Expiratory Velopharyngeal Obstruction: Sleep Endoscopy-Guided Treatment Strategies to Prevent Oral Breathing During Sleep.

OBJECTIVE: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a prevalent disorder, with oral breathing influencing its severity. Expiratory velopharyngeal obstruction (EVO), observed during drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE), may contribute to oral breathing in OSA patients. EVO results in obstruction between the pharynx and nasal cavity during expiration. This study aims to identify factors associated with positive EVO during DISE. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Tertiary Medical Center. METHODS: Seventy-two OSA patients underwent clinical evaluation, polysomnography, and DISE, utilizing interventions like intraoral negative airway pressure (iNAP), mouth closure, and oral appliances (OAs) in supine positions with head rotation. The findings, classified under velopharynx, oropharynx, tongue base, epiglottis, included the presence of EVO. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that interventions including mouth closure and iNAP were associated with increased observation of EVO (43.1% and 34.7%) compared to OA (20.1%). However, head rotation was associated with decreased presence of EVO during DISE compare to supine (26% vs 35.8%). Noticeably, per 1 year increase of age was associated with an increased odds of EVO (odds ratio: 1.03, 95% confidence interval: 1.01-1.06). However, no other baseline characteristics were significantly associated the odds of EVO. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals the effectiveness of head rotation and OA in reducing EVO and improving mouth breathing in OSA patients, offering valuable insights for future treatment strategies.

Fish Mouth Closure of Horizontal Cleavage Tear of the Meniscus using Self-locking Modified Racking Hitch Knot (HitPat knot). - A Technical Note.

Introduction: Horizontal cleavage tears (HCT) of the meniscus are treated with fish-mouth closure with sutures using different methods. Using a no. 0 fiber wire and taking bites through both the flaps using a suture passing device and tying multiple knots is a cost-effective technique. A racking hitch knot is an option for all inside repairs of HCT. It needs multiple half hitches for locking the knot. Surgical Technique: We used a modification of the racking hitch knot (HP knot), making it a self-locking knot, so it does not need half hitches. Loop of no. 0 fiber wire is passed across both the flaps of the meniscus and a modified racking hitch knot tied in one goes closing the fish mouth. Conclusion: This modification (HP knot) saves operative time, it is cost-effective and has the distinct advantage of a reduction in the size of the final knot construct.

Potential Treatments for Epiglottic Collapse in Obstructive Sleep Apnea: How Modified Drug-Induced Sleep Endoscopy Help?

OBJECTIVE: In patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), epiglottic collapse (EC) constitutes a major factor in the failure of continuous positive airway pressure therapy and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty. This study explored treatments that can improve EC in patients with OSA through drug-induced sleep endoscopy with target-controlled infusion (TCI-DISE). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary center. METHODS: This study screened 352 OSA patients who underwent TCI-DISE between 2016 and 2022. Fifty-four patients with EC were included in the final analysis. EC severity was assessed multiple times through TCI-DISE with different interventions. RESULTS: The application of these interventions in patients with anteroposterior epiglottic collapse (apEC) led to a significant decrease in apEC severity from total to partial or no obstruction in 60.0% of patients by head rotation, in 53.6% by mouth closure, in 47.4% who received oral appliances (OA), and in 28.0% who received intermittent negative airway pressure (iNAP). With simultaneous head rotation, apEC severity decreased more significantly from total to partial or no obstruction in 77.8% of patients by mouth closure, in 70.3% who received OA, and in 68.0% who received iNAP. Lateral epiglottic collapse (latEC) severity decreased in 53.8% of patients after OA use and in 61.5% of patients with OA use and head rotation. CONCLUSION: This study identified head rotation with mouth closure as the most effective treatment for apEC through TCI-DISE. Patients with latEC had higher weight, apnea-hypopnea index, and body mass index compared with patients with apEC. OA use with head rotation appeared more effective in latEC through TCI-DISE.

Fish-Mouth Closure of the Pancreatic Stump and Parachuting of the Pancreatic End with Double U Trans-Pancreatic Sutures for Pancreatico-Jejunostomy.

PURPOSE: Leakage of pancreatico-jejunal anastomosis (PJ) remains the primary cause of morbidity and mortality after Whipple's operation. To reduce the occurrence thereof, the present author recently began to apply a modification of the Blumgart method of anastomosis after Whipple's operation (hereinafter referred to as Lee's method), with very good results. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The modified method and technique utilizes fish-mouth closure of a beveled pancreatic stump and parachuting of the pancreatic end with double U trans-pancreatic sutures (symmetric horizontal mattress-type sutures between the full thickness of the pancreas and the jejunal limb) after duct-to-mucosa pancreatico-jejunostomy. RESULTS: Eleven cases of pylorus preserving Whipple's operation have been performed without a clinically significant postoperative pancreatic fistula. CONCLUSION: This new method (Lee's method) may dramatically reduce the occurrence of postoperative pancreatic fistula after Whipple's operation.