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Biomedical subjects

G B Brookes

Publications and source records attributed to G B Brookes.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Epiglottic plication for intractable aspiration.

We describe a procedure to plicate the epiglottis into a vertical tube to prevent soiling of the airway due to intractable aspiration. The procedure is combined with an extensive cricopharyngeal myotomy. This technique allows laryngeal speech, even with a tracheostomy, and in some patients may allow the reversal of the tracheostomy. It is only suitable for a small proportion of patients with marked aspiration, as most will respond to conservative treatment. Nine patients underwent this operation and six gained a satisfactory result, with two patients achieving tracheostomy reversal. There were two late post-operative deaths from infective causes which reflects the general debilitation of these patients and the risk of exacerbating concomitant broncho-pulmonary infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Vascular-decompression surgery for severe tinnitus.

Vascular compression of the eighth cranial nerve is increasingly recognised as a possible cause of incapacitating audiovestibular symptoms. There have been few reports of the efficacy of surgical microvascular decompression for tinnitus, and the practise is controversial. During the last 6 years, investigation by air computed tomography (CT) cisternography initially, and fast spin-echo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) latterly has resulted in the diagnosis of cochlear nerve vascular compression in nine patients with a primary complaint of severe tinnitus who have subsequently undergone vascular-decompression surgery. The duration of symptoms ranged between 1 and 10 years, whilst their subjective tinnitus perception varied between 30 to 60 dB above threshold. Microvascular decompression was carried out by a retrolabyrinthine approach in four and by a retrosigmoid approach in the remaining five cases, with a postoperative follow-up of 1.3 to 5 years. Tinnitus was completely abolished in three (33%), very significantly improved to a sensation level of < or = 10 dB in four (33%), significantly improved to a level of 15 dB in one (11%), and unchanged in two (22%). Both failures had had tinnitus for 6 years and had transient abolition for 10 days after surgery. Subsequent revision decompression surgery was also unsuccessful. This small study suggests that cochleovestibular vascular compression may result in severe tinnitus, which can often be ameliorated surgically.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Barotraumatic fracture of the stapes footplate.

We present a rare case in which barotrauma led to fracture of the stapes footplate and perilymph fistula, resulting in sudden severe sensorineural hearing loss and tinnitus. Surgical repair in this case resulted in excellent hearing recovery. The aetiology and management of inner ear barotrauma and stapes injury is discussed. We believe that early exploration and repair of suspected perilymph fistulae optimises hearing recovery.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Auctioneer's jaw: a case of occupational oromandibular hemidystonia.

An auctioneer is described in whom focal dystonia of the jaw developed as an occupational symptom, occurring solely and predictably when he commenced his selling "patter" and resolving quickly on stopping. He responded well to treatment with intramuscular botulinus toxin.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Chondrosarcoma of the temporal bone.

Eight patients with a chondrosarcoma of the temporal bone have been treated at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery over a 16-year-period. Patients usually presented with symptoms and signs of lower cranial nerve palsies, though in most cases these resolved after surgery. This result, combined with the fact long-term survival can be achieved, makes surgical treatment of these tumours the best option, as the response to primary radiotherapy is uncertain. Surgical access is difficult, but an infratemporal approach is probably the most satisfactory. The use of post-operative adjuvant radiotherapy may provide some benefit. Long-term follow-up is necessary, and for this magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is preferable to computed tomography (CT) scanning.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

The Glasgow benefit plot used to assess the effect of bilateral stapedectomy.

The Glasgow benefit plot has encouraged surgeons to look at the results of their surgery from a more functional standpoint rather than in purely technical terms. Our aim was to use the plot to examine the efficacy of second side stapedectomy. A retrospective study of 17 second side stapedectomies showed that the addition of the second operation significantly increased the chances of achieving at least one 'normal' hearing ear and made 'normal' and symmetrical hearing possible.

Audiometry, Pure-Tone↗
PubMed1995

Delayed endolymphatic hydrops: clinical manifestations and treatment outcome.

The clinical entity of delayed endolymphatic hydrops was first defined by Schuknecht in 1978. It constitutes the development of symptoms consistent with endolymphatic hydrops either ipsilateral or contralateral to an ear with a profound hearing loss. We report our experience with this condition amongst 394 patients with Meniére's syndrome followed prospectively. Of 24 patients with the ipsilateral condition, nearly half responded to medical treatment. Thirteen patients underwent vestibular nerve section and the outcome, as assessed by a disability grading system, was very satisfactory. The proportion of patients undergoing vestibular nerve section (54.9%) was substantially higher than patients with classical Meniére's syndrome during the same period (5.4%) reflecting the increased severity of the symptoms. The contralateral form was less frequently seen and patients were more refractory to treatment. The audiological definition of delayed endolymphatic hydrops appears somewhat arbitrary, as these patients form a continuous spectrum with other Meniére's syndrome cases, occurring in association with less marked degrees of sensorineural hearing loss.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Vertical and torsional VOR in posterior canal occlusion.

