Introduction Despite the advent of antibiotics and immunizations in the last century, complications of otitis media remain quite frequent, have high morbidity and mortality rates, and pose a challenge to the otorhinolaryngologist. Objective To establish the annual incidence of intratemporal complications of otitis media and prospectively evaluate patients via an analysis of epidemiologic and clinical aspects. Methods Prospective, observational study. Between February 2010 and January 2011, patients admitted to a tertiary care, university-based otology practice with diagnosis of otitis media and an associated intratemporal complication (ITC) were included in the study. The following data were evaluated: age, sex, type of ITC, treatment, imaging tests findings, type and degree of hearing loss, and clinical outcome. The overall incidence of all complications and of each complication individually was determined. Results A total of 1,816 patients were diagnosed with otitis media. For 592 (33%) individuals, the diagnosis was chronic otitis media; for 1,224 (67%), the diagnosis was acute otitis media. ITCs of otitis media were diagnosed in 15 patients; thus, the annual incidence of intratemporal complications was 0.8%. We identified 19 ITC diagnoses in 15 patients (3 patients had more than one diagnosis). Labyrinthine fistulae were diagnosed in 7 (36.8%) individuals, mastoiditis in 5 (26.3%), facial palsy in 4 (21.1%), and labyrinthitis in 3 (15.8%). Conclusion The incidence of intratemporal complications in Brazil remains significant when compared with developed countries. Chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma is the most frequent etiology of intratemporal complications. Labyrinthine fistula is the most common intratemporal complication.

As urgências/emergências em Otorrinolaringologia são desordens comuns e de baixa morbimortalidade, em sua maioria. Existem poucos estudos que abordam a epidemiologia desses atendimentos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar as características epidemiológicas dos atendimentos em pronto-socorro de Otorrinolaringologia em um hospital de alta complexidade no período de 12 meses. MÉTODO: Estudo epidemiológico, tipo corte transversal, retrospectivo com coleta de dados realizada a partir das fichas de atendimento do pronto-socorro de Otorrinolaringologia de um hospital de alta complexidade do estado de São Paulo, pelo período de 12 meses. Foram levantados os dados: idade, sexo, diagnóstico clínico e conduta. Os atendimentos foram divididos em subespecialidades: otologia, rinologia, faringolaringoestomatologia e cirurgia de cabeça e pescoço. Nível de urgência/emergência, etiologia e distribuição mensal dos atendimentos foram avaliados. RESULTADOS: Obtidas 17.503 fichas de atendimento, foram excluídas 1.863. Das 15.640 fichas incluídas, a média de idade foi 36,3 anos. 9.818 (62,77%) corresponderam a atendimentos considerados como urgência/emergência. Entre os atendimentos urgência/emergência, 6.422 (65,41%) foram por diagnósticos em otologia e entre os 10 diagnósticos mais prevalentes, sete foram da subespecialidade de otologia. CONCLUSÃO: Dentre os atendimentos em pronto-socorro de Otorrinolaringologia avaliados, 62,77% correspondem a casos de urgência/emergência, com predomínio na subespecialidade de otologia.

Urgent and emergency care are common happenings in ENT practice and most carry low morbidity and mortality. There are but few studies that address the epidemiology of these situations. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of care in the emergency department of otorhinolaryngology at a high complexity hospital. METHOD: Epidemiological, cross-sectional study, retrospective with data collection carried out from medical records from the emergency department of otorhinolaryngology of a high complexity hospital in São Paulo, for a period of 12 months. Data collected: age, gender, clinical diagnosis and management. The cases were divided by subspecialty: otology, rhinology, pharyngolaryngeal-stomatology and head and neck surgery. We evaluated the level of urgency/emergency, etiology and monthly distribution of visits. RESULTS: 17,503 medical records were obtained; 1,863 were excluded. Of the 15,640 cases included, the average age was 36.3 years. 9,818 (62.77%) corresponded to cases considered as emergency/urgency. Among the urgency/emergency cases, 6,422 (65.41%) were diagnosed in the ear and among the 10 most prevalent diagnostics, 7 were in the subspecialty of otology. CONCLUSION: Among the patients seen in the emergency department of otolaryngology evaluated in this study, 62.77% corresponded to cases of urgency/emergency, predominantly in the otology subspecialty.

Otite média (OM) é considerada doença potencialmente grave em razão dos riscos de complicações que podem ocorrer em sua evolução. OBJETIVO: Estabelecer a incidência anual de complicações intratemporais de OM e avaliar prospectivamente os pacientes por meio da análise dos aspectos epidemiológicos e clínicos. MÉTODO: Estudo de coorte contemporânea. Durante o período de um ano, os pacientes admitidos em um Hospital Universitário, com diagnóstico de OM e de complicação intratemporal (CIT) de OM foram incluídos no estudo. Os dados avaliados foram: idade, sexo, tipo de complicação intratemporal, tratamento e desfecho clínico. A incidência geral das complicações e de cada complicação foi determinada. RESULTADOS: 1.816 pacientes foram diagnosticados com OM. Em 592 (33%) indivíduos, o diagnóstico foi de otite média crônica; em 1224 (67%) o diagnóstico foi de otite média aguda. CIT de OM foi diagnosticada em 15 pacientes, perfazendo uma incidência anual de CIT 0,8%. Foram identificados 19 diagnósticos de CIT em 15 pacientes. Fístula labiríntica foi diagnosticada em sete (36,8%) indivíduos, mastoidite em cinco (26,3%), paralisia facial periférica em quatro (21,1%) e labirintite em três (15,8%). CONCLUSÃO: A incidência das complicações intratemporais permanece significativa quando comparada à de países desenvolvidos. A otite média crônica colesteatomatosa é a etiologia mais frequente das complicações intratemporais. A fístula labiríntica é a complicação intratemporal mais comum.

Otitis media (OM) is considered a potentially severe disease due to the risk of complications. OBJECTIVE: To establish the annual incidence of intratemporal complications (ITC) resulting from OM and to prospectively assess patients for epidemiological and clinical factors. METHOD: This prospective cohort study included patients admitted during one year at a university hospital diagnosed with intratemporal complications of OM. Patients were analyzed for age, gender, type of intratemporal complication, treatment, and clinical outcome. The overall incidence of complications and the specific incidence rates of each type of complication were determined. RESULTS: 1,816 patients were diagnosed with OM; 592 (33%) had chronic OM; 1224 (67%) had acute OM. Fifteen patients were diagnosed with OM ITC, adding up to an annual incidence of 0.8%. Nineteen diagnoses of ITC were made in 15 patients. Seven (36.8%) patients were diagnosed with labyrinthine fistula, five (26.3%) with mastoiditis, four (21.1%) with peripheral facial palsy, and three (15.8%) with labyrinthitis. CONCLUSION: The incidence of intratemporal complications remains significant when compared to the rates seen in developed countries. Chronic cholesteatomatous otitis media is the most frequent etiology of intratemporal complications. Labyrinthine fistula is the most common intratemporal complication.