Suture of the mucosa after the endoscopic LASER mucomyotomy of Zenker's diverticulum.

The treatment of choice of Zenker's diverticulum is the rigid endoscopic mucomyotomy. At our ENT department, we usually perform an endoscopic mucosal suture after the myotomy. We diagnosed 49 patients and treated 39 patients between 2003 and 2013 due to a Zenker's diverticulum. We used the classification of Brombart to determine the size of the diverticulum. Surgery was performed as an endoscopic LASER mucomyotomy with mucosal sutures or as an open approach with diverticulectomy and myotomy. Patients were phoned to ask for their complaints postoperatively. The symptoms were classified using a visual scale from 0 (no complaint) until 10 (same or more complaints than before the surgery). The distribution of the diverticulum's size was: 6 patients Brombart I, 11 patients Brombart II, 14 patients Brombart III and 18 patients Brombart IV. 10 patients did not undergo surgery. With 33 patients, we performed an endoscopic operation and 6 patients underwent an open approach. The scale of postoperative complaints was the following: 20 patients (0/10), 12 patients (1/10 or 2/10), 3 patients (3/10), 1 patient (6/10) and 1 patient (10/10). None of the patients suffered from severe complications such as mediastinitis. In 85% of the cases, an endoscopic approach could be performed. Postoperatively, 94% of the patients did not have any or just mild complaints. The risk of severe complications or recurrence of the diverticulum is low. The mucosal suture might reduce the risk of infections.

Long-Term Results From Tonsillectomy in Adults.

BACKGROUND: Tonsillectomy is performed more than 400 000 times in the European Union each year, making it one of the most common operations. Nonetheless, there have been only a few long-term studies of quality of life after tonsillectomy. METHODS: In 2004, data on the quality of life after tonsillectomy were obtained from adult German-speaking tonsillectomy patients by means of the Glasgow Benefit Inventory and a questionnaire specifically designed for that study. The present study concerns the further followup of these patients, sometimes many years later. 114 patients with recurrent tonsillitis were included in this descriptive study. RESULTS: Of the 114 patients, 97 (85%) provided further data at 14 months, and 71 (62%) at ca. 7 years. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory revealed postoperative improvement of quality of life at 14 months and at 7 years, with median values of 16.67 points (quartile 11.11/25) and 13.89 points (quartile 8.33/25) (p=0.168). The mean number of annual episodes of sore throat fell from 10 preoperatively to 2 postoperatively (p=0.0001). The number of visits to the doctor, the intake of analgesic drugs and antibiotics, and the number of medical absences from work also declined significantly over the period of observation. CONCLUSION: Tonsillectomy was associated with a longlasting improvement of health and quality of life, and with lower utilization of medical resources. The 62% response rate at 7 years leaves the question open whether patients with a favorable postoperative course may have been more likely than others to participate in the study.

[Cartilage vs. temporal fascia as graft material]. / Knorpel vs. temporale Faszie als Transplantatmaterial.

So far, comparative studies have shown no significant audiological difference between cartilage and fascia grafts. In this retrospective study, the Turkish scientists E E Callioglu et al. examined next audiological results and morphological results after surgical cartilage and fascial tympanoplasty in patients with comparable preoperative hearing and middle ear pathology.

[Tips & tricks--collar button technique: safe and patient friendly myringoplasty technique]. / Tipps & Tricks--Kragenknopf-Technik: sichere und patientenschonende Technik zum Trommelfelldefektverschluss.

Background: The inlay cartilage butterfly myringoplasty is a simple technique with few complications for closure of tympanic membrane defects introduced by Eavey 1998, but still not often used. Its advantages consist in avoiding of exposure the tympanic cavity and possible blunting, option to operate both ears at once, safe local anaesthesia, reduction of operation time and cost, minimal postoperative care and patient comfort. Patients and Methods: We operated 10 patients using a to date not described simple cartilage transplant without perichondrium. Reason, localisation, extent and duration of the defect as well as complications, patient assessment and pure tone audiogram were analysed. Results: All defects were closed six months postoperative. Seven patients rated hearing as improved, two as non-changed and one patient showed deafness in the pure tone audiogram pre- and postoperative. The average air-bone gap of the thresholds at frequencies 0.5, 1, 2 and 3 kHz was 8.6 dB postoperative as compared to 16.3 dB preoperative. It could be shown that pure cartilage transplants without perichondrium used for defects up to 6mm in diameter were enwrapped by the tympanic membrane and covered by capillaries. Conclusion: The inlay cartilage butterfly myringoplasty is a safe and gentle technique for tympanic membrane defect closure.

Significantly reducing post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage requiring surgery by suturing the faucial pillars: a retrospective analysis.

