The Laryngoscope
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To assess the results of primary endoscopic treatment of adult postintubation tracheal stenosis, to identify predictors of a successful outcome, and better define the scope and limitations of minimally-invasive surgery for this condition. ⋯ Minimally invasive treatment is effective in postintubation airway stenosis and obviates the need for open cervicomediastinal surgery in most patients. Patients with old and long lesions are less likely to be cured endoscopically. For most patients in this subgroup, endoscopic surgery makes airway augmentation a viable, less invasive alternative to resection. Patients were unlikely to require further therapy after 6 months of symptom-free follow-up.
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Investigation of the occurrence of postoperative hemorrhage after tonsillectomy and risk factors for these complications. ⋯ The results confirm that "hot" tonsillectomy techniques carry a substantially elevated risk of postoperative hemorrhage when diathermy is used as a dissection tool in tonsillectomy.
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Tracheotomy for long-term ventilation is a common surgical procedure in the hospital setting. Although the postoperative care is often perceived as routine, complications associated with tracheostomy changes may result in loss of airway and death. In addition, the practice patterns, rationale, and complications related to tube changes have been poorly described. ⋯ There is significant variability in the approach to postoperative tracheostomy tube management. The occurrence of major complications including deaths from routine tube changes requires an examination of the rationale and safety of this practice.
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To evaluate flexible laryngoscopy-guided pharyngeal pH probe monitoring as an alternative accurate and practical pharyngeal pH probe placement technique to eliminate the need for radiographs and esophageal manometry for pharyngeal pH monitoring in infants with extraesophageal reflux disease (EERD). ⋯ With the aid of flexible laryngoscopy, a pH probe can be placed in the laryngopharyngeal region in infants undergoing pharyngeal pH monitoring. Findings documented that not all esophageal acid reflux reach the pharynx. Flexible laryngoscopy-guided pharyngeal pH probe placement can be used to detect LPR in infants with EERD.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
Cold dissection versus coblation-assisted adenotonsillectomy in children.
To compare intraoperative efficiency and postoperative recovery between cold dissection adenotonsillectomy (CDA) and coblation-assisted adenotonsillectomy (CAA). ⋯ CAA offers better operative speed and intraoperative hemostasis as compared with CDA. However, CAA does not result in poorer postoperative pain scores or recoveries despite these intraoperative advantages.