The vertical and torsional vestibulo-ocular reflexes (VOR) were investigated in 3 patients with surgical occlusion of the posterior semicircular canal and 1 patient with singular neurectomy, for treatment of refractory paroxysmal positional vertigo. Stimuli comprised sinusoidal oscillation in the coronal ("roll") and sagittal ("pitch") plane as well as in two oblique planes intermediate between pitch in order to stimulate left anterior + right posterior (LARP) and right anterior + left posterior (RALP) canal pairs separately. One case with left side BPPV was investigated pre and post-operatively. Depression of the vertical and torsional VOR gain was seen 1 week postoperatively when the occluded canal was placed in the optimal plane for stimulation at 1 week postoperatively and subsequently gradually recovered. Recordings in other planes suggested that the contralateral posterior canal was also hypofunctioning, a finding which may explain some residual gait unsteadiness in this case. The other 3 cases who were investigated postoperatively all showed a decrease in downward VOR gain in the "on' direction of the operated canal. The data indicate the specificity of the test procedure and underline the prognostic value of comprehensive pre-operative vestibular assessment.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Perceptual studies in patients with vestibular neurectomy.

Twelve patients undergoing unilateral vestibular neurectomy for the treatment of refractory vertigo were investigated. Vestibular motion perception was assessed using a self-rotational task and "vestibular remembered saccades". Cervical perception was also measured with remembered saccades. The tests were performed pre- and post-operatively to examine changes in vestibular and cervical perception following an acute vestibular lesion, and to monitor the progress of vestibular compensation. These perception tests were carried out in conjunction with a conventional evaluation of the vestibular ocular reflex (VOR), using electro-oculography. The patients' subjective symptoms at each stage of testing were also quantified with questionnaires. Generally, in the vestibular tests, for stimulation to the operated side, responses became strongly hypometric directly after the neurectomy, with a partial recovery during convalescence. In the cervical test, responses were bilaterally reduced immediately after operation. Results from both of the vestibular perception tests were significantly correlated with the VOR assessment of vestibular function. Scores for the patients' subjective symptoms of "vertigo" were only significantly correlated with the vestibular perception tests, and not with the conventional measures of vestibular function. Perceptual measurements afford useful complementary information in the assessment of vestibular patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Mechanisms of hearing loss in acoustic neuroma: an otoacoustic emission study.

Evoked otoacoustic emissions (EOAE) are active mechanical responses from the cochlea which provide information about the integrity of the preneural cochlear receptor mechanisms. It may be hypothesised, therefore, that if a hearing impairment is neural in origin, normal EOAEs may be obtained from the cochlea, which, although dissociated, is functioning normally. This study examined the status of the cochlea with EOAE in patients with cochlear (Meniere's disease) and neural (surgically proven acoustic neuroma) disease. In patients with presumed cochlear lesions, no emissions were present with mean hearing worse than 40 dB across a frequency range of 0.5 to 4 kHz. Similarly, an EOAE was not present in any of the 26 acoustic neuroma patients studied when the average (0.5 to 4 kHz) hearing was greater than 40 dB. We conclude that dissociation of the cochlea in patients with acoustic neuroma appears to be rare and, in fact, cochlear involvement occurs in most cases. Possible mechanisms responsible for the effect on the cochlea in this group include degenerative changes due to chronic partial obstruction of the blood supply by the tumour, biochemical alterations in the inner ear fluids, loss of efferent control of active mechanical tuning, and hair cell degeneration secondary to neuronal loss in the eighth nerve.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1995

Aspergillosis of the paranasal sinuses.

Aspergillosis of the paranasal sinuses is a well-established clinical entity which has recently been classified into non-invasive and invasive forms with distinct sub-divisions of both types. Two cases are described, both highlighting potential serious complications of the disease as well as the importance of adequate medical and surgical treatment in effecting a favourable outcome. The disease is reviewed and the question as to whether cases necessarily fall into previously-defined clinical and pathological categories is also discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Subtotal petrosectomy with external canal overclosure in the management of chronic suppurative otitis media.

Subtotal petrosectomy with external canal overclosure has been used in the management of 10 patients with chronic suppurative otitis media in the past four years. These patients fall into two categories. One group consisted of patients with end-stage chronically discharging mastoid cavities, despite aggressive medical therapy. The other group comprised patients who had developed disabling peripheral vestibular symptoms and had a mastoid cavity from past surgery for chronic otitis media. In both groups the affected ear had absent or poor auditory function. In the second group, a translabyrinthine section of the vestibular and/or cochlear nerves was performed in conjunction with subtotal petrosectomy. The procedure has been very successful in relieving the persistent otorrhoea, giving the patient an ear without a cavity that would need regular care. No restriction on swimming and participation in other water sports is an additional advantage. Illustrative cases are used to discuss the technique and indications.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Management of middle ear myoclonus.

