One stop neck lump clinic: a boon for quick diagnosis and early management.

INTRODUCTION: One-stop neck lump clinics (OSNLC) are gaining popularity worldwide especially in the UK hospitals following NICE recommendation. The main aim of this speciality clinic is a quick diagnosis and early management while simultaneously improving patient experience. OBJECTIVES: To analyse and compare the efficacy of OSNLC and general ENT/Head and neck clinic with specifics to a number of appointments required for formulating management plan and a number of 'one stop' visits. DESIGN: Retrospective observational study SETTING: Regional Head and Neck Cancer Center (Secondary care hospital) PARTICIPANTS: Patients referred by General practitioner with symptoms of a neck lump MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patients seen in general ENT/Head and neck and OSNLC in 2 phases to understand the difference in a number of appointments, one-stop visits, the requirement of Ultrasound and efficiency of Fine needle aspiration. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: Improved efficacy of OSNLC was noted as patients seen in the clinic required a lesser number of appointments, reached a faster diagnosis and management plan when compared to patients seen in general ENT clinic.

Surgical repair of mechanical ventilation induced tracheoesophageal fistula.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the outcomes of surgery to repair tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) caused by mechanical ventilation. METHOD: Case series and review of all cases reported in English literature. Only reports of TEF following mechanical ventilation and containing description of surgical repair and outcomes were included. RESULTS: A total of 41 studies comprising 143 patients met the inclusion criteria. Most studies had incomplete information on important variables such as co-morbidity and fistula size. Tracheal resection anastomosis (TRA) was the most common approach, performed in 91 (63.6%) patients (including three newly reported here). Lateral approach repair (LA) was done in 45 (31.5%) patients. The former had a higher incidence of pre-existing tracheal stenosis [53 (89.8%) vs. 7 (35%) cases; p < 0.001]. Flap interposition to augment the repair was done in 49 (53.9%) and 40 (88.9%) cases, respectively (p < 0.001). Successful and durable healing of the fistula were achieved in 90 (98.9%) cases in TRA and 39 (88.6%) cases in LA. CONCLUSION: In carefully selected cases of TEF caused by mechanical ventilation, TRA is the most preferred approach, delivering successful healing in almost all cases. Where TRA is not indicated or preferred, LA appears to be a good alternative. Future studies should explicitly report all of the known co-variables, so that the exact indications for choosing a particular surgical approach could be better elucidated.

Septoplasty with concomitant inferior turbinate reduction reduces the need for revision procedure.

OBJECTIVE: Septoplasty is an accepted and common surgical intervention to improve the nasal airway. However, the role of concomitant surgery on the inferior turbinate remains debated. This study aims to investigate if the inferior turbinate surgery at the time of septoplasty would impact on the likelihood of revision nasal surgery - septoplasty or septorhinoplasty. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of consecutive patients undergoing septoplasty with or without inferior turbinate reduction over 12 years (1998 - 2010) at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. METHODS: Patients were identified from the theatre log books and were excluded if they underwent any other nasal procedure. Data collected include demographics, type of primary surgery, and grade of surgeon along with revision nasal surgery in this cohort. RESULTS: 2168 eligible patients with a mean age of 39 years were investigated. Two groups were identified: Group A, with 788 patients who underwent septoplasty only, and Group B, in which 1380 patients underwent septoplasty with concomitant inferior turbinate reduction. The majority of operations were performed by the surgeons in training. The incidence of revision surgery was 5.1 % (21 revision septoplasties and 19 corrective septorhinoplasties) in Group A compared to 2.2 % (20 revision septoplasties and 10 corrective septorhinoplasties) in Group B. CONCLUSION: Based on this study, it would appear that concomitant inferior turbinate reduction may decrease the likelihood of revision nasal surgery.

Managing regional metastasis in patients with cutaneous head and neck melanoma - is selective neck dissection appropriate?

