The current role of tissue engineering in head and neck reconstruction.

Tissue engineering is an emerging field that has the potential to revolutionize the field of reconstructive surgery by providing off-the-shelf replacement products. The literature has become replete with tissue engineering studies, and the aim of this article is to review the contemporary application of tissue-engineered products. The use of tissue-engineered cartilage, bone and nerve in head and neck reconstruction is discussed.

Surgical voice restoration after total laryngectomy: An overview.

Total laryngectomy is potentially a debilitative surgery resulting in compromise of some of the most basic functions of life including speech and swallowing. This may have a profound adverse effect on the patient's physical, functional, and emotional health, and may result in a decreased quality of life (QOL). Until the 1980s, total laryngectomy was regarded as a dreadful, but often, life-saving procedure for which there was little alternative, and was used as a last resort. At that time survival at any cost in terms of QOL was paramount and many laryngectomies were forced into an isolated life as a mute and dysphasic recluse. Most attempts at voice restoration produced inconsistent results and often techniques were laborious, expensive, and ineffective, particularly when carried out as a salvage procedure after failed radiotherapy. Progress in voice rehabilitation, following total laryngectomy, over the last 30 years, has made an enormous difference in the whole concept of the management of laryngeal cancers. Currently there are several options available for these patients, namely, esophageal speech, artificial larynx, and tracheoesophageal speech. The choice of speech rehabilitation varies from patient to patient, but tracheoesophageal voice has become the preferred method. This article provides a brief account of surgical voice restoration after total laryngectomy. Special emphasis has been given to the surgical technique, special considerations, complications, and the prevention / treatment of tracheoesophageal voice restoration.

Antithrombin III activity in cerebrovascular accidents.

Cerebrovascular accidents are commonly due to occlusive or haemorrhagic lesions. The present prospective study was planned to find out role of antithrombin in possible etiopathological process, which might predispose an individual for stroke. METHOD: Biological activity of antithrombin III was done by the method as described by Innerfield et al (1976). Immunological estimation of an antithrombin III was done by single radial immunodiffusion by the technique of Mancini et al modified by Fahey and Mckelvey. RESULTS: The biological and immunological activity of antithrombin III was measured in 98 patient of occlusive and 56 patients of haemorrhagic strokes. Significant depression in biological as well as immunological activity (p<0.001) was observed in occlusive stroke. In haemorrhagic stroke both, biological and immunological activity was increased. In follow up study, there was progressive normalization of both, biological as well as of immunological activity in both group. CONCLUSION: Decrease of antithrombin III in occlusive and increase in haemorrhagic stroke indicates that these changes have at least an additive role in the pathogenesis of stroke.