Skull base surgery for malignancy: when not to operate

The purpose of this paper is to detail the contraindications for surgery, with curative intent for those patients who suffer from a head and neck malignancy that invades the intracranial space. This is based on a 30-year experience of over 250 patients. The most important contraindications are anatomical. Surgery is not done if the following structures are invaded: brain stem, eloquent portions of the cerebrum, superior sagittal sinus, both internal carotid arteries, both cavernous sinuses and certain vital bridging veins. Certain tumor factors are absolute but are occasionally relative contraindications: such as distant metastatic disease especially if multiple and at multiple anatomic sites. Some tumors that behave in a particularly virulent fashion that defy complete resection but are often difficult to predict preoperatively. Lack of patient medical fitness or absence of patient commitment to the operative procedure is make-up two serious contraindications to surgery. Presented at the 77th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, 24–28 May 2006, Mannheim, Germany.     

老年病人鼻饲方法的改进

目的探讨增加置管深度并抬高床头对预防老年鼻饲病人食物反流的效果。方法将 5 75例需鼻饲的卧床老年病人按鼻饲医嘱时间顺序及不平衡指数最小原则分成三组 ,分别给予教科书中的常规置管深度置管 (对照组 )、置管深度延长 10cm(观察 1组 )、置管深度延长 10cm并抬高床头 30～ 45°(观察 2组 )进行鼻饲。结果三组病人食物反流率比较 ,P <0 .0 1;观察 1、2组分别与对照组比较 ,P <0 .0 5、P <0 .0 1;观察 1组与观察 2组比较 ,P <0 .0 1。增加置管深度并抬高床头其食物反流率最低 ,仅增加置管深度次之 ,常规置管最高。结论增加置管深度并抬高床头可显著降低老年鼻饲病人食物反流发生率。     

Dislocation of an upper third molar into the maxillary sinus after a severe trauma: a case report

Abstract – Dental injuries are common following facial trauma. This article presents a rare injury: the dislocation of a third molar into the maxillary sinus after complex mandibular and maxillary tuberosity fractures. The possible mechanism and clinical treatment are discussed.     

Pressure stability of nasal CPAP and bilevel devices

Summary Question of the study   Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) prevents collapse of the upper airway during sleep in patients with obstructive sleep apnea provided that a positive transmural pressure can be maintained during inspiration. We examined pressure-flow characteristics in seven CPAP and bilevel devices during spontaneous breathing.
Methods   The CPAP devices were set to a pressure level of 9.8  hPa (10  cm H₂O) and adapted to a pneumotachograph using a standard CPAP hose and an outlet valve. We continuously measured flow, volume and pressure during resting ventilation and increasing voluntary hyperventilation and analysed the dependence of the variables on a breath-to-breath basis.
Results   Mean CPAP pressures differed between the devices (9.9 – 10.6  hPa) despite the same settings. In all machines pressure fell during inspiration to 8.4 – 9.8  hPa and increased during expiration to 11.1 – 11.7  hPa. This effect increased with higher flow rates. Maximum expiratory pressures rose to 12 – 19  hPa at peak flow rates of 2 l/s, mean expiratory pressures to 9.5 – 16  hPa. Inspiratory pressures dropped to 8.5 – 4.5  hPa (minimum) and 10.5 – 6.0 (mean). Bilevel devices showed a higher stability than CPAP devices. Pressure swings during the respiratory cycle increased the additional work of breathing.
Conclusions   Due to differences in mean and effective CPAP levels CPAP devices are not simply exchangeable but should be individually adapted. Patients with higher minute ventilation might benefit from more stable CPAP machines. The impact on patients' compliance remains to be evaluated.     

Raymond's syndrome following petrosal sinus sampling

Summary Inferior petrosal sinus sampling (IPSS) is used to evaluate the pituitary-dependency of Cushing's disease, and to predict the laterality of a microadenoma prior to transsphenoidal operation. A serious complication occured in a 14-year-old boy: he suffered brain stem ischaemia with abducens nerve palsy and hemiparesis (Raymond's syndrome). The case prompted us to reconsider the indication for this investigation.     

