{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: Management and long-term comorbidities of patients with necrotizing otitis externa.
{Author}: Arslan IB;Pekcevik Y;Cukurova I;
{Journal}: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol
{Volume}: 280
{Issue}: 6
{Year}: Jun 2023 18
{Factor}: 3.236
{DOI}: 10.1007/s00405-022-07784-y
{Abstract}: <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>We aimed to present the management of the patients with necrotizing otitis externa (NOE) and its comorbidities in early and long-term follow-up.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>Between 2011 and 2022, 30 patients with the diagnose of NEO, who had cortical bone erosion or trabecular demineralization in temporal bone computed tomography and administered at least 6-week antimicrobial therapy were included in the study. Clinical, laboratory and imaging findings of patients, and comorbidities during follow-up were analysed. NOE extending further from the petro-occipital fissure on magnetic resonance imaging was accepted as medial skull base (MSB) involvement.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>30 patients, (8 women, 22 men, mean age 66.2 ± 1.7), with NOE were followed 36.4 ± 29.6 months. The mortality rate was 23.33% and the mean survival time was 12.37 ± 11.35 months. Repeated cultures reveal a new or second pathogen in 5 patients (20%). Severe and profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) were observed in 4 and 12 patients, respectively. Labyrinthitis ossificans emerged in 3 of 6 surviving patients with profound SNHL during follow-up. Chronic disease anemia (CDA) (66.66%), cerebrovascular disease (CVD) (43.33%), chronic renal failure (CRF) (30%), and retinopathy (26.66%) were the most frequent comorbidities in patients with NOE. Cranial nerve paralysis (CNP) (P < 0.001), SNHL (P < 0.04), CDA (P < 0.005), and mortality (P < 0.022) were significantly associated with the presence of MSB involvement.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>NOE is a disease that requires long-term follow-up, causes severe morbidity, and has a high mortality rate. MSB involvement is associated with CNP, SNHL and labyrinthitis ossificans. Moreover, CDA, CVD, CRF and retinopathy are the most common comorbitidies needed to be managed.