Purpose of review

To discuss the theory that Meniere's disease (MD) is a variation of otologic migraine rather than an isolated inner ear condition.

Recent findings

In contrast to the approximately 12% of the general population suffering from migraine headaches, 51-60% of patients with MD experience migraine headaches. While pathognomonic for MD, endolymphatic hydrops has also been identified in patients with vestibular migraine. Treatment with the integrative neurosensory rehabilitation approach (diet and lifestyle changes, magnesium and riboflavin supplementation, and when needed, prophylactic medication) to treat the underlying migraine process has been highly effective in patients with MD.

Summary

MD can be understood as a manifestation of migraine such that patients with MD can be effectively treated with migraine therapies.

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgeries for non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (VATSs) and robotic-assisted thoracoscopic surgeries (RATSs) have become standard of care for patients needing surgical resection in early stages. The role for neoadjuvant systemic therapy has increased with patients receiving neoadjuvant systemic chemotherapy and immunotherapy. However, there has been some equipoise over the intraoperative and overall outcomes for these patients. Here, we review the current data regarding outcomes of patients undergoing minimally invasive thoracic surgical resection after systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or both. METHODS: A systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials and observational studies presenting data on patients with NSCLC that underwent neoadjuvant systemic therapy followed by minimally invasive surgery was performed assessing complications, conversion rates, and lymph node yield. RESULTS: Our search strategy and review of references resulted in 239 publications to screen with 88 full texts assessed and 21 studies included in our final review. VATS had a statistically significant higher lymph node yield in five studies. The reported conversion rates ranged from 0 to 54%. Dense adhesions, bleeding, and difficult anatomy were the most common reported reasons for conversion to open surgeries. The most common complications between both groups were prolonged air leak, arrythmia, and pneumonia. VATS was found to have significantly fewer complications in three papers. CONCLUSIONS: The current literature supports VATS as safe and feasible for patients with NSCLC after neoadjuvant systemic treatment. Surgeons should remain prepared to convert to open surgeries in those patients with dense adhesions and bleeding risk.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to understand whether the hearing loss laterality in Menière's disease (MD) correlates with migraine symptoms laterality such as headache, neck stiffness, and otalgia.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of prospectively obtained data on patients presenting between September 2015 and October 2021 with definite or probable MD. A custom-designed, comprehensive questionnaire was used to identify patients' migraine-related symptoms. The clinical and audiometric data were used to diagnose patients with definite or probable MD using criteria set by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Results

In total, 113 patients with definite or probable MD were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 60 ± 15 years with no gender predominance (49.6% male and 50.4% female). A total of 57 (50%) patients were presented with headaches. Among the migraine headache cohort, headache and otalgia were on the same side as the MD ear affected by hearing loss. In addition, in patients who present with otalgia as the primary feature of headache, otalgia was more likely to be on the same side as the ear affected by the hearing loss.

Conclusions

The high prevalence of migraine symptoms on the same side of the ear affected by MD among this cohort could suggest a shared pathophysiology in both MD and migraine, possibly involving migraine-related changes in both the cochlea and vestibule.

Objectives

To evaluate the effectiveness of triamcinolone injections in treating external magnet displacement in cochlear implant (CI) patients with adhesions problems of their processor.

Patients

We present seven CI patients with magnet adhesion issues who presented to our tertiary care neurotology clinic. None of the patients had a history of head trauma, postimplant MRI, or surgery in the head and neck other than the cochlear implantation.

Intervention

Triamcinolone 40 mg/mL injected subcutaneously at the CI magnet site.

Main outcome measure

Reduction of scalp thickness and successful magnet retention.

Results

Our cohort consisted of seven patients (eight implant sites) of which five were overweight or obese. The temporoparietal scalp thickness measured on preoperative CT scans varied between 8.4 and 15.9 mm. Initial conservative measures such as hair shaving at the magnet site, using a headband, and increasing magnet strength failed in all patients. After receiving triamcinolone injections at the CI receiver site, six out of seven patients (seven out of eight CI sites) were able to use their processor again without the need for a headband for an average of 9.55 hours/day. The average number of injections required for each patient was 2.57 (SD = 2.18), median (range) = 1 (1-7). One patient required a flap thinning surgery but showed no improvement even after flap thinning. None of the patients showed skin irritation, breakdown, ulceration, necrosis, or magnet exposure during follow-up period.

Conclusions

The significant improvement in CI retention shows that triamcinolone injections are effective in making the subcutaneous tissue thinner and allowing magnet retention.

Objective

To assess and characterize online ratings and comments on laryngologists and determine factors that correlate with higher ratings.

Methods

All the American Laryngological Association (ALA) members were queried across several online platforms. Ratings were normalized for comparison on a five-point Likert scale. Ratings were categorized based on context and for positive/negative aspects.

Results

Of the 331 ALA members, 256 (77%) were rated on at least one online platform. Across all platforms, the average overall rating was 4.39 ± 0.61 (range: 1.00-5.00). Specific positive ratings including "bedside manners," "diagnostic accuracy," "adequate time spent with patient," "appropriate follow-up," and "physician timeliness" had significant positive correlations to overall ratings, by Pearson's correlation (P < 0.001). Long wait times had significant negative correlations to overall ratings (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Online ratings and comments for laryngologists are significantly influenced by patient perceptions of bedside manner, physician competence, and time spent with the patient.