European Archives of Oto Rhino Laryngology 2024-09-17

Minimum intraoperative testing battery for cochlear implantation: the international practice trend

Publication date 17-09-2024


Purpose In cochlear implantation (CI) surgery, there are a wide variety of intraoperative tests available. However, no clear guide exists on which tests must be performed as the minimum intraoperative testing battery. Toward this end, we studied the usage patterns, recommendations, and attitudes of practitioners toward intraoperative testing. Methods This study is a multicentric international survey of tertiary referral CI centers. A survey was developed and administered to a group of CI practitioners (n = 34) including otologists, audiologists and biomedical engineers. Thirty six participants were invited to participate in this study based on a their scientific outputs to the literature on the intraoperative testing in CI field and based on their high load of CI surgeries. Thirty four, from 15 countries have accepted the invitation to participate. The participants were asked to indicate the usage trends, perceived value, influence on decision making and duration of each intraoperative test. They were also asked to indicate which tests they believe should be included in a minimum test battery for routine cases. Results Thirty-two (94%) experts provided responses. The most frequently recommended tests for a minimum battery were facial nerve monitoring, electrode impedance measurements, and measurements of electrically evoked compound action potentials (ECAPs). The perceived value and influence on surgical decision-making also varied, with high-resolution CT being rated the highest on both measures. Conclusion Facial nerve monitoring, electrode impedance measurements, and ECAP measurements are currently the core tests of the intraoperative test battery for CI surgery.

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Correction: Endoscopic ear surgery in the treatment of chronic otitis media with atelectasis

G Iannella,A Pace,A Greco,A De Virgilio,E Croce,A Maniaci,JR Lechien,FM Gioacchini,M Re,G Cammaroto,T Perrone,S Cocuzza,G Magliulo

Publication date 16-09-2024


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Comparison between clinical and cytological findings in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps treated with Dupilumab

A Ciofalo,A Loperfido,S Baroncelli,S Masieri,G Bellocchi,R Caramia,F Cascone,L Filaferro,F Lo Re,C Cavaliere

Publication date 16-09-2024


Purpose Biologics represent a new therapeutic strategy for severe and recurrent chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Usually, their actual therapeutic effectiveness is assessed by reduction in nasal polyps and/or improvement in nasal symptoms and quality of life. However, these measures do not consider nasal immunophlogosis, which can be evaluated through nasal cytology. The purpose of this study was to assess not only the clinical impact but also the cellular changes in the nasal inflammatory infiltrate observed through nasal cytology of CRSwNP patients treated with Dupilumab for 24 months. Methods Fifty-five CRSwNP patients treated with Dupilumab were collected. Patients were evaluated before starting treatment and at one, three, six, nine months, one year, one and a half years, and two years after the first drug administration. During follow–up visits patients underwent endoscopic evaluation, nasal symptoms and quality of life assessment, complete blood count and nasal cytology. Results During follow-up, significant improvement was found in Nasal Polyps Score (NPS), nasal patency, olfaction, Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) score, and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Regarding nasal cytology, a reduction in eosinophils and mast cells in the cellular infiltrate was observed over the two-year follow-up period compared to baseline. Conclusion Dupilumab has demonstrated broad efficacy in the management of CRSwNP from both clinical and cytological findings. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings and evaluate the biologics’ impact on nasal mucosal inflammatory cells by nasal cytology with the aim of better identifying each patient’s endotype and predicting the response to biologics.

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Endoscopic transnasal prelacrimal recess approach via the orbital floor to the infraorbital region: an anatomical study

C Su,W Tang,J Qiao,W Liu,B Hu,K Huang,Q Liu,L Wang

Publication date 16-09-2024


Purpose The aim of this study is to describe the maximum exposure of the infraorbital region via the orbital floor using the transnasal prelacrimal recess approach (PLRA), and to provide an anatomical basis for treating lesions in the infraorbital region. Methods Ten freshly injected frozen heads were dissected using the PLRA. The orbital floor was removed along the border of the medial infraorbital quadrangle, and the periorbita was opened to expose the infraorbital region. The areas of the medial infraorbital quadrangles were measured and analyzed. The PLRA was applied separately on the left and right sides of each cadaver head, resulting in a total of 20 prelacrimal recess approaches. Results The PLRA enabled visualization of the optic nerve and the central retinal artery through the orbital floor. By integrating both medial and lateral approaches in relation to the inferior rectus muscle, all crucial anatomical structures within the infraorbital region could be clearly identified. The area of the medial infraorbital quadrangle was 420.65 ± 24.03 mm2. Conclusion The PLRA provides access through the orbital floor to the maximum boundary of the infraorbital region, including the lateral orbital wall at the outermost level, the superior rectus muscle at the topmost level, and the medial orbital wall at the innermost level.

