Epistaxis.

Epistaxis is a common clinical problem. The widespread availability of endoscopic equipment is shifting management philosophy toward targeting the bleeding point. This shift may have a significant impact on decreasing length of stay and blood transfusion rates. Advances in interventional radiology have also reduced the risk of embolization. Patient education, especially teaching first-aid measures to patients at high risk for nosebleeds, also encourages more effective use of health care resources.

An integrated theory of the no-reflow phenomenon and the beneficial effect of vascular washout on no-reflow.

OBJECTIVES: No-reflow is failure of perfusion in free tissue transfer despite adequate arterial inflow. The objectives of this study were to construct a theory of interactive mechanisms of the no-reflow phenomenon and to determine whether preischemic vascular washout could increase flap ischemia tolerance. STUDY DESIGN: The evidence for the role of various mechanisms in the development of no-reflow is reviewed, and an integrated network proposed. A rat-groin free flap model is used to test preischemic vascular washout with normal saline, heparinized normal saline, lactated Ringer's solution, Tis-U-Sol, and Viaspan. METHODS: The mean ischemia tolerance of this flap without any therapeutic intervention was first determined, using 22 animals. An additional 50 animals were used to compare with the control group the ischemia tolerance of flaps washed out with the above fluids before their ischemic period. RESULTS: The critical ischemia time 50 (time after which half of the flaps are expected to survive and half, die) of the untreated flap is 23.4 hours in this model (P<.05). Flaps washed out with normal saline or lactated Ringer's solution have significantly worse ischemia tolerance (P<.0001). Flaps washed out with Tis-U-Sol or Viaspan behave similarly to the control group (P>.57). Flaps receiving preischemic washout with heparinized normal saline (4,000 units/L) had a significantly better outcome than the control group (P<.027). CONCLUSIONS: Preischemic washout with normal saline, lactated Ringer's solution, or heparinized Tis-U-Sol is detrimental for flap survival after ischemia, Tis-U-Sol- and Viaspan-treated flaps do have ischemia tolerance similar to the control group, and flaps washed out with heparinized normal saline have a survival advantage in this model.

Extended use of topical nasal decongestants.

Use of sympathomimetic topical nasal decongestants to treat nasal obstruction is usually restricted to 3 to 5 days to avoid potential rebound swelling (rhinitis medicamentosa). In this study, 10 healthy volunteers used oxymetazoline (long-acting topical nasal decongestant) nightly for 4 weeks. Subjects who used antihistamines, oral or topical decongestants, or systemic steroids or who had active sinusitis were excluded from the study. Weekly history, physical examination, and anterior rhinomanometry revealed no adverse effects. Eight (80%) subjects developed nightly nasal obstruction a few hours before the evening dose; the obstruction resolved within 48 hours if no more decongestant was used. All subjects remained responsive to oxymetazoline 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the study began. This finding suggests that long-acting decongestants may be safely used for longer than the recommended 3 to 5 days without adverse effects if used once nightly.

Distant metastases from head and neck squamous cell carcinomas.

Distant metastases (DMs) occurred in 83 (11.4%) of 727 retrospectively studied head and neck cancer patients. Primary tumor location and initial treatment did not influence DM development; larger primaries (P < .04) or more extensive neck disease (P < .007) more often caused DMs. Initial diagnosis to DMs averaged 11.7 months (range, 0 to 60 months), with 84% diagnosed within 24 months. With the exception of laryngeal primaries, no facet of tumor, host, or initial treatment influenced where or how rapidly DMs developed. Lung was the most common DM site (83.4%), then bone (31.1%) and liver (6.0%). Survival with DMs averaged 4.3 months (range, 1 day to 2.7 years); 86.7% died within 1 year. This report yields the following conclusions: 1. Initial tumor size and neck disease are the only predictors of DMs. 2. DMs usually occur within 2 years of the initial diagnosis. 3. Lung is the most common DM site, making chest x-ray the most effective DM screen. 4. Survival with DMs is usually less than a year.

Nocturnal nasal congestion and nasal resistance.

