Angina Bullosa Hemorrhagica: Frightening Experience-A Case Series.

Angina bullosa haemorrhagica (ABH) is characterized by the recurrent appearance of haemorrhagic bullae on the oropharyngeal mucosa which rupture spontaneously leading to complete recovery within a weeks' time without any scarring. We report the clinical features of six cases of ABH. A cross-sectional observational study was performed. A total of six cases of ABH fulfilling the Ordioni et. al. criteria for diagnosis of ABH were enrolled.The age of our patients were 65, 25, 20, 35, 55 and 48 years. Four of them were females (67%), whereas two were males (33%).Retromolar trigone involvement was most common.The chief complaint in all was reddish bulla(e) in the oral cavity of 1 day duration. Five of the patients had solitary lesions, while one had multiple lesions. The lesions measured from 1 to 3 cm in diameter. Complete blood counts and clotting factors were normal in all patients. All cases healed within a week's time. ABH is not a very common disorder encountered by ENT surgeons, dermatologists, general practitioners, and the lack of knowledge of its normal presentation can lead to unnecessary anxiety and incorrect treatment. The typical hemorrhagic bulla(e) usually erupt after eating hard, hot, or spicy food. These lesions heal spontaneously and treatment is not necessary except for reassurance and mild anxiololytics.

Complete Second Branchial Cleft Fistulas: A Clinicosurgical Experience.

A complete second branchial fistula is very rare and has an internal opening at the tonsillar fossa and an external opening at the lower third of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM). Patients commonly present with persistent or intermittent mucoid or mucopurulent discharge from an external opening. The diagnosis is most often clinical and radiological investigations are rarely needed. Treatment of choice is complete surgical excision. The aim of this article is to aware young ENT surgeons of the various clinical and intraoperative surgical findings that can be encountered while dealing with these cases. This observational study was done for a period of 10 years. A total of 20 cases of fistula were included which intraoperatively had a complete track from tonsillar fossa to neck. Excision of the tract was carried out via combined transcervical and transoral approach under general anaesthesia using two incisions in stepladder pattern. Each patient was seen after one year of surgery to assess for any recurrence. Different findings of patients including age/sex at surgery, initial presentation, family history, laterality of the fistula tract, Intraoperative surgical findings, complications, and recurrences. were noted. Of the 20 patients, 13 (65%) were females and 7 (35%) were Females. Most common complaint was fistulous opening with intermittent discharge(15patients; 75%).Branchial cleft fistulae more commonly affected the right neck (14 patients, 78%) among unilateral cases and 2 patients (10%) had bilateral fistulae. No patient had associated congenital anomaly/syndrome, family history or and visible opening in tonsillar area. Glossopharyngeal nerve was identified in 12 cases and track was seen passing lateral to it except in one case. The internal opening of track was seen over posterior tonsillar pillar in 15 cases (75%) while in 5 patient the track was seen entering tonsillar tissue or bed. Tonsillectomy was done in 5 cases while not done in 15 cases where track was seen entering posterior pillar. All patients were seen at one year follow up. No recurrence was seen at one year of follow up. Complete second branchial cleft fistulae are rare. They are usually right sided and unilateral. The track passes between carotid bifurcation and invariably passes lateral to both glossopharyngeal and hypoglossal nerves. Track usually ends at the posterior tonsillar pillar. Tonsillectomy is not routinely indicated. Recurrences are not typically seen.

Retromandibular Vein, Digastric Muscle, and Greater Auricular Nerve in Superficial Parotidectomies for Patients with Pleomorphic Adenoma-A Surgical Experience.

