Vocal Cord Paralysis as a Complication of Endotracheal Intubation.

Endotracheal intubation is a commonly used method for securing airway. It is considered to be safe but it can still lead to some complications of the airway. Recurrent nerve paralysis due to endotracheal intubation is a rare complication. Pathophysiology is explained as neuropraxia of RLN's compression between the tube and the lamina of the thyroid cartilage or between arytenoid and cricoid cartilages due to tube cuff pressure or tube itself. In literature, unilateral vocal cord paralysis (VCP) due to intubation is more common than bilateral paralysis. In the presented case report, a young patient stayed intubated for only 3 days in intensive care unit who experienced bilateral VCP 2 days after extubation. He had total recovery 5 days after emergency tracheotomy suggesting neuropraxia of the nerve. Neuropraxia of RLN resulting in bilateral VCP due to inappropriate size or excess cuff pressure of the intubation tube may be the underlying reasons. The clinicians must be aware of complications of intubation and should apply appropriate treatment method as soon as possible. Appropriate size and cuff pressure should be chosen for endotracheal intubation.

[The effect of allergy on prognosis of surgically treated nasal polyposis]. / Alerjinin cerrahi olarak tedavi edilen nazal polipozis prognozuna etkisi.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the effects of allergy existence on prognosis of surgically treated nasal polyposis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 29 patients (22 males, 7 females; mean age 45.9 years; range 21 to 72 years) admitted to our clinic with nasal polyposis between January 2006 and December 2008. Patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 consisted of 11 patients who had positive results in skin prick test or whose positivity of allergy was confirmed by serum-specific immunoglobulin E, as a skin prick test was contraindicated. Group 2 included 18 patients who had negative allergy test results. Endoscopic and radiological evaluations of the patients were done preoperatively. Bilateral endoscopic sinus surgery was applied to all patients. RESULTS: Statistical analysis of pre- and postoperative endoscopic and radiological evaluation findings in group 1 showed a non-significant improvement (p>0.05). Statistical analysis of pre- and postoperative endoscopic and radiological evaluation findings in group 2 demonstrated a significant improvement (p<0.001, p<0.005 respectively). CONCLUSION: Response to surgical treatment is more limited in nasal polyposis patients with a positive allergy test.

Successful Treatment of Severe Aplastic Anemia with Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in the Setting of Active Mucormycosis.

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a life-threatening hematological disease characterized by the suppression of the bone marrow. Patients with SAA are predisposed to recurrent bacterial infections and invasive fungal infections (IFI) due to profound and persistent neutropenia. Mucorales are the second most common cause of IFI encountered in SAA. Here we present a pediatric case of SAA with active mucormycosis infection of the paranasal sinuses. In the first step, surgical debridement was performed and combined antifungal therapy (liposomal amphotericin B, posaconazole, caspofungin) was started. Due to severe neutropenia, daily granulocyte transfusion was added to therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was applied for wound healing. After all this the patient went under flap surgery. One week after the successful flap procedure, HSCT was performed and he had no complications related to HSCT. The patient was followed in the outpatient clinic for 6 months with posaconazole. Now, he is out of drugs and followed without problems for 15 months after HSCT. Our case confirms that urgent HSCT with multiple therapies (surgical debridement, granulocyte support, combined antifungal therapy, hyperbaric O2) is crucial for saving life in SAA patients with active mucormycosis.

[Inconsistency of the Epworth sleepiness scale results with the polysomnography findings in patients with sleep-disordered breathing]. / Uykuda solunum bozuklugu olan hastalarda Epworth uykululuk skalasi sonuçlarinin polisomnografi bulgulari ile uyumsuzlugu.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the consistency of Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) results and polysomnography (PSG) findings in the patients with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 109 patients (68 males, 41 females; mean age 48.6 years; range 20 to 77 years) who were admitted with the complaints of apnea, witnessed apnea and daytime sleepiness were included. The correlation among age, body mass index (BMI), and ESS and PSG findings were assessed. RESULTS: There was a positive and statistically significant correlation between the age and apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) (p<0.01). We observed that AHI figures increased with increasing age. There was also a positive and statistically significant correlation between the BMI and AHI (p<0.05). We found that AHI increased in parallel with BMI increase. There was, no statistically significant correlation among the AHI results based on the ESS assessment, the percentage of sleep under 90% of saturation, and the Arousal index (AI). CONCLUSION: The responses to the questions in the ESS may vary from individual to individual, depending on the socio-cultural and economic status. We believe, therefore, that a new Turkey-based questionnaire considering the lifestyle of our population would offer more useful information about sleep disordered breathing.

Is there a role of toothpastes in the development of recurrent aphthous stomatitis? A prospective controlled clinical trial with skin patch testing.

OBJECTIVES: The oral mucosa is exposed to a large number of antigenic agents contained in toothpastes. These agents are reported to stimulate recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) pathogenesis, and toothpastes that do not contain probable allergenic substances reduced the number and frequency of aphthous ulcers. We aimed to determine whether the skin patch test (SPT) can be used to determine if toothpaste allergens play a role in the etiology of RAS. STUDY DESIGN: Sixty-three patients with RAS and 47 healthy volunteers were skin patch tested with sodium lauryl sulfate, cocamidopropyl betaine, propylene glycol, aluminum chloride hexahydrate, menthol, triclosan, and titanium dioxide, which are present in most of the toothpastes. Fisher's exact test and the Yates chi-square test were used to compare categorical variables and patch test results between 2 groups. RESULTS: The SPT was positive in 8 (22.2%) patients with RAS and 11 (23.4%) control subjects, and the difference between the groups was not statistically significant (P < .05). Sodium lauryl sulfate, titanium dioxide, and menthol were the most common positive allergens in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Allergens in toothpastes did not appear to stimulate the formation of RAS. However, in order to determine a clearer relationship, a study in a larger patient series employing intraoral patch testing with more toothpaste ingredients is suggested.