BACKGROUND: The tonsillectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures. Given the comparatively frequent postsurgical bleeding associated with this procedure, particular attention has been paid to reduction of the postoperative bleeding rate. In 2006, we introduced routine suturing of the faucial pillars at our clinic to reduce postoperative haemorrhage. METHODS: Two groups from the years 2003-2005 (n = 1000) and 2007-2009 (n = 1000) have been compared. We included all patients who had an elective tonsillectomy due to a benign, non-acute inflammatory tonsil illness. In the years 2007-2009, we additionally sutured the faucial pillars after completing haemostasis. For primary haemostasis we used suture ligation and bipolar diathermy. RESULTS: The rate of bleeding requiring second surgery for haemostasis was 3.6% in 2003-2005 but only 2.0% in 2007-2009 (absolute risk reduction 1.6% (95% CI 0.22%-2.45%, p = 0.04)). The median surgery time-including adenoidectomy and paracentesis surgery-increased from 25 to 31 minutes (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: We have been able to substantiate that suturing of the faucial pillars nearly halves the rate of postoperative haemorrhage. Surgery takes 8 minutes longer on average. Bleeding occurs later, mostly after 24 h. The limitations of this study relate to its retrospective character and all the potential biases related to observational studies.

Outcome, general, and symptom-specific quality of life after various types of parotid resection.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To document the outcome and impact on general and symptom-specific quality of life (QOL) after various types of parotid resection. STUDY DESIGN: General and symptom-specific QOL assessment at least 1 year after performed surgery. Retrospective data and outcome analysis of patients. METHODS: Between 2004 and 2010, 353 parotid resections in 337 patients were conducted at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University Teaching Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital Gelsenkirchen, Gelsenkirchen, Germany. A total of 196 patients fit the inclusion criteria and were available for postoperative evaluation. The general QOL assessment was based on both the global health status and global QOL scales of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality-of-Life Questionnaire in 34 patients. Symptom-specific QOL was assessed with the Parotidectomy Outcome Inventory-8 (POI-8). In addition, aesthetic outcome was evaluated with an ordinal scale. RESULTS: Outcome of parotidectomies in benign disease has little impact on general QOL and global health status. However, hypoesthesia or dysesthesia, Frey's syndrome, and cosmetic discontent are quite common and may affect symptom-specific and general QOL. Correlation with extent of surgery and statistically significant differences of patient evaluation for aesthetic outcome, sensory impairment, and Frey's syndrome between various types of limited parotid surgery (enucleation, extracapsular dissection, partial superficial parotidectomy) and superficial parotidectomy could be shown. CONCLUSIONS: An adequate parotid resection technique must be chosen to achieve the least disturbing outcome. In addition, in our patient collective, there was no increased recurrence rate found after limited parotid resection for pleomorphic adenoma or cystadenolymphoma.

Recurrent tonsillitis in adults: quality of life after tonsillectomy.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of tonsillectomy in adults with recurrent tonsillitis on their quality of life and on their use of medical resources. METHOD: 114 patients who had had at least three episodes of acute tonsillitis in the 12 months preceding tonsillectomy were evaluated pre- and postoperatively with a questionnaire developed by the authors, and with the Glasgow Benefit Inventory. RESULTS: 97 patients (85%) filled out the questionnaires completely. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory revealed an improvement in the overall score (+19) and in the partial scores for general well-being (+18) and physical health (+39). The degree of support from friends and family was unchanged (±0). Significant decreases were observed in visits to a physician, analgesic and antibiotic consumption, days off from work, and episodes of sore throat. The number of visits to a physician because of sore throat decreased from an average of five preoperatively to one postoperatively; the number of episodes of sore throat, from seven to two; and the number of days taken off from work, from twelve to one per year. 65% of the patients surveyed took analgesics for sore throat preoperatively, 7% postoperatively. 95% took antibiotics for sore throat preoperatively, 22% postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Although this study had a number of limitations (small size, retrospective design, short follow-up), it was able to show that tonsillectomy for adults with recurrent tonsillitis improves health and quality of life and reduces the need to consume medical resources.

The forearm flap: assessment of functional and aesthetic outcomes and quality of life.

