Impact of BMI on Dyspnea and Need for Surgical Intervention in Bilateral Vocal Fold Immobility.

OBJECTIVE: Bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVFP) and posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) are causes of bilateral vocal fold immobility (BVFI) and may cause shortness of breath, stridor, and need for surgical intervention. Although increased body mass index (BMI) is associated with restrictive breathing patterns in patients with normal upper airways, it is unclear how BMI impacts dyspnea and need for surgical intervention in BVFI patients. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Three tertiary academic centers in the United States. METHODS: Demographics, BMI, Dyspnea Index (DI), etiology, presence of tracheostomy and surgical intervention (dilation, tracheostomy, cordotomy, arytenoidectomy, open reconstruction) were collected. Primary outcomes included dyspnea measured by DI and need for surgery to improve airway. Linear regressions were performed to assess continuous outcomes. Mann-Whitney U-test was utilized to assess categorical outcomes. RESULTS: Among 121 patients, 52 presented with BVFP and 69 with PGS. Previous neck surgery was the most common cause of BVFI (40.2%). 44.3% of patients received a tracheostomy. Through multivariate linear regression, increased BMI was significantly associated with increased DI in the entire cohort (ß = .43, P = .016). Increased BMI was also associated with need for any surgical intervention (odds ratio [OR] = 1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI] = [1.01-1.13]) in the overall cohort. When stratifying our data, BMI was only significantly associated with DI in BVFP (ß = .496) and need for surgical intervention in PGS (OR = 1.11, 95% CI = [1.01-1.21]), although a positive trend was seen in all analyses. CONCLUSION: Increased BMI may correlate with worsening dyspnea symptoms and need for surgical intervention in patients with BVFI. Weight-loss-related counseling may benefit symptom management.

Achalasia-associated megaoesophagus presenting with dyspnoea and cough.

We present an unusual case of achalasia presenting with dyspnoea and persistent cough. These symptoms persisted for months, leading to the patient undergoing a chest X-ray by her general practitioner which showed right basal consolidation and a density extending along the right mediastinum. CT scan was done which revealed megaoesophagus with a diameter of 7 cm causing tracheal compression, as well as right basal consolidation, consistent with aspiration. Further history revealed 6-month history of progressive swallowing difficulty, retrosternal chest pain and shortness of breath which worsened when eating solid foods. After thorough workup, a diagnosis of idiopathic achalasia (type II) was made. She was treated with laparoscopic Heller cardiomyotomy and Dor fundoplication with significant improvement at follow-up. Dyspnoea and respiratory symptoms are unusual presenting symptoms, suggesting a need to consider achalasia in a wider range of presentations. Successful treatment of achalasia depends on timely diagnosis and intervention prior to oesophageal failure.

[Analysis of cases of laryngeal airway diseases in infants].

Objective:To analyze the clinical data of laryngeal airway diseases in infants and provide reference for the standardized diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Methods:From June 2022 to August 2023, analyze the clinical data of 4 cases of children with laryngeal airway diseases recently admitted to Department of Otolaryngology, Fuzhou Children's Hospital of Fujian Province, and summarize the experience and lessons of diagnosis and treatment by consulting relevant literature. Results:Three cases had symptoms such as laryngeal wheezing, dyspnea, backward growth and development, etc. After electronic laryngoscopy, the first case was diagnosed with laryngeal softening （severe, type Ⅱ）, and the angular incision was performed. While cases 2, 3 diagnosed with case 2 and 3 were diagnosed with laryngeal cyst and underwent laryngeal cyst resection. All three cases underwent low-temperature plasma surgery under visual laryngoscope, and the symptoms were relieved after operation. Case 4 was laryngeal wheezing and dyspnea after extubation under general anesthesia. The electronic laryngoscopy showeded early stage of globetic stenosis, and endoscopic pseudomembrane clamping was performed, and the postoperative symptoms were relieved. Conclusion:Infants and young children with laryngeal airway diseases should pay attention to the early symptoms and be diagnosed by electronic laryngoscopy as soon as possible. With good curative effect and few complications, low-temperature plasma surgery under visual laryngoscope is recommended. The formation of pseudomembrane under the gluteal caused by tracheal intubation causes rapid onset and rapid development. The pseudomembrane extraction by clamping is convenient and fast, with good curative effect.

