Congenital laryngo-tracheo-esophageal clefts: updates from a quaternary care pediatric airway unit.

PURPOSE: To review the operative techniques, outcomes, and complications following surgery in pediatric patients with laryngo-tracheo-esophageal clefts (LTEC). We describe a new combined approach to treat long LTECs. METHODS: Twenty-five patients underwent surgical repair for LTEC from March 2012 to July 2022 at our hospital. Every patient underwent a diagnostic endoscopy under general anesthesia and spontaneous ventilation to assess the LTEC and synchronous aero-digestive comorbidities/malformations. All patients underwent at least one surveillance endoscopy after the repair at our institution. RESULTS: The patients had multiple other malformations, specifically gastro-intestinal, synchronous airway, and cardiac. The cleft distribution according to the modified Benjamin and Inglis classification was type I (n = 5, 20%), type II (n = 6, 24%), type IIIa (n = 8, 32%), type IIIb (n = 4, 16%), and type IVa (n = 2, 8%). The median follow-up was 44.6 months. Five patients (20%) had undergone previous cleft corrective surgery(s). Seven patients (28%) had partial to complete breakdown of the repair, needing additional intervention(s), and two required a combined-open plus endoscopic repair. Preoperatively, most patients (n = 18, 72%) needed a feeding assistance. At latest follow-up, feeding assistance was weaned off in 13 out of 18 patients, which was a 72% improvement. Ten patients (40%) needed ventilation assistance before the surgery. Post-operatively, ventilatory assistance was weaned off in 6 patients, meaning a 60% improvement. CONCLUSION: LTEC are rare malformations, and their management needs precise diagnosis, appropriate surgical planning, and execution, and dedicated post-operative care. Primary and revision repair of long clefts with tracheal extension may require a combined approach.

[COVID-related ENT affections: acute management and issues of rehabilitation strategy]. / Atteintes ORL liées au Covid : prise en charge aiguë et enjeux de la stratégie rééducative.

The ENT specialist manages patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection in the acute phase as well as in the long-term sequelae. Acute management includes evaluation of patients with prolonged orotracheal intubation, surgical tracheostomies and monitoring of their weaning as well as airway assessment. Long-term sequelae include olfactory disorders, upper airway damage, laryngeal damage and their functional consequences : dyspnea, dysphonia and dysphagia. ENT symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection have an impact on patients' morbidity and quality of life. We created an ENT Task Force at the CHUV to better organize medical management. This article summarizes the main points.

Le spécialiste ORL prend en charge les patients avec infection due au SARS-CoV-2, en aigu mais aussi dans le cadre des séquelles à long terme. La prise en charge aiguë comprend l'évaluation des patients avec intubation orotrachéale prolongée, la réalisation de trachéotomies et le suivi de leur sevrage ainsi qu'un bilan des voies aériennes. Les séquelles à long terme comprennent les troubles olfactifs et du goût, les lésions des voies aériennes supérieures, les atteintes laryngées et leurs conséquences fonctionnelles : dyspnée, dysphonie et dysphagie. Les symptômes ORL liés au SARS-CoV-2 ont un impact sur la morbidité et la qualité de vie des patients. Une Task Force ORL a été créée au sein du CHUV pour mieux coordonner la prise en charge. Cet article en résume les principaux axes.

[MMR vaccination at UNIL and EPFL†: Lausanne medical students get involved]. / Vaccination ROR à l'UNIL et à l'EPFL†: les étudiant·e·s en médecine de Lausanne se mobilisent.

In recent years, several cases of measles have appeared on the campuses of the University of Lausanne (UNIL) and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL). In response to this, several medical students have mobilized in collaboration with various cantonal authorities in order to set up a free measles, mumps and rubella vaccination campaign on the UNIL/EPFL campuses, in 2019. This first edition was a success and will be repeated in the future. Such an approach having shown its feasibility, it could be applied to other public health issues. The involvement of medical students could thus be extremely valuable if a generalized vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 were to take place.

Durant ces dernières années, plusieurs cas de rougeole sont apparus sur les campus de l'Université de Lausanne (UNIL) et de l'École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL). En réponse à cela, plusieurs étudiant·e·s en médecine se sont mobilisé·e·s en collaboration avec diverses instances cantonales afin de mettre en place en 2019 une campagne de vaccination gratuite contre la rougeole, les oreillons et la rubéole sur les campus UNIL/EPFL. Cette première édition a été un succès et sera reconduite dans le futur. Une telle approche ayant montré sa faisabilité, elle pourrait être appliquée à d'autres enjeux de santé publique. L'implication des étudiant·e·s en médecine pourrait ainsi être extrêmement précieuse si une vaccination généralisée contre le virus SARS-CoV-2 devait avoir lieu.

[Racism and the practice of medicine†: elements for a required learning]. / Racisme et pratique de la médecine†: éléments pour un apprentissage nécessaire.

The new catalogue of objectives for medical education at Swiss universities (PROFILES) underlines the importance of teaching the impact of ethnic, cultural, spiritual and religious differences and the socio-economic determinants of health and illness on health and care. At the same time, the social reality of the moment reminds us that racism is still present in our societies. Therefore, education for medical students is necessary. This should include basic knowledge but also, and above all, an understanding of the underlying mechanisms that will enable them to grasp the notions of prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination. Finally, introspection, the acquisition of cross-cultural skills and cultural humility will help to deal with this other epidemic.

Le nouveau catalogue des objectifs d'enseignement de la médecine dans les universités suisses (PROFILES) souligne l'importance de l'enseignement de l'impact sur la santé et les soins des différences ethniques, culturelles, spirituelles, religieuses, et des déterminants socio-économiques de la santé et de la maladie. Parallèlement, la réalité sociale du moment nous rappelle que le racisme est toujours présent dans nos sociétés. Dès lors, un enseignement aux étudiant·e·s de médecine est nécessaire. Celui-ci devra intégrer des connaissances de base mais aussi et surtout la compréhension des mécanismes sous-jacents qui permettra d'appréhender les notions de préjugés, stéréotypes et discriminations. Enfin, l'introspection, l'acquisition de compétences transculturelles et d'humilité culturelle permettront de faire face à cette autre épidémie.

Moderate grade subglottic stenosis in children: Laryngotracheal reconstruction versus cricotracheal resection and anastomosis.

Objective: The surgical treatment of choice of pediatric moderate subglottic stenosis (major grade II and minor grade III SGS or 60-80% lumen obstruction) remains controversial. Laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) (with anterior ± posterior grafts for airway expansion) and partial crico-tracheal resection (PCTR) are the mainly described open surgical techniques. We reviewed our pediatric cases with moderate subglottic stenosis to determine the efficacy of LTR versus PCTR. Methods: A retrospective study of all children between 0 and 18 years that underwent open reconstructive airway surgery between 2012 and 2019. Children who had either acquired or congenital moderate subglottic stenosis (late grade II and early grade III: 60-80% lumen obstruction) were selected. Results: Twenty-six children with moderate-grade subglottic stenosis were included. Seventeen were treated with LTR and nine with PCTR. No significant differences were observed between LTR and PCTR-treated cases. Decannulation rates were similar, as well as the functional results. Conclusion: Both LTR and PCTR are valid treatment options for moderate subglottic stenosis. This study indicates to perform the surgery that is most suitable for the characteristics of the patients' stenosis, the surgeons' expertise and preference, and the working infrastructure.