Objectives: Adenotonsillar hypertrophy (ATH) is a common condition in children, often leading to obstructive sleep apnea and other complications. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of adenotonsillectomy on various blood parameters in children with ATH. Materials and Methods: Medical records of 84 children diagnosed with ATH and/or chronic tonsillitis, who underwent adenotonsillectomy, were reviewed. Key parameters analyzed included white blood cell count (WBC), platelet count (PLT), hemoglobin (Hgb) levels, mean platelet volume (MPV), and platelet distribution width (PDW). Blood samples were collected preoperatively, and at postoperative day 1, week 1, and month 3, and results were compared. Results: A significant decrease in MPV, PDW, and Hgb levels was observed immediately postoperatively. Interestingly, Hgb levels significantly increased three months post-surgery, returning to or surpassing preoperative levels. Although platelet counts remained unchanged, the temporary reduction in RBC count, Hgb, and Hct levels suggests a physiological response to surgical blood loss and trauma. These parameters normalized within three months, reflecting the body’s effective compensatory mechanisms. Conclusion: Adenotonsillectomy significantly impacts certain blood parameters in the short term, with most values normalizing by the three-month follow-up. These findings emphasize the importance of monitoring hematologic changes postoperatively and suggest that adenotonsillectomy, while causing temporary alterations in blood parameters, is ultimately a safe and effective procedure for managing ATH in children.

This study aimed to investigate the utility of the Systemic Immune Inflammatory Index (SIII) as a diagnostic biomarker for distinguishing between acute tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess. Conducted retrospectively at Trakya University, the study analyzed 122 cases of acute tonsillitis and 124 cases of peritonsillar abscess, using data from patients treated at the university's Otorhinolaryngology Department between 2013 and 2023. Ethical approval was obtained from the institution's Ethics Committee. Blood samples were evaluated to assess three key parameters: neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and SIII. Results demonstrated a significant difference in SIII values, with patients suffering from peritonsillar abscess showing significantly higher SIII levels compared to those with acute tonsillitis. Similarly, PLR values were significantly different between the groups, reinforcing the clinical relevance of these markers. In contrast, NLR did not show a statistically significant difference. These findings highlight the potential of SIII as a valuable biomarker for distinguishing between acute tonsillitis and peritonsillar abscess, offering promising applications in otolaryngology to enhance diagnostic accuracy and inform treatment decisions.

Objective: Our study aims to evaluate the nasal mucociliary clearance (NMC) in Covid-19 patients who have been recently diagnosed and not been treated yet and investigate how Covid-19 affects NMC. Methods: A total of 120 participants, who applied to Düzce Atatürk State Hospital between September and November 2020, were included in our study. 60 of them were the participants, diagnosed with Covid-19. And 60 of them were the control group. The age range was 18 to 66. 60 participants, diagnosed with Covid-19 and not yet treated, were included in our study. Those with taste disorders were excluded from the study. The control group consisted of 60 healthy volunteers. NMC was evaluated using a saccharin test. The results were compared in the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Results: The study group, which consisted of 60 Covid-19 participants of whom treatment was not yet started, and the 60-participant healthy control group were evaluated in our study. The average age of the study group was 40,72±12,96 and 39,16 in the control group. The average NMC was 15,95±3,37 in the study group, and 8,38±1,03 in the control group. When evaluated statistically, it was found higher in the study group (p

To the Editor, The Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has caused a global pandemic. 1A recent study suggested that the prevalence of cardiomyocyte injury and microvascular thrombogenicity was lower in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the first wave. 2The importance of agents such as ticagrelor for reducing thromboembolic events in COVID-19 has also been noted. 3A recent study suggested that the UGT2A1/UGT2A2 genes are responsible for the olfactory dysfunction (OD) attributed to COVID-19. 4Interestingly, UGT2A1 polymorphisms are known to be associated with platelet reactivity. 5Before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the association between OD and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) was a topic of interest, 6 and in a previously published article, we speculated that OD could predict cardiocerebral syndrome. 7In the early months of the pandemic, COVID-19 was associated with a significantly higher incidence of OD and increased thromboembolic events compared with other flu infections. 2 We noticed that both OD and thromboembolic events decreased in the later waves of COVID-19.This is a crucial hypothesis that has not been tested.CVDs are still the leading cause of death, even in early stages of life. 8Increasing evidence supports the relationship between OD and cardiovascular events (e.g., OD in heart failure patients) and thromboembolic events (e.g., UGT2A1 polymorphisms as the responsible partner in different studies).Considering this perspective, it may be important that primary and secondary preventive measures against CVDs are implemented for patients with OD to reduce the long-term effects of endothelial damage in the post-COVID-19 syndrome.Additionally, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, conducting studies examining the relationships between OD and CVDs may help in the development of new diagnostic and treatment methods against CVDs.

