Analysis of Tomographic Images of a Catastrophic Gas Embolism during Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a commonly performed minimally invasive procedure. Air embolism in a patient undergoing ERCP is relatively rare, accounting for approximately 2-3% of procedures performed, and a catastrophic air embolism is even rarer. Symptoms of air embolism can come from the cardiopulmonary and nervous system. It is important to remember this in the differential diagnosis of complications of ERCP, as early detection is crucial. In the case presented here, the diagnostic CT scan performed immediately after the incident brings awareness of how massive an air embolism can be. The CT results showed gas bubbles entering both the superior and inferior vena cava. The presence of air has been captured in the bile ducts, duodenum wall, heart, femoral veins and intracranially. Risk factors for this complication include previous biliary surgeries, the presence of prostheses and stents, cholangitis, liver tumors and anatomical anomalies such as hepatobiliary fistulas, as well as intrahepatic and extrahepatic anatomical leaks. As gas embolism is associated with serious health consequences, knowledge of the problem and adequate preparation may reduce the occurrence of the problem. Attention should be paid to basic and easily obtainable precautions when performing the procedure, such as the patient's hemodynamic status, adequate hydration and positioning during the procedure.

Late Outcomes of Undiagnosed Unilateral Condylar Hyperplasia and Reoccurrence of Mandibular Asymmetry.

Unilateral condylar hyperplasia (UCH) is a rare cause of asymmetrical mandibular overgrowth because of the presence of an atypical growth in the affected condyle. SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) can easily establish the presence of an atypical, prolonged growth exceeding far beyond normal condylar growth and activity. A CT, CBCT, or LDCT (computed tomography, cone-beam computed tomography, or low-dose computed tomography) can confirm the diagnosis by evaluating the scope of bone overgrowth, mandibular basis/ramus asymmetry, tendency to condylar head enlargement, changes in bone density, and occurrence of differences in condylar head shapes, size, and bone structure. In most cases, a condylectomy is the procedure of choice in growing cases of UCH to remove the pathological condyle and reduce asymmetry levels. Sometimes, the growth is very slow and progressive over time, causing slowly growing asymmetry with similar symptoms to any other mandibular asymmetry, and this causes some troublesome procedures in UCH diagnostics, resulting in patients being underdiagnosed; it can even lead to some relapses in mandibular asymmetry and skeletal malocclusion after previously performed orthodontic and surgical treatment of such discrepancies. When the source of asymmetry is not identified in time, possible inadequate treatment protocols can be used. If any relapse of facial and mandibular asymmetry re-occur, SPECT and CT evaluation are necessary to evaluate if condylar hyperplasia is present and to establish what kind of surgical intervention should be used in each case.

The CBCT Retrospective Study on Underwood Septa and Their Related Factors in Maxillary Sinuses-A Proposal of Classification.

Introduction. The presence of bone septum in the maxillary sinus is one of the most common anatomical findings. So-called Underwood septa (US) are an atypical bone formation in the maxillary sinuses. Mostly they are quite easily found in CBCT studies and have major importance in sinus lift procedures in dental surgery. Furthermore, the shape, location, and size of the bony septa are important in each maxillary sinus surgery. Material and methods. A retrospective study of 120CBCT scans from the authors' own database was conducted. Results. Approximately 37.5% of each CBCT was associated with the occurrence of US, while just 25% had a full septum, and a total of only 14 patients had a half septa. More females have US, while healthy pneumatized maxillary sinus is most commonly found (82.22%). There is no correlation between the occurrence of silent sinus syndrome (p = 0.174), mucosal thickening (p = 0.325), or retention cyst formation (p = 0.272). Most sinuses are without any opacification in CBCT evaluation (91.11%), while other syndromes are not statistically relevant. Conclusions. It seems that the occurrence of Underwood septa is not statistically related to any clinical, radiological, or pathological condition within the sinus (p > 0.05). Furthermore, a more full or partial appearance of US was found in female patients.

Anatomical and Clinical Implications in Neocondyle Stability After a Condylectomy.

: A condylectomy of the mandibular condyle is considered to be the treatment of choice in most cases of condylar head hyperactivity. The aim of the procedure is to remove the growth center of the mandible which is responsible for the mandibular enlargement and asymmetry. This surgical procedure has an impact on the condyle shape and position, but the restoration of mandibular movement and a stable joint position (namely, the proper alignment of the newly shaped condylar head within the condyle fossa) should also be considered important surgical outcomes. In this article, the authors present their own experience in performing condylectomies with an arthroplasty procedure and a special forced suturing technique (FST) in terms of achieving early, accurate mandibular movement and maintaining a stable condyle position in early and late outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A modified high condylectomy with arthroplasty and FST results had been studied in anatomical, radiological, and clinical model. RESULTS: Early findings after FST are promising. A slight improvement in lateral jaw movement was noted after condylectomy with arthroplasty (P < 0.05) both in early and late follow-up. Incisal opening, mandibular protrusion, and lateral movement were sustained. A stable condyle position within the fossa was achieved in each case of condylectomy with arthroplasty (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The FST condylectomy and reattachment of the lateral pterygoid muscle in a new, wider position provided an improvement in lateral jaw movement as well as in incisal opening and mandibular protrusion in early follow-up examination compared to the presurgical values. It seems that the FST enabled a better new condylar head position in the glenoid fossa and improved early functional mandibular movement.

