Early diagnosis and aggressive surgical resection matters to cure rhinocerebral mucormycosis: Six case reports.

Rhino-cerebral mucormycosis (RM) is a rare and opportunistic fungal infection observed in immune-compromised patients and metabolic imbalances such as Diabetes Mellitus. RM rapidly infiltrates blood vessels, leading to vascular thrombosis, subsequent tissue necrosis, and high mortality rates (23.6-60%). Due to its fast advancement, RM is a life-threatening condition requiring accurate clinical decisions by the medical and surgical teams. Based on the report of six cases, we emphasize the need for an early diagnosis and starting antifungal pharmacological therapy at the slightest suspicion of RM. Moreover, the restitution of metabolic balance and aggressive surgical debridement are vital steps to control RM, reducing the possibility of fatal outcomes.

Estudio comparativo en la utilización de drenaje postextracción de terceros molares impactados / Comparative study on the use of post-extraction drainage of impacted third molars

Objetivos. Determinar el efecto de la utilización de tubos de drenaje con relación a la respuesta inflamatoria y dolorosa postoperatoria en las exodoncias de terceros molares inferiores impactados. Material y método. Mediante un estudio experimental, aleatorizado, se analizó la respuesta de edema y dolor en 20 pacientes con relación al uso de drenajes, tras la extracción de sus 2 terceros molares inferiores impactados, los cuales debían estar en posición similar. Para ello, en el mismo acto quirúrgico, una herida operatoria se suturó con el objetivo de lograr una cicatrización por primera intención, constituyendo este el lado control. En el lado contralateral se instaló un tubo de drenaje por 48 h en la herida operatoria, siendo este el lado experimental. Para comparar el edema de ambos lados, en cada paciente se realizó una fotografía estandarizada y una medición clínica numérica, preoperatoria y a las 48 h postoperatorias. A su vez, el dolor se evaluó con la escala visual análoga a las 48 h y a la semana postoperatoria. Resultados. Según este estudio, el uso de un tubo de drenaje reduce con diferencia estadísticamente significativa el edema postoperatorio en comparación con las heridas suturadas sin drenaje en la exodoncia de terceros molares inferiores impactados. Por el contrario, no existieron diferencias significativas con relación a la respuesta dolorosa, al comparar ambos lados. Conclusiones. El uso de drenaje posterior a la extracción de terceros molares inferiores impactados reduce el edema, mejorando el bienestar del paciente en el postoperatorio (AU)

Objectives. To determine the effect of the use of drainage tubes in relation to the inflammatory response and postoperative pain in extractions of impacted lower third molars. Material and methods. An experimental, randomized study on the response of edema and pain was conducted on 20 patients in relation to the use of drainage. The patients included had to have underwent extraction of their 2 impacted lower third molars, which had to be in a similar position. The same surgical procedure was used. A surgical wound was sutured in order to achieve healing at first attempt, and was considered the control side. In the contralateral side, a drainage tube was installed for 48 h in the surgical wound, this being the experimental side. To compare the edema of both sides, a standardized clinical photography and a numerical measurement were taken for each patient, preoperative and 48 h after the surgery. The pain was then assessed using the visual analog scale, 48 h and one week after the surgery. Results. According to this study, the use of a drainage tube decreases, with a statistically significant difference, the postoperative edema compared to the wounds sutured without drainage in the extraction of impacted lower third molars. On the other hand, there were no significant differences regarding the pain response when comparing both sides. Conclusions. The use of drainage after removal of impacted third molars reduces the edema, improving patient comfort in the postoperative period (AU)

Delayed treatment of parotid sialocele: a functional approach and review.

The present report focused on 2 cases treated successfully with a delayed minimally invasive surgical approach and reviewed the available studies in which this method was used and their outcomes. The current data available suggest that the diversion of salivary flow into the oral cavity by cannulation of the distal portion of the parotid gland duct from the sialocele into the mouth, through the ostium or using a new controlled internal fistula creation, is a reliable, relatively simple, and effective procedure. It is available to the clinician when delayed treatment is needed, with low complication potential and great tolerability. The procedure allows a definite solution to the problem, avoiding undesirable outcomes, and preserves parotid gland functionality throughout the process of healing.