[Retrospective review of airway obstruction in 19 infants with pharyngeal cysts].

Objective:To discuss the clinical characteristic and treatment of laryngeal cysts in infants. Methods:The clinical data of 19 patients diagnosed with laryngeal cysts in Department of Otolaryngology, Sichuan Provincial Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital from November 2017 to April 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. Results:All of the 19 patients were diagnosed as laryngeal cysts, with clinical manifestations included respiratory distress, inspiratory dyspnea, difficulty in feeding and low and weak crying, etc. All of them were cured after surgical treatment. Conclusion:Misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis of laryngeal cysts are prone to occur in infants and young children. After diagnosis, patients should undergo early surgical treatment to remove airway obstruction and improve ventilation.

Edema de Reinke obstructivo / Obstructive Reinke edema

Introducción: el edema de Reinke es la acumulación de fluidos en la capa externa de la lámina propia de las cuerdas vocales. Produce disfonía y raras veces obstrucción respiratoria. Las etiologías más frecuentes son el tabaquismo, el reflujo gastroesofágico y el mal uso y abuso vocal. Objetivos: determinar, mediante tratamiento quirúrgico, la tasa de resolución de la disnea inspiratoria severa provocada por edema de Reinke bilateral de cuerdas vocales. Diseño: estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo. Material y métodos: revisión de las historias clínicas electrónicas de todos los pacientes que consultaron y fueron tratados por disnea inspiratoria severa provocada por edema de Reinke bilateral de las cuerdas vocales, en el servicio de Otorrinolaringología del Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, entre febrero de 2007 y abril de 2015. Resultados: fueron tratados 4 pacientes de sexo femenino que consultaron por disnea inspiratoria severa. Fumaban más de 30 cigarrillos por día. La técnica quirúrgica consistió en resecar todo el edema polipoideo en forma bilateral, preservando el borde libre de las cuerdas vocales. Conclusiones: el edema de Reinke obstructivo es una patología infrecuente. La tasa de resolución de la disnea inspiratoria severa en las cuatro enfermas tratadas fue del100%. La resección total del edema y de la mucosa excedente, preservando un pequeño sector para que recubra el borde libre de la cuerda vocal (cordectomía vs. cordotomía), fue la técnica quirúrgica preferida. (AU)

Introduction: the Reinke edema is an accumulation of fluid in the outer layer of the lamina propria of the vocal cords. Causes dysphonia and rarely produces respiratory obstruction. Objectives: to determine the rate of resolution of the severe inspiratory dyspnea caused by bilateral Reinke edema of vocal cords with surgical treatment. Design: descriptive and retrospective study. Material and methods: review of the electronic medical records of all patients who consulted and were treated for severe inspiratory dyspnea caused by bilateral Reinke edema of the vocal chords in the Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires between February 2007 and April 2015. Results: four women were treated, consulted for severe inspiratory dyspnea. Smoked more than 30 cigarettes per day. The surgical technique consisted in to resect all the bilateral polypoid edema, while preserving the free edge of the vocal cords. Conclusions: the obstructive Reinke edema is an infrequent pathology. The rate of resolution of the severe inspiratory dyspnea in the four patients treated was 100%. The total resection of the edema and mucosa excess, preserving a small sector to cover the free edge of the vocal cord (cordectomy vs cordotomy) was the preferred surgical technique. (AU)

Correçäo cirúrgica da conexäo venosa anômala do pulmäo esquerdo sem circulaçäo extracorpórea / Surgical correction of anomalous venous connection of the left lung without extracorporeal circulation

Surgical correction of anomalous pulmonary venous connection from the left lung to the innominate vein (through a vertical vein) without cardiopulmonary bypass, was performed in two patients, with excellent evolution. After median sternotomy, the ascending vertical vein was cut obliquely close to the vein, and connected to the left atrial appendage. In the postoperative period, the patients were in NYHA class I and the hemodynamic study showed normal venous drainage from the left lung to the left atrium