Magnetic Twin Stent for Short-Term Palliation of Acquired Nonmalignant Tracheoesophageal Fistula.

Through a tracheostomy with a rigid esophagoscope in the esophagus, the authors simultaneously placed self-made magnetic twin stents in a critically ill patient with high tracheoesophageal fistula. The operation took 17 minutes. Oral nutrition was started immediately. The stents were checked and changed after the months 3, 7, and 14. At 18 months, a tracheal resection and esophageal reconstruction through a partial median sternotomy was completed successfully. The magnetic twin stent technique can temporize critically ill patients with an acquired nonmalignant tracheoesophageal fistula until they become operable.

"Mystic" transient recurrent nerve palsy after thyroid surgery.

BACKGROUND: The mechanism of transient recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy remains unclear. METHODS: Samples were harvested from the RLN adjacent thyroid capsule and perineural fascia during 223 lobectomies and 89 RLNs from cadavers were used for histologic and immunohistologic evaluation. Intraoperative chromoendoscopic features of the RLN were compared with postoperative ear, nose, and throat examinations. RESULTS: Those nerves that macroscopically seem to be single-branched (35 of 89 = 39.3%), microscopically consist of multiple fascicles in most of the cases (23 of 35 = 65.7%), resembling a plexus more than a single cord. Chronic lymphocytic infiltration of the thyroid capsule adjacent to the RLN was present in 29% (65 of 223) of the cases. The perineural fascia showed lymphocytic (18 of 223 = 8.1%) or granulocytic (7 of 223 = 3.1%) infiltration. CONCLUSIONS: The origin of transient RLN palsy is multifactorial: plexus shaped microscopic nerve structure with or without branches, frame-like adventitial tissue, variable epineurium, inflammatory changes that involve not only the thyroid capsule but the perineural fascia, resultant nerve edema, and diffuse microhemorrhages by injury of fragile capillaries.

Recurrent, nonmalignant tracheoesophageal fistulas and the need for surgical improvisation.

BACKGROUND: Despite the many recent advances in thoracic surgery, the management of patients with recurrent, nonmalignant tracheoesophageal fistulas remains problematic, controversial, and challenging. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2008, we treated 8 patients with RTEF. Closure of the original tracheoesophageal fistula had been attempted once in 5 patients, twice in 2 patients, and 4 times in 1 patient, all in different institutions. Four cases necessitated right posterolateral thoracotomy and cervical exposure, 2 cases cervical and abdominal incision, and 1 case right posterolateral thoracotomy, with abdominal and cervical exposure. With the exception of the 2 patients whose excluded esophagus was used to substitute for the trachea membranous wall, the damaged tracheal segment was removed. In general, a pedicled mediastinal pleural flap was pulled into the neck to increase the safety of the tracheal anastomosis formed with the trachea, and (or) to separate the suture lines of the two organs. RESULTS: A single intervention was sufficient for all 8 patients: no reoperation was necessary, and there was no perioperative mortality. Transient reflux, abdominal distention, and dyspnea in response to forced physical exertion occurred in 1 case each. Only 1 patient subsequently takes medication regularly for reflux disease. CONCLUSIONS: Separation initiated from the tracheal bifurcation, a pedicled mediastinal pleural flap pulled into the neck, a tracheal anastomosis sewn onto the cricoid cartilage with avoidance of its posterolateral elbow, a shaped Dumon stent (Novatech, Plan de Grasse, France) with an individually fenestrated tracheostomy cannula, and endoscopy-assisted, transhiatal vagal-preserving esophageal exclusion all served as successful elements of our surgical procedures.

[The role of radical surgical approach in the treatment of benign multinodular goitre depending on anatomical variations of the recurrent laryngeal nerve]. / A radikalitás helye a benignus pajzsmirigybetegségek sebészi kezelésében a nervus rekurrens anatómiai sajátságainak tükrében.

UNLABELLED: From time to time there is a surprise at the end of surgery - even after subtotal resection - when a vocal cord is observed on indirect laryngoscopy to be non-functional. Surgeons are highly individualistic and develop their own special ways of locating and protecting the nerve. The present study has tried to clarify whether relying on palpation alone during surgery is safe enough in each case. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 01.01.2001 and 31.12.2008, 1228 recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) were exposed in 702 patients on thyroid surgery. The RLN was found and traced until the laryngeal entry point in all patients. Substernal spreading was noted in 38.6% (271/702), while tracheal compression or dislocation was present in 19.5% (137/702). Recurrent thyroid disease counted for 8.4% (59/702) of all cases. Total thyroid lobectomy was carried out in 82.2% (1009/1228), near-total thyroidectomy in 15.5% (191/1228), and subtotal resection only in 2.3% (28/1228). RESULTS: Palpation was helpful in 80.7% (991/1228), proved false positive in 8.7% (107/1228), while in 10.6% (130/1228) it did not provide any help in the localization. The palpability of the RLN showed marked discrepancy between the two sides. False positivity was noted with palpation in 3.4% (21/625) and 14.3% (86/603) on the right and left side, respectively. On the other hand, palpation helped localization in 4.8% (29/603) on the left side, while the same figure was 16.2% (101/603) on the right side. Definitive RLN palsy was experienced in 0.8% of all cases (10/1228), whilst transient paresis was encountered in 1.4% (17/1228). Occult malignancy was noticed in 5.6% (39/702). CONCLUSIONS: No indication has been left for subtotal resection. Even if benign multinodular goitre is present, since the clinical and pathophysiological evidences suggest that multinodular goitre affects the entire gland, any surgery that leaves potentially abnormal thyroid tissue in situ carries a risk of recurrent disease. RLN palpatory method is a useful part of thyroid surgery but it is suitable for rough orientation only.

Place and value of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palpatory method in preventing RLN palsy during thyroid surgery.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, certain publications have appeared confirming that intraoperative palpation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) is a very reliable method. METHOD: The characteristics of the surgical anatomy of 1023 RLN have been summarized on the basis of intraoperative palpability, running down, branching variations, thickness, and laryngeal entry site. RESULTS: Palpation was helpful in 81.4% (833/1023), proved false positive in 8.2% (84/1023), and in 10.4% (106/1023) it was of no help in the exact localization. Definitive RLN palsy was experienced in 0.78% of all cases (8/1023), while transient paresis was encountered in 1.2% (12/1023). Only a moderately strong stochastic correlation could be found between RLN palsies and those nerves which were nonpalpable and atypical, which showed the joint occurrence of being both thinner than normal and branching already before the plane of the inferior thyroid artery (Cramer's associate coefficient, C = 0.383). CONCLUSION: Palpation alone cannot substitute visualization and proper surgical dissection of the nerve.