Spontaneous compressive orbital emphysema of rhinogenic origin

We report the case of a young patient who developed spontaneous compressive orbital emphysema after an attack of coughing. At admission the patient presented left proptosis, diplopia, vision impairment and headache. Computer tomography showed air in the lateral part of left orbit compressing the eyeball and the optic nerve medially. It also revealed a sphenoid bone dysplasia with hyperpneumatization of the left greater wing and with two dehiscences in its wall. It was very intriguing to discover that this sphenoid dysplasia and the flap of mucosa covering one dehiscence were causing a ball-valve effect, allowing air to enter but not leave the orbit. Endoscopic sinus surgery was successfully used to treat this case. Received: 3 April 2000 / Accepted: 5 September 2000     

Endoscopic cordectomy. a proposal for a classification by the Working Committee, European Laryngological Society

The European Laryngological Society is proposing a classification of different laryngeal endoscopic cordectomies in order to ensure better definitions of postoperative results. We chose to keep the word “cordectomy” even for partial resections because it is the term most often used in the surgical literature. The classification comprises eight types of cordectomies: a subepithelial cordectomy (type I), which is resection of the epithelium; a subligamental cordectomy (type II), which is a resection of the epithelium, Reinke’s space and vocal ligament; transmuscular cordectomy (type III), which proceeds through the vocalis muscle; total cordectomy (type IV); extended cordectomy, which encompasses the contralateral vocal fold and the anterior commissure (type Va); extended cordectomy, which includes the arytenoid (type Vb); extended cordectomy, which encompasses the subglottis (type Vc); and extended cordectomy, which includes the ventricle (type Vd). Indications for performing those cordectomies may vary from surgeon to surgeon. The operations are classified according to the surgical approach used and the degree of resection in order to facilitate use of the classification in daily practice. Each surgical procedure ensures that a specimen is available for histopathological examination. Received: 29 December 1998 / Accepted: 2 July 1999     

鼻内窥镜加柯-陆手术联合进路治疗慢性鼻窦炎

目的：探讨提高慢性鼻窦炎疗效的方法。方法：对１０４例伴有上颌窦病变的慢性鼻窦炎患者行鼻内窥镜和柯－陆手术联合进路鼻窦手术,彻底清除病变。结果：术后随访６～１２个月（平均９个月）,治愈８５例（８１．７％）,好转１５例（１４．４％）,无效４例（３．８％）,总有效率９６．１％。结论：该方法可彻底清除上颌窦病变,恢复上颌窦的生理性引流通道,防止复发,弥补了经鼻内窥镜鼻窦手术在处理上颌窦病变时的局限性。     

Dysphagia in Parkinson's disease: Pharyngeal manometry and fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation

ObjectiveDysphagia is a common symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD) and it represents a negative prognostic factor because of its complications. This study is to evaluate pharyngeal dysphagia for boluses of various consistencies with Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) and Pharyngeal High-Resolution Manometry (PHRM) in a group of PD patients, making a comparison between the information provided by the two exams.MethodsGroup of 20 patients affected by PD was selected and initially subjected to a qualitative evaluation of the swallowing performing FEES. Subsequently, they were evaluated by PHRM to identify quantitative measures associated with pressures expressed by pharyngeal organs during swallowing. Values obtained in the study group were compared with those recorded in a group of 20 healthy subjects.ResultsStudy showed that Pmax (the maximum pressure elicited by the single pharyngeal muscle structures involved in swallowing) was significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05) for all the boluses and consistency tested, in particular for the Tongue base and the Cricopharyngeal muscle. Pmean pre-swallowing pressure (represents the mean value of a contraction in which basal and maximal pressure where normally calculated) was significantly higher compared to normal subjects for the Tongue base and the Cricopharyngeal muscle (p<0.05). Mean intra-swallowing pressure was higher for the Velopharynx and the Cricopharyngeal muscle, but lower for the tongue base. Pmax and Pmean at PHRM were altered independently to the degree of dysphagia detected at FEES, and they did not correlate either with the location of the residue or with the type of bolus. Images displayed at the FEES, found the corresponding biomechanical explanations in the PHRM, which also allowed us to quantify the extent of the dysfunction, through the calculation of the pressures generated in the various structures studied.ConclusionPHRM is particularly useful in the early detection of dysphagia, when FEES may still show no evidence of abnormal swallowing.     

