The Laryngoscope
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Described is the first reported case of an angiofibrolipoma of the ear canal in a patient who presented with right-sided conductive hearing loss and a medial canal stenosis. ⋯ This variant of lipoma contains mature adipocytes, blood vessels, and dense collagenous tissue. The physical examination can be misleading, and the diagnosis requires histopathological examination. The patient was treated with complete surgical excision, tympanoplasty, canalplasty, and skin grafting to the external auditory canal. His pure-tone average improved from 37 to 11 dB, and his air-bone gap was closed completely. The lipoma has not recurred in the 6-month period following surgery.
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The laryngeal mask airway (LMA) is being used with increasing frequency since its introduction into the United States in 1991. Currently, the LMA is being used in the United States in approximately one third of all operations or greater than 100 million surgeries. In Britain, where it was first introduced for use in 1988, the LMA is estimated to be used in up to 50% of cases. ⋯ As otolaryngologists who will manage the sequelae of LMA-related injuries, we must remain cognizant of potential problems and their underlying mechanisms. We report a case of unilateral vocal cord paralysis, which required operative repair after the use of an LMA. We review the existing case reports, propose mechanisms of injury, and discuss practical applications of our findings.
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We have developed a new recording system for endoscope images with the popular mini digital video (mini DV) camera. A special adaptor screws onto the lens top, and either a flexible or rigid endoscope can be attached to the camera. ⋯ Nevertheless, our new system costs only USD 1,000. Therefore, the system is both cost-effective and useful for the outpatient clinic or casual setting or for house calls for the purpose of patient education.
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Craniofacial surgery has been associated with a significant improvement in disease outcome for patients with skull base neoplasms. Despite this improved survival, complications remain considerable. One major source of complications is infectious events. The current study was designed to evaluate a prospectively designed antibiotic regimen and its impact on the incidence and severity of infectious complications. This regimen was compared with a group of historic controls in which antibiotics were administered on an ad hoc basis. The specific objectives/hypothesis were to determine 1) the incidence and severity of infection in a group of patients treated with a nonstandardized antibiotic regimen undergoing craniofacial resection, and 2) whether the use of a prospectively designed, three-drug, broad spectrum antibiotic is associated with a reduced incidence and severity of infections. ⋯ The data supports the hypothesis that the use of a three-drug, broad spectrum antibiotic regimen in skull base surgery reduces the incidence of infectious complications and appears to reduce operative mortality. Broad spectrum coverage of Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and anaerobic pathogens leads to a marked reduction in infectious complications. Broad spectrum antibiotic coverage avoids many infectious complications and ultimately had a positive impact on patient outcome, quality of life, and, potentially, survival.
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Bone reconstruction in the head and neck region is frequently performed in the context of previous radiation treatment. Thus, the effectiveness of tissue engineering approaches for regenerating bone in radiated defects needs to be determined before considering application to patients. Incomplete healing is described when using osteoinductive protein therapy alone for bone defects previously treated with radiation. We hypothesized that a different approach using ex vivo gene therapy can heal these severely compromised defects. ⋯ Preoperative radiation significantly impairs the ability of BMP-7 ex vivo gene therapy to heal rat critical-sized cranial defects. This finding has significant implications for translating this tissue engineering approach to patients with cancer-related segmental bone defects.