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The effect of maxillary sinus floor elevation with lateral antrostomy approach on nasal mucociliary functions

N Akay,B Altay,BM Taş,İ Altuntop

Publication date 16-09-2024


Purpose It is aimed to evaluate the effect of maxillary sinus elevation with lateral antrostomy approach on mucociliary functions using the saccharin test. Methods The study was planned prospectively. 29 patients who underwent maxillary sinus elevation were included in the study. The age and gender information of the patients were noted. Saccharin test was performed in the nasal cavity on the operated side. Mucociliary functions were evaluated with the results of the saccharin test performed before the operation and the saccharin test results at the 1st week, 1st month, and 3rd month postoperatively. Comparisons were made with these values. Results The mean age of the patients was 42.10 ± 4.99 years. Of the patients, 14 (48.3%) were female and 15 (51.7%) were male. Preoperative saccharine test results were found to be significantly lower than the postoperative values. As the postoperative recovery period increased, a significant decrease was observed in the saccharin test results. However, preoperative values were within normal limits, while postoperative values were above the normal range. Conclusions In our study, it was observed that mucociliary functions improved as the postoperative period increased in patients who underwent maxillary sinus elevation, but were still above normal limits.

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How differ eCAP types in cochlear implants users with and without inner ear malformations: amplitude growth function, spread of excitation, refractory recovery function

BC Cinar,M Özses

Publication date 16-09-2024


Objectives Inner ear malformations (IEMs) may result in differences in outcomes of cochlear implant user. These differences could be observed in both behavioral and objective tests. eCAP is the most common used objective test in cochlear implants and have different presence rate in cochlear implant users with and without IEMs. This study aims to evaluate eCAP results from CI user with and without IEMs through different recoding methods; amplitude growth function, spreads of excitation and refractory recovery. Methods There were 42 CI users (20 IEM&22 normal) above five-years old and with at least one year experience. Three different eCAP measurement was conducted at several intracochlear electrodes. Presence rate, threshold levels and amplitude were compared between groups. Results For Amplitude growth function measurement, when the percentage of detected eCAP thresholds was analyzed between groups, there was a significant difference only for basal electrode and no significant difference for apical and middle electrodes. Similarly, the presence rate of RecF-eCAP for both groups were in a downward trend from apical to basal. However, there was no significant difference in AGF-eCAP and RecF-eCAP amplitudes between groups for the cochlea’s apical, middle and basal region. Although the presence rate of SOE-eCAP was lower for IEM group, there was no significant difference in ECAP amplitudes for all maskers. Conclusions It could be inferred that even though the observable eCAP rate differed between these two groups when the observable eCAP was recorded, the IEM group produced eCAP with similar amplitudes to normal cochlea group.

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Comprehensive analysis of radiological and surgical predictors in cervical sympathetic schwannomas: a novel staging approach and its implications

N Das K,M Muraleedharan,A Keshri,K Arora,N Singh,A Mathialagan,G Bhuskute,N Hameed,K Chidambaram,M Aqib,M Sinha,AK Jaiswal,RS Manogaran

