Otolaryngologia polska. The Polish otolaryngology
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Diffusion tensor imaging is unique in its ability to non-invasively visualize white matter fiber tracts in the human brain in vivo. White matter fiber bundles of the human brain form a spatial defined by the anatomical and functional architecture. Determination of axonal pathways provides an invaluable means to study the connectivity of human brain and its functional network. ⋯ The authors indicate diagnostic possibilities of MR tractography in otolaryngology for imaging the nervous tracts of sense of hearing, smell and taste with particular consideration of otoneurological evaluation of patients with cochlear implants and bone anchored hearing aid (BAHA). White matter tracts can be evaluated independently by using diffusion tensor tractography, which appears to be a promising technique for determining changes in white matter in degenerative disease. The authors also indicate that method as a beneficial in the surgical planning for patients with intrinsic brain tumors.
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Tracheotomy is one of the most oldest operations in surgery. Percutaneous dilational tracheotomy has become increasingly popular as an alternative to standard tracheotomy over the last 30 years. It is particularly useful in patients who require prolonged mechanical ventilation, in the intensive care units. Percutaneous tracheotomy is a technique that can be performed at the bedside. It is cost effective, minimally invasive and can be done rapidly. ⋯ The incidence of asymptomatic subglottic tracheal stenosis after decannulation of percutaneous tracheotomy patients has been reported in over 25% with to 2% case reports of symptomatic stenosis. Although percutaneous dilational tracheotomy is considered as a safe procedure, there is a high incidence of tracheal stenosis.
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Subdural empyema is an uncommon and serious complication of sinusitis. Authors reported a case of 34-year-old man without internal loads/ chronic diseases in the course of chronic sinusitis of odontogenic origin. ⋯ Early employed wide spectrum antibiotic therapy and inflammatory focus removal did not prevent intracranial complications. The patient required two-staged neurosurgical operation.
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Comparative Study
[Neuronavigation in transnasal endoscopic paranasal sinuses and cranial base surgery: comparison of the optical and electromagnetic systems].
Transnasal endoscopic operative methods became increasingly popular in paranasal sinuses and cranial base surgery. Various types of localization systems are recently used to navigate through and between tangled anatomical structures in this region. The aim of this study was to compare (as basing on our own clinical experience), the advantages and limitations of the optical and electromagnetic neuronavigation systems. ⋯ The additional time spent in the operative theatre for getting a system ready is well paid off by better orientation of a surgeon in the operative field consequently increasing safety and higher accuracy of surgical procedure. What system should a surgeon use depends to a great extent on the type of planed procedure and preferred surgical technique.
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Editorial
European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Societies (EU.F.O.S.)--past, present and future.
The author presents the history, the current status and the future of European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Societes. The new European Confederation (EC-ORL/HNS), a scientific and educational organization will be devoted to the advancement of science, research and education on ORL, promote, co-orrdinate and unify the advancement of ORL-HNS in Europe, organize and co-ordinate high quality training and exchange programmes and represent ORL-HNS in general.