BACKGROUND: Neck dissection is recommended for patients with head and neck cutaneous melanoma and nodal metastasis. However, there appears to be no clear evidence to guide the extent of nodal resection. METHODS: Loco-regional recurrence (LR), overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) was retrospectively compared between patients who had Comprehensive neck dissection (CND) and Selective neck dissection (SND). RESULTS: There was no difference in LR, OS and PFS between CND (n=18) and SND groups (n=79). Extra capsular extension (ECE), frontal disease and increasing number of involved nodes resulted in worse OS and PFS but had no impact on LR. CONCLUSION: Patients with disease limited to one node without ECE can be effectively treated by SND alone. In patients who have these unfavourable pathological features more extensive nodal resection does not improve outcome if they receive radiotherapy. Extent of neck dissection or adjuvant radiotherapy has no impact on overall survival.

Use of positron emission tomography scanning in metastatic head and neck cutaneous squamous cell cancer: does it add to patient management?

PURPOSE: To evaluate the impact of whole-body positron emission tomography in comparison to staging by conventional methods alone in management of patients with head and neck cutaneous squamous cell cancer (cSCC) with confirmed regional nodal metastasis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective case cohort study carried out at a tertiary referral cancer centre. The participants were thirty-one adults with head and neck cSCC and regional nodal metastasis. The original treatment plan based on conventional cross-sectional imaging and clinical examination was compared to the final treatment plan after additional PET staging to evaluate the impact of 18F-FDG PET-CT on patient management. RESULTS: Addition of 18F-FDG PET-CT did not change the management in 24/31 (77%) of patients. In four cases the 18F-FDG PET-CT failed to pick up biopsy proven metastatic disease. Two patients who had reduced extent of surgery have shown no features of regional failure after one year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Overall the management in majority of head and neck cSCC patients with regional metastasis does not change by addition of 18F-FDG PET-CT over conventional imaging.

Antibiotics to reduce post-tonsillectomy morbidity.

BACKGROUND: This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in The Cochrane Library in Issue 2, 2008 and previously updated in 2010.Tonsillectomy continues to be one of the most common surgical procedures performed in children and adults. Despite improvements in surgical and anaesthetic techniques, postoperative morbidity, mainly in the form of pain, remains a significant clinical problem. Postoperative bacterial infection of the tonsillar fossa has been proposed as an important factor causing pain and associated morbidity, and some studies have found a reduction in morbid outcomes following the administration of perioperative antibiotics. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether perioperative antibiotics reduce pain and other morbid outcomes following tonsillectomy. SEARCH METHODS: We searched the Cochrane Ear, Nose and Throat Disorders Group Trials Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL); PubMed; EMBASE; CINAHL; Web of Science; BIOSIS Previews; Cambridge Scientific Abstracts; ICTRP and additional sources for published and unpublished trials. The date of the most recent search was 20 March 2012. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials examining the impact of perioperative administration of systemic antibiotics on post-tonsillectomy morbidity in children or adults. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently collected data. Primary outcomes were pain, consumption of analgesia and secondary haemorrhage (defined as significant if patient re-admitted, transfused blood products or returned to theatre, and total (any documented) haemorrhage). Secondary outcomes were fever, time taken to resume normal diet and activities and adverse events. Where possible, we generated summary measures using random-effects models. MAIN RESULTS: Ten trials, comprising a pooled total of 1035 participants, met the eligibility criteria. Most did not find a significant reduction in pain with antibiotics. Similarly, antibiotics were mostly not shown to be effective in reducing the need for analgesics. Antibiotics were not associated with a reduction in significant secondary haemorrhage rates (risk ratio (RR) 0.49, 95% CI 0.08 to 3.11, P = 0.45) or total secondary haemorrhage rates (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.44, P = 0.66). With regard to secondary outcomes, antibiotics reduced the proportion of patients with fever (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.85, P = 0.002). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The present systematic review, including meta-analyses for select outcomes, suggests that although individual studies vary in their findings, there is no evidence to support a consistent, clinically important impact of antibiotics in reducing the main morbid outcomes following tonsillectomy (i.e. pain, need for analgesia and secondary haemorrhage rates). The limited benefit apparent with antibiotics may be a result of positive bias introduced by several important methodological shortcomings in the included trials. Based on existing evidence, therefore, we would advocate against the routine prescription of antibiotics to patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Whether a subgroup of patients who might benefit from selective administration of antibiotics exists is unknown and needs to be explored in future trials.

