Histopathologic Changes of Tracheal Mucosa in Burned Patients with Inhalation Injury / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Inhalation injuries can produce a wide spectrum of negative clinical effects. Respiratory failure remains one of the leading causes of death in burned patients with inhalation injury. Despite advances in understanding of inhalation injury, few studies have focused on histopathologic findings of tracheal mucosa. The purpose of this study is to investigate histopathologic changes of tracheal mucosa in burned patients with inhalation injury. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Tracheotomy was performed on 31 patients who was admitted to the Hospital center from May 2005 to March 2006. Thirty-one patients were divided into two groups : patients with inhalation injury (group I)(n=16), patients without inhalation injury (group II)(n=15). Tracheal mucosa were taken out during the tracheotomy. The tracheal mucosa were read blindly by one pathologist. RESULTS: Histopathologic examination showed the following finding in the tracheal mucosa of all patients in the group I : epithelial ulceration. Different findings were observed in the group I as time passed by after inhalation injury, such as interstitial edema, inflammatory cell infiltration, capillary dilatation, and increased fibrosis. No abnormal findings were observed in the tracheal mucosa in the group II. CONCLUSION: Inhalation injuries cause histopathologic damages to tracheal mucosa. The different histopathologic findings of tracheal mucosa that take place in time following inhalation injuries suggest to process an inflammatory reaction. The study in related to clinical features should be needed due to tracheal mucosa injury may produce respiratory complications.

Change of Taste and Sensory after Tonsillectomy and Laryngomicrosurgery / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Postoperative taste and sensory changes are regarded as unusual and minor complications of tonsillectomy and laryngomicrosurgery. This study aimed to identify incidence, cause, and duration of postoperative taste and sensory changes. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: With 20 patients who underwent tonsillectomy and 20 patients who underwent laryngomicrosurgery, we have prospectively studied postoperative taste and sensory changes using questionnaires with regard to symptoms at 1(st), 7(th) , 14(th) and 28(th) days after the surgery. The thresholds of sweet, sour, salty and bitter tastes were measured by spatial taste test. Also, we have checked pre-operatively and post-operatively about the serum level of zinc and copper. RESULTS: Five patients (25%) who underwent tonsillectomy and 3 patients (15%) who underwent laryngomicrosurgery suffered from changes in tastes. Four patients (20%) and 5 patients (25%) showed the sensory change. Especially, the bitter taste threshold changed in the posterior tongue (p<0.05). Post-operative zinc deficiency was detected on 1 patient. Subjective taste and sensory change disappeared within 28 days. In spatial taste test, the threshold for bitter taste increased on the 1st post-operative day at the posterior tongue, but it returned almost to the preoperative level within 28days. CONCLUSION: Taste and sensory change after tonsillectomy and laryngomicrosurgery are not unusual complications. If there were no neural damage, taste and sensory change were transient and disappeared within 28 days. The main cause of transient taste and sensory change seemed to be due to the compression of tongue, and sometimes, to postoperative zinc deficiency.

Clinical Analysis of the Canal Paresis in Patients with Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Canal paresis in patients with BPPV has been variously reported to present in 13% to 57%. Should disorders affecting the peripheral vestibular system, such as vestibular neuronitis, head trauma precede or coexist the onset of BPPV, then particle repositioning maneuver (PRM) may be less effective or ineffective and need further vestibular rehabilitation after the particle repositioning maneuver. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical feature and importance of vestibular rehabilitation in patients with BPPV associated with canal paresis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review was made of 212 patients who visited and diagnosed as BPPV at Hallym university medical center from March 2004 to September 2006. We evaluated the coexistence of canal paresis, methods of treatment and outcome of 128 patients who performed bithermal caloric test. RESULTS: The vestibular assessment by bithermal caloric test showed the canal paresis in 28 patients. In 21 patients, the canal paresis was ipsilateral, in 2 patients, it was contralateral to the BPPV, and in 5 patients, canal paresis was bilateral. Among 28 patients with canal paresis, 12 patients demonstrated as primary BPPV, 16 patients as secondary BPPV. 28 patients with canal paresis were performed PRM. Vestibular rehabilitation was performed in 18 patients who had ongoing symptoms such as nonspecific continuous dizziness after PRM. Among 18 patients, 14 patients were improved, 4 patients were treatment resistant. CONCLUSION: This study shows the importance of detailed vestibular testing such as bithermal caloric test in BPPV patients. Patients with evidence of concomitant vestibular pathology would be expected to require further vestibular rehabilitation.

