Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in malignant otitis externa: a retrospective analysis.

PURPOSE: Malignant otitis externa (MOE) is a rare form of invasive osteomyelitis of the external ear canal. It is typically caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in immunocompromised patients. The diagnosis is clinical, and the initial treatment involves systemic antibiotics or antifungal therapy. Surgery is usually only considered when medical treatment has failed. Although hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is recommended for refractory osteomyelitis, there are no specific guidelines for MOE. METHODS: This is a retrospective study that evaluates clinical data, treatment, and results obtained in patients diagnosed with MOE treated with HBOT at the Pedro Hispano Hospital between 2007 and 2022. RESULTS: During the study period, fifteen patients diagnosed with MOE were admitted for treatment with HBOT. All patients received antibiotic and/or antifungal therapy, and three required surgical intervention before starting HBOT. The pathology was successfully managed on all patients. CONCLUSIONS: HBOT may be an effective adjuvant treatment option in patients with MOE but it lacks robust scientific evidence. However, its therapeutic value should not be underestimated due to the good results and few adverse effects reported in recent retrospective studies and case reports.

Multiple gingival recessions associated with non-carious cervical lesions treated by partial restoration and modified coronally advanced flap with either connective tissue graft or xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix: A randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to compare a connective tissue graft (CTG) to a (porcine) xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix (XDM), both associated with modified coronally advanced flap (MCAF) and partial resin composite restoration to treat multiple combined defects (CDs). METHODS: Seventy-eight defects in 38 patients presenting multiple combined defects, that is, gingival recession associated with non-carious cervical lesions, were treated by partial resin composite restoration (apical margin up to 1 mm of the estimated cement-enamel junction) and MCAF along with CTG or XDM. After 6 months, the groups were compared with regard to clinical, patient-centered, and esthetic outcomes. RESULTS: CD coverage was 72.9% for CTG versus 50.7% for XDM (P < 0.001). Recession reduction was 2.3 mm for CTG versus 1.5 mm for XDM (P < 0.001). CTG resulted in a greater increase in keratinized tissue width (CTG: 0.96 mm vs. XDM: 0.3 mm, P = 0.04) and gingival thickness (CTG: 0.9 mm vs. XDM: 0.3 mm, P < 0.001). Both treatments successfully reduced dentin hypersensitivity and increased esthetics satisfaction, with no statistically significant intergroup differences. Moreover, XDM patients experienced a shorter surgery duration (CTG: 57.2 min vs. XDM: 37.4 min, P < 0.001) and less time to no pain (visual analog scale  =  0; CTG: 6.5 days vs. XDM: 3.5 days, P = 0.04). CONCLUSION: CTG resulted in significantly greater root coverage and increased keratinized tissue width compared to XDM for treating multiple partially restored CDs. However, increased root coverage at the CTG sites was accounted for by increased probing depth compared to the XDM sites.

Xenogeneic Acellular Dermal Matrix for the Treatment of Multiple Gingival Recessions Associated with Partially Restored Noncarious Cervical Lesions.

This study evaluated the use of a xenogeneic acellular dermal matrix (XADM) combined with a modified coronally advanced flap (MCAF) and partial resin composite filling (anatomic crown plus 1 mm of the root surface) to treat multiple Type 1 gingival recessions associated with B+ noncarious cervical lesions (NCCLs). The study included 24 recessions in 10 patients. Bleeding on probing, probing depth, combined defect height, relative gingival recession, clinical attachment level, esthetics, and dentin hypersensitivity were recorded. After 6 months, the treatment provided statistically significant outcomes: It reduced the combined defect height by 2.02 ± 0.65 mm, increased clinical attachment level by 1.96 ± 0.83 mm, and increased keratinized tissue thickness by 0.46 ± 0.47 mm, and shallow probing depths were seen. Significant dentin hypersensitivity reduction and esthetic improvements were observed. Therefore, XADM associated with MCAF and partial restoration might be a promising alternative to autogenous grafts used to treat multiple gingival recessions associated with B+ NCCLs.

Otolaryngologist's role in the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and late-onset fatal neurodegenerative disease characterised by selective death of motor neurons. The aetiology of ALS is still unknown and it is extremely heterogeneous in genetics and clinical presentation, being the respiratory failure the usual cause of death. We describe a case of a 61-year-old male patient referred to the otolaryngology consultation for a 6-month history of progressive solid dysphagia and dysphonia. The patient presented several voice alterations such as a dysarthric speech with hypernasal voice which evoked the hypothesis of a neuromuscular disease. That patient was observed by a neurologist and was submitted to an electromyography that confirmed the ALS diagnosis. This case highlights the key role of otolaryngologists in the diagnosis of ALS, in a way that many patients with a bulbar ALS form are initially studied by an otolaryngologist.

Postoperative complications and survival rate of esophageal cancer: Two-period analysis. / Complicaciones postoperatorias y supervivencia del cáncer de esófago: análisis de dos periodos distintos.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, treatment of esophageal cancer requires a multidisciplinary approach, in which esophagectomy remains the mainstay. The aim of this report is to assess whether multimodal treatment and minimally invasive surgery have led to a lower morbidity rate and an improvement in survival rates. METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of 318 patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer including 81 esophagectomies. The periods of 2000-2007 and 2008-2015 were compared, analyzing the prognostic factors that may have an impact in morbidity and survival rate. RESULTS: Major postoperative complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification accounted for 35%, showing a decrease between the 1.st and 2.nd period: 41% morbidity vs. 30%, 27% mortality vs. 9% (p < .001) and 13.5% fistulas vs. 7%. The implementation of thoracoscopic esophagectomy contributed to the outcome improvement, as shown by 19% morbidity and 5% mortality rates, with triangularized mechanical anastomosis showing 9% fistula and 5% stenosis. The overall 5-year survival rate was 19%, with a significant increase from 11% in the 1.st period to 28% in the 2.nd (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Multidisciplinary assessment of patients with esophageal cancer, as well as better selection and indication of treatment and the introduction of new minimally invasive techniques (thoracoscopy and triangularized mechanical anastomosis), have improved the morbidity and mortality rates of esophagectomies, resulting in increased survival rates of these patients.

Pediatric atrophic rhinosinusitis: what can we do?

A 5-year-old female had history of chronic foul smelling nasal discharge. Rhinoscopy showed greenish crusts lining the nasal cavities and inferior turbinates were shriveled significantly. Nasal cavity cultures of crusts by swab revealed Klebsiella ozaenae making the diagnosis of primary atrophic rhinosinusitis. After several unsuccessful treatment, we have decided to try sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim prophylaxis and 1 year later there was a complete clinical improvement. There are many medical therapies and surgical options described, but none of them showed effective at long term. We present antibiotic prophylaxis as a viable alternative for long term control of the disease.

[Nasal and laryngeal sarcoidosis - case presentation]. / Sarcoidose nasal e laríngea - Caso clínico.

The authors present the case of a 41-year-old woman with nasal and laryngeal involvement by sarcoidosis, review the literature and discuss the otolaryngologic manifestations, the diagnostic evaluation, treatment and prognostic of this entity.

[Oat cell carcinoma of the common bile duct]. / Carcinoma oat cell de vía biliar principal.

Oat cell tumors in the common bile duct are extremely rare. We describe the case of a 76-year-old man with skin and mucous jaundice of 15 days' duration without constitutional syndrome. A tumor was diagnosed in the mid portion of the common bile duct. After surgical resection, pathological analysis revealed small-cell (oat cell) carcinoma. The treatment of these tumors is multidisciplinary. Surgery is followed by chemo- and radiotherapy.