Videoendoscopy utilizing flexible nasopharyngolaryngoscopy and Scion Image software is reliable, minimally invasive, and useful as an office procedure in evaluating the multilevel obstruction of upper airway in OSA patients. The retropalatal region has more severe obstruction compared with retroglossal region either in erect or supine position.
Hypernasality which is rare symptom commonly occur as a consequence of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). VPI usually manifested as nasal air emission and hypernasal resonance during speech. The cause can be divided into congenital, neuromuscular disorder and surgical complication. Congenital cause of VPI includes cleft palate, nasal septum malformation such as vomer agenesis, submucous cleft palate and velar dysplasia, while neuromuscular VPI can be due to cerebral palsy or cerebrovascular accident. Surgical cause of VPI could be due to adenoidectomy and scarring of the velum post palatoplasty in cleft palate repair. We present a 17-year-old man who was diagnosed of congenital left nasolacrimal duct obstruction referred to us for left endoscopic dacrocystorhinostomyin which during nasoendoscopic examination revealed absence of vomer.
Torticollis is a clinical manifestation of musculoskeletal pathologies and it is often underestimated as the first symptom of an infection of the retropharyngeal space. It accounts for about one-fourth of retropharyngeal abscess (RPA) presentations in children. Early imaging studies may help to get the diagnosis of RPA and to offer prompt surgical intervention to avoid complications such as upper airway obstruction. Thus, torticollis should not be only treated symptomatically without the exclusion of serious retropharyngeal abscess because a delay in the definitive diagnosis and implementation of adequate therapy may be fatal.
Complete cricotracheal separation, which is the most severe type of laryngeal trauma, is an uncommonly seen injury that clinicians have limited experience in managing. However, it is potentially fatal. Due to limited exposure to this condition, mismanagement can occur, which may further aggravate the patient’s condition. The most crucial part of managing this injury is to establish a secure airway. Tracheostomy under local anesthesia is the preferred method of airway stabilization, in order to avoid further injuries to the airway caused by endotracheal intubation. Here, we discuss the management of complete cricotracheal separation based on a case experienced in the east coast region of Malaysia, where this type of injury is rarely encountered.
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