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Aim of the study: Sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is an uncommon clinical entity in children. The etiopathogenesis, clinical profile and management are not well understood and the incidence is not well known in medical literature. The goal of this study is to evaluate prevalence, etiology, treatment and outcome of SSNHL in the pediatric patients. Material and methods: We had undertaken a retrospective study of the children below 18 years of age with SSNHL treated between July 2014 to August 2017. The data assessed were age, sex, clinical manifestations, onset of hearing loss, audiological profile, other diagnostic tools, treatment and outcome. Results: The average age of the children presenting with SSNHL is 10.43 years (1-18 years). Twelve patients (6 right and 6 left) had unilateral hearing loss and 5 patients had bilateral hearing loss. Hearing loss ranges from profound (52.94%) to mild and unknown etiology in 70.58% and viral 29.41%. Hearing was completely improved in 5 cases (29.41%), partially improved in 8 cases (47.05%) and no improvement in 3 cases (17.64%). When comparing oral with oral plus intratympanic (IT) steroid, hearing output is stastically significant (p = 0.04020) with 95% confidential level is 0.69 to 0.02 and t = 2.1381. Conclusions: The exact incidences of SSNHL in pediatric age groups are not established in medical literature. Pediatric patients are usually delayed presentations and associated with unknown etiology in majority of cases. SSNHL has serious impact on life and it should be follow up for preventing morbidities and for starting rehabilitation program as early as possible.

Introduction: Tracheostomy is a surgical procedure that has been performed since ancient times. It is a commonly used life-saving surgical procedure among critically ill patients. Children with airway compromise often need tracheostomy. Aim of the study: There are numerous research papers published for adult tracheostomy with its indications, operative technique, and complications, but the literature for paediatric tracheostomy is much scarcer. Here, we attempt to analyse the indications, complications, and outcomes of tracheostomy among paediatric patients at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Eastern India. Material and methods: A retrospective study was done among the children who had undergone tracheostomy between May 2008 and June 2018. The data on age, gender, indications, and complications over a 10-year period were analysed. In this study, the children with tracheostomy were classified into: prolonged intubation, upper airway obstruction, neurological diseases, craniofacial anomalies, trauma, and vocal cord paralysis. Children were included in the prolonged intubation category if they needed ventilator support. Results: There were 88 tracheostomies done among the children in the study period. There were 47 male children (53.40%) and 41 females (46.59%). Age for tracheostomy ranged from seven months to sixteen years, and the mean age of tracheostomy was 8.8 years. The most common indication for tracheostomy was prolonged ventilation (72.27%) followed by airway obstruction (22.72%). Pulmonary pathology was the main cause for prolonged ventilation. Conclusions: Advanced technique of paediatric anaesthesia and increased awareness for vaccination among children increased the changing indication for tracheostomy from emergency to more elective procedure. Standardisation of the procedure, timing, and exact indications are helping to reduce the mortality related to tracheostomy among paediatric patients.

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