蝶腭,筛前神经及鼻甲联合手术治疗常年性变应性鼻炎

在鼻内窥镜下为４０例行蝶腭、筛前神经及鼻甲联合手术治疗常年性变应性鼻炎。结果：术后１月全部患者症状消失,显效１００％;术后１年显效３３例,占８２．５％;有效６例,占１５％,有效率为９７．５％。提示该方法可广泛阻滞鼻腔副交感神经来源,降低鼻粘膜感觉灵敏部位敏感性以及感觉—副交感神经反射,破坏喷嚏反射弧的传入通路,使鼻粘膜对外界刺激敏感性下降,血管扩张减轻,腺体分泌减少,对常年性变应性鼻炎有明显疗效。     

Endoscopic vs conventional hernia repair from an immunologic point of view

Background: In this study we tried to estimate the local surgical trauma in patients undergoing endoscopic or conventional hernia repair via the changes in peripheral blood T cell subpopulations (i.e., T-helper 1 (TH1) and TH2 cells), recently shown to be recruited differentially to inflammatory sites. Methods: Cells were identified flow-cytometrically by intracellular cytokine staining on a single cell level in 30 patients undergoing conventional (Shouldice) or total extraperitoneal patch (TEPP) hernia repair. Results: The TH1 cells decreased postoperatively in Shouldice patients on an average of 20.8–31.4%, whereas in TEPP patients only a minor decline (mean, 7.8–9.2%) was observed. The TH2 cells did not change significantly in TEPP patients, and a small increase (mean, 7.7%) was detected in Shouldice patients. Conclusions: Our results suggest that the postoperative reduction in TH1 cells reflects local surgical trauma and can be helpful in evaluating different surgical procedures. When conventional and endoscopic hernia repair were compared, the latter proved less traumatizing. Received: 18 March 1998/Accepted: 24 July 1998     

Right axillary arterial perfusion for a ruptured type B aortic dissection: Report of a case

The results of surgical treatment for a ruptured type B aortic dissection remain far from satisfactory. It is believed that additional perfusion from the right axillary artery might be more beneficial than perfusion from only the femoral artery during surgery for a ruptured thoracic aneurysm. The right axillary perfusion is more likely to perfuse the vital organs proximal to the ruptured area, and thus avoid retrograde emboli. In addition, if the open proximal method is performed, then the right axillary perfusion is able to facilitate the evacuation of air from the aortic lumen. We present herein the case of a patient in whom a ruptured type B acute aortic dissection was successfully treated by applying right axillary perfusion through a left thoracotomy.     

内窥镜辅助下显微神经血管减压术治疗 特发性偏侧面肌痉挛

目的为进一步提高神经血管减压术治疗特发性偏侧面肌痉挛的疗效。方法经乙状窦后小骨窗开颅加用内窥镜辅助显微血管减压术治疗特发性偏侧面肌痉挛３５例。结果术后３４例症状消失,１例症状减轻,３５例随访６个月至３年半,术后面肌抽搐消失者３３例,１例症状减轻,１例１年后复发。结论内窥镜可弥补手术显微镜的不足之处,减少组织损伤和判断错误,提高治疗效果。     

Endoscopic Foreheadplasty: Temporary vs. Permanent Fixation

The introduction of fiberoptic endoscopes has fostered the development of minimally invasive aesthetic facial plastic surgery. The application of this new technology is most widely used in rejuvenation of the mildly to moderately ptotic brow. The concept of endoscopic foreheadplasty is based upon the following maneuvers. First, a sub- or supraperiosteal dissection of the parietal, occipital, and frontal scalp to the level of the superior and lateral orbital rims and zygomatic arch must be accomplished. Second, incision and release of the superior and lateral orbital periosteum are performed. Third, selective myotomies of the brow depressor muscles are completed. These maneuvers allow the brow to be permanently elevated into a desired position following fixation and healing. A significant limitation of this procedure appears to be the ability to predict the long-term forehead and brow elevation. We believe that permanent fixation is one of the best methods to ensure that the desired elevation is maintained. We contrast two series of patients, one with temporary fixation technique and the other with permanent fixation. We review the results and discuss the rationale and advantages of permanent fixation.