Incidence and prognosis of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain: a national multi-center survey of 35 566 population / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

Objective: This cross-sectional investigation aimed to determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, prognosis, and related risk factors of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain in mainland China. Methods: Data of patients with SARS-CoV-2 from December 28, 2022, to February 21, 2023, were collected through online and offline questionnaires from 45 tertiary hospitals and one center for disease control and prevention in mainland China. The questionnaire included demographic information, previous health history, smoking and alcohol drinking, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, olfactory and gustatory function before and after infection, other symptoms after infection, as well as the duration and improvement of olfactory and gustatory dysfunction. The self-reported olfactory and gustatory functions of patients were evaluated using the Olfactory VAS scale and Gustatory VAS scale. Results: A total of 35 566 valid questionnaires were obtained, revealing a high incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain (67.75%). Females(χ2=367.013, P<0.001) and young people(χ2=120.210, P<0.001) were more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Gender(OR=1.564, 95%CI: 1.487-1.645), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), oral health status (OR=0.881, 95%CI: 0.839-0.926), smoking history (OR=1.152, 95%CI=1.080-1.229), and drinking history (OR=0.854, 95%CI: 0.785-0.928) were correlated with the occurrence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2(above P<0.001). 44.62% (4 391/9 840) of the patients who had not recovered their sense of smell and taste also suffered from nasal congestion, runny nose, and 32.62% (3 210/9 840) suffered from dry mouth and sore throat. The improvement of olfactory and taste functions was correlated with the persistence of accompanying symptoms(χ2=10.873, P=0.001). The average score of olfactory and taste VAS scale was 8.41 and 8.51 respectively before SARS-CoV-2 infection, but decreased to3.69 and 4.29 respectively after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and recovered to 5.83and 6.55 respectively at the time of the survey. The median duration of olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions was 15 days and 12 days, respectively, with 0.5% (121/24 096) of patients experiencing these dysfunctions for more than 28 days. The overall self-reported improvement rate of smell and taste dysfunctions was 59.16% (14 256/24 096). Gender(OR=0.893, 95%CI: 0.839-0.951), SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status (OR=1.334, 95%CI: 1.164-1.530), history of head and facial trauma(OR=1.180, 95%CI: 1.036-1.344, P=0.013), nose (OR=1.104, 95%CI: 1.042-1.171, P=0.001) and oral (OR=1.162, 95%CI: 1.096-1.233) health status, smoking history(OR=0.765, 95%CI: 0.709-0.825), and the persistence of accompanying symptoms (OR=0.359, 95%CI: 0.332-0.388) were correlated with the recovery of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to SARS-CoV-2 (above P<0.001 except for the indicated values). Conclusion: The incidence of olfactory and taste dysfunctions related to infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain is high in mainland China, with females and young people more likely to develop these dysfunctions. Active and effective intervention measures may be required for cases that persist for a long time. The recovery of olfactory and taste functions is influenced by several factors, including gender, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination status, history of head and facial trauma, nasal and oral health status, smoking history, and persistence of accompanying symptoms.

Endoscopic resection of type D trigeminal schwannoma through nasal sinus approach / 中华外科杂志

Objective: To examine the feasibility and surgical approach of removing type D trigeminal schwannoma through nasal cavity and nasal sinus under endoscope. Methods: Eleven patients with trigeminal schwannoma who were treated in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University from December 2014 to August 2021 were analyzed retrospectively in this study. There were 7 males and 4 females, aged (47.5±13.5) years (range: 12 to 64 years). The neoplasm involved the pterygopalatine fossa, infratemporal fossa, ethmoidal sinus, sphenoid sinus, cavernous sinus, and middle cranial fossa. The size of tumors were between 1.6 cm×2.0 cm×2.0 cm and 5.7 cm×6.0 cm×6.0 cm. Under general anesthesia, the tumors were resected through the transpterygoid approach in 4 cases, through the prelacrimal recess approach in 4 cases, through the extended prelacrimal recess approach in 2 cases, and through the endoscopic medial maxillectomy approach in 1 case. The nasal endoscopy and imaging examination were conducted to detect whether neoplasm recurred or not, and the main clinical symptoms during follow-up. Results: All the surgical procedures were performed under endonasal endoscope, including Gross total resection in 10 patients. The tumor of a 12-year-old patient was not resected completely due to huge tumor size and limited operation space. One patient was accompanied by two other schwannomas located in the occipital region and the ipsilateral parotid gland region originating from the zygomatic branch of the facial nerve, both of which were removed concurrently. After tumor resection, the dura mater of middle cranial fossa was directly exposed in the nasal sinus in 2 cases, including 1 case accompanied by cerebrospinal fluid leakage which was reconstructed by a free mucosal flap obtained from the middle turbinate, the other case was packed by the autologous fat to protect the dura mater. The operation time was (M(IQR)) 180 (160) minutes (range: 120 to 485 minutes). No complications and deaths were observed. No recurrence was observed in the 10 patients with total tumor resection during a 58 (68) months' (range: 10 to 90 months) follow-up. No obvious change was observed in the facial appearance of all patients during the follow-up. Conclusion: Type D trigeminal schwannoma involving pterygopalatine fossa and infratemporal fossa can be removed safely through purely endoscopic endonasal approach by selecting the appropriate approach according to the size and involvement of the tumor.

