Getting started in endoscopic ear surgery.

Endoscopic ear surgery (EES) is an exciting, rapidly developing and innovative field of otologic surgery. Technically and conceptually, EES is a significant departure from traditional microscopic transcanal approaches to the middle ear and canal that has shown very positive results with respect to patient outcomes. This review serves as a primer for the otologist and otology resident embarking on EES and discusses the theory surrounding the learning process, the optical chain for endoscopic surgery as well as other important underlying principles.

IgG4 disease of the ear: Report and review.

In recent years, an immune-mediated disorder involving IgG4 has been described, which targets multiple organs and explains a number of disorders previously regarded as "idiopathic" or of unknown origin. Furthermore, the discovery of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) has placed a number of pathologies within its spectrum, linking symptoms and conditions formerly considered isolated. Reports of the manifestations of IgG4-RD in the head and neck are scarce. Otological manifestations have been reported, but only a handful of cases are available in the literature. This is the first report of recalcitrant serous otitis media secondary to IgG4-RD, confirmed by immunohistopathology. A case of IgG4-RD of the middle ear is presented, manifesting itself as recalcitrant serous otitis media. The case is presented from an otolaryngological and histopathological perspective and briefly reviews this rare disorder. The importance of the awareness of IgG4-RD resides mainly in the fact that it is a treatable condition. This can potentially improve the quality of life of a number of patients, some of whom may not have had a clear diagnosis. A favorable response to glucocorticoids has been reported. In cases of persistent symptoms, immunosuppressive therapy has been used with success.

Neurotological findings after electrical injury at the workplace.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Neurotological findings secondary to electrical injuries have rarely been reported in the world literature. We attempt to characterize the neurotological findings following electrical injury and to determine the role head injury and loss of consciousness play in this population's clinical presentation. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. METHODS: A database containing 3,438 patients with work-related injuries was scanned for individuals who sustained and survived electrical injuries at work. Detailed analysis of the frequencies of presenting features and test results was performed. A comparative analysis was made between the subsets of patients with and without loss of consciousness and/or head injury. RESULTS: A cohort of 42 patients was identified. All patients had multiple symptoms. Dizziness was a significant complaint in all workers with electrical injuries. Other common complaints included tinnitus and imbalance. Characterization of these symptoms is provided in detail according to statistical frequency. In this cohort, 25 workers had a concomitant head injury and 17 workers had an associated loss of consciousness. There was no statistically significant difference when clinical presentation, examination, and balance testing results were compared between the subsets. CONCLUSIONS: Frequency and characterization of symptoms following electrical injury are provided. Dizziness is the most common presenting neurotological feature. Loss of consciousness and/or associated head injury do not affect the clinical presentation in this particular population. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b. Laryngoscope, 127:2126-2131, 2017.

Testing the effects of long-acting steroids in edema and ecchymosis after closed rhinoplasty.

BACKGROUND: Steroids have proven to be of some benefit in rhinoplasty edema and ecchymosis when administered at a high and repeated dose. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of single-dose, long-acting intramuscular steroids on postoperative edema and ecchymosis after closed rhinoplasty with osteotomies compared with placebo. METHODS: A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial was performed. Fifty-four patients were randomly assigned to two groups: 28 received a single dose of long-acting dexamethasone (mean [± SD] dose 16±4 mg) immediately before anesthetic induction; the remaining 26 received an intramuscular injection of saline solution. The same surgeon performed all surgeries, with patients under general anesthesia. Acetaminophen was the only analgesic used to control postoperative pain. High-resolution digital photographs were taken on postoperative days 1, 3, 7 and 14. Scoring was performed separately for eyelid swelling and ecchymosis by an independent observer using a graded scale (0 to 5) for edema and a scoring system (0 to 13) for ecchymosis. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences in terms of age, sex or amount of bleeding during surgery were found between the two groups. No statistically significant difference was observed in the decrease of both ecchymosis and edema between placebo and high-dose, long-acting dexamethasone. A statistically significant difference in operation time was found, favouring the steroid group. No severe complications were observed due to steroid use. DISCUSSION: Osteotomies are basically a form of (controlled) trauma, with considerable disruption of the abundant blood vessels in this facial region and, therefore, are associated with with undesirable effects. A recent meta-analysis failed to show benefits of the use of steroids after postoperative day 3. Only a trend toward reduction in edema and ecchymosis with the use of long-acting steroids compared with placebo was demonstrated in the present study. CONCLUSION: There was no benefit in administering single-dose, long-acting steroids in patients undergoing closed rhinoplasty with osteotomies.

