Acute infectious supraglottitis in adult population: epidemiology, management, outcomes and predictors of airway intervention.

PURPOSE: The purpose is to analyze the incidence of acute infectious supraglottitis in our center between 2010 and 2020, define the characteristics and trends of those patients and identify factors associated with the need of airway intervention. METHODS: A retrospective single-center observational study of a cohort of patients diagnosed with acute infectious supraglottitis between January 2010 and December 2020. Patients were stratified according to airway management. RESULTS: Eighty eight patients were included: 59 men (67%) and 29 women (33%). A significant upward trend of 9% in the annual incidence rate of supraglottitis was seen during 2010-2020, with an important increase in cases during 2019. Muffled voice (41%) and respiratory distress (38%) were the most common presenting symptoms; and the median duration of symptoms before hospital admission was 2 days [IQR 1; 3]. Airway intervention was performed in fifteen patients (17%). Nine patients (10%) were intubated and six required tracheotomy (7%). Comparing the patients who required airway intervention with those who received a conservative treatment, younger patients (p < 0.01) were more likely to need airway intervention. In logistic regression analysis, we found that epiglottic abscess (p = 0.015), hypersalivation (p = 0.027) and smoking (p = 0.036) were independent factors with a significant association with airway intervention. CONCLUSION: There was an important increase in cases and its severity in 2019, but due to COVID-19 pandemic, it was not possible to define if it was an isolate event or an upward trend. Epiglottic abscess, hypersalivation and smoking could be possible risk factors for airway intervention.

Outcomes and survival of tracheostomised patients during the COVID-19 pandemic in a third level hospital.

PURPOSE: Analyse the evolution and outcomes of COVID-19 tracheostomised patients. Clarify if this cohort presents an increased risk of haemorrhagic complications and verify the correlation between some risk factors with increased mortality. METHODS: A retrospective single-centre observational study of a prospective cohort of all COVID-19 patients admitted to our centre between March and April 2020. A control group was obtained from a historical cohort of patients who required tracheostomy due to prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) before 2020. RESULTS: A total of 1768 patients were included: 67 tracheostomised non-COVID-19 patients (historic cohort), 1371 COVID-19 patients that did not require ICU admission, 266 non-tracheostomised COVID-19 patients and 64 tracheostomised COVID-19 patients. Comparing the obesity prevalence, 54.69% of the tracheostomised COVID-19 patients were obese and 10.53% of the non-tracheostomised COVID-19 patients (p < 0.001). The median of ICU admission days was lower (p < 0.001) in the non-tracheostomised cohort (12.5 days) compared with the COVID-19 tracheostomised cohort (34 days). The incidence of haemorrhagic complications was significantly higher in tracheostomised COVID-19 patients (20.31%) compared with tracheostomised non-COVID-19 patients (5.97%) and presented a higher percentage of obesity, hypertension, diabetes and smoking, significantly different from the historic cohort (p < 0.001). A Cox model showed that tracheostomy had no statistically significant effect on mortality in COVID-19 patients. CONCLUSION: Obesity and smoking may be risk factors for tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients, tracheostomised COVID-19 patients present a higher risk of bleeding complications than those admitted for other reasons and an elevated LDH and INR on ICU admission may be associated with increased mortality.

Facial paralysis: Clinical practice guideline of the Spanish Society of Otolaryngology. / Parálisis facial: guía de práctica clínica de la Sociedad Española de ORL.

Bell's palsy is the most common diagnosis associated with facial nerve weakness or paralysis. However, not all patients with facial paresis/paralysis have Bell's palsy. Other common causes include treatment of vestibular schwannoma, head and neck tumours, iatrogenic injuries, Herpes zoster, or trauma. The approach to each of these conditions varies widely. The purpose of this guideline is to provide clinicians with guidance on the treatment and monitoring of patients with different causes of facial paralysis. We intend to draft a practical guideline, focusing on operationalised recommendations deemed to be useful in the daily management of patients. This guideline was promoted by the Spanish Society of Otolaryngology and developed by a group of physicians with an interest in facial nerve disorders, including at least one physician from each Autonomous Community. In a question and answer format, it includes 56 relevant topics related to the facial nerve.

Cetuximab as treatment for head and neck cancer patients with a previous liver transplant: report of two cases.

Cetuximab is a monoclonal antibody against epidermal growth factor receptor useful in the treatment of patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma combined with radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Its pharmacokinetics are not influenced by hepatic status and there are no specific warnings concerning its indication in patients with impaired hepatic function. Patients with a previous liver transplant are at risk for hepatic toxicity and use immunosupressants to avoid rejection that can interact with other drugs. We present two cases of patients with a previous liver transplant in which cetuximab was administered to treat head and neck cancer.

