Is trans-thyroid cartilage monitoring as good as endotracheal tube monitoring during thyroidectomy?

PURPOSE: To evaluate whether trans-thyroid cartilage nerve monitoring for thyroid surgeries is as effective and safe as endotracheal tube monitoring. METHODS: Fifty-one thyroidectomies (38 hemithyroidectomies and 13 total thyroidectomies, analyzed as two separate hemi-thyroidectomies) were included. Patients undergoing surgery from 6/2020 to 8/2021 were monitored simultaneously with the NIM® Nerve Monitoring System TriVantage™ Electromyography (EMG) endotracheal tube and EMG trans-thyroid cartilage. Electrophysiological responses of 64 vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves were obtained. Peri-operative evaluation and 12-month post-operative follow-up were conducted to examine nerve function. Wilcoxon signed-rank and Spearman coefficient tests were used to determine whether there were differences between the methods. RESULTS: The average initial amplitude measured with the trans-thyroid cartilage method was higher in the recurrent laryngeal and vagus nerves (p = 0.002, p = 0.003, respectively). The mean difference in EMG amplitude from start to end of surgery for 10 damaged nerves (7 temporary and 3 permanent) differed from intact nerves in both methods and nerves (p < 0.05 for all). Among intact recurrent laryngeal nerves, 20.4% had 20-80% decrease in amplitude in endotracheal tube electrodes and 16.7% in trans-thyroid cartilage electrodes (p = 0.92). All cases with stable EMG signals or with increased EMG amplitude (with both types of electrodes and with both nerves) had normal post-operative vocal function. No significant difference was found between the two methods when measuring the vagus and recurrent laryngeal nerves. No complications occurred when using trans-thyroid cartilage electrodes. CONCLUSIONS: Trans-thyroid cartilage nerve monitoring for thyroid surgeries is as effective and safe as the current standard monitoring using an endotracheal tube. During thyroid surgery, patients are monitored to avoid damaging nerves near the vocal cords. This study compared monitoring through a throat tube with the easier method of monitoring outside of the throat to see if it is as effective and safe. No major difference was found between the two methods and there were no problems.

Environmental governance in China: Interactions between the state and "nonstate actors".

In the West, limited government capacity to solve environmental problems has triggered the rise of a variety of "nonstate actors" to supplement government efforts or provide alternative mechanisms for addressing environmental issues. How does this development - along with our efforts to understand it - map onto environmental governance processes in China? China's efforts to address environmental issues reflect institutionalized governance processes that differ from parallel western processes in ways that have major consequences for domestic environmental governance practices and the governance of China "going abroad." China's governance processes blur the distinction between the state and other actors; the "shadow of the state" is a major factor in all efforts to address environmental issues. The space occupied by nonstate actors in western systems is occupied by shiye danwei ("public service units"), she hui tuanti ("social associations") and e-platforms, all of which have close links to the state. Meanwhile, international NGOs and multinational corporations are also significant players in China. As a result, the mechanisms of influence that produce effects in China differ in important ways from mechanisms familiar from the western experience. This conclusion has far-reaching implications for those seeking to address global environmental concerns, given the importance of China's growing economy and burgeoning network of trade relationships.

Prognostic factors in metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Metastatic cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck poses a significant therapeutic challenge due to its aggressive biologic behavior. We conducted a retrospective study of 71 patients-58 men and 13 women, aged 28 to 88 years (mean: 71)-who had been treated at our university-affiliated tertiary care medical center for metastatic cutaneous SCC over a 15-year period. In addition to demographic data, we compiled and analyzed information on tumor characteristics, the site and extent of metastasis, treatment, follow-up, and outcome. Among the tumor factors, poorly differentiated carcinoma was an independent predictor of poorer disease-free survival, and older age was found to be an independent predictor of poorer overall survival. We found no significant difference in disease-free or disease-specific survival among patients with parotid involvement, neck involvement, or both. In our series, the site of nodal involvement appeared to have no prognostic significance in patients with metastatic cutaneous SCC of the head and neck.

Cancer of the head and neck region in solid organ transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND: Solid organ recipients are at an increased risk of developing various malignancies. We investigated the incidence, clinical features, and outcome of patients diagnosed with head and neck cancer after organ transplantation. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was undertaken of patients who underwent solid organ transplantation (kidney, liver, lung, heart) treated at our institution from 1992 to 2010. RESULTS: Of 2817 organ recipients, 175 patients (6.1%) developed 391 head and neck malignancies. Cutaneous malignancies were the most common (93%): squamous cell carcinoma (SCC; 51%) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC; 42%). The average interval from transplantation to diagnosis of head and neck malignancy was 7.3 years, with liver recipients diagnosed earlier. Eighteen percent of patients presented with an aggressive pattern of head and neck cancer, including 24% of patients with cutaneous SCC. CONCLUSION: Organ transplantation recipients are at a higher risk to develop head and neck cancer with an aggressive behavior characterized by multiple recurrences and decreased survival.

