Search

The authors have conducted a retrospective analysis based on two cases of patients with intra-tracheal pathologies who received treatment from the same surgeon at a tertiary referral center. The effective management of airways in patients with intra-tracheal lesions necessitates close collaboration between surgeons and anesthesiologists. Factors such as the size, location, rigidity of the tumor, and the remaining tracheal lumen space should be carefully considered. In situations where there is near complete obstruction of the trachea and a substantial risk of worsened respiratory function, resorting to cardiopulmonary bypass or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation is advisable. This pilot study aims at devising an algorithm for the airway management of intra-tracheal lesions, although a larger case cohort is needed to assess its applicability and effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectve: Functional endoscopic sinus surgery is primarily aimed at restoring the natural physiology of the paranasal sinuses to achieve efective mucociliary clearance and proper ventilation. This can be hindered by various factors, including host-related, environmental, and iatrogenic factors. Preservation of the sinus mucosa is fundamental for the success of the surgery. Sinus mucosal prolapse, resulting from intraoperative mucosal trauma, can lead to sinus ostium obstruction and impaired drainage. Methods: In this pilot study, the authors describe a novel technique for the intraoperative management of sinus mucosal prolapse arising from endoscopic sinus surgery. This method entails the use of a balloon catheter expander to infate and support the maxillary sinus mucosa, thereby limiting the occurrence of preventable prolapse-related complications. Results: The authors applied this surgical technique to a cohort of 11 patients. All patients developed prolapse afecting the posterosuperior region of the maxillary sinus mucosa. Each patient was followed up for at least 3 weeks following the surgery, and endoscopic assessment postoperatively revealed absent mucosal prolapse in all patients, highlighting the success and positive outcomes of the technique. The sinus mucosa retained its appropriate positioning, efectively draping the sinus wall in uninterrupted continuity with the maxillary antrostomy. Conclusion: The authors advocate the use of a Foley catheter as a cost-efective and readily available alternative to the traditional balloon sinus catheter expander. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the risk of fibromyalgia in patients with primary muscle tension dysphonia (MTD) in comparison to subjects with no dysphonia., Study Design: Prospective cohort study., Methods: The medical records and video recordings of all patients presenting to the Voice and Swallowing unit at a tertiary referral center between October 2022 and October 2023 and who were diagnosed with primary MTD were prospectively reviewed. The risk of fibromyalgia was assessed using the "Fibromyalgia Rapid Screening Tool" (FiRST). Demographic data included age, gender, history of smoking, and history of high vocal load. The impact of dysphonia on quality of life was also analyzed using the Voice Handicap Index-10 (VHI-10)., Results: A total of 42 patients who had filled the FiRST questionnaire were enrolled in this study. These included 20 patients diagnosed with primary MTD and 22 healthy subjects with no history of dysphonia and normal laryngeal examination. Forty percent of the study group tested positive using the FiRST questionnaire as compared to only 9.1% in the control group. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.03). The risk of having fibromyalgia was 6.67 times among patients with primary MTD in comparison to controls (RR=6.67; 95% CI [1.21-36.74])., Conclusion: The results of this investigation indicate that the risk of fibromyalgia is significantly higher in patients with primary MTD vs controls. A holistic approach in the diagnosis and treatment of MTD is advocated., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Voice Foundation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)