Prognostic value of acute phase blood pressure level in patients with ischemic stroke / 中华神经医学杂志

Objective To explore the blood pressure variation ofischemic stroke patients,and analyze the correlation of blood pressure variation with target organ damage and prognosis of these patients.Methods One hundred and ninety-four patients with acute phase ischemic stroke,admitted to our hospital from January 2008 to April 2012 were selected in our hospital; these patients were divided into four groups according to the blood pressure styles:the extreme dippers,reverse dippers,non-dippers and dippers.The levels of glucose,total cholesterol (TC),triglyceride (TG),high-density lipoprotein (HDL),low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (Hs-CRP) were detected; and the neurological function of the patients was scored by National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Barthel scale.Results Follow-up was finished in 191 patients,including 75 cases of dippers groups,66 cases of non-dippers groups,33 cases of reverse dippers groups and 16 cases of extreme dippers groups.The levels ofTG,LDL and Hs-CRP showed statistically significant differences among the four groups (P＜0.05); the levels of TG and Hs-CRP in the reverse dippers group and extreme dippers group had statistically differences as compared with those in the non-dippers group and dippers group (P＜0.05); the level of LDL in the reverse dippers group and extreme dippers group showed statistical differences as compared with that in the dippers group (P＜0.05).The dippers group had statistical differences of NIHSS and Barthel scale scores at admission as compared with the reverse dippers group,non-dippers group and extreme dippers group (P＜0.05); NIHSS and Barthel scale scores in the four groups showed significant differences between three months after treatment and at admission (P＜0.05).Conclusion The blood pressure variation is one of the characteristics of acute phase ischemic stroke patients; the prognosis is poor three months after the onset.

Transnasal endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To present the surgical technique and clinical effect of transnasal endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From 1996 to 2010, 54 patients with CSF rhinorrhea were treated with intranasal endoscopic surgery, including 25 patients with traumatic CSF rhinorrhea, 17 patients with spontaneous CSF rhinorrhea, and 12 patients with iatrogenic CSF rhinorrhea. The temporalis muscle, temporalis fascial, middle turbinate mucosa, nasal septum mucosa, inferior turbinate mucosa, fascia lata, leg muscle, abdominal fat, uncinate process mucosa and sinus mucosa were used to repair the fistulae.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Forty-nine patients were successfully treated after the first operation, 1 after the second attempt, 1 after the third attempt, and 1 was successfully treated at the second operation in other hospital, 1 stopped therapy after an unsuccessful repairing. One patient recurred within one and a half years after operation and stopped therapy. Seven patients developed complications after the operation (high fever in 4, high fever and transient mild coma in 1, epilepsy in 1, pneumocephalus in 1) and were cured afterwards.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Transnasal endoscopic surgery is safe, effective and microinvasive treatment for patients with CSF rhinorrhea, it is the first choice for repairing of CSF rhinorrhea for its high successful rate. Accurate leakage site identification, selection of suitable approach and repairing method are critical to the success of operation.</p>

Surgical treatment of postcricoid carcinoma / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the surgical techniques in surgical treatment of postcricoid carcinoma.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Twenty-one cases with postcricoid carcinoma were treated surgically. The TNM stage were as follows: T3NOM0 5 cases, T3N1M0 1 case, T3N2M0 2 cases, T4NOM0 7 cases, T4N1M0 4 cases, T4N2M0 1 case, T4N3M0 1 case. The laryngeal and pharyngeal functions were rebuilt by the remaining tissue when the lesions entirely removed. Ten cases were surgically treated with laryngeal functions preserved and 11 cases with total laryngectomy. Eight cases were received unilateral neck dissection, and 3 cases were received bilateral neck dissection. All the cases received postoperative radiotherapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The follow-up interval varied from 60 to 276 months with average interval 96 months. Four cases died of cervical metastasis,3 died of local recurrence, 1 died of cardiopulmonary failure, 2 died of unknown reasons. The overall 3 and 5 year survival rates were 61.9% (13/21) and 52.4% (11/21), respectively. Among 10 cases having laryngeal functions partially restored (voice and deglutition), the postoperative complications included 5 cases of pharyngeal fistula, 3 hypopharyngeal stenosis and 1 severe aspiration.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The preservative surgery is feasible for the selected cases with postcricoid carcinoma. The laryngeal function can be partially restored with lesions entirely removed. The patients can gain satisfied survival rate and quality of life.</p>

