April 17, 2013 John J. Petronovich, BS; Jonathan M. Bock, MD
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MII-pH testing with impedance-based symptom association may improve diagnostic accuracy in patients with systemic sclerosis and reflux.
March 24, 2013 Ozan Seymen Sezen, MD; Utku Kubilay, MD; Yusuf Erzin, MD; Murat Tuncer, MD; Seref Unver, MD
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Abstract
Eradication of Helicobacter pylori, which is associated with diverse gastroduodenal pathologies of varying severity, is sometimes challenging. We conducted a prospective study to determine the effect of tonsillectomy on the eradication of H pylori from the gastrointestinal tract. Our study population was made up of 46 patients-32 females and 14 males, aged 14 to 58 years (mean: 28.84 ± 9.65)-who had chronic tonsillitis and concomitant dyspepsia. An initial gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed to obtain specimens for histology and a rapid urease test. These gastroscopies revealed that 32 patients were H pylori-positive (69.6%) and 14 were H pylori-negative (30.4%); these groups were designated A and B, respectively. The 32 H pylori-positive patients were divided into three subgroups based on the sequence in which they underwent drug therapy and tonsillectomy. All 3 subgroups received the same 14-day combination-drug regimen for eradication of gastric H pylori. The patients in group A1 (n = 12) underwent tonsillectomy prior to receiving drug treatment; 2 months after the cessation of drug therapy, they underwent a second gastroscopy. The patients in group A2 (n = 10) received drug treatment first followed by tonsillectomy; 2 months later, they underwent their second gastroscopy. The patients in group A3 (n = 10) received drug treatment first, then they underwent a second gastroscopy, and then they were taken for tonsillectomy. The success or failure of H pylori eradication was determined by the second gastroscopy. Also, analyses were performed after tonsillectomy to look for H pylori infection in tonsillar specimens. Eradication of gastric H pylori was achieved in 9 of the 12 group A1 patients (75.0%), 8 of the 10 group A2 patients (80.0%), and 7 of the 10 group A3 patients (70.0%); there were no statistically significant differences among the three groups. Likewise, there were no significant differences between any subgroups or combination of subgroups in terms of tonsillar positivity. As far as we know, this is the first study to investigate the effect of tonsillectomy on the outcome of H pylori eradication treatment. In light of our findings, we may speculate that tonsillar tissue does not seem to be a reservoir for H pylori infection. Although tonsillectomy had no significant effect on gastric H pylori eradication in our study, our results might have been skewed by the relatively small size of our sample.
March 24, 2013 Farhad R. Chowdhury, DO; Adam L. Baker, MD; Robert T. Sataloff, MD, DMA, FACS
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Gore-Tex thyroplasty permits easy revision, and minor adjustments can be made, often without removing and replacing the entire prosthesis.
March 24, 2013 Ashok Balasundaram, BDS, DDS, MDS, MS, Diplomate ABOMR
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Abstract
Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is primarily used for a variety of dental purposes, but it may also yield nondental findings that can have significant implications for patient health. For example, physicians should be aware that CBCT can identify some of the etiopathogenic causes of obstructive sleep apnea, as occurred in the case described in this report. The patient was a 76-year-old man who presented to a dentist for implant therapy. A CBCT that had been performed in preparation for dental implant placement revealed the presence of a large hypopharyngeal lesion that was obstructing the airway. An otolaryngologist excised the lesion, which on biopsy proved to be a lipoma. Following removal of the lesion, the patient's episodic sleep apnea and snoring resolved. Medical physicians should be aware of maxillofacial CBCT technology and its ability to identify lesions that could cause potential life-threatening situations.
March 24, 2013 Paul Lennon, MB BCh BAO, MRCS; Mohamed Amin, FRCSI; Michael P. Colreavy, FRCS(ORL)
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Abstract
We conducted a prospective study to assess how well parents ensured that their children received their prescribed analgesia following tonsillectomy. Our study was based on 69 cases of tonsillectomy that were carried out at our tertiary pediatric care center. Postoperatively, all patients were prescribed paracetamol (acetaminophen) on the basis of their weight; the standard pediatric dosage of this agent at the time of our study was 60 mg/kg/day. The parents were telephoned 2 weeks postoperatively to assess their compliance with this regimen. Of the original 69 patients who had been recruited, 66 completed the study-35 girls and 31 boys, aged 2 to 15 years (mean: 7.0; median 5.5). According to the parents, only 15 children (22.7%) received our recommended 60-mg/kg/day dosage and were thus determined to be fully compliant. Overall, parents reported a wide variation in the amount of drug administered, ranging from 12.5 to 111.0 mg/kg/day (mean: 44.8), indicating that parents often underdose their children. We recommend that more emphasis be placed on weight-directed, parent-provided analgesia during the post-tonsillectomy period.
