[Surgical multiple level reconstruction of the upper airways for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. Two clinical cases]. / Reconstrucción quirúrgica multinivel de la vía aérea superior en el tratamiento del síndrome de apneas obstructivas durante el sueño. Dos casos clínicos.

Techniques for surgical correction of the soft palate are used commonly to treat obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), but a satisfactory cure cannot be ensured because such techniques usually involve localized correction of the upper airways (UA) whereas UA collapse during sleep involves the entire length. The development of correction techniques for the entire extension of the UA may help to solve this problem. We report the first two cases of multilevel UA surgical reconstruction in OSAS performed in Spain. The excellent results obtained favor routine use of this type of surgery once it has been validated in clinical practice.

[Carotid paraganglioma: a case report]. / Paraganglioma carotídeo. Caso clínico.

Carotid paraganglioma are tumors arising from chemoreceptor paraganglioma cells. These cells have proved to have an embryologic origin from the neural crests. Due to their low incidence these tumors are not an habitually found in daily practices. We present a case of carotid body paraganglioma diagnosed by clinical exploration, CT scan, magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography which was successfully treated by surgery. The diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties present in these tumors are discussed.

[Primary meningioma of the nasal cavity]. / Meningioma primario de fosas nasales.

Meningiomas are benign tumors developed from aracnoid meningeal cells. Its primary extracranial and extravertebral onset is a rarity, arising more frequently in the scalp and orbit. Its beginning in nasal fosae is considered exceptional. Diagnosis will be based on cranial CTY scan and histology of the whole tumour once extirpated. A case of advanced primary nasal meningioma is reported. The AA. emphasize the difficulties in presurgical diagnosis in this type of growths.

[Bilateral chylothorax after radical neck dissection. Apropos of a case]. / Chylothorax bilateral après évidement radical du cou. A propos d'un cas.

Bilateral chylothorax following radical neck dissection is an uncommon complication of head and neck surgery. Only 9 more cases have been reported in the English literature until now. Early recognition is not difficult if it is bear in mind when evaluating dyspnoeic patients with bilateral pleural effusions after neck dissection. In this paper the authors report their experiences with a case and comment on the treatment employed. The authors believe that due to its potential severity, it must be considered when ever head and neck surgery is performed.

[The incidence of the inappropriate ADH secretion syndrome (SIADH) in major otorhinolaryngologic surgery]. / Incidencia del sindrome de secrecion inadecuada de ADH (SIADH) en la cirugia mayor otorrinolaringologica.

There are few works dealing with the presentation of the inadequate secretion of antidiuretic hormone in major ENT procedures. In this prospective study done by the AA., based in analytic data, they found out the presence of the syndrome in as many as 39 percent of those operations. Consequently the suggestion is made that major ENT-surgery must be considered among the potential factors of the syndrome.

[Thornwaldt's cyst. The experience of a decade]. / Quiste de Thornwaldt. La experiencia de una decada.

The cyst of the Thornwaldt's bursa is a bulge on the postero-superior wall of the rhinopharynx, due to the closure of the sac's drainage duct. The bursa pharyngea being an embryologic remnant occurring in 3 percent of healthy adults. It is a process well known since a century, but only 11 cases (in 9 several publications) have been quoted in the last 20 years. Perusal of the cases seen at the ENT Department of the Clinic and Provincial Hospital of Barcelona during the latter decade.