Closure without epiglottoplasty or tracheotomy after reconstructive frontal anterior laryngectomy.

Reconstructive frontal anterior laryngectomy (RFAL) is a partial laryngeal surgery technique for resecting early-stage (T1-T2) glottic squamous cell carcinoma. Indications comprise a lesion of the anterior commissure of the larynx that cannot be adequately exposed by endoscopy, and cases in which radiotherapy is refused or contraindicated. The initial RFAL technique included epiglottoplasty. Here we propose a technique without epiglottoplasty, with the advantage of avoiding need for tracheotomy in most cases. After the first stage of surgical excision, reconstruction consists in placing a vertical brace transepiglottically and below the cricoid. The epiglottis is thus left at its original height and secured in place to prevent flapping in the pharyngolaryngeal lumen. Transverse bracing is then performed through the thyroid wings: one of the key points of this surgery is to control tension to avoid risk of stenosis. The subhyoid muscles are sutured together to achieve satisfactory sealing. This technique offers satisfying functional results and oncological control. The most frequent complications are (1) secondary tracheotomy, which can be avoided by selecting patients who require a primary tracheotomy and optimizing the seal, and (2) stenosis, which can be limited by not bringing the cartilaginous structures too close together during bracing.

Review of olfactory cleft roof anatomy.

Progress in skull-base endoscopic surgery has improved our knowledge of olfactory cleft (OC) anatomy. This article presents a review of current knowledge concerning the OC roof: descriptive anatomy, radiological exploration, and endoscopic observation. The OC is a narrow area in the most superior part of the nasal cavity. Its roof is the thinnest structure separating the nasal cavities from the brain; it comprises three superimposed tissues: nasal mucosa, ethmoid cribriform plate (ECP), and dura mater. The ECP comprises the anterior ECP containing the ethmoidal slit (ES) medially and the cribroethmoidal foramen (CEF) laterally; and the posterior ECP, comprising the olfactory foramina. The OC roof is bordered anteriorly by the nasal bone roof, laterally by the lateral ethmoid masses, and posteriorly by the jugum and anterior wall of the sphenoid sinuses. Imaging is crucial for analyzing this wall, providing precise detailed information on conformation and anatomic relations with adjacent structures such as the anterior ethmoidal artery. Understanding OC roof anatomy and correct interpretation of imaging are essential for safety in present-day functional endoscopic sinus surgery and anterior skull-base oncologic surgery.

Lack of interaction between hepatitis C virus and alcohol in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis. A statistical study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In several studies markers of hepatitis C virus infection have been shown to be present in alcoholic patients with cirrhosis. Our work was designed to test the likely hypothesis that this association is due to an interaction between hepatitis C virus and alcohol in the pathogenesis of cirrhosis. METHODS: We compared alcohol consumption and repartition of anti-HCV antibodies detected by an immunoblot recombinant assay in 101 male patients with cirrhosis and in 120 male controls. Interactions between anti-hepatitis C virus, alcohol and cirrhosis were calculated using log linear hierarchical models for frequency data. The basis of the method is that an interaction between hepatitis C virus and alcohol implies that a model built on the hypothesis of a role of hepatitis C virus and alcohol in the disease should be improved by a coefficient associated with multiplicative effects of hepatitis C virus and alcohol. RESULTS: In patients with cirrhosis the mean alcohol consumption (148 +/- 100 g per day) and the incidence of positivity for anti-HCV antibodies (45%) were significantly higher than in controls. The results were consistent with a theoretical model built with the hypothesis of an independent role of both alcohol and hepatitis C virus. The goodness of fit between this model and the actual distribution of alcohol consumption and hepatitis C virus markers was not improved by introduction of an interaction between hepatitis C virus and alcohol. CONCLUSIONS: In alcoholic subjects with hepatitis C virus infection, the probability to have cirrhosis seemed to be explained by additive effects of alcohol and hepatitis C virus. From a purely statistical point of view, no interaction between hepatitis C virus and alcohol consumption on a multiplicative scale could be demonstrated.

Dramatic improvement of watermelon stomach with alpha-interferon.

Watermelon stomach is a rare disorder causing gastric blood loss and iron deficiency anemia. We report a case that occurred during the course of post-hepatitis C cirrhosis, which condition was dramatically improved by alpha-interferon treatment.

[Hepatic granulomatosis associated with mononucleosis syndrome secondary to cytomegalovirus infection: apropos of 2 cases in healthy adults]. / Granulomatose hépatique associée à un syndrome mononucléosique secondaire à une infection à cytomégalovirus: à propos de deux cas chez l'adulte sain.

In this study, the authors report two observations of granulomatous hepatitis. The secondary appearance of a mononucleosis syndrome, three weeks after the onset of fever, in healthy adults, evoked the diagnosis of a cytomegalovirus infection. The authors insist on the histologic and virologic differences of the CMV infection between the healthy adults and the immunodepressed patients. They also note the difficulties of the diagnosis of the CMV infection in healthy adults.

Prevalence of intestinal protozoans in French patients infected with HIV.

To assess the prevalence of intestinal protozoans in French HIV-infected patients, stool samples, duodenojejunal biopsies, and/or colorectal biopsies from 81 patients were studied for parasites, viruses, and bacteria. Pathogens were found in 70.6% of AIDS patients with diarrhea or malabsorption. The respective prevalence of protozoa in AIDS patients with diarrhea was Cryptosporidium sp.: 37.3%, Blastocystis hominis: 13.7%, Giardia intestinalis: 5.8%, Isospora belli: 2%, Enterocytozoon bieneusi: 2%. Microsporidia were noted in one patient with severe malabsorption but no diarrhea. Other pathogens included cytomegalovirus in 27.4% and Mycobacterium avium in 5.8%. Patients with identified pathogens were more immunosuppressed and more severely malnourished than those with unexplained diarrhea. Multiple pathogens were found in 13 of 81 patients (16%). Twenty-six of 66 identified pathogens (40%) were diagnosed only on biopsy specimens. Chronic diarrhea in HIV patients could be explained in the vast majority by appropriate gastrointestinal investigations. Cryptosporidia played a major role, while microsporidia appeared to be less common.

[Effect of a low-fat diet on the fasting volume and postprandial emptying of the gallbladder]. / Influence d'un régime hypolipique sur le volume à jeun et la vidange post-prandiale de la vésicule biliaire.

Little is known of the effects of meal composition on gallbladder emptying and cholecystokinin (CCK) release in man. Gallbladder volumes (measured by means of real time ultrasonography) and plasma CCK levels (determined by radioimmunoassay) were studied in 5 normal subjects, before and after a normal solid-liquid meal, and before and after a low-fat, low-protein, solid-liquid meal after 3 days regimen with low-fat, low-protein meal. Low-fat, low-protein regimen significantly increased gallbladder fasting volume and significantly decreased fasting plasma CCK levels. This suggests that CCK secretion regulates fasting gallbladder volume and that basal CCK secretion depends on diet composition. After a normal meal, gallbladder emptying was biphasic with a 44% volume decrease within the first 15 min followed by slower emptying during the next 60 min with a final volume reaching less than 15% of the fasting volume. After a hypolipidic, hypoproteic meal, the initial 15 min emptying (42%) was the same as after control meals but no further decrease of gallbladder volume was observed. This study shows that the initial phase of post prandial gallbladder contraction is not dependent on meal composition which affects late gallbladder emptying only. We conclude that a low-fat, low-protein diet, increasing gallbladder fasting volume and decreasing gallbladder emptying, may favor gallbladder stasis and therefore increase the risk of gallstone formation.