Publication date 15-09-2024


Background Vagal schwannomas are well-documented, but cervical sympathetic chain schwannomas (CSCS) are rare, with most knowledge from case reports. This study aims to identify radiological predictors of misdiagnosis and factors guiding surgical approaches based on tumor size and extent. Methods An ambispective analysis was conducted on 21 cases of CSCS, examining preoperative data, intraoperative findings and the questionnaire to identify the potential predictors. Tumors were classified into three types based on their relationship with the carotid sheath, and this classification was correlated with vessel ligation and postoperative neural outcomes. Results An excellent agreement was found between radiologist on new classification system(Kappa:0.89). Tumor classification revealed a diverse distribution, with 6 cases identified as Type 1, 6 as Type 2, 5 as Type 3, and 4 as Type 3S. The necessity of external carotid artery (ECA) ligation correlated with the tumor type. Type 3 tumors required ECA ligation in 50% of cases, while Type 1 and Type 2 tumors predominantly involved vascular preservation. Postoperative complications included vagal palsy in 28.5% of cases and first bite syndrome in 71.4%. Conclusion Accurate preoperative planning and a novel staging system can enhance surgical outcomes and reduce postoperative complications as validated by our study.

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Traumatic CSF rhinorrhea associated with COVID-19 testing: a case series and systematic review

SA Samargandy,CG Fritz,D Ahmadian,V Bhalla,JM Lee,CH Le

Publication date 15-09-2024


Background This report analyzes traumatic anterior skull base CSF leaks following nasopharyngeal swab testing for detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the largest case series to date, combined with a systematic literature review. Methods Retrospective multi-institutional case-series of traumatic anterior skull base CSF leak with clear antecedent history of COVID-19 swab was completed. A comprehensive search of databases was performed for the systematic literature review. Results Thirty-four patients with traumatic CSF leak after COVID-19 nasopharyngeal swab testing were identified. Women were more than twice as likely to experience a CSF leak, as compared to men. The majority of patients (58.8%) had no reported predisposing factor in their clinical history. Common defect sites included the cribriform plate (52.9%), sphenoid sinus (29.4%), and ethmoid roof (17.6%). Four patients (11.8%) presented with meningitis. The median time between the traumatic COVID swab and the detection of CSF leak was 4 weeks (IQR 1–9). Patients with meningitis had a median leak duration of 12 weeks (IQR 8–18). The average leak duration was significantly longer in patients with meningitis compared to without meningitis (p = 0.029), with a moderate effect size (r = − 0.68). Most cases (92.9%) managed with endoscopic endonasal surgical repair were successful. Conclusions This report clarifies the presentation, risk factors, and management of CSF leaks attributable to diagnostic nasopharynx swabbing procedures in the COVID-19 era. Timely surgical repair is the recommended management option for such leaks.

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Barbed tonsillectomy

A Pace,G Iannella,G Magliulo

Publication date 14-09-2024


Purpose Although tonsillectomy is a common otolaryngological procedure renowned for its ease and safety, it is associated with various complications such as hemorrhage, dysphagia, pain, and infection. Post-tonsillectomy bleeding, especially secondary bleeding, poses a significant risk, with mortality rates reported as 5% of cases. Various techniques have been proposed to mitigate these risks, including the closure of the tonsillar fossa to prevent hemorrhage. Suturing of tonsil pillars has been suggested to enhance healing by reducing exposed surfaces. However, complications such as arterial injury and infection have been reported. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of barbed sutures for reducing post-tonsillectomy complications compared to standard techniques. Methods This prospective case-control study included 25 patients to receive a tonsillectomy with silk sutures (n = 11) or a tonsillectomy with barbed sutures (n = 14). Patients underwent either Barbed Tonsillectomy (BT) or standard tonsillectomy with external silk sutures. Pain scores were assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS), while oropharyngeal dysphagia was evaluated using the Eating Assessment Tool (EAT-10) at two weeks and one month post-operation. Results BT showed significantly lower postoperative pain scores than standard tonsillectomy at 24 hours (VAS: 2.9 vs. 7.0) and after two weeks (VAS: 0.1 vs. 3.4). Similarly, BT demonstrated lower EAT-10 scores at two weeks (0.6 vs. 8.2) and one month (0.9 vs. 5.3), thus indicating reduced dysphagia. Only one patient in the control group required surgical revision due to bleeding, and none in the BT group. Comparison of all variables showed always a statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusions This study showed that barbed sutures in tonsillectomy may be a safe technique with reduced complications and a faster recovery. Initial findings regarding hemorrhage, pain management, and recovery outcomes are highly promising, warranting further investigation with larger sample sizes to endorse these results.

