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PURPOSE: Upper airway (UA) surgery is commonly employed in the treatment of patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). The intricate pathophysiology of OSA, variability in sites and patterns of UA collapse, and the interaction between anatomical and non-anatomical factors in individual patients may contribute to possible surgical failures. This clinical consensus statement aims to identify areas of agreement among a development group comprising international experts in OSA surgery, regarding the appropriate definition, predictive factors in patients, and management of surgical failure in OSA treatment. METHODS: A clinical consensus statement (CCS) was developed using the Delphi method by a panel of 35 contributors from various countries. A systematic literature review adhering to PRISMA guidelines was conducted. A survey consisting of 60 statements was then formulated and presented to the experts. RESULTS: Following two rounds of the Delphi process, consensus or strong consensus was achieved on 36 items, while 24 items remained without consensus. Specifically, 5 out of 10 statements reached consensus regarding on the Definition of Surgical Success/Failure after OSA Surgery. Regarding the Predictive Factors of Surgical Failure in OSA Surgery, consensus was reached on 10 out of 13 statements. In the context of the Diagnostic Workup in OSA Surgery, consensus was achieved on 9 out of 13 statements. Lastly, in Treatment in Surgical Failure Cases, consensus was reached on 12 out of 24 statements. CONCLUSION: The management of OSA after surgical failure presents a significant clinical challenge for sleep specialists. This CCS provides valuable guidance for defining, preventing, and addressing surgical failures in the treatment of OSA syndrome.

Background/Objectives: Rhinogenic contact point headache (RCPH) is a controversial secondary headache disorder involving mucosal contact points in the nasal sinuses. The efficacy of surgical versus medical management has been debated, with some studies showing excellent long-term outcomes but others citing placebo effects. This study aimed to clarify the correlation with nasal anatomical variation detected by CT and RCPH treatment outcomes. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 90 RCPH patients undergoing surgery or medical therapy. Patients were diagnosed using CT scans, endoscopy, and lidocaine testing. The surgery group had endoscopic procedures to remove contact points. The medical group received intranasal steroids. Outcomes were measured by visual analog scale (VAS) for pain and headache frequency. Predictors like age, gender, and nasal anatomical variations were analyzed. Results: The surgery group showed significant reductions in VAS scores (6.02 to 2.51, p < 0.001) and headache frequency (9.11 to 3.04, p < 0.001). The medical group did not improve significantly. All nasal subtypes improved with surgery but concha bullosa had worse VAS outcomes (4.0) than septal deviation (1.8, p < 0.001) or spur (1.73, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis found nasal anomalies predicted postoperative VAS scores (p < 0.001) but not headache frequency (p = 0.255). Conclusions: Surgery demonstrated superiority over medications for RCPH. This study provides new evidence that preoperative CT scans should be considered a non-invasive gold standard for analyzing nasal subtypes as they significantly influence surgical success, with concha bullosa associated with worse pain relief. Larger studies should validate these findings to optimize RCPH management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: endoscopic ear surgery in patients Chronic Otitis Media(COM) media with eardrum atelectasis. Objective: to compare the postoperative outcomes and audiological results of the endoscopic approach versus the microscopic approach for treatment of COM media with eardrum atelectasis, using a randomized prospective model. Methods: Sixty patients were consecutively enrolled in the study and randomized into two groups: Group A 32 patients underwent canal wall up tympanoplasty (CWA); Group B 28 patients underwent tympanoplasty with an exclusive trans-meatal endoscopic approach. Audiological results and preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were evaluated. Results: No statistical difference emerged between distribution of middle ear atelectasis patients grade 3 and 4 between the two surgical groups (p > 0.05). The group B appeared to have shorter surgical times than group A (69.8 min vs. 88.9 min). The graft success rate was estimated in 90.6% and 92.8% in group A and B respectively, without statistical differences between groups (p = 1). The Overall success rate was therefore calculated in 87.5% and 92.8% for both groups. Conclusion and significance: Endoscopic ear surgery could be a suitable approach for treating COM media with eardrum atelectasis with similar results compared with the Microscopic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : To investigate whether cognitive impairment in elderly patients could correlate with the severity of swallowing disorders detectable through the endoscopic fiber optic evaluation. Methods : Elderly patients (≥65 years) performing a swallowing evaluation were included and divided according to the Dysphagia outcome and severity scale (DOSS). Neurological evaluation and Mini-Mental test examination (MMET) were administered to detect cognitive impairment. Results : Significantly worse swallowing function was reported in the cognitive impairment group than the control one (40% vs 19%; P =.001). A different significant distribution of swallowing performance was detected according to the patient's MMET score (P <.001; P <.001; P =.01). At the ANOVA test among dependent variables assessed, only age>65 and MMET<10 were significantly correlated with swallowing function (F = 3.862, P =.028; F = 17.49, P =.000). Conclusions: The elderly patient has an increased risk for unrecognized swallowing disorders, with a prevalence of mild to moderate forms. Assessment of cognitive performance could facilitate the identification of swallowing disorders by providing a higher level of suspicion for silent aspiration in subjects with poor MMET scores. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most difficult diagnostic challenge in neck imaging is the differentiation between benign and malignant neoplasms. The purpose of this work was to study the role of the ADC (apparent diffusion coefficient) value in discriminating benign from malignant neck neoplastic lesions. The study was conducted on 53 patients with different neck pathologies (35 malignant and 18 benign/inflammatory). In all of the subjects, conventional MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) sequences were performed apart from DWI (diffusion-weighted imaging). The mean ADC values in the benign and malignant groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney test. The ADCs of malignant lesions (mean 0.86 ± 0.28) were significantly lower than the benign lesions (mean 1.43 ± 0.57), and the mean ADC values of the inflammatory lesions (1.19 ± 0.75) were significantly lower than those of the benign lesions. The cutoff value of 1.1 mm2/s effectively differentiated benign and malignant lesions with a 97.14% sensitivity, a 77.78% specificity, and an 86.2% accuracy. There were also statistically significant differences between the ADC values of different malignant tumors of the neck (p, 0.001). NHL (0.59 ± 0.09) revealed significantly lower ADC values than SCC (0.93 ± 0.15). An ADC cutoff point of 0.7 mm2/s was the best for differentiating NHL (non-Hodgkin lymphoma) from SCC (squamous cell carcinoma); it provided a diagnostic ability of 100.0% sensitivity and 89.47% specificity. ADC mapping may be an effective MRI tool for the differentiation of benign and inflammatory lesions from malignant tumors in the neck. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives : Petrous bone cholesteatoma (PBC) is a rare condition of the petrous portion of the temporal bone. Treatment of choice consists of radical surgical removal, paying attention to protect the facial nerve and inner ear as far as possible. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of modified translabyrinthine techniques in preserving hearing function and the use of the adjuvant endoscopic techniques in a group of PBC patients. Methods : This study comprised 16 cases of PBCs surgically treated in our Department. Pre- and post-operative hearing status was assessed with pure tone audiometry and speech discrimination and graded according to the Gardner- Robertson classification system. Facial function was based on the House Brackman (HB) classification. PBCs were grouped using Sanna's classification. The choice of surgical technique was based on the above findings together with preoperative evidence. Post-operative follow-up ranged from 1 to 10 years and also included Computed Tomography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging assessment. Results : PBCs were classified as follows: 37.5% infralabyrinthine; 43.75% supralabyrinthine; and 18.75% massive. Preservation of the bone conduction threshold was feasible in 62.5% of patients. For supralabyrinthine PBCs a subtotal petrosetomy was performed in all cases and hearing preservation was possible in 57% of them: an adjuvant endoscopic approach was performed in 43%. Infralabyrinthine PBCs were treated using a modified translabyrinthine approach with preservation of bone conduction in 83% of patients; an adjuvant endoscopic approach was performed in 50% cases. One patient with a massive cholesteatoma was treated by modified translabyrinthine approach, preserving a serviceable level of hearing. In all massive cases, an adjuvant endoscopic approach was performed. In 2 patients with preoperative palsy, facial nerve function showed an improvement. The follow-up period revealed evidence of limited recurrence at CT imaging in 2 patients. Conclusions : The introduction of modified surgical approaches, able to preserve the anatomical-functional structures, have shown an improvement of post-operative hearing outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholesteatoma is a non-neoplastic, keratinized squamous epithelial lesion that affects the temporal bone. The middle ear is the most frequent, while the isolated cholesteatoma of the mastoid is rare. The aim of this study was to describe a rare case of isolated mastoid cholesteatoma with no involvement of aditus ad antrum and middle ear including a literature review of the topic. This case report describes the case of a 58 years old female with a cholesteatoma isolated in the mastoid region, evidenced by imaging (computer tomography and magnetic resonance). A mastoidectomy was performed: mastoid process was completely involved, but antrum was not reached. Moreover, it reached the soft tissue of stylomastoid foramen as well as the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. In the literature few articles described cases of cholesteatoma isolated in the mastoid region. Research was conducted using PubMed and reference list and there were considered only reports about cholesteatoma exclusively located in the mastoid process without involvement of antrum or middle ear. Fourteen articles were included in this review, with a total number of 23 cases of cholesteatoma isolated in the mastoid region. All papers analyzed reported the cases of isolated mastoid cholesteatoma that presented a congenital origin. Its diagnosis is difficult, therefore, imaging evaluation is mandatory and surgery is the treatment of choice. Mastoid cholesteatomas without involvement of aditus ad antrum and middle ear are rare and only 23 cases are reported in literature. Our case is in line with all clinical and diagnostic features of this rare disease, but it is the only one that evidenced an exposure of the soft tissue of stylomastoid foramen as well as the posterior belly of the digastric muscle. The treatment of choice was the surgical one, avoiding damaging of important anatomo-functional structure.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), affecting approximately 1 billion adults globally, is characterized by recurrent airway obstruction during sleep, leading to oxygen desaturation, elevated carbon dioxide levels, and disrupted sleep architecture. OSAS significantly impacts quality of life and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, particularly in the cardiovascular and cognitive domains. The cyclic pattern of intermittent hypoxia in OSAS triggers oxidative stress, contributing to cellular damage. This review explores the intricate relationship between OSAS and oxidative stress, shedding light on molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions. Methods: A comprehensive review spanning from 2000 to 2023 was conducted using the PubMed, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases. Inclusion criteria encompassed English articles focusing on adults or animals and reporting values for oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers. Results: The review delineates the imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors in OSAS, leading to heightened oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species biomarkers, nitric oxide, inflammatory cytokines, endothelial dysfunction, and antioxidant defense mechanisms are explored in the context of OSAS. OSAS-related complications include cardiovascular disorders, neurological impairments, metabolic dysfunction, and a potential link to cancer. This review emphasizes the potential of antioxidant therapy as a complementary treatment strategy. Conclusions: Understanding the molecular intricacies of oxidative stress in OSAS is crucial for developing targeted therapeutic interventions. The comprehensive analysis of biomarkers provides insights into the complex interplay between OSAS and systemic complications, offering avenues for future research and therapeutic advancements in this multifaceted sleep disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]