February 25, 2013 Shelby C. Leuin, MD; Daniel G. Deschler, MD
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Abstract
Placement of a tracheoesophageal puncture prosthesis in the post-laryngectomy patient has significantly improved voice rehabilitation in this population. Rarely, the prosthesis may become dislodged, necessitating medical evaluation. We present the case of a 61-year-old man who presented to our Emergency Department with a missing prosthesis. We describe the evaluation and management of this patient and review the relevant literature. We conclude with the following algorithm: When a patient presents with a missing prosthesis, evaluation of the tracheobronchial tree must be performed. Once the pulmonary system is cleared, the prosthesis can be presumed in the gastrointestinal tract and allowed to pass. A new prosthesis or catheter should be placed in the tract to prevent aspiration.
February 25, 2013 David N. Myerson, MD; Rima A. DeFatta, MD; Robert T. Sataloff, MD, DMA, FACS
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Radiation-induced fibrosis can be found in tissues of the neck, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, ear, and temporomandibular joint. It is associated histologically with aggregates of macrophages, fibroblasts, vascular connective tissue changes, and deposition of extracellular matrix. This fibrosis can lead to strictures, stenosis, trismus, ulcerations, and scarring, which can present as dysphagia and dysphonia.
February 25, 2013 Jeanne L. Hatcher, MD; S. Carter Wright, MD; Catherine Rees Lintzenich, MD, FACS
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Graft-versus-host disease occurs after allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation, with the chronic form usually occurring within the first 3 years.
February 25, 2013 Steven M. Olsen, MD; Eric J. Moore, MD; Rebecca R. Laborde, PhD; Joaquin J. Garcia, MD; Jeffrey R. Janus, MD; Daniel L. Price, MD; Kerry D. Olsen, MD
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Abstract
The aim of this retrospective study was to describe the oncologic and functional results of treating oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma with transoral robotic surgery and neck dissection as monotherapy. A review was performed, including all patients who underwent transoral robotic surgery and neck dissection as the only means of therapy for oropharyngeal carcinoma from March 2007 to July 2009 at a single tertiary care academic medical center. We reviewed all cases with ≥24-month follow-up. Functional outcomes included tracheostomy dependence and oral feeding ability. Oncologic outcomes were stratified by human papillomavirus (HPV) status and tobacco use and included local, regional, and distant disease control, as well as disease-specific and recurrence-free survival. Eighteen patients met study criteria. Ten patients (55.6%) were able to eat orally in the immediate postoperative period, and 8 (44.4%) required a temporary nasogastric tube for a mean duration of 13.6 days (range 3 to 24 days) before returning to an oral diet. No patient required placement of a gastrostomy tube, and all patients are tracheostomy-tube-free. Among the HPV-positive nonsmokers (12/18, 66.7%), Kaplan-Meier estimated 3-year local, regional, and distant control rates were 90.9%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Kaplan-Meier estimated disease-specific survival and recurrence-free survival were 100% and 90.9%, respectively. No complications occurred.
This study suggests that carefully selected patients with HPV-positive oropharyngeal carcinoma can be effectively treated with surgery alone with excellent functional and oncologic outcomes.
January 24, 2013 Aliasghar Arabi Mianroodi, MD; Tourajreza Mirshekari, MD; Aliakbar Taheri, MD
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Abstract
Malignant melanoma of the larynx is a rare cancer that can appear as a primary tumor or as a metastasis from a cutaneous head and neck primary. To the best of our knowledge, only 60 cases of primary laryngeal melanoma have been reported in the world literature. Melanomas metastatic to the larynx are even more rare, as only 24 cases have been previously reported. Survival is poor, and recurrence is uncommon. We describe a new case of a malignant melanoma metastatic to the larynx, which represents the first such case in Iran.
January 24, 2013 Mark D. Wilkie, MBChB; Samuel C. Leong, MPhil; Alessandro Panarese, FRCS; Arnab Banerjee, FRCS
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Due to the development of Hib vaccines, the epidemiology of epiglottitis has shifted dramatically back toward adult presentations, with a marked decline in the incidence among children.
January 24, 2013 Matthew H.J. Size, MBChB, FRCA; John S. Rubin, MD, FACS, FRCS; Anil Patel, MBBS, FRCA
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Abstract
Propofol and ondansetron, alone and in combination, have been associated with acute dystonic reactions during recovery from anesthesia. We report the case of a 44-year-old woman who had undergone microlaryngoscopic fat injection to the vocal folds three times over a period of 10 months. Each procedure was performed by the same surgeon. On each occasion, the patient received an identical anesthetic that was administered by the same anesthetist. The anesthetic regimen included propofol and ondansetron. Following the first procedure, the patient experienced no reaction to these agents. However, she experienced a mild reaction after the second procedure and a severe acute dystonic reaction after the third. We believe this is the first report of a graded reaction to either propofol or ondansetron.