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Mucoperiosteal and lacrimal sac flap anastomosis with ligating clips in revision dacryocystorhinostomy

IB Arslan,I Dagli,I Cukurova

Publication date 13-09-2024


Background Although endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EDCR) has been performed successfully in primary and revision cases, there has yet to be a consensus on the best surgical approach. Methods Excessive granulation, adhesion, and fibrosis, the main causes of unsuccessful EDCR, should be expected more frequently in revision surgery. Anastomosis by ligating the nasal mucoperiosteum and lacrimal sac flaps with clips can minimise the surface of exposed bone, therefore, the possibility of stenosis and failure of the dacryocystorhinostomy. Conclusions In 12 revision EDSR patients, ligating clips ensured an anatomical overlap of the mucoperiosteum and sac flap, providing a wider rhinostomy opening and straight epithelial lining.

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MRI-DWI detection of residual cholesteatoma: moving toward an optimum follow-up scheme

MC Eggink,MJF de Wolf,FA Ebbens,MML de Win,FG Dikkers,E van Spronsen

Publication date 13-09-2024


Purpose To analyse diagnostic accuracy of MRI-DWI in detecting residual disease after cholesteatoma surgery and propose an optimum follow-up (FU) scheme. Method A retrospective chart review of patients who had cholesteatoma surgery in a tertiary referral centre. 3.0 T non-echo planar diffusion weighted imaging was performed as part of routine FU or indicated on the basis of clinical suspicion of disease. Imaging outcome was verified per-operatively during a second-look procedure or ossicular chain reconstruction. Diagnostic parameters were calculated and stratified by FU length. Results For the FU of 664 cholesteatoma surgeries, 1208 MRI-DWI were obtained and 235 second-look procedures were performed. Most MRI-DWI were obtained within 1.5 yrs of surgery. In this period, significantly less true positive MRI-DWI and significantly more false negative MRI-DWI for residual disease were found compared to other FU periods. Scanning after approximately 3 yrs yielded a significantly higher rate of true positive MRI-DWI, while sensitivity surpassed 80%. Younger patients had a higher risk of developing residual disease. Patients undergoing canal wall up surgery, as well as patients < 12 yrs, were at risk for false negative MRI-DWI. Obliteration reduces the risk of residual disease, while leading to less false negative MRI-DWI.
Conclusion A novel radiologic FU scheme for detecting residual disease is suggested for stable ears after cholesteatoma surgery: standard MRI-DWI approximately 3 and 5 yrs after primary surgery, as well as MRI-DWI after approximately 9 yrs for patients with specific risk factors (i.e., patients < 12 yrs or patients undergoing canal wall up surgery without obliteration).

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Biologics for eosinophilic otitis media: a retrospective case study in a multidisciplinary center

M Czajkowski,S Machiels,C Leclercq,AL Poirrier,F Schleich,R Louis,B Dezfoulian,P Lefebvre,V Defaweux,S Camby,F Rogister

Publication date 13-09-2024


Purpose Eosinophilic otitis media (EOM) is a difficult-to-treat otitis media characterized by eosinophilic accumulation in the middle ear mucosa and effusion. It is refractory to conventional treatments and is strongly associated with asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). The diagnostic criteria for EOM were established by IINO in 2011. With the recognition of type 2 inflammatory diseases, the gold standard of treatment is the systemic and topical administration of corticosteroids. Recently, several retrospective studies have demonstrated the efficacy of biologic treatments in EOM. We aimed to share our experience regarding the response of EOM after the use of biologics. Methods This is a retrospective observational analysis including patients with refractory EOM treated with different biologics (benralizumab, omalizumab, mepolizumab, dupilumab) for concomitant severe asthma, urticaria and/or severe uncontrolled CRSwNP from 2011 to 2023. Treatment effectiveness in terms of EOM severity was measured using medical Global Evaluation of Treatment Effectiveness (GETE). Results We illustrated 4 clinical cases of uncontrolled comorbid EOM and demonstrated the complexity of multidisciplinary medical pathway with good response to biologics. We also observed that response to EOM and CRSwNP does not always follow that of asthma. Conclusions The results of our small sample were consistent with those found in the literature and showed control of EOM with biologics. We need a larger multicentric sample and methodology to confirm these results and to compare the efficacy of different biologics.

