Abstract
In this study we evaluate the postoperative facial nerve function after vestibular schwannoma (VS) surgery and analyze the factors that cause it. We included 97 consecutive patients ...undergoing surgical excision of sporadic unilateral VS. Patient and tumor characteristics, surgical approaches, facial nerve function, extent of tumor removal, perioperative complications are all analyzed through standardized systems. Four different surgical approaches are used: translabyrinthine, retrolabyrinthine, retrosigmoid, and middle cranial fossa. Anatomic preservation of the facial nerve is achieved in 97% of patients. The incidence of postoperative facial palsy is found to be statistically correlated to tumor size, but not to the surgical approach used and to extent of tumor penetration in the internal auditory canal. A significant improvement of the short-term facial nerve outcome is detected in patients undergone simultaneous intraoperative electromyography (EMG) and pneumatic facial nerve monitoring. Complete tumor excision is achieved in 94% of cases. Complication rates are excellent and no deaths are reported. Short- and long-term facial nerve outcome is good and comparable with those of other series reported in literature. In VS surgery both EMG and pneumatic facial nerve monitors should be simultaneously used. Further investigations are desirable to improve the facial outcome respecting the oncological radicality.
We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of hyaluronic acid (HA) as an adjuvant treatment to hasten the improvement of nasal respiration and to minimize patients' discomfort in the postoperative ...radiofrequency volumetric tissue reduction (RFVTR) of inferior turbinates.
We enrolled 57 patients randomly assigned into two groups, HA (22 patients) and saline group (35 patients), which received isotonic saline nasal irrigation. We used the monopolar device somnoplasty for all patients. Visual analogic scale (VAS) and nasal endoscopy were used to assess the outcomes of the treatments during the 1st month of follow-up.
The mean VAS score of the HA group at the 1st week was significantly lower than the control group (3.36 ± 1.89 versus 6.95 ± 1.52; p < 0.05). The VAS score remained significantly lower in the HA group also at the 2nd week (3.43 ± 1.27 versus 5.75±1.39; p < 0.05), becoming similar to the control group at the 4th week (p = ns). Since the first visit the HA group also showed significantly lower crust score than the saline group (p < 0.05), and there was no crust found in either group at the last visit. The compliance to treatment was similar in both groups.
The results of this prospective study suggest a role of HA as a supportive treatment for faster improvement of nasal respiration, also minimizing patients' discomfort in postoperative nasal surgery, promoting nasal mucosa healing in postoperative RFVTR for inferior turbinate hypertrophy.
Temporal bone dissection has important role in educating and training oto and skull base surgeons. Mounting of a temporal bone laboratory is expensive. A dedicated magnifying system, such as a ...surgical microscope or an endoscopic equipment, represents one of the most significant costs. The aim of this study is to test and demonstrate the utility of a commercial USB as a low-cost solution to equip the laboratory with a good magnifying system and illumination.
The management of parapharyngeal tumor is surgical, but the approach remains a challenge. Attention should be paid to avoidance intra-operative bleeding or cranial nerves damage. We report a case of ...a 67-year-old male complaining of left-ear fullness. A submucosal mass arising from the lateral wall of oropharynx on the left side was observed. Magnetic resonance imaging detected a mass arising from the parotid gland, in particular from the deep lobe, and a fine needle biopsy was compatible with “Warthin tumor.” We performed a mini-invasive transoral approach under magnification, previous isolation of homolateral vessels. The decision on which surgical approach to be used is determined by site, size vascularity, and histology of the tumor. A literature review of the main surgical approaches was performed. We performed a combined transoral dissection under magnification with cervicotomic exposure of the neck vascular bundle allowing to dissect the tumor and manage any intra-operative complications.
Blepharoptosis is the drooping or inferior displacement of the upper eyelid. Blepharoptosis can be either congenital or acquired. Tumour metastasis is one of the acquired causes of blepharoptosis. ...The lungs, locoregional lymph nodes, bone and liver are the usual sites of metastases of renal cell carcinoma (RCC); however, unusual locations of RCC have also been reported. Herein, we describe a case of a 47-year-old man with unilateral ptosis and blurred vision due to metastatic RCC. We describe the different causes of blepharopstosis, the path that led to the diagnosis, and how RCC can metastasize to unusual anatomical regions such as the orbit. Symptoms such as exophthalmos, lid edema, diplopia, ptosis, cranial nerve paralysis or blurred vision may mime a benign disease; however, they could also be the symptoms of a systemic malignancy.
Abstract
Introduction
Alianza barbed pharyngoplasty is a recent non-resective surgical tecnique, indicated for patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) with circular retropalatal ...obstruction pattern. It has the aim of stabilizing and reducing the collapsibility of the palato-pharyingeal area during sleep. It uses barbed absorbable sutures that allow to suspend palato-pharyngeal structures to anatomical non-collapsable landmarks (posterior nasal spine, pterigoideal hamulus, pterigomandibular raphe). The aim of this study is to evaluate efficacy and safety of Alianza barbed pharyngoplasty in moderate to severe OSAS.
Methods
Thirty-six consecutive patients with moderate to severe OSAS underwent Alianza barbed pharyngoplasty. Preoperatively all patients presented with palatal hypertrophy, concentric collapse and retropalatal flatter during drug induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) and did not tolerate CPAP and/or MAD therapies. All patients underwent clinical examination, polysomnography, and subjective evaluation of snoring with visual analogue scale (VAS) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) both pre-operatively (T0) and at 6 months postoperatively (T1).
Results
There was a significant reduction of AHI at T1, from 32.49 ± 14.55 to 12.1 ± 12.16 (p< 0.05) of AHI. Mean AHI gain was of 20.39 ± 11.58, in particular 13.34 ± 5.48 in moderate OSAS patients and 30.18 ± 9.34 in severe OSAS patients. There was also a significant ODI reduction, from 27.57 ± 15.68 to 12.97 ± 13.25 (p< 0.05). There was a significant reduction of ESS, from 8.75 ± 4.51 to 4.05 ± 2.39 (p< 0.05) and a significant reduction of snoring VAS from 7.85 ± 1.23 to 3.2 ± 1.7 (p< 0.05).
Conclusion
Alianza barbed pharyngoplasty led to significant improvement both in objective parameters measured with polysomnography (AHI and ODI), and in subjective parameters (ESS and snoring VAS) in moderate to severe OSAS patients.
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