Flexible endoscopic phonosurgery for treatment of functional sequelae after laryngeal oncologic surgery: a narrative review.

Flexible endoscopic phonosurgery (FEPS) is one of the most recent and constantly evolving operative techniques in the field of minimally invasive laryngeal surgery. Thanks in part to the possibility of using new technologies, such as digital endoscopes, laser fibres, and different laryngeal injection materials, its fields of application have rapidly expanded. This narrative review describes the current possible indications of FEPS ranging from injection laryngoplasties in cases of vocal cord paralysis or mass defect, to the correction of dysphagia after open partial horizontal laryngectomies. Use of microscissors, microforceps, and laser fibres also allows this technique to be applied for removal of superficial vocal cord lesions, avoiding general anaesthesia in an increasing number of patients.

Chondroradionecrosis of the larynx.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Purpose of the present review is to revise the literature of the last 18 months, looking for novelties or new trends in diagnosis and therapeutical approaches to a very uncommon complicaton. RECENT FINDINGS: Some comorbidities as well as prior surgical laryngeal treatment and lifestyle factors are known to increase tissue susceptibility to radiation injury and to complications due to endotracheal intubation. SUMMARY: Chondroradionecrosis (CRN) of the larynx is a rare and severe complication of radiotherapy and endotracheal intubation which can be fatal if not managed promptly. In recent years, the trend in oncological surgery is organ preservation even in the advanced stage of laryngeal malignancies. However, in certain stages of squamous cell carcinomas, radiotherapy is necessary as a first or second line of treatment. Endotracheal intubation has also been associated with chondronecrosis and it is thought to be secondary to excessive pressure of the endotracheal tube or its cuff on the cartilage itself. Clinical diagnosis of CRN is extremely difficult and should be placed in differential diagnosis with postradiation outcomes and cancer recurrence. PET is useful, but biopsy is still required to confirm the diagnosis. The use of the laryngeal mask airway should prevent this complication and is a reasonable choice through which to administer general anesthesia in selected patients.

Surgical fenestrated approach to the maxillary sinus like alternative to Caldwell-Luc technique.

INTRODUCTION: In the last few years the surgical treatment of patients with maxillary sinus disease has shifted from more invasive maneuvers to more conservative approaches in order to save intraoral mucosa. Recently, some authors have proposed a modification to the classical Caldwell-Luc's approach (CL) for the removal of dental implants displaced into the maxillary sinus. The modified approach involves a fenestrated approach to the maxillary sinus. The bony pedicled windows of maxillary sinus in some selected cases may limit some of the most common complications and it may reduce healing times. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Evaluation of the middle term results of a maxillary fenestrated sinus approach as an alternative technique to CL and review of literature. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: From 2013 to 2017 thirty-one patients were treated with the CL modified technique, most of which for foreign bodies, displacement of endodontic material and implants in the maxillary sinus, large mucoceles and odontogenic maxillary sinusitis. All patients were subjected to clinical, and in some cases radiological, from 6 months to 18 months follow-up. Different combinations of Keywords and MeSH term were used for the bibliographic research in the main search engines (PubMed, Cochrane library, Medline). Inclusion criteria - fenestrated approach to the maxillary sinus, postoperative complications, description of the operative case. CONCLUSIONS: No complications occurred in the intraoperative period and during the months of follow-up. There has been no recurrence of the starting problem and all treated patients were free from residual maxillary pathology 18 months after surgery. Four works meeting the inclusion criteria were identified. The surgical fenestrated approach to the maxillary sinus is a valid alternative to the classical Caldwell-Luc techniques that, alone or in combination with endoscopic sinus surgery, allow to treat foreign bodies of maxillary sinus, of mucoceles and other diseases of the maxillary sinus. The proposed technique does not require particular surgical skills, it does not increase the operating time and can also be performed under local anesthesia.