Twice-a-day radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: the Catalan Institute of Oncology experience.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this work is to evaluate the contribution of hyperfractionated radiotherapy (RT) in head and neck cancer by sub-localisation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 1992 to 1999, 318 patients with squamous head and neck tumours treated by hyperfraction RT were analysed according to their sub-localisation and stage. Fractions used were 1.2 Gy twice-a-day with a curative intent on all patients, to a total mean dose of 79.14 Gy. Treatment protocols by localisation were: larynx: 55 patients with T2N0 and T1-2N1 tumours treated with only RT and 27 patients with T3N0-1 in complete remission after three cycles of induction chemotherapy (ICT); hypopharynx: 29 patients with T2-4N0-2b resectable tumors in response to three cycles of ICT; oropharynx: 48 patients with T2-3N0-1 and T1N1 tumours treated with only RT; 34 patients with nasopharynx tumours treated with RT and three cycles of ICT if T4 or >N1; finally, 125 patients with non-surgical tumours of any localisation treated with four cycles of induction CT and RT. RESULTS: LARYNX: Actuarial local control (LC), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) at 5 years were 78, 73 and 48%, respectively, in T2 tumours and 75, 72 and 60% in stage III disease. HYPOPHARYNX: Actuarial LC, DFS and OS at 4 years were 44, 39 and 35%, respectively. OROPHARYNX: Actuarial LC, DFS and OS at 5 years were 52, 44 and 31%, respectively. NASOPHARYNX: Actuarial LC, DFS and OS at 5 years were 78, 72 and 78%, respectively. NON-SURGICAL TUMORS: Actuarial LC, DFS and OS at 5 years were 39, 33 and 19%, respectively. A total of 47 patients (14.8%) of the overall group had a second tumour, 72% of them tobacco-related. Only patients with nasopharynx tumours had a low incidence of second tumours. CONCLUSIONS: Twice-a-day external RT can be effectively managed in patients with head and neck cancer. Second neoplasm and intercurrent diseases become an important problem in low and medium stages whereas disease recurrences is the main problem in advanced stages. Results by localisation permit to obtain conclusions about their indications in each one.

[Results in the surgical treatment of giant acoustic neuromas]. / Resultados en el tratamiento quirúrgico de los neurinomas del acústico gigantes.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To compare the results obtained in the resection of 21 giant vestibular schwannomas via retrosigmoid (RS) and combined retrosigmoid/translabyrinthine (RS/TL) approaches with respect to intra- and postoperative complications, facial nerve preservation and postsurgical sequelae. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of 21 patients who underwent a resection of a giant vestibular neuroma according to the Tos & Thomsen Scale (greater than or equal to 4 centimetres) in a tertiary care centre in the period between 2000 and 2008. We present the most significant characteristics of the series studied and the analysis of the advantages and inconveniences of each approach. We also analyse the results regarding facial nerve function preservation. RESULTS: We highlight the absence of mortality in the 21-patient group. There were no important intraoperative complications. Total resection of the lesion was achieved in the 87% of the cases, with facial nerve preservation of 73% using the combined RS/TL approach, in comparison to 40% using the RS. Facial nerve function after two years was acceptable or good in 67% (including those with heteronerve anastomosis). A global percentage of 14.3% of cerebrospinal liquid fistula was observed, as well as 9.5% of meningitis. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study demonstrate that the combined retrosigmoid translabyrinthine approach for giant schwannoma treatment offers increased facial nerve preservation and lower morbidity, constituting an important option in the treatment of this kind of tumours thanks to a multidisciplinary approach.

Parálisis facial: guía de práctica clínica de la Sociedad Española de ORL / Facial paralysis: Clinical practice guideline of the Spanish Society of Otolaryngology

La parálisis de Bell es la forma más común de paresia o parálisis facial. Sin embargo, no todos los pacientes con parálisis facial tienen una parálisis de Bell. Otras causas frecuentes incluyen las secuelas del tratamiento del neurinoma del VIII par, el cáncer de cabeza y cuello, la iatrogenia, el zóster ótico y los traumatismos. El abordaje de cada una de estas situaciones es totalmente diferente. El objetivo de esta guía es servir de consejo para el tratamiento y el seguimiento de los pacientes con parálisis facial. Nuestra idea es que la guía sea práctica, haciendo hincapié en recomendaciones efectivas y útiles en el manejo diario de los pacientes. Esta guía ha sido promovida por la Sociedad Española de ORL y escrita por médicos con experiencia en la enfermedad del nervio facial, incluyendo al menos un especialista de cada comunidad autónoma. Redactada en un formato de preguntas y respuestas, incluye 56 cuestiones relevantes relacionadas con el nervio facial