Technical aspects of nasal cavity surgery through the Le Fort I down-fracture approach: An otolaryngologist's point of view based on 90 patients' experience.

BACKGROUND: The downfracture access to septoand turbinoplasty during maxillary osteotomy may be recommended in many cases. One or both of these laryngological interventions may be necessary when, after the patient's clinical evaluation, either an impaired function of nasal breathing or a deviated septum are present. The main postsurgical risk of the procedure is the destabilization of the cartilaginous septum position and its relation to adjacent anatomical structures, a change in the shape of the nose and the presence of a supratip break. OBJECTIVES: In this paper, the authors present their own experience in intranasal procedures, the relevant surgical techniques and possible complications, based on their own clinical findings and on a literature review. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The general aim of the study was to describe the key points and differences between septoand turbinoplasty performed classically and during Le Fort I osteotomy based on 90 orthognathic surgery patient cases. The procedures have been evaluated and compared regarding their advantages and disadvantages. RESULTS: Intraoperative downfracture of the maxilla facilitates the performance of various subsequent procedures in the regions of the nasal cavities and sinuses. Due to a very convenient access to the nasal cavities, it is possible to perform septoor turbinoplasty in patients with nasal airway breathing problems, a deviated septum, and in others. CONCLUSIONS: A combined effort of an otolaryngologist and a maxillofacial team improves the overall nasal breathing with a limited amount of complications. Endoscopy with low-dose computed tomography (CT) is a valuable diagnostic tool for measuring any breathing improvements in nasal capacity. Objective patient nasal breathing problems should be always investigated.

Odontogenic inflammatory processes of head and neck in computed tomography examinations.

BACKGROUND: Infections of odontogenic origin are the most common cause of inflammatory disease of head and neck region. Computed tomography allows for defining localization and extent of inflammatory lesions, visualizes soft tissue involvement, presence of an abscess or an osteolytic lesion around causative tooth. THE AIM OF THIS STUDY WAS TO ASSESS PATHWAYS, BY WHICH ODONTOGENIC INFECTIONS SPREAD INTO RESPECTIVE DEEP HEAD AND NECK STRUCTURES IN COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY EXAMINATION, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA: frequency of involvement of respective deep cervical spaces, possibility to determine a probable causative tooth and concordance with the results of clinical examination. MATERIAL/METHODS: Thirty-eight patients cervicofacial inflammatory disease had undergone CT examination of head and neck region with a 64-slice CT scanner after intravenous contrast administration. RESULTS: Abscess was reported in 30 (79%) cases, while inflammatory infiltration was diagnosed in remaining 8 (21%) patients. There was full concordance between radiological report and intraoperative report In 33 cases (87%). The most commonly involved cervical space was masticator space - 31 patients (82%), followed by submandibular space - 27 patients (71%). Dental examination was impossible in 29 patient because of trismus. During analysis of CT studies we evaluated maxillary and mandibular alveolar processes for presence of osteolytic bone lesions around causative teeth roots and we found them in 30 cases (79%). In 32 cases (84%) cervicofacial infection were of mandibular odontogenic origin. CONCLUSIONS: In most cases CT study in patients suspected of odontogenic craniofacial infection revealed presence of an abscess, needing urgent surgery. Inflammatory infiltration of dental origin most frequently involves masticator space, followed by submandibular space. In most cases CT scanning allows for identification of causative teeth, especially when trismus makes detailed clinical examination impossible.

Neurofibroma of sinus maxillae.

Neurofibroma is a benign tumour composed from Schwann cells. Localization in sinus maxillea is very rare. Authors presenting case which was treatment in Maxillo-Facial Surgery Clinic in Wroclaw.

[Acinic cell carcinoma of glandule parotidea presenting untypical clinical symptoms and their bad prognosis]. / Acinic cell carcinoma slinianki przyusznej o nietypowym obrazie klinicznym i niekorzystnym przebiegu.

Differential diagnosis of neck tumours puts precedence on diagnosing neoplastic lesions. In the case of neck tumours, these are unfortunately late signs, but in patients with a primary neoplastic focus within the head and neck, neck tumour is often the first sign of the disease. The authors describe a clinical case of neck tumour with initially unclear etiology. The preoperative diagnostics including ultrasonography, thin-needle puncture, MRI, carotid angiography and videostroboscopy was significant for surgical treatment planning; yet it was the intraoperative clinical picture which indicated that the tumour derived from the inferior parotid pole. The preoperative histopathological diagnosis using thin-needle biopsy: cellulae carcinomatosae and the clinical picture resulted in block operation with neck lymphatic system removal and tissue defect reconstruction by means of a pectoral flap. The histopathological examination confirmed non-cornifying basal cell epithelioma only in the essential lesion with no metastases to lymph nodes and surrounding tissue margins free of infiltrates. Two and a half years after the procedure, the patient presented with a tumour localized on the front thoracic wall and two rapidly enlarging tumours in the nape of the neck. In the collected specimen of the tumour on the front thoracic wall, a diagnosis of acinic cell carcinoma was made. The deteriorating general condition of the patient, his cancer emaciation, problems with movement and suspected liver metastases confirmed by abdominal USG as well as radiological bone lesions resulted in the abandonment of surgical treatment due to disseminated neoplastic process and the patient was referred for palliative care.