Preservation of laryngeal function in surgical treatment of pyriform sinus carcinoma / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the feasibility and the related surgical techniques of laryngeal function preservation in surgical treatment of pyriform sinus cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Two hundred and thirty cases (stage I, 6; stage II, 10; stage III, 91; stage IV, 123) with pyriform sinus cancer were treated surgically from 1978 to 1996 in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of Qilu Hospital of Shandong University. The methods of removing tumor and repairing surgical defects were depended on the extension of lesions. The laryngeal and pharyngeal functions were rebuilt by normal tissue preserved with lesions entirely removed. One hundred and fifty-eight cases were surgically treated with laryngeal functions preserved and 72 cases total laryngectomy. The most of the cases received postoperative radiotherapy.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The overall 3 and 5 year survival rates were 67.4% (155/230) and 48.3% (111/230) respectively. For stage I, the survival rate was 5/6; stage 11, 70.0% (7/10); stage III, 57.1% (52/91) and stage IV, 38.2% (47/123); the 3 and 5 year survival rates in functionally preserved group were 67.7% (107/158) and 50.0% (79/158), while in none functional group were 66.7% (48/72) and 43.1% (31/72), respectively. 75.3% (119/158) patients have laryngeal functions (voice,respiration and deglutition) completely restored and 24.7% (39/ 158) partially restored(voice and deglutition).</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The preservative surgery is feasible for the selected pyriform sinus cancer cases. Choosing and following optimum surgical methods is a prerequisite for improving the quality of life of the cases.</p>

Surgical treatment of hypopharyngeal cancer with cervical esophageal invasion / 中华耳鼻咽喉头颈外科杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To review the experience of different surgical construction methods for hypopharyngeal cancer with cervical esophageal invasion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>From 1989 to 2000,forty-eight patients with advanced hypopharyngeal cancer and cervical esophageal invasion were retrospectively reviewed, including 38 males and 10 females. The median age was 54. 3 years old, ranged from 26 to 71 years old. According to UICC 1997 criteria, all the tumors were T4 stage and originated from the pyriform sinus (33), posterior pharyngeal wall (14), postcricoid area (1), there were 28 patients in cN0, 15 in cN1, 5 in cN2 and no distant metastasis. Precise preoperative evaluation was performed with computed tomography scan, barium swallow perspective and biopsy. All the patients received modified neck dissection, including both unilateral (38 patients) and bilateral (10 patients). Pharyngoesophageal defect reconstruction methods were: laryngotracheal flap in 11 patients, pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap in 13, laryngotracheal flap combined with pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap in 6, pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap combined with the split graft in 10, stomach pulling-up in 3, colon interposition in 5 patients. Total laryngectomy was carried out in 8 patients. All patients received radiotherapy postoperatively (dose 55 - 75 Gy).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The cervical lymph node metastasis was found in 20 patients. Pathologic findings showed that well, moderately and lower differentiated squamous cell carcinomas were 18, 24, 6 cases, respectively. The overall 3 and 5 year survival rates were 52.1% (25/48) and 27.3% (12/44), respectively. The 3 and 5 year survival rates in functionally preserved group were 65.2% (15/23) and 33.3% (7/21), while in non functionally preserved group were 40.0% (10/25) and 21.7% (5/23), respectively. Fifteen patients laryngeal functions (voice, respiration and deglutition) were completely restored and 8 patients partially restored (voice and deglutition). The decannulation rate was 65% (15/23). The complication included pharyngeal fistulas in 10 cases and splitting of chest wall in 1 cases.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Combined therapy was the best choice for hypopharyngeal cancer with cervical esophageal invasion. The laryngeal function is preserved as far as possible. The continuity of the pharyngoesophagus was restored by pectoralis major musculocutaneous flap, laryngotracheal flap, or combined with the split graft. Stomach transposition or colon interposition was used while the defect of the esophagus was greater.</p>