[The infracochlear approach for diagnostic petrous apicotomy]. / Der infracochleäre Zugang zur Felsenbeinspitze aus diagnostischer Indikation.

Diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to the petrous apex involve sub-/transtemporal, retrosigmoidal, infratemporal and-lesser invasive-e. g. infracochlear, infralabyrinthine or under favourable anatomic conditions, transsphenoidal surgical pathways. For diagnostic purposes, minimally invasive approaches should be preferred due to their lesser morbidity. This article illustrates the infracochlear approach to the petrous apex in the case of a diagnostic indication in a patient with an incidental, asymptomatic tumorous lesion of the right petrous apex with bony erosion. After the bone of the floor of the ear canal and the hypotympanum was removed, the carotid artery and the jugular bulb were identified using a diamond burr. The route to the petrous apex is triangled by the cochlea superiorly, the jugular bulb posteriorly, and the carotid artery anteriorly. After opening the petrous apex lesion, biopsies were taken. The defect in the floor of the ear canal and the hypotympanum was reconstructed with cartilage and temporalis fascia. The patient recovered quickly from surgery without vertigo or hearing loss. Histological evaluation showed a chondrosarcoma. The patient opted for primary radiation therapy (C12, 63 Gy). The infracochlear approach is minimally invasive and can offer access to the petrous apex with minimal morbidity. The pathway, however, is narrow and deep and bounded by the jugular bulb and the carotid artery. The available space can be estimated from preoperative CT scans and, if possible, with 3D reconstructions. Navigation can additionally enhance safety.

Buried free flaps in head and neck reconstruction: higher risk of free flap failure?

Thrombosis of the pedicle is central to free flap failure, and early revision of a compromised flap is the key to successfully salvage a flap. Therefore, the majority of free flaps in reconstructive head and neck surgery are used with the ability to visually examine the flap. Sometimes, due to intra-operative circumstances, it is necessary to use a flap that cannot be monitored externally. These flaps are called buried flaps and have the reputation of being put at risk. The current literature provides only limited data to support or disprove this position. A single institution retrospective review of patient charts between 2007 and 2015 was performed. Flap monitoring was carried out with hand-held Doppler of the pedicle hourly for the first 72 h in all cases. Additional duplex ultrasound was performed in the majority of buried flaps. A total of 437 flaps were included into the study. 37 flaps (7.8 %) were identified to fulfill the criteria of a buried free flap. In total, four patients had complications, three of which required operative reexploration. All interventions were successful, resulting in no flap loss in our series. An accurate operation technique combined with meticulous monitoring protocols supported by duplex ultrasound can result in satisfactory outcome of buried flaps. No enhanced risk of flap loss of buried flaps was found in our cohort.

Clinical impact of malnutrition on complication rate and length of stay in elective ENT patients: a prospective cohort study.

Malnutrition is considered as an independent risk factor for morbidity, mortality and a prolonged hospital stay for in-hospital patients. While most available data on the impact of malnutrition on health-related and financial implications refer to gastroenterologic or abdominal surgery patients, little is known about the impact of malnutrition on Ear Nose Throat (ENT)/head and neck surgery patients. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of malnutrition on morbidity and length of hospital stay in an elective ENT/head and neck surgery patient cohort. The study was performed as a single-center, prospective cohort study at a tertiary referral centre. Nutritional risk at admission was assessed using the NRS-2002 screening tool. Multivariate regression models were used to determine independent risk factors for complications and a prolonged hospitalization. Three hundred fifty one participants were included in the study. A malignant disease was found in 62 participants (17.7 %). 62 patients (17.7 %) were at a moderate to severe risk of malnutrition. A bad general health condition and complications during hospital stay could be identified as independent risk factors for a prolonged hospitalization. Patients with a malignant tumor showed a more than fourfold higher risk of developing at least one complication. Malnutrition, however, was not statistically associated with a higher complication rate or a prolonged hospital stay. Our data suggests that malnutrition does not seem to play such an important role as a risk factor for complications and a prolonged hospital stay in ENT patients as it does in other disciplines like abdominal surgery or gastroenterology.

Optical magnification devices in tonsillectomy: a prospective randomised clinical study.

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedure in otorhinolaryngology. A plethora of approaches has been undertaken so far to limit postoperative pain, one of the major problems patients are concerned with. Thermal damages of the surrounding tissue caused by coagulation during surgery are discussed to correlate with postoperative pain. Therefore, we studied whether the use of magnification devices reduced coagulation procedures and consequently limited post-operative pain. Following an intraindividual design, we performed tonsillectomy on one side using a microscope or magnifying glasses whereas the opposite side was operated with unsupported vision. As verified by a visual analogue scale, our study shows that neither the use of a microscope, nor the use of magnifying glasses leads to less post-operative pain. Other parameters like post-operative bleeding, duration of surgery, and total applied energy by bipolar coagulation were also comparable in the different treatment groups. Taken together, magnification-supported tonsillectomy does not seem to be appropriate for limiting complications of tonsillectomy, especially not for reducing post-operative pain.