Coblation adenotonsillectomy in children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine re-admission rate for post-tonsillectomy pain; the primary and secondary post-tonsillectomy bleeding rate; the percentage requiring control of post-tonsillectomy bleeding in children undergoing coblation tonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Royal Hospital for Sick Children (Yorkhill Hospital) between 2004 and 2006. METHODOLOGY: All patients who underwent tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy by coblation technique. Patients were identified from operation theatre log book and electronic data base of theatre activity. The hospital case notes were reviewed retrospectively to collect data, regarding demographics, indication and type of surgery, grade of operating surgeon, duration of hospital stay, re-attendance and re-admission, and management of complications. RESULTS: A total of 106 children; males (n = 53, 50%), females (n = 53, 50%) with a mean age 6.3 years underwent surgery using coblation technique. Thirty-one percent had a tonsillectomy while 69% underwent an adenotonsillectomy. Of these, 48% had history of recurrent tonsillitis, 43% had obstructive sleep apnoea and 9% suffered predominantly from obstructive symptoms. Eighty-two percent of patients were discharged on the first postoperative day. Only one patient had primary bleeding requiring re-operation. After discharge, 7 patients (6.7%) were re-admitted with secondary bleeding, 3 (2.8%) of whom were taken back to theatre to control the bleeding under general anaesthesia. CONCLUSION: Coblation tonsillectomy is a useful technique in having a low primary and secondary bleeding rates in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenotonsillectomy.

Retrospective review of three antiemetic regimens versus no therapy in the prevention of postoperative and vomiting following adenotonsillar surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of intraoperative ondansetron and dexamethasone on postoperative vomiting in children undergoing tonsillectomy, adenotonsillectomy, or adenoidectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Academic tertiary care referral centre in the west of Scotland. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 432 children admitted to our institute between 2004 and 2006. Of these, 285 (66%) patients underwent a tonsillectomy, 50 (11.6%) an adenotonsillectomy, and 97 (22.4%) an adenoidectomy. There was an equal gender distribution, with a mean age of 7.4 years (interquartile range 4.6-10.0). Patients were divided into four groups: group 1 received ondansetron plus dexamethasone (n  =  64, 14.7%), group 2 received ondansetron only (n  =  189, 43.6%), group 3 received dexamethasone only (n  =  17, 3.9%), and group 4 did not receive ondansetron or dexamethasone (n  =  162, 37.4%). RESULTS: Overall, 98 (22.7%) patients experienced postoperative vomiting (5 at the time of recovery and 93 on the ward). Patients in group 1 had a significantly lower incidence of postoperative vomiting than those in group 2 (10.9% vs 22.8%, p  =  .04) and group 4 (10.9% vs 27.2%, p < .01). The incidence of postoperative vomiting was also lower in group 1 than in group 3, but this did not reach statistical significance (10.9% vs 23.5%, p  =  .18). CONCLUSION: The combined intraoperative use of ondansetron and dexamethasone appears to be superior to no antiemetic or ondansetron alone in reducing the incidence of vomiting in children undergoing adenotonsillar surgery.

Antibiotics to reduce post-tonsillectomy morbidity.