Post-laryngectomy voice rehabilitation: comparison of primary and secondary tracheoesophageal puncture.

BACKGROUND: Voice restoration following total laryngectomy is an important part of patients' rehabilitation and long-term quality of life. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term outcome of indwelling voice prostheses inserted during (primary procedure) or after (secondary procedure) total laryngectomy. METHODS: The study group included 90 patients who underwent total laryngectomy and tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) with placement of voice prosthesis at a tertiary medical center during the period 1990-2008. Background, clinical and outcome data were collected by medical file review. Findings were compared between patients in whom TEP was performed as a primary or a secondary procedure. RESULTS: TEP was performed as a primary procedure in 64 patients and a secondary procedure in 26. Corresponding rates of satisfactory voice rehabilitation were 84.4% and 88.5% respectively. There was no association of voice quality with either receipt of adjuvant radiation/chemoradiation or patient age. The average lifetime of the voice prosthesis was 4.2 months for primary TEP and 9.06 months for secondary TEP (P= 0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Primary TEP provides almost immediate and satisfactory voice rehabilitation. However, it is associated with a significantly shorter average prosthesis lifetime than secondary TEP. Chemoradiotherapy and patient age do not affect voice quality with either procedure.

Obstructive sleep apnea after radial forearm free flap reconstruction of the oral tongue.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine whether radial forearm free flap reconstruction of the tongue after partial glossectomy is associated with obstructive sleep apnea. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. METHODS: Fifteen patients (5 men, 10 women) treated for tongue cancer in 2006-2010 by partial glossectomy and immediate radial forearm free flap reconstruction completed the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and underwent polysomnographic studies. Background, clinical, and pathologic data were collected from the medical files. RESULTS: Mean ± SD age of the study group was 57 ± 19 years; body mass index, 24 ± 4; follow-up, 5.6 ± 2.8 years. Mean ± SD Epworth scale score was 8.18 ± 6.18 (normal, <8). Disordered sleep was documented in 11 patients, of whom 8 (53.3% of the cohort) had OSA (5 mild, 2 moderate, 1 severe). The OSA rate was significantly higher than reported in the general population (P = 0.001). CONCLUSION: Patients after partial glossectomy and radial forearm free flap reconstruction appear to be at high risk of obstructive sleep apnea. Testing for OSA should be considered in these patients.

Prognostic significance of nodal ratio in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

The TNM classification is not specific for head and neck skin cancer and makes no allowance for disease extent. Studies have shown that the relative number of metastatic-to-examined lymph nodes, termed the Nodal ratio, is a reliable independent prognosticator in several types of cancer. The study was designed as a retrospective analysis in a university affiliated tertiary care center setting. The files of all patients (n = 71) with cutaneous head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and regional lymph node metastasis who attended a tertiary medical center between 1990 and 2008 were reviewed for clinical variables and outcome, and Nodal ratio was calculated. Data were analyzed for impact on survival. On multivariate analysis Nodal ratio and age were found to be significant predictors of overall survival. The N-ratio was the only significant predictor of disease-specific survival. Age, type of treatment (selective/modified neck dissection), pathologic N stage, and radiotherapy had no effect. The Nodal ratio is a potentially valuable prognostic index in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. The minimal number of nodes that need to be excised has to be determined.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of primary arthroscopic stabilization versus nonoperative treatment for first-time anterior glenohumeral dislocations.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of initial observation versus surgery for first-time anterior shoulder dislocation. METHODS: The clinical scenario of first-time anterior glenohumeral dislocation was simulated using a Markov model (where variables change over time depending on previous states). Nonoperative outcomes include success (no recurrence) and recurrence; surgical outcomes include success, recurrence, and complications of infection or stiffness. Probabilities for outcomes were determined from published literature. Costs were tabulated from Medicare Current Procedural Terminology data, as well as hospital and office billing records. We performed microsimulation and probabilistic sensitivity analysis running 6 models for 1,000 patients over a period of 15 years. The 6 models tested were male versus female patients aged 15 years versus 25 years versus 35 years. RESULTS: Primary surgery was less costly and more effective for 15-year-old boys, 15-year-old girls, and 25-year-old men. For the remaining scenarios (25-year-old women and 35-year-old men and women), primary surgery was also more effective but was more costly. However, for these scenarios, primary surgery was still very cost-effective (cost per quality-adjusted life-year, <$25,000). After 1 recurrence, surgery was less costly and more effective for all scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: Primary arthroscopic stabilization is a clinically effective and cost-effective treatment for first-time anterior shoulder dislocations in the cohorts studied. By use of a willingness-to-pay threshold of $25,000 per quality-adjusted life-year, surgery was more cost-effective than nonoperative treatment for the majority of patients studied in the model. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, economic and decision analysis.

