Perioperative management of lithium in the patient undergoing pituitary surgery: a case report.

Lithium is a psychotropic drug used primarily in the treatment of bipolar disorder. It is renally excreted and characteristically causes nephrogenic diabetes insipidus as an adverse drug reaction. Lithium also requires serum level monitoring as there is a narrow therapeutic window and untreated toxicity can result in neurological sequelae including drowsiness, coma, seizures, and ultimately death. We present the case of a 65-year old man admitted for pituitary surgery complicated by post-operative difficult fluid management and subsequent lithium toxicity. We highlight this rare situation and the need to be vigilant in the peri-operative period with any patients on lithium who undergo pituitary surgery.

Use of the medial canthal point (MCP) as a reliable anatomical landmark to the frontal sinus.

OBJECTIVES: Frontal sinus surgery is considered one of the more challenging aspects of Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery, due to the complex variations in normal sinus anatomy but also increased morbidity due to the close proximity of critical structures such as the anterior cranial fossa and orbits. We aim to investigate the medial canthal point (MCP) as an anatomical landmark for safe frontal sinus access. METHODS: The MCP intranasally is identified during surgery with non-tooth forceps, with one limb just anterior to the medial canthus and the other intranasally in the same coronal plane along the skull base. This point was identified on 100 paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) scan reconstructions. The distance between the anterior cranial fossa and MCP was measured on imaging-medial canthal point distance (MCPD). The maximal anterior-posterior (AP) distance was measured on all scans. RESULTS: The average MCPD for males was 13.0 mm (8.7-20.4 mm) and for females 12.0 mm (6.8-22.8 mm). Mean AP distance for males was 12.0 mm (4.5-20.2 mm) and for females 10.4 mm (3.8-15.9 mm). Mean distance for all 100 patients was 12.6 mm (range 7.5-22.8 mm). In all cases, the MCP was anterior to the cranial fossa. Mixed effects modelling analysis showed a significant correlation between the MCPD and AP distance (P = .006). CONCLUSION: The MCP is a consistent anatomical landmark that can serve as an adjunct to safe frontal sinus access alongside the first olfactory fiber and CT navigation systems. However, patient selection continues to be very important, with larger well pneumatized frontal sinuses being ideal to tackle earlier in a surgeon's career. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Current management of necrotising otitis externa in the UK: survey of 221 UK otolaryngologists.

INTRODUCTION: Necrotising otitis externa (NOE) is a rare infection causing skull base osteomyelitis. The evidence regarding NOE consists mostly of case series. Hence, there is a limited evidence base to guide decision-making. This survey aims to report the experience of 221 otolaryngologists in this condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Internet survey administered to the membership of the British Association of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (ENT UK). RESULTS: Respondents' detailed replies on diagnosis, treatment and follow up are presented. One third of respondents reported increasing incidence of NOE. Over 80% diagnosed NOE based on pre-existing risk factors, severe pain, non-resolution of infection and CT scan. Most respondents managed NOE with intravenous antibiotics (90%) and blood sugar control (82%). There was less agreement in certain aspects of management including the role of surgery and the nature and duration of follow up. CONCLUSIONS: Our survey provides a picture of NOE management in the UK. While there is consensus in some aspects of NOE management, other aspects attract widely differing answers. This may reflect the lack of strong evidence in the literature. Future work should aim to address this.

Laryngeal mask airways and use of a Boyle-Davis gag in ENT surgery: is there a learning curve? A prospective analysis.

OBJECTIVES: The objective was to identify whether the experience of the operating surgeon was relevant to the frequency of the laryngeal mask airway (LMA) airway obstruction or change to an endotracheal tube during ear, nose, and throat surgery. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected for 186 patients undergoing a procedure with the use of a Boyle-Davis gag and LMA over 12 months in a district-general hospital in the United Kingdom. patient demographics (age, mallampati grade), grade of surgeon, grade of anesthetist, LMA size inserted, and any intraoperative adjustments needed were recorded. RESULTS: There was an overall intraoperative airway intervention rate of 21%. The experience of the surgeon affected the rate of intraoperative airway interventions encountered, reflected by the significantly lower rate of airway complications (ie, 10%) seen when associate specialists perform these types of procedures compared to other grades of surgeon (Fisher's exact test 2-tailed P value = .04). A significant complication rate of 50% was seen with core surgical trainees compared to other grades of surgeon (Fisher's exact test 2-tailed P value = .002). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest there may be a learning curve for otolaryngology trainees when using a LMA. However, larger studies and further subanalyses are essential before further conclusions can be made.

Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis presenting with auditory symptoms.

We present an unusual case of a 54-year-old Chinese lady presenting to the ears, nose and throat clinic after family members noticed that her hearing had progressively deteriorated over the preceding weeks. She also complained of tinnitus. Examination of the ears, nose and throat was unremarkable. Flexible nasoendoscopy demonstrated swelling in the postnasal space, which, following biopsy, was shown to be pathognomonic of tuberculosis. This was successfully treated with multidisciplinary input and the patient made a complete recovery.

Nasal pemphigoid: a diagnostic dilemma.

Cicatricial pemphigoid is a chronic, systemic, immunobullous disorder affecting mucous membranes. Nasal manifestations of cicatricial pemphigoid are less common than in the rest of the upper aero-digestive tract, and may prove difficult to diagnose and manage effectively. We report one such case presenting with isolated nasal symptoms, in which diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of the underlying cause was particularly challenging. A literature review was performed to ascertain the incidence of cicatricial pemphigoid and to establish the best evidence-based investigation and treatment.

Balloon dilatation of tracheostomal stenosis with cuffed tracheostomy tube. A novel approach to tracheostomal dilatation.

Postlaryngectomy tracheostomal stenosis is a common complication. Stomal narrowing can be severe, requiring urgent management with dilatation of the stoma. There are numerous ways to achieve this, ranging from forcibly inserting a larger tracheostomy tube, using a graduated dilator, to surgical intervention in the form of a stomaplasty. We describe an alternative technique using a readily available cuffed tracheostomy tube.

The middle ear mass: a rare but important diagnosis.

The authors report a rare case of primary intracranial meningioma presenting as a middle ear mass with conductive hearing loss. The authors aim to highlight the importance of diagnosing a middle ear mass, which although rare, may have a substantial impact on ongoing patient management. A discussion of other middle ear pathologies is made in order to demonstrate the subtle differences in presentation.

A frog in the throat? An expansile mass presenting in the neck with dysphonia.

A neck mass, which rapidly increases in size over several weeks, is concerning for all involved. When accompanied by other symptoms suggesting sinister underlying pathology, efficient management and rapid diagnosis are vital. The causes may include primary or metastatic carcinoma, or lymphoreticular malignancy. Other non-sinister pathology may account for the swelling such as reactive lymph nodes or benign neoplasms. A benign neoplasm of the lymphatic system known as a lymphangioma may rarely be the cause of a mass in the neck in adults. More commonly found in infants, with approximately 40% found at birth, they are seldom encountered in adults. In children, they have the propensity to infiltrate into and around muscles and neurovascular structures, occasionally leading to difficult surgical excision. The authors present an unusual case of an adult patient with an expansile mass in the supraclavicular fossa of insidious onset. It was associated with dysphagia and hoarseness of voice.

Advanced, recurrent mesothelioma growth mimicking an aortic dissection.

In the emergency setting, a cold, clammy, dyspnoeic patient presenting with interscapular chest pain and unequal blood pressures suggests an acute aortic dissection until proven otherwise. By means of a case report, the authors detail one such patient who presented identically to one having an acute aortic dissection. Initial assessment showed unequal blood pressures in left and right arms, a resting tachycardia and indistinct heart sounds. Fluid resuscitation failed to improve the patient's physiological parameters and they rapidly deteriorated. The medical history included mesothelioma and atrial fibrillation. Existing investigations were reviewed and after thorough consideration of the patient's premorbid state and likely prognosis, the decision was made to palliate. The patient died shortly after being transferred to the oncology ward. Imaging is therefore integral to the assessment and management of a patient in whom an aortic dissection is feared.