Pharyngocutaneous fistula in irradiated patients: systematic review and our experience.

OBJECTIVE: Radiotherapy is considered a risk factor for pharyngocutaneous fistula after a total laryngectomy. This study aimed to analyse the impact of exclusive radiotherapy versus chemoradiotherapy and the time interval between radiotherapy and surgery on the risk of pharyngocutaneous fistula. METHOD: This study was a retrospective revision of 171 patients treated with a total laryngectomy after radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. RESULTS: Pharyngocutaneous fistula occurred in 33 patients (19.3 per cent). Patients previously treated with chemoradiotherapy showed a non-significant higher pharyngocutaneous fistula rate compared with patients treated with radiotherapy (25.0 per cent vs 18.0 per cent; p = 0.455). Patients with a pharyngocutaneous fistula after chemoradiotherapy treatment required a surgical repair more frequently than patients treated with radiotherapy (p = 0.005). There were no significant differences in the pharyngocutaneous fistula rate depending on the time interval between radiotherapy and surgery (p = 0.580). CONCLUSION: There were no differences in the pharyngocutaneous fistula rate after total laryngectomy depending on the previous treatment with radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, or depending on the interval between radiotherapy treatment and surgery.

Pharyngeal closure after a total laryngectomy: mechanical versus manual technique.

OBJECTIVE: To verify the main advantages and drawbacks of mechanical suturing for pharyngeal closure after total laryngectomy versus a manual suturing technique. METHODS: A retrospective review was carried out of 126 total laryngectomies performed between 2008 and 2018. Manual closure was performed in 80 cases (63.5 per cent) and mechanical suturing was performed in 46 cases (36.5 per cent). RESULTS: Mechanical suturing was used significantly more frequently in patients with: glottic tumours (p = 0.008), less local tumour extension (p = 0.017) and less pre-operative morbidity (p = 0.014). There were no significant differences in the incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula between the manual suture group (16.3 per cent) and the mechanical suture group (13.0 per cent) (p = 0.628). None of the patients treated with mechanical suturing had positive surgical margins. Cancer-specific survival for the mechanical suture group was higher than that for the manual suture group (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Mechanical suturing of the pharynx after total laryngectomy is an oncologically safe technique if used in suitable cases.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: 30-year experience of a single institution in a non-endemic area

Purpose. Over the past years, radiotherapy techniques have changed significantly. The impact of these changes in the management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has not been fully evaluated. Methods/patients. Between 1984 and 2014, 223 NPC were diagnosed in our hospital. Prior to 2000, patients were treated with 2D treatment plan (RT2D) that evolved to 3D schemes thereafter (RT3D). Results. Tumors in the RT3D period showed significantly lower stages than those in the RT2D period. 5-year cause-specific survival improved from 55.7% (95% CI: 46.7-64.7%) in the RT2D period to 78.7% (95% CI: 68.7-88.7%) in the RT3D period (P = 0.006). This difference was greater for non-keratinizing NPC, where specific survival went from 63.2% (95% CI: 52.2-74.2%) to 84.4% (95% CI: 74.4-94.4%) (P = 0.014). Conclusion. Recent changes in treatment strategies including concurrent chemoradiation and 3D radiotherapy may have impacted in better survival for NPC. Improved imaging techniques may have contributed by earlier detection and better treatment planning (AU)

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Nasopharyngeal carcinoma: 30-year experience of a single institution in a non-endemic area.

PURPOSE: Over the past years, radiotherapy techniques have changed significantly. The impact of these changes in the management of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) has not been fully evaluated. METHODS/PATIENTS: Between 1984 and 2014, 223 NPC were diagnosed in our hospital. Prior to 2000, patients were treated with 2D treatment plan (RT2D) that evolved to 3D schemes thereafter (RT3D). RESULTS: Tumors in the RT3D period showed significantly lower stages than those in the RT2D period. 5-year cause-specific survival improved from 55.7% (95% CI: 46.7-64.7%) in the RT2D period to 78.7% (95% CI: 68.7-88.7%) in the RT3D period (P = 0.006). This difference was greater for non-keratinizing NPC, where specific survival went from 63.2% (95% CI: 52.2-74.2%) to 84.4% (95% CI: 74.4-94.4%) (P = 0.014). CONCLUSION: Recent changes in treatment strategies including concurrent chemoradiation and 3D radiotherapy may have impacted in better survival for NPC. Improved imaging techniques may have contributed by earlier detection and better treatment planning.

Diuréticos del asa y ototoxicidad / Loop diuretics and ototoxicity

El uso de diuréticos del asa esta muy extendido en la práctica medica. Con un amplio margen de seguridad, poseen efectos adversos que deben ser tenidos en cuenta para evitarlos o reconocerlos en cuanto aparecen. La ototoxicidad asociada a la furosemida es, en principio, excepcional y remite con la supresión del tratamiento, aunque se ha descrito cofosis permanente por lesión coclear

Loop diuretics are quite often used in medical practice. In spite of a wide security, there are several adverse events that should be known, in order to be early recognised as soon as they appear. Ototoxicity associated to furosemide is infrequent and reversible. However, permanent deafness associated with furosemide administration has been previously reported

[Loop diuretics and ototoxicity]. / Diuréticos del asa y ototoxicidad.

Loop diuretics are quite often used in medical practice. In spite of a wide security, there are several adverse events that should be known, in order to be early recognised as soon as they appear. Ototoxicity associated to furosemide is infrequent and reversible. However, permanent deafness associated with furosemide administration has been previously reported.

A Novel Domino Reaction: Cyclization of Alkynyl Sulfides by Reaction with IPy2 BF4.

Formation of polycyclic structures within a few minutes: The intramolecular cyclization of diynes, activated by a benzenesulfenyl substituent, upon reaction with IPy2 BF4 proceeds as an efficient exo-endo coupling. A subsequent novel Friedel-Crafts-like ring closure provides the product [Eq. (1)]. Thus, intra- and intermolecular cyclizations can be carried out.