Laryngeal carcinoma in nonsmoking patients.

OBJECTIVES: Smoking is a known risk factor for laryngeal carcinoma. We sought to describe the clinicopathologic characteristics and outcomes of nonsmoking patients with laryngeal carcinoma. METHODS: Of 1,443 patients treated for laryngeal carcinoma between 1960 and 2006, 55 (3.8%) were nonsmokers: 40 (73%) had never smoked and 15 (27%) had stopped smoking 12 years or more before diagnosis. Patient characteristics and outcomes were reviewed. RESULTS: The study group consisted of 87% men; the mean age at diagnosis was 67 years. All lesions but one were located in the glottis. The 5-year survival rate for the whole group was 85%. Most tumors were detected early. Of 38 patients (69%) with stage T1 disease, there was no significant difference in prognostic features between those who had never smoked and those who had smoked in the past. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than 5% of patients with laryngeal carcinoma were nonsmokers. Like smokers, this subgroup was characterized by a male predominance and an approximate age at diagnosis in the seventh decade. Unlike smokers, nonsmokers show a greater predilection for glottic rather than supraglottic disease. There was no difference in prognosis between smokers and nonsmokers, regardless of whether they had smoked in the past.

Sentinel node-guided evaluation of drainage patterns for melanoma of the helix of the ear.

The head and neck region, and especially the ear and its helix, is notorious for its ambiguous pattern of lymphatic drainage. Therefore, the primary nodal drainage basins in melanoma of the helix of the ear are often unpredictable. The aim of the study was to examine the value of sentinel lymph node biopsy in melanoma of the helix of the ear and to describe the natural history of the disease. Fifteen consecutive patients (14 men) with primary melanoma of the helix of the ear (median thickness, 1.2 mm; range, 0.7-10.0) underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy, followed by intraoperative lymphatic mapping, using blue dye in combination with a hand-held gamma probe and sentinel lymphadenectomy. The melanomas were characterized by low mitotic rate, low lymphocytic infiltrate, low spontaneous-regression rate, and mostly epitheloid cell type. In one patient, preoperative lymphoscintigraphy failed to demonstrate the draining nodes. The sentinel lymph nodes were identified and retrieved in all patients during surgery. In 13 patients (87%), they were found in the upper jugular lymphatic basin (level IIA); none were found in the retroauricular region. All sentinel lymph nodes were tumor-negative. At a median follow-up of 39 months (range, 12-73), all 15 patients were disease-free. In conclusion, sentinel lymph node biopsy for helix melanoma is an excellent alternative to elective lymph node neck dissection and superficial parotidectomy, with a high success rate and low morbidity. Melanoma of the helix of the ear has an indolent natural history.

A biodegradable button to augment suture attachment in rotator cuff repair.

Recent experimental studies suggest that the use of suture anchors for rotator cuff tear (RCT) repair transfers the "weak link" to the suture-tendon interface where failure occurs as the sutures cut through the tendon. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of using a suture augmentation button on the fixation strength of rotator cuff tendon repair. A 1.5 cm by 2 cm defect was created in the supraspinatus tendon of seven cadaveric shoulder pairs and two suture anchors inserted in each humerus for suture attachment. For one of each pair, the defect was repaired with sutures placed in a horizontal mattress configuration. The other side was repaired with the sutures being passed through low profile, bioabsorbable buttons placed on the bursal tendon surface prior to knot tying. The supraspinatus tendon was cyclically loaded at a physiologic rate and load (33 mm/sec and 180 N, respectively). The number of loading cycles was recorded when the specimens developed 0.75 cm and 1.5 cm gaps at the repair site. The specimens were then tested to failure. Specimens in the unaugmented group developed 0.75 cm and 1.5 cm gaps at an average of 135 cycles and 362 cycles, respectively. The button augmented group developed these gaps at average of 420 cycles and 708 cycles, respectively. These differences were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The gaps progressively increased in all specimens, which eventually failed by suture cutting through tendon in all specimens. This study demonstrates that in vitro, suture augmentation with a low profile, bioabsorbable button provides significantly enhanced fixation when using suture anchors to repair torn rotator cuff tendon. This device may be a useful adjunct to current methods of rotator cuff repair.

