The Laryngoscope
-
Review Biography Historical Article
Lead and the deafness of Ludwig van Beethoven.
To reexamine the cause of Beethoven's hearing loss because of significant recent articles. ⋯ Beethoven's chronic consumption of wine tainted with lead is a better explanation of his hearing loss than other causes.
-
An increased frequency of patient handoffs has occurred as a result of the new resident work-hour restrictions that have recently been instituted. Inadequate handoff of patient care has been associated with adverse patient events due to residents being unprepared for events that happen during cross cover periods. The objective of our study was to develop and test the effectiveness of a patient handoff method in an otolaryngology residency program. ⋯ Residents felt significantly better prepared for call duties when using the IMOUTA acronym. This standardized system of patient handoff may also be valuable to other residency programs.
-
To compare the diagnostic efficacy of positron emission tomography (PET) with F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET)/computed tomography (CT) to that of contrast-enhanced high-resolution CT (HRCT) and assess the value of a combinatorial approach in detection of recurrent squamous cell cancer of the head and neck (HNC) and to assess the efficacy of FDG-PET/CT with and without HRCT in comparison to standard-of-care follow-up--physical examination (PE) and endoscopy (E)--in determination of locally recurrent HNC. ⋯ HRCT increases the specificity and PPV of PET/CT when acquired simultaneously with PET. FDG-PET/CT acquired with either LDCT or HRCT has higher accuracy than HRCT alone and increases the sensitivity and NPV of PE/E.
-
To test whether a simple inexpensive device that dynamically minimizes endotracheal cuff pressure throughout the respiratory cycle reduces endotracheal cuff pressure-related subglottic injury. ⋯ A simple, reliable, and inexpensive means of modulating endotracheal tube cuff pressure with the ventilatory cycle led to a substantial decrease in airway injury in our animal model. Such reduction in cuff pressure may prove important for humans, particularly those in intensive care units who tend to have underlying conditions predisposing them to tracheal damage from the endotracheal tube cuff.
-
Comparative Study
Access to the parapharyngeal space: an anatomical study comparing the endoscopic and open approaches.
A subtemporal preauricular approach to the infratemporal fossa and parapharyngeal space has been the traditional path to tumors of this region. The morbidity associated with this procedure has lead to the pursuit of less invasive techniques. Endoscopic access using a minimally invasive transmaxillary/transpterygoid approach potentially may obviate the drawbacks associated with open surgery. The anatomy of the parapharyngeal space is complex and critical; therefore, a comparison of the anatomy exposed by these different approaches could aid in the decision making toward a minimally invasive surgical corridor. ⋯ 5.