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Endoscopic endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy: impact of long-standing disease on surgical outcomes

GM Pace,F Giombi,F Pirola,E Russo,M Cerasuolo,J Zuppardo,G Muci,G Giunta,A Di Maria,MR Romano,G Mercante,G Spriano,L Malvezzi

Publication date 13-09-2024


Purpose To assess whether the duration of disease may influence the surgical success of Endonasal Endoscopic DCR (EE-DCR) in patients affected by nasolacrimal duct obstruction (NLDO). Methods Single-center observational retrospective analysis on EE-DCR via posterior trans-ethmoidal approach. Consecutive patients were enrolled in 2021–2024 and evaluated with proper questionnaires; resolution of epiphora and dacryocystitis were analyzed after 1 (T1) and 6-months (T2) from surgery. Surgical success was defined as anatomical (patency at irrigation, no recurring dacryocystitis) or complete (zeroing of Munk score). Also, patients were asked to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at each timepoint. The sample was divided based on the duration of disease (group A: ≤ 24 months, group B: > 24 months). Results Ninety-one patients were included. At baseline no differences were observed between the two groups. At both timepoints, Munk score was significantly lower in Group A compared to Group B, while a difference in dacryocystitis rate was observed only at T2. Anxiety scores differed significantly at T2, although no differences were observed for depression. At paired analysis, all groups improved significantly at T1 compared to baseline, whereas no further improvement was observed between T2 and T1. A significantly higher improvement was observed in group A for the Munk and HADS-A scores over timepoints, whereas there was no significance for dacryocystitis rate and HADS-D. Also, group A showed a higher complete success rate compared to group B (p = 0.041). Finally, linear regression confirmed a positive relationship between Munk and anxiety scores and the duration of disease at T2. Conclusions Our findings showed that long-lasting NLDO symptoms may be associated with worse EE-DCR surgical outcomes.

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Effectiveness of bisphosphonate for alleviating tinnitus associated with otosclerosis: a prospective case–control study

A Fouad,M Mandour,MO Tomoum,RM Lasheen

Publication date 13-09-2024


Purpose To investigate the short-term efficacy of third-generation bisphosphonate in the management of tinnitus associated with otosclerosis. Methods A prospective case–control study included 100 patients with otosclerosis-associated bothersome tinnitus.
Patients were assigned to two groups: group A (control): 25 patients who planned to receive only complementary supplements, oral vitamin D plus calcium, and group B (case): 75 patients who planned to receive oral bisphosphonate plus routine vitamin D and calcium supplements.
Group B was subdivided into B1: 25 patients without any previous intervention, B2: 25 patients with persistent tinnitus for more than 6 months after a previous uncomplicated stapedotomy in the same ear, and B3: 25 patients with persistent tinnitus for more than 6 months after hearing aid fitting. The outcome was tinnitus assessment both subjectively (tinnitus intensity, frequency, and questionnaire) and objectively (tinnitus intensity and frequency). Results The female-to-male ratio was 1.6:1 with ages ranging from 40 to 61 years. The baseline revealed no statistically significant differences between the groups. After 6 months, there were statistically significant differences, both objectively and subjectively. The tinnitus questionnaire median (IQR) for group B was 16 (30), whereas control group A had 52 (24). The tinnitus severity median (IQR) for group B was 20 (30), compared to group A’s 52 (42). After 6 months, 40% of the cases in group B demonstrated complete improvement, compared to 0% in control group A. Conclusion We demonstrated significant tinnitus improvement in cases treated with bisphosphonate compared to the control group.

