Postoperative delirium in head and neck cancer patients: a survey of oncologic oral and maxillofacial surgeon practices.

PURPOSE: Effective delirium risk management for head and neck surgical patients has not been investigated. The present study was undertaken to determine oncologic oral and maxillofacial surgeons' postoperative delirium diagnostic and management practices. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgeon familiarity with the standard of care for postoperative delirium diagnosis and management was assessed through an electronic survey. Survey results were compared with published guidelines and the results of similar surveys within the critical care medical community. RESULTS: Participation was 87.5%. Although less than one third of respondents used appropriate diagnostic nomenclature to characterize the clinical manifestations of acute postoperative delirium, 89% did recognize delirium as a complication that increased morbidity. Only 58% were aware of methods to identify patients at risk. No surgeon who personally initiated pharmacologic therapy for delirium reported using a validated delirium-screening instrument. The administration of a benzodiazepine occurred more often than any other drug during the treatment of postoperative delirium. CONCLUSION: The present study highlights distinct variations in the medical management of postoperative delirium, with most surgeons prescribing medications that have been shown to potentiate or exacerbate delirium or have not been proved to have superior therapeutic benefit. Haloperidol remains the first-line drug of choice in the management of patients appropriately diagnosed with postoperative delirium. Prospective investigations for risk stratification and postoperative delirium are needed.

Surgical correction of craniosynostosis. A review of 100 cases.

PURPOSE: Provide outcome data for open cranial vault reshaping at a single institution by a single craniofacial surgeon treating 100 patients. METHODS AND SUBJECTS: A total of 100 patient records were reviewed. Criteria for selection included patients less than three years of age undergoing primary surgery with open cranial vault reshaping and a minimum follow up time of 2 years. RESULTS: Of the 100 patients (27 female, 73 male) treated 6 were syndromic and 94 nonsyndromic. Average age and weight were 8.9 months and 9.51 kg, respectively. The oldest child was 30 months and the youngest 5 months at the time of surgery. The estimated blood volume lost was 42.7% of total calculated blood volume ranging from 16.6% to 336%. Average surgical time was 216.7 min. Complications included 2 hematomas, 2 wound infections, 1 subgaleal abscess, 6 dural tears, 3 patients requiring reoperation for residual deformity, 4 cases requiring coronal scar revision, 1 sagittal sinus bleed, and 1 intraoperative death. CONCLUSIONS: Our review of 100 open repairs of patients with craniosynostosis demonstrates good long-term results with an overall low complication rate. The outcome data will assist in developing future prospective studies aimed at improving the multidisciplinary care of these patients.

Oral maxillary squamous carcinoma: an indication for neck dissection in the clinically negative neck.

BACKGROUND: This multicenter study was undertaken to characterize the metastatic behavior of oral maxillary squamous carcinoma and to determine the role of selective neck dissection. METHODS: A retrospective, multicenter study of patients surgically treated for oral maxillary squamous carcinoma was completed. Data collected included primary tumor location, cervical lymph node status, and neck failure rate. RESULTS: The study included 146 patients. The adjusted regional metastatic rate was 31.4%. Of those N0 (clinically negative) necks treated with or without neck dissection, 14.4% developed cervical metastasis. Within the cohort, 7.5% of patients died with distant disease. The regional salvage rate was 52.9%. None of the patients with locoregional failures were salvaged. CONCLUSIONS: Maxillary palatal, alveolar, and gingival squamous carcinomas exhibit aggressive regional metastatic behavior. Surgical salvage rates for neck failure are low; therefore, selective neck dissection (levels I-III) is recommended at the time of resection of T2, T3, and T4 maxillary squamous carcinomas.

