Respiratory Epithelial Adenomatoid Hamartoma: An Important Differential of Sinonasal Masses.

Background Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas (REAH) are rare, glandular proliferations of the aerodigestive tract lined by ciliated respiratory epithelium. We report nine cases of REAH and devised a histopathological guide to differentiate these lesions from its main differentials. Methods Patients with biopsy-proven REAH were included in the series. Lesions were removed endoscopically and sent for histopathological analysis. The macroscopic and microscopic features were reviewed. Results Nine patients (age 59 ± 15.5 years, 78% male) with REAH were analysed. Findings revealed glandular proliferations lined by ciliated respiratory epithelium without metaplastic changes and intervening oedematous stroma. This is in contrast to a typically thickened epithelial basement membrane with oedematous stroma seen in nasal polyps. Conclusion REAHs are benign entities that should be included in the differential diagnosis for sinonasal masses. Prompt detection by tissue biopsy is crucial to differentiate these lesions from nasal polyps and more aggressive pathologies and avoid unnecessary surgery.

Complications after CO2 laser surgery for early glottic cancer: An institutional experience.

BACKGROUND: Transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) of the glottis is increasingly utilized in the current management of early glottic cancer, its advantages being administrative ease, potential to be repeated, ability to keep radiotherapy and open laryngeal surgery available as salvage options, and low complication rates. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of prospectively gathered data on all patients over a 10-year period who had undergone TLM for Tis or early (T1-2) glottic squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) was analyzed to examine the complications experienced. RESULTS: Of 132 patients undergoing TLM, complications were: edema requiring tracheostomy (n = 1), surgical emphysema (n = 1), pharyngeal bruising (n = 1), endotracheal tube cuff perforation (n = 1), anterior glottic web (n = 14), vocal cord granuloma (n = 14), laryngocele (n = 1), and none of airway fire or intraoperative or postoperative hemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that for early glottic cancers, and in skilled hands, with appropriate anesthetic and theater staff support, TLM is a safe and repeatable procedure. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 38: E987-E990, 2016.

Outcomes of microvascular free flap reconstruction for mandibular osteoradionecrosis: A systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Osteoradionecrosis of the mandible is a devastating complication of radiotherapy in patients with head and neck cancer. Many cases present at a late stage, from months to years following completion of radiation therapy. When medical treatment fails, surgery may be required with a variety of free flaps available for microvascular reconstructive techniques. OBJECTIVE: To conduct a systematic review of the literature investigating the outcomes of free flap reconstruction of the jaw in mandibular osteoradionecrosis and determine the failure rates of different flap tissue. METHODS: A systematic literature search was performed using Medline (Ovid) Pubmed and Embase databases and Google Scholar. Primary outcome measures were flap failures and complications, with donor site complications representing the secondary outcome measure. Analysis of pooled outcomes was undertaken for different flaps. RESULTS: 333 articles were identified and 15 articles met the final inclusion criteria, detailing 368 primary free tissue flap transfers. There was a flap failure rate of 9.8%. There were 146 post-operative complications (39.7%), the most common being fistula formation (8.4%), hardware plate exposure (7.1%) and flap wound infections (6.5%). CONCLUSION: The fibula is the workhorse free flap for reconstruction in mandibular osteoradionecrosis. Evidence to date is largely limited with the need for larger powered multi-institutional prospective studies to determine the ideal flap donor tissue and evaluate patient and treatment predictors of free flap outcomes in order to tailor the best patient-based surgical approach for mandibular osteoradionecrosis.

Box, cable and smartphone: a simple laparoscopic trainer.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery requires different abilities to open surgery, and is challenging to learn within the confines of the operating theatre. With the development of laparoscopic surgery in modern surgery, the importance in improving these skills is becoming an increasing focus of surgical training programmes. CONTEXT: The assembly of the laparoscopic trainer and exercises was performed at the University of Sydney Clinical School located at Hornsby Hospital in Sydney, Australia. The objective was to design and construct a new concept smartphone box laparoscopic trainer that is affordable and replicable, and to demonstrate its usefulness in practising laparoscopic techniques to improve skills outside of the operating theatre. INNOVATION: The trainer was constructed using a personal smartphone, cardboard box, video graphics array (VGA) adaptor, VGA cable and a computer screen. Laparoscopic instruments and materials used for simulated task exercises were obtained from the operating theatre. Simulated demonstrations of simple laparoscopic tasks included suture handling, instrument knot-tying and anastomotic suture techniques. IMPLICATIONS: The smartphone box trainer is inexpensive (approximately $60) and took less than 20 minutes to build. The cost was almost entirely for the VGA adaptor. The box trainer was light, portable and easily transported to any setting that provided a computer screen. It is an inexpensive, easy-to-assemble, replicable model that benefits from the advanced technology of personal smartphones, and can be easily accessed as a useful tool in learning and improving laparoscopic techniques. Laparoscopic surgery requires different abilities to open surgery.