Expression of MMP-9, TIMP-1, CD-34 and factor-8 as prognostic markers for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue is characterized by an unpredictable course, ranging from relatively benign to a high degree of locally aggressive growth and metastasis. Treatment guidelines have been developed according to TNM stage, but they do not always accurately predict clinical outcome. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the expression of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) that degrade the extracellular matrices, their inhibitors (TIMPs), and angiogenic factors (factor-8 and CD-34) in tumor cells and to correlate these findings with the clinicopathological features and patient outcome. Tissue specimens from 23 patients with primary SCC of the tongue were immunohistochemically stained for these markers. High expressions of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were detected in 60.9% and 65.2% of the specimens, respectively. Tumor invasion to adjacent muscle, lymph node metastasis, and disease status at the end of follow-up were positively correlated with the microvessel count using the CD-34 marker, but not with high expression of MMP-9 or TIMP-1. Expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 fails to predict aggressiveness in SCC of the tongue. However, the degree of vascularization in tumor tissue is indicative of disease aggressiveness and might be used as a basis for patient selection for more intensive therapy.

Sentinel node guided surgery for melanoma in the head and neck region.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy may be more technically challenging for melanoma of the head and neck compared with other locations because of the complex lymphatic drainage patterns. This study demonstrates the value of sentinel node biopsy for head and neck melanoma, and highlights the associated difficulties. Thirty consecutive patients with primary cutaneous melanoma of the head and neck (n=26) or draining to the neck (n=4) underwent preoperative lymphoscintigraphy. This was followed by intraoperative lymphatic mapping using blue dye alone (n=8) or in combination with a hand-held gamma probe (n=22) and sentinel lymphadenectomy. Modified neck dissection was performed in all patients with positive sentinel nodes. The study population had a male predominance (73%). Most lesions were nodular and were not ulcerated. In two patients (6.2%) preoperative lymphoscintigraphy failed to demonstrate the draining nodes, which were retrieved by surgery, and in two patients (6.2%) the sentinel node was not found at surgery despite preoperative visualization. Overall, the sentinel node was identified 93% of the time: in seven out of eight cases (88%) using blue dye alone, and in 21 out of 22 cases (96%) using a combination of blue dye and gamma probe. Four out of 28 basins were deemed positive for metastases. Twenty-three of the 24 patients with negative sentinel nodes were free of disease at a median of 31 months (range 9-91 months). There was one false-negative case salvaged by surgery. The sentinel node technique is technically demanding but advantageous for most patients with head and neck melanoma. Identification rates seem to be better when preoperative lymphoscintigraphy is combined with intraoperative blue dye mapping and a hand-held gamma probe. The relative contribution of each component could not be determined.

Revision parathyroidectomy guided by intraoperative radionuclide imaging.

BACKGROUND: Technetium-99m sestamibi scintigraphy has become one of the most popular techniques for localization of the parathyroid gland after failure of primary neck exploration. OBJECTIVE: To examine the efficacy of sestamibi with the hand-held gamma ray detecting probe for the identification of parathyroid adenomas during revision parathyroidectomy. METHODS: We reviewed six cases of probe-assisted neck exploration for parathyroid lesions following unsuccessful primary exploration. RESULTS: In all cases the pathologic glands were successfully detected and removed. CONCLUSIONS: With careful planning, a gamma ray detecting probe can be used optimally 2-3 hours after technetium-99m sestamibi injection. The probe is efficient, easy and convenient to use.

Transoral reconstruction of the mobile tongue, using radial forearm free flap.

Tongue resection has significant influence on the patient's quality of life, because it interferes with masticatory and speech functions and affects facial aesthetics. To avoid the disadvantages of the traditional lip-splitting used to approach partial tongue reconstruction for resection (40% of the tongue or more), we recommend a completely transoral approach, with the radial forearm free flap as a donor flap. Between 1999-2001, the suggested technique was applied in 11 patients with squamous-cell carcinoma of the mobile tongue. A follow-up of 6-30 months showed good to excellent oral function, with preservation of tongue volume, motion, and facial aesthetics. This approach seems to be preferable over the lip-split approach for the reconstruction of mobile tongue defects.