Tolerabilidad y eficacia de morfina versus hidromorfona en analgesia epidural posquirúrgica con bupivacaína: ensayo aleatorizado, doble ciego y controlado / Tolerability and efficacy of morphine vs. hydromorphone in postoperative epidural analgesia: double-blind randomized control trial

Introducción. La tolerabilidad a la analgesia epidural puede comprometerse por efectos adversos derivados del opioide usado. Este estudio compara la tolerabilidad y eficacia de hidromorfona o morfina en combinación con bupivacaína, en analgesia epidural postoperatoria. Métodos. Ensayo prospectivo, aleatorizado y doble ciego en el Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paul; 147 pacientes fueron aleatorizadosen dos grupos: 73 pacientes del grupo MB recibieron 30 mcg/ml de morfina más bupivacaína 0,1 %, y 74 pacientes del grupo HB recibieron hidromorfona 10 mcg/ml más bupivacaína 0,1 %. Resultados. El desenlace principal fue tolerabilidad, definida por la frecuencia de náusea, vómito, sedación, retención urinaria y prurito entre los grupos a las 24 horas. Se analizaron 142 pacientes: 71 en el grupo MB y 71 en el grupo HB. La frecuencia de náusea fue de 36,6 % y 31 %, (p = 0,54); vómito, 19,7 % y 25,4 % (p = 0,42); sedación 15,5 % y 14,1 % (p = 0,81); retención urinaria 11,3 % y 7 % (p = 0,38); y prurito 43,7 % y 31 % (p = 0,11) para los grupos MB y HB, respectivamente. Cinco pacientes fueron retirados del estudio debido a migración o desconexión del catéter. No se hallaron diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos. La escala verbal numérica (EVN) de dolor dinámico a las 24 horas fue de 3,42 (+/- 2,8) y 2,82 (+/- 2,5) para los grupos MB y HB, respectivamente (p = 0,16). Conclusión. La escogencia entre morfina 30 mcg/ml o hidromorfona 10 mcg/ml no influye en la tolerabilidad o eficacia de esta técnica.

Introduction. The acceptance (tolerability) of epidural analgesia can be compromised by the side effects of opioids. This study compares theside effects and efficacy of hydromorphone or morphine combined with bupivacaine in postoperativeepidural analgesia. Methods. Double-blind prospective randomizedcontrolled trial at Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paul; 147 patients were randomized in two groups: 73 patients of the MB Group received 30 μg per ml of morphine with bupivacaine 0.1 % and 74 patients of the HB group received10 μg per ml of hydromorphone with bupivacaine 0.1 %. Results. The main outcome was the tolerability defined by the frequency of nausea and vomitingsedation urinary retention and pruritus between the groups at 24 hours. 142 patients were analyzed: 71 in group MB and 71 in group HB. The incidence of nausea was 36.6 % and 31 % (p = 0.54); vomiting 19.7 % and 25.4 % (p = 0.42); sedation 15.5 % and 14.1 % (p = 0.81); urinary retention 11.3 % and 7 % (p = 0.38); and pruritus 43.7 % and 31 % (p = 0.11) for groups MB and HB respectively. Five patients were excluded either because of catheter migration or disconnection. No statistically significant differences werefound between the groups. The verbal numerical scale (VNS) of dynamic pain at 24 hours was 3.42 (+/- 2.8) y 2.82 (+/- 2.5) for groups MB and HBrespectively (p = 0.16) Conclusions. The choice between 30 μg per ml of morphine or 10 mcg per ml of hydromorphone does not influence the incidence of side effects or the efficacy of this technique.

La omisión de la relajación neuromuscular en pacientes ambulatorios que requieren intubación orotraqueal incrementa temporalmente la incidencia de síntomas laríngeos postoperatorios: estudio cuasi-experimental / The avoidance of neuromuscular paralysis in outpatients requiring endotracheal intubation temporarily increases the incidence of postoperative laryngeal symptoms: quasi-experimental study

