Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy of 2.5% sodium bicarbonate and docusate sodium in patients with complete occlusion of the ear canal from impacted cerumen. Study Design: Randomized controlled trial. Method: We enrolled patients with unilateral complete cerumen occlusion of the ear canal that was unable to be removed using suction. Either 2.5% sodium bicarbonate or docusate sodium was applied and allowed to sit for 15 minutes. The ear canal was then cleaned under a microscope for up to 3 minutes until the tympanic membrane was completely visible. A second attempt with the same agent was performed in subjects in whom the first application was unsuccessful. The outcomes were compared between the two groups in terms of cleaning, the success rate, time taken to clean the canal, and adverse events. Results: There were 91 participants enrolled in this study. The mean age of the participants was 48.0 years. The patients’ demographic did not differ between the two groups. At the end of the treatment, the tympanic membrane was completely visible in 41 (91.11%) subjects treated with 2.5% sodium bicarbonate and 38 (82.61%) subjects treated with docusate sodium, with a 1.10 success ratio between the two groups (95% CI: 0.94–1.29, p = 0.23). The mean successful suctioning time was 103.61 seconds using 2.5% sodium bicarbonate and 124.13 using docusate sodium. The mean difference was 20.52 seconds (95% CI: –10.55–51.59). Conclusion: 2.5% sodium bicarbonate demonstrated non-inferior efficacy and safety compared with docusate sodium. We recommend using this agent in clinical practice. Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.in.th/TCTR20160803001.

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Rhinofacial entomophthoromycosis is an uncommon chronic fungal infection of the head and neck. The diagnosis is usually based on clinical manifestations; however, diagnosis of this infection based on early manifestations is difficult and occasionally rhinofacial entomophthoromycosis is mistaken for other diseases. Therefore, computed tomography is introduced to support the diagnosis. Radiologic findings were nonspecific with swelling of the sinonasal mucosa and perinasal region. However, subcutaneous calcification, that was observed in all our cases, may be a supportive radiologic evidence for diagnosis. The diagnosis should be confirmed definitively using histopathology or fungal culture. Early diagnosis allows prompt and appropriate treatment that will achieve excellent outcomes. We suggest that subcutaneous calcification radiologic finding may guide the aware physician to an early diagnosis of rhinofacial entomophthoromycosis.

Introduction Preventing droplet dispersal is an important issue for decreasing the coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) transmission rate; numerous personal protective equipment (PPE) devices have been recently developed for this. Objective To evaluate the effectiveness of a novel PPE device to prevent droplet spread during nasal endoscopic and fiber optic laryngoscopic examination and postuse equipment cleaning technique. Methods The “endoscopy salon” was created with a hooded salon hair dryer, plastic sheath, and silicone nipple. Comparison fluorescence dye dispersal from simulating forceful coughing with and without using the “endoscopy salon” was conducted to assess the droplet spread control. The effects of heat produced in the “endoscopy salon” and disinfection cleaning were also evaluated. Results Fluorescent dye droplet spread from a mannequin's mouth without using the “endoscopy salon” to care providers' clothes and the floor surrounding mannequin, whereas no dye droplets spread out when using the “endoscopy salon”. The maximal temperature observed in the hair dryer was 56.3°C. During the cleaning process, when a plastic bag was attached to the hair dryer's hood to create a closed system, the temperature increased to 79.8 ± 3.1 °C. These temperatures eliminated four test organism cultures during equipment disinfection. Conclusion This novel “endoscopy salon” device prevented respiratory droplet spread and eliminated infectious organisms during postuse equipment cleaning.