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 · Jul 2003
Review Case ReportsHoarseness after laryngeal blunt trauma: a differential diagnosis between an injury to the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve and an arytenoid subluxation. A case report and literature review.
Arytenoid subluxation is a well-known cause of hoarseness due to incomplete glottic closure with intact inferior laryngeal nerves after severe laryngeal trauma. We report the case of a young man presenting after laryngeal blunt trauma with hoarseness, easy fatigue during phonation, marked difficulty with his high-pitch and singing voice and decreased phonation time, but intact function of both inferior laryngeal nerves, intact endolaryngeal mucosa sensibility and normal CT scans of the larynx and the neck. Due to the asymmetric anteromedial position of the right arytenoid with incomplete glottic closure, the primary diagnosis was arytenoid subluxation, and the patient was referred for instantaneous relocation therapy. ⋯ In conclusion, the unilateral paresis of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve after laryngeal blunt trauma is reported here for the first time. Although the clinical findings are familiar sequelae of thyroid surgery, they may be misdiagnosed as arytenoid subluxation after laryngeal blunt trauma. Stroboscopy and electromyography permitted the correct diagnosis.
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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol · May 2003
Protection from epistaxis blood aerosol contamination: a novel use of a surgical facemask.
Epistaxis is one of the most common otorhinolaryngological emergencies. It is also one of the most common emergencies that places medical staff at risk of blood contamination. We report a simple yet extremely effective method in which a standard surgical facemask is worn by the patient, thereby reducing blood aerosol contamination without interfering with effective management.
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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol · Mar 2003
Case ReportsDescending necrotizing mediastinitis following acute epiglottitis: a case report.
Descending necrotizing mediastinitis occurs secondary to deep neck infection, and the primary focus of infection is mostly located in the tonsil, pharynx and carious tooth. DNM following acute epiglottitis is quite rare, with only one case reported. We treated an 84-year old female with an acute epiglottitis followed by DNM. She was successfully treated by drainages with cervical surgery combined with thoracotomy and cervical surgery.
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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol · Feb 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialBetahistine dihydrochloride in the treatment of peripheral vestibular vertigo.
The present study compares the efficacy and safety of betahistine dihydrochloride to that of a placebo in recurrent vertigo resulting from Meniere's disease (MD) or in paroxysmal positional vertigo (PPV) of probable vascular origin. The design was double-blind, multicentre and parallel-group randomised. Eleven Italian centres enrolled 144 patients: 75 of the patients were treated with betahistine (41 MD/34 PPV) and 69 with placebos (40 MD/29 PPV). ⋯ Associated symptoms and the quality of life also were significantly improved by betahistine. Both the physician's judgement and the patient's opinion on the efficacy and acceptability of the treatment were in agreement as to the superiority of betahistine. The effective and safe profile of betahistine in the treatment of vertigo due to peripheral vestibular disorders was confirmed.
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Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol · May 2002
Case ReportsOropharyngeal tuberculosis causing severe odynophagia and dysphagia.
Oropharyngeal tuberculosis is a rare disease and is usually secondary to laryngeal involvement in pulmonary tuberculosis. The major symptom in such patients is sore throat. Here, we report a case of tuberculosis of the posterior oropharyngeal wall without laryngeal involvement and causing severe dysphagia and odynophagia without esophageal or mediastinal involvement. The unusual presentation of extrapulmonary tuberculosis is emphasized, and its diagnosis and treatment are discussed.