PURPOSE: Microvascular surgery frequently represents the only possibility to reach satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcomes after tumor resection in the head and neck. We present the functional and aesthetic outcomes and quality of life (QOL) of our patients who underwent a forearm flap transfer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-one patients who were operated on in the departments of oral and maxillofacial surgery and otorhinolaryngology of the University of Essen participated in the study. Grip power, pinch power, and range of motion at the wrist as well as that in the metacarpophalangeal joints were measured. A sensory assessment including 2-point discrimination, temperature discrimination, and documentation of numbness, paresthesia, and scar pain was performed. The changes in hemodynamics were evaluated with digital optical blood pressure measurement and digital electronic pulse oscillography. Aesthetic satisfaction was investigated with an ordinal scale. Forearm circumference and hair growth on the flap were documented. Quality of life was evaluated with the EORTC QLQ-C30 (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire version 3) and H&N35 (Head and Neck Module) after medical treatment and wound healing. RESULTS: Strength, range of motion, and forearm circumference measurements showed no impairment in comparison with the opposite forearm. Subjective sensory disturbances were found in 31% of the patients but were all regarded as nondisturbing. On the split-thickness graft at the forearm, diminished sensory function could be proven and missing temperature discrimination was revealed in 93%. Evaluation of the hemodynamics showed clinical unremarkable vascularization changes, although slight differences were detectable in the collective. Female (64%) and male (77%) patients rated the aesthetic outcome in their forearm in most cases as good. Hair growth on the transplant could be observed, but it decreased with time and disturbed only a few patients in the oral cavity (14%). In comparison with normative data from a general German population, the QOL assessment showed that patients with tumors stated a similar QOL with regained emotional, cognitive, social, and role functioning. There were significant differences in the symptom scales and single items of the EORTC QLQ-C30 and H&N35. In comparison with a collective of patients with tumors of the oral cavity that were treated with various therapies, no difference was detectable. CONCLUSIONS: Correct planning and elevation presupposed, there will be no clinically relevant finding in strength, motion, and hemodynamics in the forearm and hand after free forearm flap transfer. Sensory findings are present after the operation but decrease with wound healing or are nondisturbing. In this study, the patients with tumors judged the aesthetic result in their forearm in most cases as good. They stated a high QOL with regained emotional, cognitive, social, and role functioning, although they perceived symptoms caused by the tumor and therapy.

Revision stapes surgery.

We present the results of our revision stapes operations from 1989 to 2004 (n = 217). Long-term follow-up was performed in the first 135 cases. Eighteen of these patients were revised because of inner ear symptoms, predominantly within the first year. One hundred and sixteen cases underwent revision surgery due to conductive hearing loss, on average after 10.6 years. One patient was operated because of dysgeusia. In 1999, we first described inner ear damage after implantation of gold prostheses. Therefore, we developed a titanium implant that was initially investigated in cell culture and subsequently tested in a clinical trial. We report on the most frequent causes that led to revision surgery such as adhesions, prosthetic problems, erosions of the long process of the incus, or refixation of the footplate, and on the different surgical techniques. In a first series of patients with a conductive hearing loss, a significant hearing improvement of 69.4% of these cases was obtained. However, this result very much depends on the selection of cases. There was no case of additional sensorineural hearing loss. Since 1999, we had mainly used titanium implants for replacement in stapes revision surgery. In a second series, a significant hearing improvement of 76.2% was found. One patient with a platinum Teflon implant had to be revised because of vertigo and conductive hearing loss which was observed during MRI.

Reconstruction of the stapes superstructure with a combined glass-ceramic (Bioverit) implant in guinea pigs.

BACKGROUND: Reconstruction of the stapes superstructure continues to be a problem for otologists. Optimal fixation of implants on the stapes footplate has not yet been achieved. METHODS: We postulated that bony fixation, between implant and stapes, could be confined exclusively to the footplate region by modifying the bioactivity of the implant material. Therefore, after removal of the superstructure in guinea pigs a combined biovitro ceramic implant (Bioverit I and Bioverit II) was placed on the stapes footplate in 10 guinea pigs. As a control, we employed a group of 6 animals in which the stapes superstructure was removed without placing any implant. RESULTS: After 25 weeks the implants were found to be dislocated laterally. We observed fixation with the wall of the middle ear. In the control group we also found new bone formation and even a bow shaped regeneration of the stapes superstructure. CONCLUSION: Combined Bioverit stapedial implants were found to routinely fix to the middle ear wall of the guinea pig. The guinea pigs' enormous potential for bone regeneration in the middle ear ossicular chain make this species unsuitable for exploring hypotheses on human middle ear reconstruction.

Osteoblast-like cell cultures from human stapes.

OBJECTIVE: In order to develop new middle ear prostheses for ossicular reconstruction it is important to study how the recipient middle ear tissues, especially the stapes footplate and superstructure, react to the implanted biomaterial. In this respect, animal studies and cell cultures using non-specific cells are of limited value. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The morphology and growth pattern of cells cultured from human stapes were studied. Cultured cells were examined for the presence of alkaline phosphatase and were processed for immunocytochemistry in order to detect the presence of osteocalcine. Fibroblast cultures served as controls. RESULTS: Cultured stapes cells proliferated in a polygonal-cubic shape and without any regular pattern in the culture. These cells were shown to contain alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcine. Cultured fascia fibroblasts proliferated in a spindle-shaped form and in a pattern resembling a shoal of fish. Cultured fibroblasts did not contain alkaline phosphatase or osteocalcine. CONCLUSIONS: It is possible to culture osteoblasts from human stapes. These cells can be characterized as osteoblast-like cells by means of their external shape and the presence of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcine. Using these cultures, specific in vitro investigations concerning the interaction of biomaterials and middle ear ossicles could be performed.