Background: Tympanoplasty, essential for repairing tympanic membrane perforations, requires careful postoperative care for successful recovery. However, timely access to healthcare guidance can be challenging, especially in rural or underserved areas. ChatGPT-4, an artificial intelligence (AI) tool, offers a potential solution for continuous postoperative support and patient education. This study assesses the feasibility and effectiveness of using ChatGPT-4 as a supplementary information resource for tympanoplasty patients, focusing on its ability to provide accurate, precise, and relevant postoperative guidance in situations where access to healthcare professionals is limited.

Background and objectives: Adenoidectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in pediatric otolaryngological practice. This prospective study compared three different adenoidectomy techniques' intra-operative and postoperative outcomes in pediatric patients. The techniques evaluated were classical (blind curettage), coblation, and a combined approach. Materials and methods: Ninety pediatric patients undergoing adenoidectomy were enrolled in the study. The patients were divided into three groups based on the technique used: Group A, classical adenoidectomy (blind curettage); Group B, coblation adenoidectomy and Group C, combined (blind curettage + coblation) adenoidectomy. The intra-operative time, degree of bleeding, and complications during and after the operations were recorded. Results: Group A had a significantly shorter operative time than the other groups. However, there was no significant difference in the mean operative time between Groups B and C. The mean amount of intra-operative bleeding differed significantly among the groups. Group B had significantly less bleeding than Group A or Group C. The amount of bleeding also differed significantly between Groups A and C. The postoperative pain scores did not differ significantly among the groups. While complications were infrequent in all groups, Group C did not exhibit a higher complication rate than Groups A and B. The absence of residual or recurrent adenoid tissue in any of the groups during long-term follow-up examinations highlights the effectiveness of all three adenoidectomy techniques in preventing adenoid regrowth. Conclusions: The combined approach, which was one of the techniques studied, demonstrated an intermediate profile in terms of operative time and intra-operative bleeding compared to the classical and coblation techniques. These findings suggest that this combined approach may be a feasible option for adenoidectomy in pediatric patients, considering its similar low incidence of postoperative complications.

This study aimed to determine the value of either ultrasonography and computed tomography (CT) alone or both for diagnosing salivary gland stones. Based on their clinical findings and physical examination, 188 patients with salivary stones were included. Initially, an ultrasound was performed, and then a non-contrast-enhanced thin-sliced CT scan was done. The study included 161 patients with suspected submandibular gland (SMG) sialolithiasis and 27 with parotid gland (PG) sialolithiasis. Among the SMG cases, stones were confirmed in 130 patients through interventional sialoendoscopy. Sixteen of the stones were detected by CT scan only and were not seen in the previous ultrasound examination. After the second follow-up ultrasound, which was conducted after reviewing the CT scans, 9 of them were identified. Five patients with distal stones and ductal dilation on ultrasound were confirmed to have sialolithiasis. In 5 patients with stones detected on ultrasound but not on CT, dental filling artifacts were identified as the cause. For PG cases, stones were observed in 18 out of 19 patients with suspected sialolithiasis based on ultrasound and CT findings. Three patients with positive CT findings but negative ultrasound showed stones during sialendoscopy. During an ultrasound examination, palpating the floor of the mouth with the other hand’s index finger can help identify stones obscured by the shadow of the mandible, thereby enhancing the test’s accuracy. Patients with dental fillings, implants, and permanent dentures should not be referred for a CT scan to avoid unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation. They also cause significant metallic artifacts in the field of interest. In these cases, ultrasound should be considered. To minimize the effects of ionizing radiation, it is recommended to create limited field requests for the target, focusing solely on the submandibular and PGs.

Objectives: We investigated the effectiveness of different types of nasal irrigation sprays in adult allergic rhinitis (AR) patients. Methods: A total of 1700 patients with AR (866 males and 834 females) were assigned to: Group 1: Hypertonic nasal spray group ( n = 600) (Sinomarin^® hypertonic nasal spray); Group 2: Algae-containing hypertonic nasal spray group ( n = 600) (Sinomarin Plus Algae ENT); and Group 3: Isotonic saline nasal spray group ( n = 500). All patients underwent an otolaryngological examination, continued their standard AR treatment, and received the assigned nasal spray additionally (1 spray to each nostril, 3 times a day, for 3 weeks). Allergic symptom scores, turbinate examination, total symptom scores, and quality of life (QoL) scores were evaluated during pre- and post-treatment periods. Results: In groups 1 and 2, symptom scores and turbinate color and edema, total symptom scores, and QoL scores increased after treatment ( P < .05). In the saline group, there were no significant differences in symptom scores and total symptom scores after treatment; however, improvement was detected in turbinate color and edema values after treatment. QoL scores increased after treatment. When comparing the 3 groups, the total symptom scores of groups 1 and 2 were significantly lower, and the QoL scores of groups 1 and 2 were considerably higher than those of the saline group. There were no significant differences between groups 1 and 2. Conclusion: Algae-containing and hypertonic nasal spray may be added to the standard AR treatment to increase QoL and decrease total symptom scores.