BACKGROUND: This is an update of a Cochrane Review first published in The Cochrane Library in Issue 2, 2008.Tonsillectomy continues to be one of the most common surgical procedures performed in children and adults. Despite improvements in surgical and anaesthetic techniques, postoperative morbidity, mainly in the form of pain, remains a significant clinical problem. Postoperative bacterial infection of the tonsillar fossa has been proposed as an important factor causing pain and associated morbidity, and some studies have found a reduction in morbid outcomes following the administration of perioperative antibiotics. OBJECTIVES: To determine whether perioperative antibiotics reduce pain and other morbid outcomes following tonsillectomy. SEARCH STRATEGY: We searched the Cochrane ENT Group Trials Register, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (The Cochrane Library 2009, Issue 4), MEDLINE (1950 to 2009) and EMBASE (1974 to 2009). The date of the last search was 30 October 2009. SELECTION CRITERIA: All randomised controlled trials examining the impact of perioperative administration of systemic antibiotics on post-tonsillectomy morbidity in children or adults. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two authors independently collected data. Primary outcomes were pain, consumption of analgesia and secondary haemorrhage (defined as significant if patient re-admitted, transfused blood products or returned to theatre, and total (any documented) haemorrhage). Secondary outcomes were fever, time taken to resume normal diet and activities and adverse events. Where possible, we generated summary measures using random-effects models. MAIN RESULTS: Ten trials, comprising a pooled total of 1035 participants, met the eligibility criteria. Most did not find a significant reduction in pain with antibiotics. Similarly, antibiotics were mostly not shown to be effective in reducing the need for analgesics. Antibiotics were not associated with a reduction in significant secondary haemorrhage rates (relative risk (RR) 0.49, 95% CI 0.08 to 3.11, P = 0.45) or total secondary haemorrhage rates (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.56 to 1.44, P = 0.66). With regard to secondary outcomes, antibiotics reduced the proportion of subjects with fever (RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.46 to 0.85, P = 0.002). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The present systematic review, including meta-analyses for select outcomes, suggests that although individual studies vary in their findings, there is no evidence to support a consistent, clinically important impact of antibiotics in reducing the main morbid outcomes following tonsillectomy (i.e. pain, need for analgesia and secondary haemorrhage rates). Limited benefit apparent with antibiotics may be a result of positive bias introduced by several important methodological shortcomings in the included trials. Based on existing evidence therefore, we would advocate against the routine prescription of antibiotics to patients undergoing tonsillectomy. Whether a subgroup of patients who might benefit from selective administration of antibiotics exists is unknown and needs to be explored in future trials.

Controlling MRSA in head and neck cancer patients: what works?

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to determine any beneficial effect from targeted surveillance, cohort nursing, and restricted health care worker access in controlling MRSA infection in patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Historical cohort study. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In phase 1 data were gathered on MRSA-positive cases admitted from February 1, 2006 to February 28, 2007. In phase 2, from July 1, 2007 to January 31, 2008, eligible patients underwent screening swabs, cohort nursing, and restricted access. RESULTS: In the first phase, 24 patients developed MRSA infection out of a total of 84 eligible admissions. There were 31 eligible admissions during phase 2. None of them had known risk factors for MRSA as per Scottish Infection Standards and Strategy Group (SISS) guidelines. All screened patients were noncarriers of MRSA. Three patients out of this group subsequently developed MRSA during their hospital stay. There was a statistically significant drop in MRSA to 9.6 percent (3/31) during this phase compared to 28.5 percent (24/84) in phase 1. CONCLUSION: Head and neck cancer patients are at high risk of acquiring MRSA infection. Their targeted surveillance is unlikely to influence their MRSA infection rate. However, cohort nursing with restricted health care worker access may help control MRSA infection in them.

Seeding of tumor cells after fine needle aspiration cytology in benign parotid tumor: a case report and literature review.

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is generally considered a safe, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tool and is widely used for various clinical indications. However, some authors have raised concerns regarding the possibility of tumor cell seeding along the needle track. We present to our knowledge the first case of tumor seeding after FNAC of a benign parotid tumor. This is followed by a review of the literature on tumor seeding after aspiration with fine needles of 20 gauge and smaller and the implications for clinical practice.

Foreign body inhalation in children: Decisive factors for carrying out bronchoscopy.

Inhalation of Foreign Body is one of the most common causes of accidental death at home in the paediatric age group. There may not be a clear history of foreign body inhalation and the patient may be asymptomatic at initial presentation. This coupled with the failure of radiological investigations on most occasions makes this a vexing clinical situation. These apparently normal children almost invariably have a bad prognosis if the foreign body is ignored. This study aims to define the most important factors influencing the decision to carry out the definitive surgery, i.e., bronchoscopy, which can be diagnostic as well as therapeutic, based on our experience with 50 cases of suspected FB in the tracheobronchial tree from January 2001 to July 2003. Results from the study suggest that radiological investigations have only limited value in deciding the management of a patient with suspected Foreign Body inhalation. This should not influence the decision to carry out a bronchoscopy, which should rather be based on history and clinical examination.

Anterior jugular phlebectasia.

Phlebectasia is abnormally dilated vinous channels a rare differential diagnosis for an apparent neck swelling A 5 year old male child with neck swelling apparent only on crying and speaking presented to us It was a soft cystic swelling The diagnosis was confirmed by sonography and angiography Surgical excision was carried out without any complication.