OBJECTIVES: To compare total nasal resistance (TNR) in upright and supine positions in patients who did and did not complain of nocturnal (supine) nasal congestion symptoms without daytime (upright) congestion, and to determine what other conditions were associated with nocturnal nasal congestion (NNC) symptoms. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective study comparing objectively measured nasal airflow in different positions (upright and reclining) with subjective patient symptoms. METHODS: Subjects completed a questionnaire about nasal symptoms. Anterior rhinomanometry was performed with patients upright, reclined 45 degrees, and supine. TNR in subject subsets was compared using the Student t test. RESULTS: TNR did not differ between upright patients with (n = 27) and without (n = 20) NNC. Supine TNR (P < .04) and increase in TNR (P < .02) between upright and supine was greater in patients with NNC. Smokers (n = 15, 10 with NNC, 5 without) had greater TNR increases when supine versus nonsmokers (P < .02). Patients with rhinitis symptoms (n = 29, 18 with NNC, 11 without) had greater TNR increases when supine than patients without rhinitis (P < .01). Patients who both smoked and had rhinitis (n = 11, 7 with NNC, 4 without) had a greater supine TNR than patients who smoked or had rhinitis alone (P < .02). CONCLUSIONS: Some patients without daytime nasal congestion experience NNC. They have a significantly greater TNR increase when supine versus patients without NNC. Smokers and patients with rhinitis, with or without NNC, have a significantly greater TNR increase when supine versus nonsmokers or patients without rhinitis. Smoking cessation and treatment of rhinitis may improve the patients' NNC.

Ornithine decarboxylase activity in tumor and normal tissue of head and neck cancer patients.

Tumorigenesis requires increased biosynthesis of polyamines and elevated levels of ornithine decarboxylase, which is the rate-limiting enzyme in the polyamine synthesis pathway. Previous animal studies have noted a marked increase in ornithine decarboxylase after exposure to tumorigenic stimuli and that pretreatment with vitamins A and E provides protection against the carcinogenic action. However, studies of ornithine decarboxylase activity in human oral cavity carcinoma have not been as specific. The goal of this study was to determine whether a specific difference in ornithine decarboxylase activity occurs in tumor versus adjacent normal tissue in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. Ornithine decarboxylase activity was measured in 30 consecutive head and neck cancer patients undergoing surgical therapy. Ornithine decarboxylase levels were found to be significantly elevated in tumor tissue samples when compared to adjacent normal mucosa samples (P less than .004). This finding confirms the previous findings noted in animal models and implies that the protective effects of vitamins A and E will extend to human head and neck cancers.

Diagnostic accuracy of rotation testing vs. standard vestibular test battery--a long-term study.

Interpretation of vestibular test results derived from rotational and other electronystagmography studies often give confusing diagnostic and prognostic information. We have reviewed 90 consecutive patients seen in the Vestibular Clinic at the University of Texas Medical Branch comparing the accuracy of the damped torsion swing test (DTS) with a conventional vestibular test battery (VTB) to predict vestibular function abnormality (peripheral or central). These predictions were compared with vestibular diagnoses obtained by long-term follow-up (24-36 months). VTB and DTS results were evaluated in a double-blind study by two of the authors (W.C.L. and M.J.C.). Agreement of both VTB and DTS interpretation was uncommon (23/77) (30%); however, when present, it resulted in a 91% accuracy in predicting correct final diagnosis. Where VTB and DTS diagnoses differed, the DTS was more accurate in determining final vestibular system abnormality. In fact, while DTS testing correctly detected abnormality in 17 patients, the VTB was normal in 11. Rotation testing alone may provide a useful and accurate screening test prior to initiating further vestibular testing, particularly when central pathology is suspected.

Complications of endoscopic sinus surgery in a residency training program.

Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is now taught in most otolaryngology residency programs in the United States. However, this is technically challenging surgery and concerns exist regarding patient safety early in the surgeon's learning curve. The authors reviewed 193 cases of ESS performed by residents, under faculty supervision at our program, between 1987 and 1992. Sixty-seven percent of patients underwent bilateral anterior ethmoidectomy, 40% had bilateral total ethmoidectomy, and 44% had bilateral middle turbinate reduction. The overall complication rate was 22% and included one major complication. Synechiae accounted for 50% of minor complications. There was no correlation between middle or inferior turbinate reduction and the formation of synechiae. Posterior ethmoidectomy was not associated with a significant increase in complications. We conclude that ESS can be safely performed by otolaryngology residents in carefully structured and supervised training programs.

Primary tracheoesophageal fistula procedure for voice restoration: the University of Texas Medical Branch experience.

Voice restoration for laryngectomees is challenging, but in recent years the tracheosophageal (TE) fistula procedure using a one-way valved prosthesis has had relatively good success. The purposes of this study were to determine the success rate for the primary TE fistula procedure, analyze failures, and study methods for selection and training of these patients. In a prospective study, 21 consecutive patients had primary TE fistula procedures performed over an 18-month period. Thirteen of 20 who had adequate follow-up developed fluent, intelligible speech using either duckbill or low-pressure one-way valves. Complications included one stomal infection and one paratracheal fistula. This experience has led to development of a protocol for selection and training of patients for this procedure and to the conclusion that the procedure can improve voice restoration success without an increase in morbidity.

The effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy of oral mucosal carcinoma.

Hyperbaric oxygen is sometimes used in the course of treatment in head and neck cancer patient. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of hyperbaric oxygen on oral cavity carcinogenesis in an animal model. Dimethylbenzanthracene was applied three times weekly to induce oral squamous cell cancers. The group that received simultaneous hyperbaric oxygen had fewer tumors, but the tumors were larger than the dimethylbenzanthracene-only group. We concluded that hyperbaric oxygen has a tumor-suppressive effect during the induction phase of oral carcinoma and appears to have a stimulatory effect during the proliferative phase of carcinoma in this animal model.

Age-related changes in oral sensation.

Oral sensation (including two-point discrimination, oral stereognosis, vibrotactile detection, somesthetic sensitivity, proprioception, and thermal sensitivity) was studied in 60 healthy adults in five age categories: 20 to 34, 35 to 49, 50 to 64, 65 to 79, and 80 years and above. Thermal and somesthetic sensitivity as well as proprioception did not change with age. Ability to differentiate tactile and vibratory sensation on the lip decreased after age 80 (P less than .01), but vibration detection on the soft palate did not change. Stereognostic ability remained good up to age 80, and then declined for four of the nine shapes tested (P less than .01). Two-point discrimination deteriorated on the upper lip (P less than .01), on the cheeks (P less than .02), and on the lower lip (P less than .06). Two-point discrimination on the tongue and palate did not change. It was noted that oral sensation remained good with aging, showing only a slight decline in function after age 80.

Combined Epstein-Barr virus and human papillomavirus infection in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) has been shown to be a likely etiologic agent in nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis. Human papillomaviruses (HPVs) have previously been identified in numerous upper aerodigestive tract carcinomas. This pilot study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of combined EBV and HPV infection in 17 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPCA) using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The primary goal was to determine if the presence of HPV could be correlated with molecular, histologic, or clinical parameters. There were seven patients with undifferentiated NPCA (World Health Organization [WHO] type III) and 10 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (WHO type I). All 17 patients had stage IV disease at presentation. EBV was identified in 15 patients (88.2%), and HPV subtypes were identified in samples from nine patients (52.9%). All HPV-positive cases were also EBV positive. Western blot analysis of six samples showed a high level of expression of c-myc and cdc2 kinase and a low level of p53 protein in NPCAs that contained both HPV and EBV (n = 3). Increased expression of c-myc and cdc2 kinase was seen in the cases that contained EBV only, but to a lesser extent (n = 2). These findings indicate an effect of the virus on cellular proliferation and differentiation. Similarly, an elevated level of Rb protein was found only in the HPV-containing NPCAs. Moderate differentiation (keratinization) occurred in four of eight HPV-negative and none of the nine HPV-positive NPCAs. (All HPV-positive cases were poorly differentiated or undifferentiated.) This difference is statistically significant for this sample size (P < 0.03). There was a trend for the group that was HPV positive to have WHO III histology and for the HPV-negative group to have WHO I. The presence of HPV could not be correlated with any clinical parameters in this small group of patients with advanced disease; however, these data suggest that coexistence of EBV and HPV infection may be a factor in the pathogenesis of NPCA and may have an effect on regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation.

Effect of hyperbaric oxygenation on existing oral mucosal carcinoma.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) is used to treat some complications of head and neck carcinoma treatment. Several patients treated with HBO have had rapid growth of a clinically cured squamous cell carcinoma. Prior studies have produced conflicting evidence about the effect of HBO on tumor growth. This study was undertaken to determine the effects of HBO on established squamous cell carcinoma. Forty Golden Syrian hamster cheek-pouch carcinomas were induced with the established chemical carcinogen 9,10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene. Twenty hamsters underwent 30 HBO dives for 60 minutes each to 2.81 atm, while 20 served as controls. At necropsy, animals receiving HBO therapy had significantly smaller tumors (P < .05) and showed a trend toward fewer cervical metastases (P < .06). HBO therapy with coexistent carcinoma inhibited the established tumor's growth.

Long-term airway sequelae in a pediatric burn population.

All admissions to the Shriner's Burn Institute in Galveston over a 5-year period were reviewed. One hundred of 1,092 patients admitted (9.2%) required airway support (endotracheal intubation or tracheostomy) for more than 24 hours. All clinical variables relating to general presentation and airway care were tabulated. Children who required open airway operations for resolution of acquired airway defects were analyzed separately. No predictive factors could be identified. Guidelines for optimal airway management in the burned child are reviewed.

Chin position in profile analysis. Comparison of techniques and introduction of the lower facial triangle.

