European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol · Apr 2014
Meckel's cave access: anatomic study comparing the endoscopic transantral and endonasal approaches.
Recent advances in endonasal endoscopy have facilitated the surgical access to the lateral skull base including areas such as Meckel's cave. This approach has been well documented, however, few studies have outlined transantral specific access to Meckel's. A transantral approach provides a direct pathway to this region obviating the need for extensive endonasal and transsphenoidal resection. ⋯ A transantral approach to Meckel's cave provides access similar to the endonasal approach with minimal invasiveness. Some of the morbidity associated with extensive endonasal resection could possibly be avoided. Better understanding of the complex skull base anatomy, from different perspectives, helps to improve current endoscopic skull base surgery and to develop new alternatives, consequently, leading to improvements in safety and efficacy.
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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol · Apr 2014
Presentation of floating mass transducer and Vibroplasty couplers on CT and cone beam CT.
Various titanium coupling elements, Vibroplasty Couplers, maintaining the attachment of the Floating Mass Transducer (FMT) of the active middle ear implant Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) to the round window, the stapes suprastructure or the stapes footplate are in use to optimally transfer energy from the FMT to the inner ear fluids. In certain cases it is of interest to radiologically verify the correct position of the FMT coupler assembly. The imaging appearance of FMT connected to these couplers, however, is not well known. ⋯ The correct positioning of the FMT and all types of couplers could be demonstrated. Both methods, MDCT and CBCT, are appropriate methods for postoperative localization of FMT in combination with Vibroplasty Couplers and for verifying their correct position. If CBCT is available, this method is recommended due to the better spatial resolution and less metal artifacts.
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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol · Mar 2014
ReviewEnhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) strategies: possible advantages also for head and neck surgery patients?
Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs have recently been developed in order to reduce morbidity, improve recovery, and shorten hospital stays of surgical patients. Since the 1990 s, ERAS programs have been successfully applied in many centres, especially in northern Europe and America, to perioperative management for colorectal surgery, vascular surgery, thoracic surgery, and then also to urological and gynaecologic surgery. Purpose of this paper is to evaluate and discuss the very recent introduction of ERAS programs also in head and neck surgery. ⋯ There are still no reports concerning the results of the application of ERAS protocols in the head and neck field. ERAS programs, however, could offer also to head and neck surgery patients an advantage in terms of fastening recovery, reducing hospital stay, and favouring early return to daily activities after hospital discharge. Therefore, the investigation of specific ERAS protocol in head and neck surgery patients should be encouraged.
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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol · Feb 2014
Ex vivo water exchange performance and short-term clinical feasibility assessment of newly developed heat and moisture exchangers for pulmonary rehabilitation after total laryngectomy.
Laryngectomized patients suffer from respiratory complaints due to insufficient warming and humidification of inspired air in the upper respiratory tract. Improvement of pulmonary humidification with significant reduction of pulmonary complaints is achieved by the application of a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) over the tracheostoma. The aim of this study was to determine whether the new Provox HMEs (XM-HME and XF-HME) have a better water exchange performance than their predecessors (R-HME and L-HME, respectively; Atos Medical, Hörby, Sweden). ⋯ The clinical feasibility study did not reveal any practical problems over the course of 3 weeks. The XM-HME has a significantly better water exchange performance than its predecessor (R-HME). Both newly designed HMEs did succeed in the clinical feasibility study.