Impact of low skeletal muscle mass on postoperative complications in head and neck cancer patients undergoing free flap reconstructive surgery - A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Low skeletal muscle mass is emerging as an adverse predictive and prognostic factor in cancer patients. The use of this parameter as a risk factor for complications after surgery is not currently used in clinical practice. This meta-analysis aims to assess the association of low skeletal muscle mass defined by radiological criteria and complications after reconstructive microsurgery in head and neck cancer patients. A systematic review for articles was performed using the PubMed, EMBASE database and by manual search. Articles that assessed low skeletal muscle mass and its impact on postoperative complications in head and neck cancer patients undergoing free flap surgery were selected. Pooled estimates of postoperative outcome data were calculated by extracting the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). The search strategy returned with 6 studies meeting the inclusion criteria. A total of 1082 patients were analyzed. The prevalence of low skeletal muscle mass between studies ranged from 24.6% to 61.5%. The meta-analysis showed an OR for complications after surgery of 2.42 (95% CI 1.53-3.32, p = 0.00). The study therefore concludes that skeletal muscle mass is an independent risk factor for postoperative complications in head and neck cancer reconstructive surgery patients. This argues for implementing screening for low skeletal muscle in preoperative management to optimize surgical decision making.

Study of medical education in 3D surgical modeling by surgeons with free open-source software: Example of mandibular reconstruction with fibula free flap and creation of its surgical guides.

INTRODUCTION: Benefits of 3D printing techniques, biomodeling and surgical guides are well known in surgery, especially when the same surgeon who performed the surgery participated in the virtual surgical planning. Our objective was to evaluate the transfer of know how of a neutral 3D surgical modeling free open-source software protocol to surgeons with different surgical specialities. METHODS: A one-day training session was organised in 3D surgical modeling applied to one mandibular reconstruction case with fibula free flap and creation of its surgical guides. Surgeon satisfaction was analysed before and after the training. RESULTS: Of 22 surgeons, 59% assessed the training as excellent or very good and 68% considered changing their daily surgical routine and would try to apply our open-source software protocol in their department after a single training day. The mean capacity in using the software improved from 4.13 on 10 before to 6.59 on 10 after training for OsiriX® software, from 1.14 before to 5.05 after training for Meshlab®, from 0.45 before to 4.91 after training for Netfabb® and from 1.05 before and 4.41 after training for Blender®. According to surgeons, using the software Blender® became harder as the day went on. DISCUSSION: Despite improvement in the capacity in using software for all participants, more than a single training day is needed for the transfer of know how on 3D modeling with open-source software. Although the know-how transfer, overall satisfaction, actual learning outcomes and relevance of this training were appropriated, a longer training including different topics will be needed to improve training quality.

Using virtual reality to control preoperative anxiety in ambulatory surgery patients: A pilot study in maxillofacial and plastic surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Preoperative anxiety may lead to medical and surgical complications, behavioral problems and emotional distress. The most common means of prevention are based on using medication and, more recently, hypnosis. The aim of our study was to determine whether a virtual reality (VR) program presenting natural scenes could be part of a new therapy to reduce patients' preoperative anxiety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our prospective pilot study consisted of a single-blind trial in skin cancer surgery at the Henri-Mondor teaching hospital in France. In the outpatient surgery department, 20 patients with a score of >11 on the Amsterdam preoperative anxiety and information scale (APAIS) were virtually immersed into a natural universe for 5minutes. Their stress levels were assessed before and after this experience by making use of a visual analog scale (VAS), by measuring salivary cortisol levels, and by determining physiological stress based on heart coherence scores. RESULTS: The VAS score was significantly reduced after the simulation (P<0.009) as was the level of salivary cortisol (P<0.04). Heart coherence scores remained unchanged (P=0.056). DISCUSSION: VR allows patients to be immersed in a relaxing, peaceful environment. It represents a non-invasive way to reduce preoperative stress levels with no side effects and no need for additional medical or paramedical staff. Our results indicate that VR may provide an effective complementary technique to manage stress in surgery patients. Randomized trials are necessary to determine precise methods and benefits.

[Stereophotogrammetry and facial surgery: Principles, applications and prospects]. / Photographie 3D en chirurgie de la face : principes, intérêts et perspectives.