Retromandibular vein (RMV) and posterior belly of digastric muscle are among the landmarks used to identify facial nerve in parotid surgery. This observational cross-sectional study was done in the Department of ENT &HNS at a tertiary care teaching hospital for a period of 8 years with the aim to aware young otorhinolaryngologist about the relationship of posterior belly of digastric muscle & retromandibular vein with facial nerve and share our experience about preservation of posterior branch of greater auricular nerve. A total of 34 cases of superficial parotidectomies done for pleomorphic adenoma were included in this study. Relationship of facial nerve with retromandibular vein and posterior belly of digastric muscle was noted. Greater auricular nerve was identified, and every attempt was made to preserve its posterior branch. Retromandibular vein was medial to the trunks of facial nerve in 33 (97%) patients. It was lateral to lower division and medial to upper division in one case. Greater auricular nerve was seen to bifurcate into two branches (Anterior and posterior) in 21 (62%) cases while in one case(3%) three branches were seen emerging from main trunk and in another case(3%) first two branches were seen emerging and then anterior branch was further dividing into two. Preservation of posterior branch of greater auricular nerve was possible in 23 (68%) of patients. Posterior belly of digastric muscle was seen as a reliable and constant landmark. Facial nerve was seen superior to upper border of posterior belly of digastric muscle in all cases (100%). No anatomical variation of posterior belly was seen. Retromandibular vein is invariably seen medial to the trunks of facial nerve. Facial nerve is always seen superior to upper border of posterior belly of digastric muscle in almost all cases. Preservation of posterior branch of greater auricular nerve is possible in majority of the cases.

Reticular Oral Lichen Planus: A Clinical Experience of ENT Surgeons.

Reticular Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic autoimmune disease that presents as fine, white, linear and lace like lesions of the oral cavity referred to as Wickham striae. The clinical characteristics of 30 patients with reticular oral lichen planus is presented so that cases are not missed/misdiagnosed by ENT surgeons. The clinical records noted for each patient were gender, age and clinical presentation of reticular OLP (site affected, presence of symptoms and extraoral manifestations of the disease, smoking habit, and consumption of alcoholic beverages). Twenty patients were females (66.7%) and 10 (33.3%) were males giving a female to male ratio of 2:1. Majority of patients (50%) among both males and females were in the age group of 31-40 years followed by 41-50 years (20%). Oral discomfort/burning sensation was the chief symptom in 24 (80%) patients followed by asymptomatic oral white patches in 5 (16.6%).The buccal (cheek) mucosa was the site most affected (76.8%) followed by the buccal mucosa plus retromolar trigone mucosa (10%) and tongue (6.6%), Extraoral lesions were observed in 2 (6.6%) of patients at presentation with oral lesions and were on the nails in 1 patient and wrist in 1 patient. Tobacco smoking, alcohol use, diabetes and hypertension were reported in 3 (10%), 0%, 2 (6.7%) and 4 (13.3%) patients respectively. ENT surgeons routinely see patients with oral discomfort/oral ulcerations and as such they should be well versed with classical clinical characteristics of reticular oral lichen planus.

Pediatric Rigid Bronchoscopy for Tracheobronchial Foreign Bodies in Covid Times: Short Personal Experience.

This case series of 5 patients of rigid bronchoscopy done for tracheobronchial foreign bodies is presented to readers to share my experience of doing rigid bronchoscopy during Covid Times from March to July 2020 specifically sharing experience on personal protection with local innovations during the procedure. Indications, intra-procedure modifications and other relevant things are also presented. The observations and experience are purely personal gained during these months and may be subjected to further research and in no way substitute the well established facts.

Clinicopathological profile of cervicofacial masses in pediatric patients.

Four hundred pediatric patients (0-12 years of age) who presented with cervicofacial masses were evaluated clinically and pathologically. Infl ammatory lesions were the commonest (48%) followed by congenital and developmental malformations (26%). In infl ammatory lesions, reactive lymphadenopathy was the commonest (16%) followed by tubercular lymphadenitis (11.5%). In congenital and developmental malformations hemangiomas were the commonest (12%) followed by TG cyst (6.5%). Cystic lesions (non-developmental) constituted 19%, benign neoplastic lesions 7% and malignant neoplastic lesions 2% of the cases. Males predominated the series (53.5%) and commonest age group involved was 10-12 years (20.5%). FNAB was performed in 93% of cases and HPE was available in 51.5% of cases. Sensitivity of FNAB in our series was 87.4%.