Microscopic tumor cut-through revised to negative margins is a powerful prognosticator that is observed only when regional disease is also present. The value of adjuvant therapeutic regimens is questionable in patients with microscopic tumor cut-through, revised to negative margins, and with no regional disease.
Patients: A consecutive series of 351 patients (244 men and 107 women; mean age, 58.63 years) who underwent free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects that were monitored using the implantable Doppler probe were included. Results: The most common indication for surgery was squamous cell carcinoma (81.0%), followed by functional reconstruction (4.3%). The most common free flap used was radial forearm (68.0%), followed by the fibular free flap (19.0%). With operative exploration used as the gold standard, the Cook-Swartz Doppler Flow Monitoring System had a sensitivity of 65.8% and specificity of 98.2% for the detection of flap compromise. For the detection of vascular compromise of the monitored vessel (excluding flap compromise cases whereby flow in the monitored vessel was not compromised on operative exploration, ie, venous obstruction, hematoma formation, and necrotizing fasciitis), the sensitivity increased to 100%. Conclusions: This is the largest reported series, to our knowledge, of implantable Cook-Swartz Doppler use, and our experience would suggest that this is a reliable technique for postoperative monitoring in head and neck reconstruction. Our use of the implantable Doppler probe allowed us to recognize vascular compromise early, resulting in an overall flap success rate of 98.1%, with a 92.0% salvage rate of flaps that experienced vascular compromise of the monitored vessel.
Objective: To identify the epidemiological profile of airway abnormalities in symptomatic children with cardiac or vascular anomalies.Design: Retrospective medical chart review.Setting: Tertiary referral pediatric hospital.Patients: Children with airway-related symptoms and coexistent cardiac or vascular abnormality were included. The source for patient identification was a prospectively kept database.Main Outcome Measures: Endoscopic airway diagnoses, presenting airway symptoms, cardiac diagnoses, other comorbid conditions and pertinent diagnoses, patient demographics, source of referral, treatments, and follow-up.
Results:The study population comprised 77 patients (45 male and 32 female; mean age, 18.2 months) treated between June 2002 and July 2006. Only 4 patients had no findings. The most common airway abnormality was laryngeal paralysis (n=32), followed by subglottic stenosis (n=18). Congenital and acquired lesions were equally encountered (n=70 and n=64, respectively). The most frequent presentation was intolerance to feed (n=51) (stridor and/or failure of extubation). Of the 77 patients, 32 (42%) required airway surgical intervention (open vs closed); 36 (47%) still require otolaryngologic followup; and 32 (42%) had a named syndrome or general multisystem condition.Conclusions: At least 3% of all children with cardiac disease will harbor airway problems. Laryngeal paralysis was the most common problem encountered. Given the successes achievable in treating children with complex cardiac abnormalities, attention should be paid to concomitant and consequential airway problems. Counseling processes should acknowledge the role of early otolaryngologic involvement.
Patients receiving vertical partial laryngectomy with temporoparietal free flap reconstruction for recurrent glottic carcinoma following radiation treatment failure have high rates of locoregional control. The use of the temporoparietal free flap in this patient population produces high-quality voice results and normal swallowing and has no major effect on quality of life.
With proper patient selection and planning and the use of 2 surgical teams, the length of surgery and complication rates are not significantly increased in double free-flap reconstruction. Furthermore, by using 2 free flaps, the best osseous and soft-tissue elements may be independently selected, yielding appropriate tissue characteristics for ideal defect reconstruction.
This is the largest reported series of sphenoid sinus IP in the English literature. We have demonstrated a predominance of neurological and visual symptoms in symptomatic patients with sphenoid IP, and suggest that these may be early manifestations of sphenoid IP, before the more common sinonasal symptoms develop secondary to extension into the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses.
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