HISTORIQUE: Il est démontré que les stéroïdes ont un certain effet positif sur l'œdème et les ecchymoses causés par la rhinoplastie lorsqu'ils sont administrés à des doses élevées et répétées. OBJECTIF: Évaluer les effets d'une seule dose de stéroïdes intramusculaires de longue durée sur l'œdème et les ecchymoses postopératoires comparativement à un placebo après une rhinoplastie fermée avec ostéotomie. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Les chercheurs ont mené un essai aléatoire à double insu contrôlé contre placebo. Cinquante-quatre patients ont été répartis aléatoirement en deux groupes : 28 ont reçu une dose unique de dexaméthasone de longue durée (dose moyenne [± ÉT] de 16±4 mg) immédiatement avant l'induction anesthésique, et les 26 autres ont reçu une injection intramusculaire de soluté physiologique. Le même chirurgien a effectué toutes les interventions, sur des patients sous anesthésie générale. L'acétaminophène était le seul analgésique utilisé pour contrôler la douleur postopératoire. Des photographies numériques à haute résolution ont été prises les jours postopératoires 1, 3, 7 et 14. Un observateur indépendant a compilé les résultats séparément pour l'enflure des paupières et les ecchymoses au moyen d'une échelle graduée (de 0 à 5) pour l'œdème et d'un système de pointage (de 0 à 13) pour les ecchymoses. RÉSULTATS: Les deux groupes ne présentaient pas de différence statistiquement significative en matière d'âge, de sexe ou d'abondance de sang pendant la chirurgie, ni de diminution des ecchymoses et de l'œdème entre un placebo et une forte dose de dexaméthasone de longue durée. Une différence statistiquement significative de la durée opératoire a été observée en faveur du groupe prenant des stéroïdes. Aucune grave complication n'a découlé de l'usage des stéroïdes. EXPOSÉ: Fondamentalement, les ostéotomies sont une forme de trauma-tisme (contrôlé), qui perturbent énormément les vaisseaux sanguins abondants de cette région faciale. Par conséquent, elles s'associent à des effets indésirables. Une récente méta-analyse n'a pas démontré les avantages des stéroïdes après le troisième jour postopératoire. La présente étude a seulement démontré une tendance vers la réduction de l'œdème et des ecchymoses avec l'usage de stéroïdes de longue durée comparativement au placebo. CONCLUSION: Il n'y avait pas d'avantages à administrer une dose unique de stéroïdes de longue durée aux patients subissant une rhinoplastie fermée avec ostéotomie.

Reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura: manejo endoscópico de fístula traqueoesofágica recurrente con electrocauterio y pegante tisular / Endoscopic management of recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula with fibringlue and electrocautery

Las fístulas traqueoesofágicas recurrentes (FTER) continúan siendo un reto terapéutico debido a las altas tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad asociadas con su manejo quirúrgico abierto y su recurrencia frecuente. Las técnicas endoscópicas aportan un abordaje alternativo con el potencial de mejorar los resultados y desenlaces quirúrgicos. Se presenta un caso de cierre o reparo endoscópico de FTER mediante el uso de broncoscopia y esofagoscopia, así como una combinación entre técnica con electrocauterio y pegante tisular. Se considera que esta técnica puede representar una alternativa válida para el manejo de esta patología. Igualmente, se señala la importancia de considerar la fístula traqueoesofágica un diagnóstico diferencial en pacientes pediátricos con infecciones respiratorias recurrentes...

Recurrent Tracheoesophageal Fistulas (RTEF) remainsa therapeutic challenge, cause of the highrates of morbidity and mortality associated withopen surgical closure and their frequent recurrence.Endoscopic techniques provide an alternativeapproach with the potential for improved surgicaloutcomes. We present a case of successful repairof recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula using bronchoscopyand esophagoscopy, as well as a combinedtechnique with electrocautery and fibrin glue.We believe this might represent a valid alternativefor the management of RTEF. We also want topoint out the importance of considering primaryor recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula in pediatricpatients with recurrent respiratory tract infections...

Estado de los profesionales de la voz en Colombia / State of the professional voice in Colombia

Objetivos: Evaluar las características patológicas más frecuentes en los profesionales de la voz colombianos. Mostrar los factores de riesgo en esta población, individualizándolos según cada profesión. Diseño: Estudio observacional descriptivo, de corte transversal. Métodos: Revisión de historias clínicas y estroboscopias realizadas entre los años 2006 y 2010. Encuestas personales, para preguntar sobre las características de la población evaluada. Se hallaron medidas de tendencia central para las variables cuantitativas y porcentajes para las cualitativas. Resultados: 825 pacientes, 39% hombres y 60,1% mujeres, dentro de los cuales el 22,4% eran profesores; 9% tuvieron entrenamiento vocal; 80,4% presentaron disfonía como síntoma principal. El hallazgo estroboscópico más frecuente fue tensión muscular supraglótica. El 72% no conocen el término “profesional de la voz”, el 78% trabajan con su voz entre un 70-100%, y los pacientes esperan alrededor de seis meses para ser valorados por laringología. Conclusión: Los profesionales de la voz en Colombia tienen una alta prevalencia de trastornos de la voz, similares a los reportados en la literatura mundial, que se correlacionan con la ausencia de entrenamiento vocal y atención tardía...

Objectives: Evaluation of a specific professional voice user’s population in Colombia. Determine the professions more often related to voice issues, their most frequent clinical and stroboscopic findings, preference in gender, lack of voice training, knowledge on voice care and the proficiency in medical attention in the context of a 3rd world country. We propose the potentially related risk factors in each job. Design: Descriptive observational study. Cross sectional. Methods: Data was extracted from the principal author’s patient database. Interviews and stroboscopies made between January 2006 and December 2010. Medical attention perspectives and knowledge on voice care was obtained form a survey conducted in 100 professional voice users included in the study. Results: 1334 patients were included. 825 of them were professional voice users, 39% males and 60.1% females. Teachers represented 22.4% of the population. 9% of the patients had professional voice training. 80.4 % presented with dysphonia as their principal symptom. The most frequent stroboscopic finding was augmented suppraglotic activity. Surveys shows 72% of the patients were not familiarized with the term “professional voice user”. 78% of the patients use their voice 70-100% of their work time. Most patients waited over 6 months to have consultation with a laryngologist. Conclusions: There is a higher prevalence of voice disorders among voice professional users in Colombia with numbers similar to those reported worldwide. There is a correlation with the lack of voice training, delayed health care, lack of knowledge on voice training and voice hygiene and voice disorders...