA physical status I or II, undergoing elective BMT under general anesthesia. The patients in Group I received acetaminophen 30 mg·kg orally in a grape flavoured syrup 30 to 60 min before surgery and 0.9% saline drops (placebo) in each ear upon insertion of tympanostomy tube. Patients in Group II received a placebo (grape flavoured syrup) before surgery and 2% lidocaine, 0.5 mL in each ear when ear tubes were inserted. Postoperative pain assessments were recorded every five minutes in the postanesthesia care unit, and every 15 min in the day care surgical unit (DCSU) using the modified Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario pain scale (mCHEOPS), a ten-point scale. Pain at home was documented by parents using a 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) scale. The median (range) mCHEOPS scores in the DCSU at 15 and 30 min were similar, i.e., 5 (4-9) in the acetaminophen group and 4 (4-8) in the lidocaine group. The proportion of patients receiving supplemental analgesics in the 24 hr following surgery was similar in both groups (45% and 42% respectively). Topical lidocaine and oral acetaminophen in a dose of 30 mg·kg provide similar analgesia following BMT. La prise orale préopératoire d'acétaminophène (30 mg·kg ) a été comparée à des gouttes auriculaires de lidocaïne à 2 % pour l'analgésie suivant une myringotomie bilatérale et la pose d'un aérateur tympanique (MBA) chez des enfants. MéTHODE: L'étude randomisée, prospective et à double insu a été réalisée auprès de 124 patients de six mois à huit ans, d'état physique ASA I ou II, devant subir une MBA sous anesthésie générale. Les patients du groupe I ont reçu 30 mg·kg d'acétaminophène orale dans un sirop aromatisé au raisin, 30 à 60 min avant l'opération, et des gouttes auriculaires de solution salée à 0,9 % (placebo) dans chaque oreille à l'insertion de l'aérateur tympanique. Ceux du groupe II ont eu un placebo (le sirop) préopératoire, puis de la lidocaïne à 2%, 0,5 mL dans chaque oreille à l'insertion des aérateurs. La douleur postopératoire a été évaluée toutes les cinq minutes à la salle de réveil, et toutes les 15 min à l'unité de chirurgie d'un jour (UCUJ) avec une échelle de douleur modifiée, en dix points, du Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario. À domicile, les parents ont utilisé une échelle de 0 (aucune douleur) à 10 (la pire douleur imaginable). RéSULTATS: La médiane (limites) des scores de douleur à l'UCUJ à 15 et 30 min ont été similaires à 5 (4-9) avec l'acétaminophène et à 4 (4-8) avec la lidocaïne. Le taux de patients nécessitant une analgésie supplémentaire au cours des 24 h suivant l'opération a été semblable dans les deux groupes (respectivement 45 % et 42 %). La lidocaïne topique et l'acétaminophène orale en dose de 30 mg·kg procurent une analgésie similaire à la suite d'une MBA.

We present a child with Down’s syndrome, bilateral lower lobe bronchiectasis, sinusitis, and severe ear disease who was found to have a novel ciliary defect, with a frequent, partial absence of the walls of the A subunits of some peripheral doublets. The defect caused the A subunits to be “U-shaped” rather than “O-shaped.” A nuclear nasal mucociliary transport study confirmed that this defect was associated with abnormal mucociliary transport. The ciliary defect was not observed in a biopsy performed in a second patient who had Down’s syndrome.