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Evaluating cochlear implant outcomes in DFNA9 subjects: a comprehensive study on cerebral white matter lesions and vestibular abnormalities

MLA Fehrmann,FJA Meijer,EAM Mylanus,RJE Pennings,CP Lanting,WJ Huinck

Publication date 13-09-2024


Purpose This study assessed whether the Fazekas score could account for the variability in cochlear implantation (CI) outcomes among individuals with DFNA9 and evaluated signal loss in the semicircular canals (SCCs) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) among individuals with DFNA9. Method This retrospective cross-sectional study included CI recipients with DFNA9. Pre-implantation MRI-scans were reviewed to determine the Fazekas score, localizing and grading cerebral white matter lesions (WML), and identify abnormalities in the SCCs. CI performance was assessed by evaluating phoneme scores one year post-implantation. The function of the SCCs was evaluated using rotatory chair testing with electronystagmography (ENG) and the video Head Impulse Test (vHIT). Results Forty-five subjects (49 ears) were enrolled. The phoneme scores significantly improved from 35% (IQR 11–50) pre-implantation to 84% (IQR 76–90) one year post-implantation. No correlation was observed between the Fazekas score and the one-year post-implantation phoneme score (rsp=0.003, p = 0.986). Signal loss in at least one SCCs was detected in 97.7% of subjects and 77.8% of ears. There was no correlation between vestibular test results and fluid signal loss in the SCCs on MRI. Conclusion Most individuals with DFNA9 show improved speech recognition with CI. The observed variability in CI outcomes was not linked to the Fazekas score. Additionally, our study confirms a high prevalence of focal sclerosis in DFNA9. Recognizing the limitations of this study, further research is needed to explore the predictive role of the Fazekas score on CI outcomes and its relationship with vestibular function.

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Prediction of tumor board procedural recommendations using large language models

M Aubreville,J Ganz,J Ammeling,E Rosbach,T Gehrke,A Scherzad,S Hackenberg,M Goncalves

Publication date 13-09-2024


Introduction Multidisciplinary tumor boards are meetings where a team of medical specialists, including medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, surgeons, and pathologists, collaborate to determine the best treatment plan for cancer patients. While decision-making in this context is logistically and cost-intensive, it has a significant positive effect on overall cancer survival. Methods  We evaluated the quality and accuracy of predictions by several large language models for recommending procedures by a Head and Neck Oncology tumor board, which we adapted for the task using parameter-efficient fine-tuning or in-context learning.
Records were divided into two sets: n=229 used for training and n=100 records for validation of our approaches. Randomized, blinded, manual human expert classification was used to evaluate the different models. Results  Treatment line congruence varied depending on the model, reaching up to 86%, with medically justifiable recommendations up to 98%. Parameter-efficient fine-tuning yielded better outcomes than in-context learning, and larger/commercial models tend to perform better. Conclusion Providing precise, medically justifiable procedural recommendations for complex oncology patients is feasible. Extending the data corpus to a larger patient cohort and incorporating the latest guidelines, assuming the model can handle sufficient context length, could result in more factual and guideline-aligned responses and is anticipated to enhance model performance. We, therefore, encourage further research in this direction to improve the efficacy and reliability of large language models as support in medical decision-making processes.

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Is it important to stabilize palatopharyngeus muscle to pterygomandibular raphe under vision during surgery for OSA?

MS Rashwan,MA Khalafallah,HM Abdelsadek,MA Hassan,TA Emara

Publication date 13-09-2024


Purpose Access the importance of visualizing the pterygomandibular raphae (PMR) while fixing palatopharyngeous (PPM) muscle to the pterygomandibular raphae (PMR). Methods Randomized controlled trial. First group, forty-two OSA patients performed either Anterolateral advancement pharyngoplasty (ALA) or Barbed reposition pharyngoplasty (BRP) while visualizing the PMR according to the following criteria: age between 21 and 60 years, body mass index (BMI) < 35, and patients with lateral pharyngeal collapse diagnosed with drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE). The results were compared to the second control group of 42 patients performed the same procedures without exposing the PMR. Results PMR was bilaterally present in 27 (64.28%) patients and bilaterally absent in 5 (11.8%) patients while unilateral in 10 (23.9%) patients.
PSG findings in group 1: Apnea hypopnea index (AHI) decreased from 40.84 ± 26.93 to 14.81 ± 7.43 (P < 0.001), mean Lowest oxygen saturation (LOS) significantly increased from 79.25 ± 14.93 to 89.92 ± 10.7 (P < 0.001) and Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) significantly dropped from 13.25 ± 4.65 to 6.1 ± 2.06 (P < 0.001). Group 2 results showed AHI decrease from 27.50 ± 11.56 to 11.22 ± 7.63 (P ≤ 0.001), LOS increased from 81.86 ± 6.41 to 90.21 ± 3.70 and ESS dropped from 14.95 ± 3.72 to 7.91 ± 3.05. The difference between both groups was not statistically significant (P > 0.001). Conclusion Fixation of PPM to the PMR under direct vision doesn’t significantly affect the surgical outcomes but can increase the procedure efficiency and reduce complication rate keeping in mind that PMR may be absent in some patients.