Introducción. Las técnicas de intubación endotraqueal sin relajación neuromuscular han crecido en popularidad, pero su impacto en unidades quirúrgicas donde existe personal en entrenamiento es desconocido. Objetivo. Evaluar el impacto de omitir la relajación neuromuscular, en términos de incidencia de disfonía y odinofagia, en pacientes sometidos a procedimientos ambulatorios cortos que requieren intubación endotraqueal en una unidad quirúrgica académica universitaria. Método. Estudio cuasi-experimental, no aleatorizado, doble ciego, en pacientes adultos programados para cirugía ambulatoria que requerían intubación endotraqueal. El grupo de no relajación recibió lidocaína (1,5 mg kg-1), propofol (1,5-2 mg kg-1) y remifentanil 4 mcg kg-1, y el grupo de relajación recibió la misma técnica, y se adicionó rocuronio a dosis de 0,3-0,6 mg kg-1. Los desenlaces primarios se evaluaron a los días 1, 3 y 14 postoperatorios. Resultados. Se incluyeron 287 pacientes. El 51,7 % recibió relajante neuromuscular. La incidencia de disfonía fue estadísticamente mayor a las 24 horas en el grupo de no relajante (26 % frente a 15 %; valor p: 0,016); así, no fue significativa a las 72 horas de seguimiento (0,6 % frente a 0 %; valor de p 0,37). No se encontraron diferencias en la incidencia de odinofagia entre los grupos. Los síntomas habían desaparecido en toda la población estudiada a la semana de seguimiento. Conclusiones. Omitir la relajación neuromuscular se asocia con un incremento transitorio de disfonía a las 24 horas del posoperatorio, pero no de odinofagia. No existen diferencias en la incidencia de síntomas laríngeos en 72 horas. La adición de relajante neuromuscular para disminuir la incidencia de disfonía temprana puede estar justificada.

Introduction. Endotracheal intubation without neuromuscular relaxation has become more common, but its impact on surgical units of teaching hospitals is unknown. Objective. To assess the impact of avoiding neuromuscularrelaxation in terms of incidence ofhoarseness and sore throat in ambulatory surgery patients requiring endotracheal intubation in surgical unit of a teaching hospital. Method. A quasi-experimental, non-randomized, double-blind study in adult patients undergoing outpatient surgery requiring endotracheal intubation. The non muscle relaxant group received lidocaine (1.5 mg kg-1), propofol (1.5 - 2 mg kg-1) and remifentanil 4 mcg * kg-1 and the muscle relaxation group received the same technique and rocuronium 0.3 to 0.6 mg * kg-1. The primary outcomes were assessed at days 1, 3 and 14.Results. We enrolled 287 patients, where 51.7 % received rocuronium. The incidence of hoarseness was significantly higher at 24 hours in the nonrelaxant group (26 % vs. 15 %, p value: 0.016) being not significant after 72 hours of follow up (0.6 % vs. 0 %; p: 0.37). We found no differences inthe incidence of sore throat between the groups. All the study patients were asymptomatic at one week. Conclusions. Avoidance of neuromuscular relaxationis associated with a transient (First 24hours) increase in hoarseness after ambulatory surgery, but no difference in sore throat. We found no differences in the incidence of laryngeal symptoms after 72 hours. The addition of musclerelaxant to reduce the incidence of hoarseness can be justified.

Oral maxillary squamous cell carcinoma: management of the clinically negative neck.

PURPOSE: Squamous cell carcinomas of the hard palate, maxillary gingiva, and maxillary alveolus occur at relatively low rates compared with squamous cell carcinomas in other oral sites. There is little within the surgical literature to guide treatment for maxillary squamous cell carcinoma. To date, only 1 other group has addressed neck management in the oral maxillary squamous cell carcinoma patient presenting with a clinically negative neck. Adequate characterization of maxillary gingival carcinoma behavior with respect to regional cervical metastasis is wanting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We present a retrospective review of our own clinical experience as well as a review of the existing literature. RESULTS: In our University of California San Francisco patient group, cervical disease was detected in 20% of those individuals with maxillary squamous cell carcinoma presenting for initial consultation. After ablative surgery, those individuals who presented with clinically negative necks had a 21.4% rate of regional node metastasis. Ultimately, 50% of our patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the palate, maxillary gingiva, and maxillary alveolus developed regional or metastatic distant disease; 42.9% of the patients manifested disease to the cervical lymph nodes alone. CONCLUSIONS: The cases of oral maxillary squamous cell carcinomas reviewed herein exhibit aggressive regional metastatic behavior comparable to that of such carcinomas of the tongue, floor of the mouth, and mandibular gingiva. Based on the findings presented herein, we recommend selective neck dissection in the setting of a clinically negative neck as a primary management strategy for patients with oral maxillary squamous cell carcinomas involving the palate, maxillary gingiva, and maxillary alveolus.