Diode laser versus radiofrequency treatment of the inferior turbinate - a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Laser and radiofrequency induced volume reduction of the inferior turbinates are frequently used treatment modalities. Which of both is superior, however, is not clear to date due to a lack of controlled prospective studies. Here, we compare both methods regarding improvement of nasal breathing, complications, patient comfort and wound healing. METHODOLOGY: Prospective, randomized, single-blinded clinical trial with intra-individual design. After randomization, one side of the nose was treated with a 940nm diode laser and the other side with bipolar radiofrequency therapy. Pre- and postoperative evaluation was performed using visual analogue scales, nasal endoscopy and objective measurements of nasal patency. RESULTS: Of 27 enrolled patients, 26 completed the protocol. No severe complications were observed. Intraoperative discomfort was significantly more severe on the radiofrequency side. After three months, a significant reduction of nasal obstruction was observed for laser treatment and radiofrequency therapy with no significant difference between them. Objective parameters did not improve significantly. When asked which treatment modality they would chose again 50 % of the patients decided for radiofrequency treatment, 23 % for laser treatment, and 19 % for both. CONCLUSION: DLVR and RFVR are well-tolerated treatment modalities and both significantly reduce the degree of nasal obstruction in patients with hypertrophic inferior turbinates. There was no significant difference between both treatment modalities regarding efficiency.

Patient comfort following FESS and Nasopore® packing, a double blind, prospective, randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: The use of nasal packing after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is often associated with pain and a feeling of pressure for patients. The aim of the present work was to investigate a modern wound dressing made of polyurethane (Nasopore®) that makes removal of the nasal packing unnecessary and is focussed on patient comfort. METHODOLOGY: Following bilateral FESS, after randomisation, one side was packed with Nasopore® while the other side was without packing as a control. The following parameters from 47 patients were determined daily in two centres from post-operative day 1 for the duration of the inpatient stay in a double-blinded setting: side-specific post-operative bleeding, nasal breathing and feeling of pressure as well as the general parameters sleep disturbance, headaches and general well-being. Which side patients considered subjectively the better was also recorded. RESULTS: No significant differences were determined between the two sides in terms of the rates of post-operative bleeding and nasal breathing. The feeling of pressure was slightly less on the side packed with Nasopore® on post-operative days 2 and 3. No trend could be observed regarding which side patients described as being subjectively better. CONCLUSION: There were only slight differences in patient comfort between the Nasopore® side and the control. Because the feeling of pressure in the midface was significantly less and there were no complications, this suggests there is greater patient comfort when using Nasopore® compared to using no nasal packing.

Lemierre syndrome: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Lemierre syndrome, also known as postanginal sepsis, is caused by Fusobacterium necrophorum. This rare disease is usually characterized by thrombophlebitis of the jugular vein and septic embolism after a history of sore throat. OBJECTIVE: Here, we discuss a case of Lemierre syndrome in a 22-year-old man with thrombophlebitis of the facial vein and fusobacteria growth in the blood culture but no obvious focus of inflammation. METHOD: Case report. CONCLUSION: Severe facial infection with high fever and a general feeling of malaise after a history of sore throat should raise the diagnostic possibility of facial vein thrombophlebitis due to F. necrophorum infection.

[Cystic lesion with a displaced tooth in the maxillary sinus]. / Zystischer Kieferhöhlenprozess mit verlagertem Zahn.

Ameloblastomas are epithelial odontogenic tumors in the mandibula or maxilla with potential local infiltrating growth; therefore, relapses can occur after incomplete resection. Among the different histological subtypes, the following are of clinical importance: The so-called unicystic ameloblastoma, radiologically presenting as a common dentigerous cyst, and the so-called extraosseous ameloblastoma. This case report describes the rare combination of a unicystic ameloblastoma with extraosseous localization in the maxillary sinus and association with a displaced tooth. This unusual constellation can cause major diagnostic problems.

Tularaemia of middle ear with suppurative lymphadenopathy and retropharyngeal abscess.

OBJECTIVE: We report an extremely rare case of otitis media due to Francisella tularensis, complicated by multiple suppurative cervical lesions and a lasting conductive hearing loss. CASE REPORT: A young woman presented with otitis media, several neck swellings and a retropharyngeal swelling. Polymerase chain reaction testing of aspirated fluid and serology confirmed the diagnosis of tularaemia. Specific antibiotic therapy initiated six weeks after the onset of initial symptoms did not resolve the disease, and open surgical drainage was necessary. CONCLUSIONS: Otitis media unresponsive to conventional therapy and accompanied by unusually pronounced lymphadenopathy should prompt the clinician to consider tularaemia as a differential diagnosis, in order to initiate timely, specific therapy.