Aim: We aimed to evaluate the results of newborn hearing screening (NHS) conducted at Düzce Atatürk State Hospital, and review the results with the relevant literature. Material and Methods: The hearing screening results of 20071 newborns whose hearing screening was conducted at Düzce Atatürk State hospital between January 2011 and December 2018 were evaluated retrospectively in this study. Refugees were not included in the study. Newborns without risk factors who came to the first test were evaluated with transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAE). If they failed from the first screening test were evaluated again 15 days later with TEOAE. Newborns who failed the second screening test were evaluated a third time with ABR. Newborns with risk factors were first evaluated with auditory brainstem response (ABR).The risky newborns who failed the first screening test were evaluated second time with ABR. Results: Hearing loss was present in 62 (0.30%) of the 20071 newborns and was unilateral in 35 (0.17%) and bilateral in 27 (0.13%) subjects. Conclusion: For the rehabilitation of babies with hearing loss, their treatment should be started as early as possible. Newborn hearing screening tests are a screening program that has been successfully applied in our country for many years and enables the detection of babies with hearing loss. With this screening program, babies with hearing loss can be detected at an early stage and their treatment and rehabilitation can be provided. The results of our study are consistent with other hearing screening results from our country.

Objective: In this study, we aimed to perform an objective analysis of the acoustic and aerodynamic characteristics of voice during the preoperative period and the early and late postoperative periods among patients who had undergone frontal anterior laryngectomy with epiglottoplasty (FALE) to determine the degree to which voice was affected after surgery. Methods: The study group included 21 subjects who had undergone FALE. Subjective evaluations were performed using the Grade, Roughness, Breathiness, Asthenia, Strained (GRBAS) scale and the Turkish version of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Objective evaluations were performed through voice analyses of voice recordings from the preoperative, 3-month postoperative, and 1-year postoperative periods. The analyzed parameters included fundamental frequency (F0) determination, shimmer %, jitter %, noise-to-harmonic ratio (NHR), variability of the fundamental frequency (VF0), amplitude perturbation quotient (APQ), and soft phonation index (SPI). Results: Subjective voice evaluations revealed that subjects generally reported that their voice was adequate, while physicians using the GRBAS scale generally found that patients exhibited hoarseness and weakness, which they interpreted as a moderate-to-severe voice disorder. Laryngostroboscopic evaluation revealed that most patients showed a longitudinal and irregular glottal closure defect. Conclusion: Our results indicated that patients had a dysphonic voice during the early and late postoperative periods after FALE; however, they exhibited adequate speaking and respiratory functions. Thus, FALE can be considered a surgical technique that preserves the patient’s voice to a degree acceptable to continue professional and other activities, despite voice quality disruption.

OBJECTIVES:The aim of the present study was to compare the postoperative morbidity and cosmetic results between the use of the scapha and the use of the tragus as the auricular cartilage graft donor site in patients who had undergone cartilage tympanoplasty. The fascia graft was used as the control.MATERIALS AND METHODS:The patient's visual symmetry, cosmetic satisfaction, and anthropometric measurements were studied to objectively evaluate the cosmetic condition. The formation of skin scar changes, pigmentation changes, and sensory changes as clinical criteria were compared.RESULTS:A total of 234 patients and their 257 operated ears were included in the study. Forty prospectively operated ears with preoperative findings were also included. All patients (100%) felt that their results were good, as indicated by the visual analog scale, and the anthropometric ear measurements used to reinforce the data showed no significant differences between the groups. A significant difference with respect to clinical sensory changes was found between the groups only in patients undergoing unilateral surgery via the retro auricular approach (p<0.05). There was no difference between the scapha and tragus groups with respect to scar formation or skin pigmentation change.CONCLUSION:Neither scapha nor tragus use for graft retrieval led to dissatisfaction or cosmetic problems in the postoperative period. Sensory changes in the skin on clinical evaluation were less common in patients in whom the scapha donor site was preferred than in cases in which the tragus was used.

Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a progressive disease characterized by chronic inflammation, which also has negative effects on cochlear functions and hearing levels. We investigated whether the cochlear functions and hearing levels of FMF patients were different than healthy controls and also evaluated the relationship of hearing levels with the age at diagnosis, duration without treatment, and inflammation and lipid parameters in this study. A total of 60 patients diagnosed with FMF and 48 age, gender and body mass index (BMI)-matched healthy controls were included in the study. The hemogram, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and lipid parameters of the subjects were studied and they all underwent pure tone audiometry and Transient evoked otoacoustic emission tests after an otologic examination. The hearing levels of the FMF group were significantly higher than those of the control group. The TEOAE signal/noise (S/N) ratios were similar in both groups. A positive relationship was present between the audiometric test results and the age, BMI, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride levels and a negative relationship with the high-density lipoprotein levels. A negative relationship was present between the TEOAE S/N ratios and the age of the patients, duration without treatment, lipid parameters, inflammation markers and the creatinine level. FMF patients are exposed to chronic inflammation and this can influence their hearing levels. The age at diagnosis, duration without treatment, chronic inflammation, unfavorable lipid parameters, and obesity can affect hearing tests negatively.