Impacto de las prótesis removibles en la posición lingual, patrón de deglución y calibre sagital de la vía aérea orofaríngea / The impact of removable prosthesis on the position of the tongue during resting and swallowing states, and on the sagittal size of the oropharyngeal airway

Introducción: las prótesis dentales removibles y su influencia en las praxis linguales, no han sido analizadas clínica y radiográficamente. El objetivo fue determinar si las prótesis removibles causan modificaciones clínicas en la posición lingual y en el patrón de deglución; y cambios radiográficos en el calibre sagital de la vía aérea orofaríngea en pacientes con pérdida de mesa molar. Métodos: mediante un diseño preexperimental preprueba posprueba en un solo grupo, se evaluaron 15 pacientes en tres tiempos distintos: pretratamiento (T1), inmediatamente al insertar las prótesis (T2) y a los 6 meses posteriores (T3). La posición lingual se evaluó según Kotsiomiti. El patrón de deglución se evaluó según Bossart. Se hizo el análisis cefalométrico basado en Delaire y Argandoña para medir la vía área orofaríngea. Los datos clínicos fueron analizados estadísticamente con la prueba de Friedman, para la cefalometría se usó el análisis de varianza (ANOVA) y la prueba de Duncan. (p > 0,05) Resultados: se encontraron diferencias altamente significativas en la posición lingual, variando desde la posición anormal superior a la normal inferior. En el patrón de deglución se encontraron diferencias significativas, variando del linguo-mandibular al linguo-dentario. El calibre sagital de la vía aérea orofaríngea disminuyó significativamente entre T1 y T2. Conclusiones: línicamente ocurren cambios positivos en la posición lingual en reposo y en el patrón de deglución. Los cambios negativos que ocurren en la vía aérea orofaríngea al insertar las prótesis tienden a revertirse a los 6 meses de uso, producto de la acomodación estructural y funcional del macizo lingual.

Introduction: removable dentures and their influence on lingual position have not been clinically and radiographically tested. The objective of this study was to determine whether dentures cause clinical changes in tongue position and swallowing patterns, as well as radiographic changes in the sagittal caliber of the oropharyngeal airway in patients with molar table loss. Methods: by means of a pretest-posttest preexperimental design in a single group, 15 patients were evaluated at three different times: pretreatment (T1), immediately after inserting the prosthesis (T2) and 6 months afterwards (T3). Lingual position was evaluated according to Kotsiomiti. Swallowing patterns were assessed according to Bossart. The cephalometric analysis by Delaire and Argandoña was conducted in order to measure the oropharyngeal airway. The clinical data were statistically analyzed by using the Friedman test, and for cephalometry both the variance analysis test (ANOVA) and Duncan test were used (p > 0.05). Results: highly significant differences were found in tongue position, ranging from upper abnormal position to lower normal position. In terms of swallowing pattern, significant differences were found, ranging from lingual-mandibular to lingual-dental. The sagittal caliber of oropharyngeal airway significantly decreased between T1 and T2. Conclusions: clinically, positive changes occur in tongue position at rest and in swallowing pattern. Negative changes in the oropharyngeal airway after inserting dentures tend to revert within 6 months of use as a consequence of the structural and functional accommodation of the tongue mass.

Lip competence in Class III patients undergoing orthognathic surgery: an electromyographic study.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the presurgical and postsurgical electromyographic (EMG) activities of the lips in patients with skeletal Class III treated with combined orthognathic surgery and contrast these data with those obtained from a control group with skeletal Class I. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients with skeletal Class III underwent the registration of EMG activity before an orthognathic surgical procedure and 4 months after surgery. The results were compared with a control group of 11 healthy patients with skeletal Class I and clinical and EMG lip competence. EMG activity was recorded from the upper orbicularis oris and mentalis muscles during swallowing, lips in contact (LC), and lips apart (LA) using bipolar surface electrodes. The competence condition was assessed by determining the difference in the EMG activity of the mentalis muscle (LC-LA ≤0 for lip competence). RESULTS: Patients with skeletal Class III showed greater EMG activity than the control group before and after surgery. Patients with skeletal Class III showed a significantly greater difference in LC-LA than the control group before surgery for the 2 muscles (P < .05). No significant difference was found between the skeletal Class III group after surgery and the control group for the mentalis muscle (P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Four months after treatment with orthognathic surgery, patients with skeletal Class III and an initial muscle activity pattern of lip incompetence different from the control group (P < .05) showed EMG values compatible with lip competence. These values were similar to the control group.