Tinnitus produced by synchronous repetitive contraction of the middle ear muscles (middle ear myoclonus) is a rare condition. We present six cases of middle ear myoclonus in whom different management regimes were successful. In two patients, the tinnitus was controlled by conservative measures. In one patient, whose tinnitus was associated with blepharospasm, significant improvement occurred following botulinum toxin injection into the ipsilateral orbicularis oculi. Three patients were cured by tympanotomy with stapedial and tensor tympani tendon section. The aetiology of this type of myoclonus remains unclear. The diagnosis is based on the history of involuntary and rhythmic clicking or buzzing tinnitus which is invariably unilateral. The primary differential diagnosis is palatal myoclonus whilst other local aural pathologies must be excluded by careful clinical assessment. Surgical section of these muscles via tympanotomy brings guaranteed relief when conservative measures fail.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Pyocele of the middle turbinate.

Mucoceles are uncommon and the majority occur in the fronto-ethmoidal complex. We present the first case of a secondarily infected mucocele arising from a concha bullosa of the middle turbinate. It was excised intranasally with complete resolution of symptoms.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Hearing preservation in acoustic neuroma surgery.

Hearing conservation in acoustic tumour surgery remains controversial. There have been few previous reports in the British literature. The senior author has managed 24 patients by retrosigmoid surgery with the intention of preserving hearing during the last 9 years. The clinical features, surgical technique and results are discussed with respect to pre-operative selection criteria, and post-operative quality of hearing. Hearing preservation has been achieved in 11 (78.6%) of 14 patients with small or intracanalicular tumours and a mean minimum auditory threshold of 35 dB and 70% speech discrimination, the majority (81.8%) above the 50 dB/50% level. Tumour filing the fundus of the internal auditory canal was found to be a significant adverse prognostic factor as regards successful hearing preservation. Tumour excision was complete in all patients. Nearly 90% of patients had normal facial function, and the remaining 10% grade II function. Associated morbidity was minimal. It is suggested that the potential for hearing conservation should be considered as a factor in the management of patients with small acoustic neuromas.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Effects of olivocochlear bundle section on otoacoustic emissions in humans: efferent effects in comparison with control subjects.

The effects of contralateral acoustic stimulation on evoked otoacoustic emissions (OAE) were examined in three subject groups in order that the impact of efferent olivocochlear bundle section (as a consequence of vestibular neurectomy) could be compared with normal findings, and with a control surgical population. Results demonstrated that the inhibitory effect of contralateral noise on OAE amplitude was absent from the cochlea with severed efferent fibers. These findings appear to be independent of acoustic reflex activity, as suppression was absent despite normal reflexes. Inter-aural suppression of emissions recorded from the patients' intact cochleae act as a control and show a clear reduction in amplitude during contralateral stimulation in a frequency specific pattern consistent with normal findings. Patients who had undergone a similar surgical approach for vascular decompression of the VIIIth nerve without vestibular nerve section, were studied in order to assess the impact of retrolabyrinthine surgery on inter-aural suppression. Inhibition of OAE amplitude was maintained in all control cases in both the operated and intact sides, and was consistent with suppression observed in normal subjects, suggesting that the surgical procedures had not disturbed inter-aural suppression of otoacoustic emissions. It is concluded that the olivocochlear efferent system, when activated by low level contralateral acoustic stimulation, has an inhibitory role in controlling the cellular mechanisms responsible for the generation of otoacoustic emissions in humans. OAE techniques in conjunction with contralateral acoustic stimulation may thus prove to be of value in providing a rapid and non-invasive clinical test of efferent function and offer a means of investigating the functional significance of the efferent auditory system in humans.

Acoustic Stimulation↗
PubMed1994

Recovery from unilateral vestibular nerve section in human subjects evaluated by physiological, psychological and questionnaire assessments.

Patients undergoing vestibular nerve section for vertigo or acoustic neuroma surgery were compared pre- and post-operatively and during long-term follow-up using a range of tests including: nystagmography, impulsive rotational testing of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR), ability to estimate and reproduce imposed rotational displacements, validated questionnaires rating vertigo, imbalance, autonomic reactivity and somatisation, and clinical and self-assessment scales of overall outcome in terms of symptoms and disability. Correlations were found between rating scale assessments, questionnaire scores and estimates of self-rotation. Neither nystagmography nor VOR tests correlated with the presence or severity of vertigo or imbalance. Post-operatively, vertigo patients reported that they had received significant relief, although they had higher incidences of residual complaints of imbalance and vertigo than patients after acoustic neuroma surgery. Factors impeding rehabilitation in patients with vertigo are discussed.

Adaptation, Physiological↗