Bell's palsy is the most common diagnosis associated with facial nerve weakness or paralysis. However, not all patients with facial paresis/paralysis have Bell's palsy. Other common causes include treatment of vestibular schwannoma, head and neck tumours, iatrogenic injuries, Herpes zoster, or trauma. The approach to each of these conditions varies widely. The purpose of this guideline is to provide clinicians with guidance on the treatment and monitoring of patients with different causes of facial paralysis. We intend to draft a practical guideline, focusing on operationalised recommendations deemed to be useful in the daily management of patients. This guideline was promoted by the Spanish Society of Otolaryngology and developed by a group of physicians with an interest in facial nerve disorders, including at least one physician from each Autonomous Community. In a question and answer format, it includes 56 relevant topics related to the facial nerve

Resultados en el tratamiento quirúrgico de los neurinomas del acústico gigantes / Results in the surgical treatment of giant acoustic neuromas

Introducción y objetivos: Comparar los resultados obtenidos en la resección de 21 schwanomas vestibulares gigantes, mediante vía retrosigmoidea y combinada retrosigmoidea/translaberíntica en cuanto a complicaciones intra y postoperatorias, preservación del nervio facial y secuelas posquirúrgicas. Métodos: Se realiza un estudio retrospectivo de 21 pacientes a los que se practicó resección de neurinoma vestibular gigante según la escala de Tos & Thomsen (igual o mayor a 4cm), en un hospital de tercer nivel en el periodo entre 2000 y 2008. Se presentan las características más significativas de la serie estudiada, y se analizan las ventajas e inconvenientes de los distintos abordajes, comparando los resultados obtenidos. Asimismo, se analizan los resultados en cuanto a la preservación de la función del nervio facial. Resultados: Destaca la ausencia de mortalidad en el grupo de 21 pacientes estudiado. No hubo complicaciones intraoperatorias importantes. Se consiguió la resección total de la lesión en el 87% de los casos, con una preservación anatómica del nervio facial del 73% en el abordaje combinado retrosigmoideo/translaberíntico, respecto a un 40% en el retrosigmoideo. La función del nervio facial a los dos años fue aceptable o buena en un 67% (incluyendo los resultados de las anastomosis heteronerviosas). Se observó un porcentaje global del 14,3% de fístula de líquido cefalorraquídeo y un 9,5% de meningitis. Conclusiones: nuestros resultados demuestran que el abordaje combinado retrosigmoideo translaberíntico para el tratamiento de schwannomas gigantes ofrece mayor preservación del nervio facial y disminución de la morbilidad, siendo una importante opción en el tratamiento de estos tumores, gracias a un enfoque multidisciplinar(AU)

Introduction and objectives: To compare the results obtained in the resection of 21 giant vestibular schwannomas via retrosigmoid (RS) and combined retrosigmoid/translabyrinthine (RS/TL) approaches with respect to intra- and postoperative complications, facial nerve preservation and postsurgical sequelae. Methods: This was a retrospective study of 21 patients who underwent a resection of a giant vestibular neuroma according to the Tos & Thomsen Scale (greater than or equal to 4 centimetres) in a tertiary care centre in the period between 2000 and 2008. We present the most significant characteristics of the series studied and the analysis of the advantages and inconveniences of each approach. We also analyse the results regarding facial nerve function preservation. Results: We highlight the absence of mortality in the 21-patient group. There were no important intraoperative complications. Total resection of the lesion was achieved in the 87% of the cases, with facial nerve preservation of 73% using the combined RS/TL approach, in comparison to 40% using the RS. Facial nerve function after two years was acceptable or good in 67% (including those with heteronerve anastomosis). A global percentage of 14.3% of cerebrospinal liquid fistula was observed, as well as 9.5% of meningitis. Conclusions: The results of the study demonstrate that the combined retrosigmoid translabyrinthine approach for giant schwannoma treatment offers increased facial nerve preservation and lower morbidity, constituting an important option in the treatment of this kind of tumours thanks to a multidisciplinary approach(AU)

Tumor de células granulares a nivel laríngeo y cutáneo: a propósito de un caso / Larynx and skin granule cells tumor: about a case

Los Tumores de Células Granulares (TCG) son tumores raros que pueden aparecer en cualquier parte del cuerpo con clara predilección por la región de cabeza y cuello. El TCG de laringe es un inusual tumor laríngeo, que constituye aproximadamente un 6-10 per cent de los casos descritos. La hiperplasia pseudoepiteliomatosa puede predisponer a confusión del TCG con el Carcinoma Escamoso. El origen de estos tumores es tema de debate, pero la mayoría de los autores cree que es de origen nervioso. Presentamos 1 casos de este tumor en laringe y revisamos sus características (AU)