Central compartment dissection (of levels VI and VII) for carcinoma of the larynx, hypopharynx, cervical esophagus, and thyroid

Knowledge of the lymphatic drainage pathways, vascular anatomy, distribution of the parathyroid glands, and course of the recurrent laryngeal nerves is important for the safe and complete dissection of the paratracheal and upper mediastinal lymphatics for malignancies of the larynx, hypopharynx, cervical esophagus, and thyroid gland.     

Real-time interactive magnetic resonance imaging

We describe a system for performing interactive MRI in real time. Using a TR/TE 7.1/3.5 ms sequence, the operator may alter a scan parameter and observe the effects of the alteration on the image within a few hundred milliseconds. With this system, we can interactively control the oblique scan slice orientation and, using inversion pulses, the image contrast.     

Elective neck dissection during salvage laryngectomy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the rate of occult metastases detected with elective neck dissection during salvage laryngectomy for radiation failures. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Retrospective review of 63 patients failing radiation therapy treated with salvage surgery between 1970 and 1999. Charts were reviewed for tumor stage, neck treatment, complications, surgical time, and survival. Median follow-up for patients with glottic and supraglottic cancers was 7.8 and 4.5 years, respectively. RESULTS: Thirty-one of 41 glottic cancer patients received elective neck dissections. Three (10%) of 31 had occult metastases. Recurrent staged rT3 and greater tumors showed a 20% rate of occult metastases. No survival advantage was noted between patients treated with elective neck dissection and those followed expectantly (P = .87). Cartilage invasion and perineural invasion in the larynx were associated with a higher risk of occult metastases (P < .05). Ten of 22 supraglottic cancer patients received elective neck dissections. Two (20%) of 10 had occult metastases, and a statistically significant survival advantage was not noted (P = .49). CONCLUSIONS: We recommend bilateral neck dissection at the time of laryngectomy for recurrent staged rT3/4 tumors and all patients with recurrent supraglottic cancers because of the higher rate of occult metastases.     

Hearing preservation in conservation surgery for vestibular schwannoma

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate preservation of hearing in the resection of vestibular schwannomas. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective case review. SETTING: Tertiary-care medical center. PATIENTS: Forty-seven patients (25 men, 22 women) were studied; mean age was 46 years, mean tumor diameter 9.8 mm (range 3-30 mm.) INTERVENTIONS: All patients underwent resection of vestibular schwannomas by the middle cranial fossa (MCF) or the retrosigmoid (RS) approach. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Hearing preservation was classified by the criteria outlined by the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery. Hearing was assessed preoperatively and postoperatively at 1 month and 1 year. Facial function was graded according to the House-Brackmann scale. Minimum follow-up was 18 months. RESULTS: Hearing was preserved in 69% of patients who underwent the MCF approach but in only 33% of patients for whom the RS approach was used. The RS approach was used for larger tumors (mean diameter 15 mm) and the MCF procedure for smaller tumors (mean diameter 9 mm). One hundred percent of patients had facial function H/B grade II or better, regardless of approach. CONCLUSION: Hearing function can be reliably preserved in a high percentage of selected patients undergoing resection of vestibular schwannoma.     

Hypersensitive carotid sinus syncope treated by implantable demand cardiac pacemaker

A patient with hypersensitive carotid sinus syncope was treated by implantation of a permanent demand cardiac pacemaker. The observations suggest the value of demand pacing for persons whose major manifestation is significant bradycardia followed by hypotension. The potential value of this form of therapy can be tested in the individual case by temporarily stimulating the carotid sinus and electrically pacing the heart while monitoring both rhythm and mean arterial pressure.     

Swing of the pendulum: Optimizing functional outcomes in larynx cancer

For years, total laryngectomy was the only treatment option for patients with intermediate to advanced laryngeal cancer. Over the past two decades, great progress has been made in the management of this disease, with multimodality approaches aimed at laryngeal preservation reshaping the treatment landscape. In the era of chemoradiation, greater focus and attention are now directed toward functional laryngeal preservation—not simply “organ preservation.” The continued development and integration of new treatment approaches, including organ preservation surgery (eg, transoral minimally invasive surgery of the head and neck, supracricoid partial laryngectomy), intensity-modulated radiotherapy, and targeted molecular therapies, offer the potential to improve clinical outcomes, function, and quality of life. Incorporation of these new approaches advances the concept of personalized medicine, with treatment strategies tailored to the circumstances and future of each patient.     

Robotic endoscopic surgery of the skull base: a novel surgical approach

OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel robotic surgical approach that allows adequate endoscopic access for resection of tumors involving the anterior and central skull base and allows 2-handed, tremor-free, endoscopic dissection and precise suturing of dural defects. DESIGN: Transnasal endoscopic approaches are being increasingly used for surgical access and resection of tumors of the anterior and central skull base. One major disadvantage of this approach is the inability to provide watertight dural closure and reconstruction, which limits its safety and widespread adoption in surgery of intracranial skull base tumors. Other disadvantages include limited depth perception and several ergonomic constraints. Four human cadaver specimens were used for this study. The surgical approach starts with bilateral sublabial incisions and wide anterior maxillary antrostomies (Caldwell-Luc). Transantral access to the nasal cavity is gained through bilateral wide middle meatal antrostomies. A posterior nasal septectomy facilitates bilateral access by joining both nasal cavities into 1 surgical field. The da Vinci Surgical System is then "docked" by introducing the camera arm port through the nostril and the right and left surgical arm ports through the respective anterior and middle antrostomies, into the nasal cavity. A 5-mm dual-channel endoscope coupled with a dual charge-coupled device camera is inserted in the camera port and allows for 3-dimensional visualization of the surgical field at the surgeon's console. Using the robotic surgical arms, the surgeon may perform endoscopic anterior or posterior ethmoidectomy, sphenoidotomy, or resection of the middle or superior turbinates depending on the extent of needed surgical exposure. In addition, resection of the cribriform plate is performed robotically with sharp dissection of the skull base. The dural defect is then repaired with a 6-0 nylon suture. RESULTS: Adequate access to the anterior and central skull base, including the cribriform plate, fovea ethmoidalis, medial orbits, planum sphenoidale, sella turcica, suprasellar and parasellar regions, nasopharynx, pterygopalatine fossa, and clivus, was obtained in all cadaveric dissections. The 3-dimensional visualization obtained by the dual-channel endoscope at the surgeon's console provided excellent depth perception. The most significant advantage was the ability of the surgeon to perform 2-handed tremor-free endoscopic closure of dural defects. CONCLUSIONS: Transantral robotic surgery provides adequate endoscopic access to the anterior and central skull base. To our knowledge, this is the first study to report the feasibility and advantages of robotic-assisted endoscopic surgery of the skull base. This novel approach also allows for 3-dimensional, 2-handed, tremor-free endoscopic dissection and precise closure of dural defects. These advantages may expand the indications of minimally invasive endoscopic approaches to the skull base.