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Outpatient partial parotidectomies are feasible in a well-selected population: a French experience

B Lallemant,C Galy,G Chambon,P Cuvillon,E Bourbonnais,M Zemmour

Publication date 13-09-2024


Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and patient satisfaction of outpatient partial parotidectomies in a French university hospital, addressing the lack of national data on such procedures amidst a push for increased ambulatory surgeries. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted, involving patients undergoing partial parotidectomy for non-malignant tumors from March 2021 to May 2023. Inclusion was based on surgical, medical, and social criteria. A control group was also reviewed for comparison. The study followed a standardized surgical and anesthesia protocol, with patient satisfaction assessment. Results From an initial pool of 104, 64 patients passed surgical screening, and 45 remained after anesthesia and social considerations, marking a 70% inclusion rate for outpatient care. The success rate of outpatient procedures stood at 98%, with complication incidences mirroring those of inpatient counterparts. 91% of participants expressed high satisfaction, scoring their experiences 7/10 or above. Conclusion Outpatient partial parotidectomies within the French health infrastructure are both viable and align with patient expectations, reinforcing the shift towards ambulatory surgery.

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Comparison of prognosis between oncocytic thyroid carcinoma and follicular thyroid carcinoma: a population-based propensity score matching analysis

H Peng,HL Ding,XL Li,WY Wang,XL Wang,J Gu

Publication date 11-09-2024


Background Oncocytic thyroid carcinoma (OTC) is a rare subtype of thyroid cancer known for its distinctive morphology and high likelihood of recurrence, setting it apart from follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC). Despite this, there is limited research comparing the clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of OTC and FTC. Methods We retrospectively searched through the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER) database (2004–2015) for histologically diagnosed OTC and FTC patients. Kaplan–Meier analysis, propensity score matching (PSM), univariate Cox proportional risk regression model, and subgroup analysis were employed to investigate the prognostic effect of clinicopathological features and treatment regimens on survival outcomes of OTC and FTC patients. Results 2329 OTC patients and 5679 FTC patients were included in the study. OTC patients were prone to older age, white race, lymph node metastasis, distal metastasis, extension and multiple primary tumors compared with FTC patients. After using a 1:1 PSM matching ratio, there were no significant differences in demographic and clinicopathological characteristics between the matched groups. Further Cox regression analysis showed that OTC patients had lower overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) in contrast with FTC patients. Subgroup survival analysis suggested that the OTC patients were related to lower OS in subgroups including those over 55 years old, male sex, white ethnicity, extrathyroidal extension, single primary tumor, surgery and without chemotherapy compared with the FTC patients in these subgroups. In addition, the OTC patients were connected with lower CSS in subgroups including male sex, white ethnicity, married status, tumor size is less than 20 mm or more than 40 mm, N0 stage, localized stage, single primary tumor, surgery, radiotherapy, and without chemotherapy compared with the FTC patients in these subgroups. Meanwhile, the OTC patients had lower CSS compared to FTC patients regardless of age and extrathyroidal extension. Conclusions The results suggested that OTC patients have unique clinical features and poorer prognoses compared to FTC patients. Surgical resection and radioactive iodine therapy are recommended for OTC patients and FTC patients. It is worth noting that the prognosis of OTC relies largely on the selection of treatment strategies. Therefore, our results highlighted the clinical significance of the early distinguishment and the correct choice of treatment in OTC patients.

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Authors’ response to the letter to the editor: “Conventional versus diode laser stapedotomy: audiological outcomes and clinical safety”

LE Ordóñez Ordóñez,DC Perdomo,CPG Saboya,FO Mejía,J Medina-Parra,ESA Martínez

Publication date 06-09-2024


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