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- Geriatric otorhinolaryngology: reasons for outpatient referrals from generalists to ENT specialistsPublication . Alves, Clara Serdoura; Santos, Mariline; Castro, Afonso; Lino, João; Freitas, Susana Vaz; Almeida e Sousa, Cecília; da Silva, Álvaro MoreiraPurpose: To determine the main symptoms leading to referral of geriatric patients from primary care to otorhinolaryngology. Methods: Retrospective, observational study performed on patients aged 65 and older, referred from Primary Care to the Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery department of a tertiary centre during 2019 and 2020. Symptoms leading to otorhinolaryngological referral were categorized as "Oto-neurological symptoms", "Nasal symptoms", "Pharyngolaryngeal symptoms", "Other Head and Neck symptoms" and "Other Reasons". Data regarding age, gender and whether patients maintain follow-up or have been discharged was also collected. Results: The study population included a total of 1304 patients (697 female; 607 male). Oto-neurological symptoms were found to be the most prevalent symptoms, with 65% of patients reporting oto-neurological symptoms as at least one of the reasons for referral. Hearing loss was the most commonly reported symptom, with an association found between this symptom and age (p < 0.001). Results also showed an association between the female gender and vertigo/dizziness (p < 0.001) and tinnitus (p = 0.007). An association between the male gender and nasal symptoms was also found (p = 0.018), particularly nasal obstruction (p = 0.003) and epistaxis (p = 0.028). No statistically significant associations were found among the pharyngolaryngeal group. Conclusions: This retrospective observational study allowed for a better understanding of the type of otorhinolaryngological symptoms affecting elderly patients and driving otorhinolaryngology evaluation, cementing hearing loss as one of the major complaints among older adults and allowing for a better preparation by otorhinolaryngologists for the changing needs of this subset of the population.
- Hyperacusis and stapes surgery: An observation in fifty patients after stapedotomyPublication . Santos, Mariline; Reis-Rego, Angela; Lino, João; Coutinho, Miguel; Sousa, Cecília AlmeidaObjective: To assess hyperacusis after stapedotomy and its possible influencing factors. Study design: Prospective, interventional, and longitudinal study. Setting: A tertiary referral center. Patients: Fifty consecutive patients (35 females, mean age = 46.8 years). Intervention: All patients underwent stapedotomy. The validated Portuguese version of the "Hyperacusis Questionnaire" (HQ) was administered before and two weeks and one month after surgery. Results: No hyperacusis was reported by any patient before surgery. At two weeks after surgery, all patients experienced hyperacusis, with a mean HQ at 16.88 ± 6.54 (range 4-25). One month after surgery, hyperacusis had already resolved in most patients. Gender, preoperative presentation or surgeon had no influence on HQ scores (p > 0.05). Patients with previous contralateral stapedotomy showed lower HQ scores (p = 0.001). Audiological parameters improvement measured at one month after surgery (PTA, SRT and contralateral SRT) were associated with HQ higher scores. Conclusion: This study confirms that hyperacusis is a common complaint after stapedotomy that usually resolves in one month after surgery. The HQ highest scores were registered among patients with the highest audiological gain after surgery. This suggests that hyperacusis may be a positive prognostic factor for audiological success after stapedotomy.