鼻眶筛骨折手术治疗的临床评价

目的　探讨鼻眶筛骨折的手术入路、骨折复位与坚固内固定及合并眼球内陷的处理方法。方法　对 17例鼻眶筛骨折患者进行回顾性研究 ,根据CT结果与Fedor骨折分型分为三型 ,其中Ⅰ型 1例 ,Ⅱ型 7例 ,Ⅲ型 9例 ;13例选用鼻根正中入路 ,3例鼻旁入路 ,7例需同时附加眶下切口。 8例合并眼球内陷者采用眼球赤道后方碘仿纱条填塞与植骨矫正法。结果　①本组病例平均内眦宽度和内眦宽度 /外眦宽度比例从 ( 35± 7)mm、( 37± 8) %恢复到 ( 32± 4 )mm、( 35± 7) %比较正常水平 ;②面部外形全部恢复到正常或接近正常 ;③ 8例眼球内陷患者术后 6例恢复到基本正常 ,2例术后仍有轻度凹陷 ,5例复视术后全部消失。结论　鼻根正中入路附加眶下切口可充分显露骨折片 ,结合坚固内固定技术可使骨折片解剖复位 ;内眦韧带复位固定是本手术关键所在 ,重建正常眶内容积和眶内容物准确复位 ,以解决眼球内陷和眼球运动受限问题     

Convergence of occipital nerve and superior sagittal sinus input in the cervical spinal cord of the cat

Co-existence of facial and occipital pain may occur in occipital neuralgia, migraine and cluster headache; suggesting convergence of trigeminal and cervical afferents. Such convergence has been shown in humans and other animals, but the site and extent of this are uncertain. In anaesthetized adult cats, the superior sagittal sinus and occipital nerve were stimulated electrically, and extracellular recordings made in the dorsolateral area of the upper cervical cord using glass-coated tungsten electrodes. Of 49 units in 10 cats, 33 (67%) had input from the superior sagittal sinus and the occipital nerve. Thirteen (27%) had superior sagittal sinus input and 3 (6%) had occipital nerve input. Convergent receptive fields were identified mechanically in 7 units. These experiments in cats show convergent input from occipital nerve and superior sagittal sinus on dorsolateral area units in two-thirds of cases studied. This experimental site of trigeminocervical convergence may relate to referral of pain in occipital neuralgia and other headaches.     

Esthesioneuroblastoma in a young child. Case report

Esthesioneuroblastoma is an uncommon malignant neoplasm that arises from olfactory mucosa, often with intracranial extension.A case report of the youngest victim in the literature (2-year-old boy) is presented.     

扩大经额硬膜外入路切除巨大侵袭性垂体瘤

目的:探讨采用扩大的经额硬膜外入路切除巨大侵袭性垂体瘤的临床应用.方法:1997年6月至2002年3月采用该入路显微外科切除巨大侵袭性垂体瘤10例,肿瘤主要累及于鞍上、蝶筛窦及上斜坡区.结果:本组10例中,肿瘤全切6例,次全切除3例,大部分切除1例.术后发生颅神经麻痹4例,其中动眼神经障碍3例,外展神经障碍1例.全组无手术死亡.术后影像学随访6～24个月,全切除肿瘤病例未见肿瘤复发,次全切除者无明显增大.结论:该入路可充分显露鞍区肿瘤,术野开阔,对脑组织损伤小,适用于已侵犯蝶筛窦区及上斜坡的侵袭性垂体瘤.     

Persistent left superior vena cava draining to left atrium with normal coronary sinus

In embryology, a persistent connection of the left superior vena cava to the left atrium rarely coexists with a coronary sinus. We herein report an unusual case of persistent left superior vena cava terminating in a left atrium with normal coronary sinus, which was revealed at the time of permanent pacemaker implantation after a second operation for recurrent left atrioventricular valve regurgitation. Because this anomaly had gone undiagnosed at the first operation, we were unable to diagnose it prior to the second operation, because the preoperative coronary angiogram clearly demonstrated a coronary sinus that was not dilated. We would have repaired the anomaly using a patch or other procedure had it been diagnosed before the second operation in order to prevent cyanosis or brain complications secondary to right-to-left shunting. One should always be on guard for this rare condition.