The clinical examination of the face needs a reliable, objective and innocuous tool. Stereophotogrammetry for a medical use has been available for more than fifteen years but its popularity is still limited by a high cost. We hereby define the principles of stereophotogrammetry, its fields of application in facial surgery and the prospects, which might soon be offered by a wider access to this technique.

Three-dimensional surgical modelling with an open-source software protocol: study of precision and reproducibility in mandibular reconstruction with the fibula free flap.

Very few surgical teams currently use totally independent and free solutions to perform three-dimensional (3D) surgical modelling for osseous free flaps in reconstructive surgery. This study assessed the precision and technical reproducibility of a 3D surgical modelling protocol using free open-source software in mandibular reconstruction with fibula free flaps and surgical guides. Precision was assessed through comparisons of the 3D surgical guide to the sterilized 3D-printed guide, determining accuracy to the millimetre level. Reproducibility was assessed in three surgical cases by volumetric comparison to the millimetre level. For the 3D surgical modelling, a difference of less than 0.1mm was observed. Almost no deformations (<0.2mm) were observed post-autoclave sterilization of the 3D-printed surgical guides. In the three surgical cases, the average precision of fibula free flap modelling was between 0.1mm and 0.4mm, and the average precision of the complete reconstructed mandible was less than 1mm. The open-source software protocol demonstrated high accuracy without complications. However, the precision of the surgical case depends on the surgeon's 3D surgical modelling. Therefore, surgeons need training on the use of this protocol before applying it to surgical cases; this constitutes a limitation. Further studies should address the transfer of expertise.

Use of the 3D surgical modelling technique with open-source software for mandibular fibula free flap reconstruction and its surgical guides.

INTRODUCTION: Tridimensional (3D) surgical modelling is a necessary step to create 3D-printed surgical tools, and expensive professional software is generally needed. Open-source software are functional, reliable, updated, may be downloaded for free and used to produce 3D models. Few surgical teams have used free solutions for mastering 3D surgical modelling for reconstructive surgery with osseous free flaps. We described an Open-source software 3D surgical modelling protocol to perform a fast and nearly free mandibular reconstruction with microvascular fibula free flap and its surgical guides, with no need for engineering support. PROCEDURE: Four successive specialised Open-source software were used to perform our 3D modelling: OsiriX®, Meshlab®, Netfabb® and Blender®. Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) data on patient skull and fibula, obtained with a computerised tomography (CT) scan, were needed. The 3D modelling of the reconstructed mandible and its surgical guides were created. CONCLUSIONS: This new strategy may improve surgical management in Oral and Craniomaxillofacial surgery. Further clinical studies are needed to demonstrate the feasibility, reproducibility, transfer of know how and benefits of this technique.

[Quantitative study of phonation by aerophonoscopy: Reproducibility study on healthy volunteers]. / Exploration quantitative de la phonation par aérophonoscopie: étude de reproductibilité sur sujets sains.

INTRODUCTION: The aerophonoscope allows for recording buccal and nasal airflow during breathing and speech and the sounds emitted by the patient. It is known to be useful in the postoperative follow-up of cleft lip and palate children, but there are currently no studies that quantitatively validate its reliability in pathological or non-pathological situations. The aim of our study was to measure the reliability of aerophonoscopic measures in adult healthy volunteers. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A quantitative evaluation of the reliability of aerophonoscopy has been carried out in 30 healthy adult volunteers by measuring its inter- and intra-individual reproducibility and its sensibility in relation with the degree of the velopharyngeal sphincter constriction using a test-retest protocol. RESULTS: The aerophonoscope allows for inter- and intra-individual reproducible measures in healthy adult volunteers. Its sensibility to velopharyngeal sphincter constriction is good in healthy adult volunteers. DISCUSSION: The interest of aerophonoscopy in the treatment strategy of cleft lip and palate patients remains unclear. More reliable quantitative data would be of major interest to determine whether this device is suitable for the follow-up of cleft lips and palate patients or not. This would also allow for planning a second soft-palate operation and for assessing the efficacy of revision surgery such as superior or inferior pedicled pharyngoplasty.