American journal of otolaryngology
-
Isolated arytenoid dislocation and subluxation are uncommon laryngeal injuries most often resulting from endotracheal intubation. However, these diagnoses must be entertained in all patients having sustained laryngeal trauma. Complaints of dysphonia, pain with phonation, or odynophagia in the setting of laryngeal trauma should include evaluation for possible arytenoid displacement after an airway is secured. ⋯ The patient had a stable airway without intervention, and the displaced joint spontaneously relocated with resolution of the cricoarytenoid edema and hemarthrosis. We propose that the cricoarytenoid joint was subluxed probably due to edema, hematoma, and/or cricoarytenoid hemarthrosis sustained from blunt laryngeal trauma. We furthermore propose that some cases of cricoarytenoid subluxation may be treated without operative intervention.
-
Comparative Study
Propofol for maintenance of general anesthesia: a technique to limit blood loss during endoscopic sinus surgery.
Most cases of endoscopic sinus surgery are amenable to techniques using local anesthesia with monitored sedation. However, it is frequently the preference of the patient to have surgery under general anesthesia. One major drawback of general anesthesia is the increased bleeding encountered which can interfere with optimal visualization of the intranasal anatomy. In this study, an analysis was made to see if technique of general anesthesia has an impact on estimated blood loss in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery. ⋯ General anesthesia based on propofol infusion may have the advantage of decreased bleeding compared with conventional inhalation agents, making endoscopic sinus surgery technically easier and safer by improving endoscopic visualization of the surgical field. This anesthetic technique may have other applications in otolaryngology, where bleeding within a confined space frequently can interfere with visibility.
-
Small tumors of the cerebellopontine angle (CPA) can frequently be removed with preservation of the auditory and the vestibular portion of the eighth cranial nerve. This study was undertaken to estimate the effect of vestibular nerve preservation on both balance and hearing following surgery. ⋯ Preservation of the vestibular nerve did not result in a chronic balance disorder in this patient population. This study does not allow the authors to conclude if vestibular nerve preservation improves overall hearing after CPA surgery; however, these data suggest that preservation of the inferior vestibular nerve may result in less damage to the cochlear nerve in some patients. Accordingly, preservation of the vestibular nerve in CPA meningioma surgery can be recommended.