Many patients undergoing rhinoplasty can benefit from chin augmentation, yielding a more balanced appearance. Preoperative facial analysis identifies patients with retrusive chins and suggests optimal chin position. Current profile analysis methods depend on subnasale position (Legan's angle) or require estimation of bony landmarks from soft-tissue photographs (Goode's alar crease perpendicular, Gonzalez-Ulloa's zero meridian, and Merrifield's Z-angle). We describe a technique for determining ideal chin position using soft-tissue landmarks. We compare this technique with Legan's, Goode's, Gonzalez-Ulloa's, and Merrifield's techniques in 35 women and conclude that this method provides accurate and rapid determination of ideal chin position.

Teaching paradigm for decision making in facial skin defect reconstructions.

OBJECTIVE: To present a decision paradigm for facial defect reconstruction, and test the ability of this paradigm to improve resident performance. DESIGN: A decision paradigm for reconstruction of facial skin defects is proposed and explained, with patient examples. The paradigm's usefulness is then tested with residents. SETTING: Otolaryngology residency training program at a tertiary hospital. STUDY PARTICIPANTS: Otolaryngology residents. INTERVENTIONS: Twelve residents took a pretest wherein they were presented with drawings of skin defects and asked to choose the "best" (most aesthetically pleasing) type of reconstruction from a closed set. This paradigm was presented to these residents, and their posttest consisted of choosing again with the same defects and closed set of choices. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Cosmetic outcomes of reconstructive decisions on the pretest and posttest were rated on a scale of 0 to 5 (with 0 indicating poor; 5, excellent). RESULTS: There was a significant improvement in reconstructive choices between the pretest and posttest (P<.001, Student t test). CONCLUSION: This paradigm can be easily modified to accommodate different surgical approaches preferred by individual surgeons and is thus useful in almost any reconstructive teaching situation.

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia. A case report and review of the literature.

A patient had skin and subcutaneous manifestations of angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia. The diagnosis and treatment of this angioproliferative disease with a predilection for the head and neck were determined, and recommendations were made for avoiding surgical misadventure.

Vitamins A and E do protect against oral carcinoma.

Tumorigenesis requires accelerated polyamine biosynthesis, and elevated levels of ornithine decarboxylase, the rate-limiting enzyme in this reaction chain. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether induction of oral cavity carcinoma by dimethylbenzanthracene was accompanied by increased ornithine decarboxylase. It has previously been demonstrated in an oral carcinogenesis model that cotreatment with vitamins A or E delayed tumor development. The second goal of this study was to determine whether this chemoprotective effect was associated with a decrease in ornithine decarboxylase activity. We found that dimethylbenzanthracene did stimulate ornithine decarboxylase. Vitamins A and E alone also stimulate ornithine decarboxylase, and this effect is additive with dimethylbenzanthracene. Use of both vitamins together prevents the additive effect of either, alone, and vitamin A inhibits the late-phase ornithine decarboxylase response to dimethylbenzanthracene in all animals. We conclude that pretreatment with vitamins A, or A and E together protects against the carcinogenic action of dimethylbenzanthracene, and that the mechanism of this protection is early truncation of the ornithine decarboxylase response to dimethylbenzanthracene.

Management of invasive frontoethmoidal sinus mucoceles.

Invasive frontoethmoidal sinus mucoceles extending into the anterior cranial fossa or orbits are difficult to manage and can lead to lethal complications. In the past four years, nine cases of frontoethmoidal mucoceles were treated at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston. Five cases were complicated by anterior cranial fossa invasion, orbital invasion, or both. The choice of surgical procedures used to manage these cases depended on mucocele extent and location, which were best determined by computed tomography. Two cases required craniotomy, one of which required an inferior-based pericranial flap for reconstruction of the floor of the anterior cranial fossa. Two cases were managed by osteoplastic flap and fat obliteration procedures. Intranasal drainage was the procedure used in one case that had extensive orbital involvement. Surgical complications included an intracranial abscess in one patient and a cerebrospinal fluid leak in a second patient.

The resident selection process in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery.

This study was undertaken to characterize the objective information available about applicants to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency positions, and to determine the influence of these factors on obtaining a residency position. Applicants to the otolaryngology-head and neck surgery programs at University of Utah, Salt Lake City, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, and University of Louisville (Ky) were studied. Thirty-one variables were examined, representing demographic and academic factors. Excellent academic performance in medical school (as represented by medical school grade-point average greater than 3.4, National Board part I score greater than 650, class percentile rank greater than 85th percentile, honors grades in both junior medicine and surgery clinical clerkships, or [5] election to Alpha Omega Alpha) was significantly correlated with success in obtaining an otolaryngology-head and neck surgery residency position.