Airway Management in Burn Patients with Inhalation Injury / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Respiratory failure remains one of the leading causes of death in burn patients with inhalation injury. Obtaining and maintaining a secure airway are both essential and challenging. Although different airway managements are performed in burn patients with inhalation injury, its exact indications and timing remain controversial. The purpose of this study is to define the principle of airway management in burn patients with inhalation injury. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A retrospective study was performed on 177 burn patients with inhalation injury who were admitted to Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital at Hallym University Medical Center from July 2002 to June 2005. RESULTS: Severty-seven patients underwent mask O2 supply for initial airway management. A total of 77 patients survived. One hundred patients underwent endotracheal intubation for initial airway management. Of these, 42 patients underwent tracheotomy after endotracheal intubation. A total of 42 patients reported abnormal chest X-ray findings. Of these, 10 patients survived and had significant improvement in PaO2/FiO2 ratios within 3 days following tracheotomy. CONCLUSION: In most cases, laryngotracheal edema subsides within 72 hours, permitting short periods of airway management. Deterioration of respiratory function permits prolonged intubation and ventilator support. Although tracheotomy does not improve general condition, it offers some advantages in terms of pulmonary toilet, patient comfort and airway security. If patients show deterioration of respiratory function, tracheotomy should be performed earlier.

Effects of Preserving the Posterior Branch of the Greater Auricular Nerve at Parotidectomy on Postoperative Peri-Auricular Sensation / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The posterior branch of the greater auricular nerve is a sensory nerve that serves the skin over the mastoid process and the postero-inferior region of the auricle. The greater auricular nerve is often sacrificed in parotidectomy, even though its posterior branch can be preserved. By cautious dissection of the greater auricular nerve it is possible to preserve the posterior branch in 69 per cent of the operations. However, the efficiency of this procedure is not clear. So, we have compared the patients whose nerve had been preserved with those sacrificed, to evaluate the validity of the posterior branch of greater auricular nerve preservation during parotidectomy. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Thirty patients undergoing parotidectomy were divided into two groups. Fifteen patients underwent parotidectomy with preservation of the posterior branch of the greater auricular nerve (group A) and they were compared with fifteen patients who underwent parotidectomy with sacrificing the nerve (group B). Using questionnaire, we have researched about numbness, pain or other subjective symptoms on peri-auricular area after parotidectomy and the function of the nerve has been tested by two point tactile discrimination test and temperature sensitivity test. RESULTS: Postoperatively, twenty-nine patients felt lack of sensitivity, pain, itching or other symptoms. These symptoms recovered within 12 months, subjectively. However, in group B, permanent sensory loss was found in three patients. The two-point discrimination test revealed in group B, the decreased sensitivity on the operated side in comparison with the unoperated side (p=0.008). It also showed the decreased sensitivity on operated side in group B, compare with group A (p=0.012). CONCLUSION: From this study, despites of no significant difference on subjective symptoms, there was objective improvement on function of the greater auricular nerve. It seems reasonable to spare the greater auricular nerve during parotidectomy.

A Case of Atypical Benign Paroxismal Positional Vertigo

Paroxysmal positional nystagmus is a common finding in patients with vertigo and can occur in typical and atypical forms. Atypical forms of paroxismal positional nystagmus are thought to represent conditions which are in fact not "benign". This patient was diagnosed as right posterior semicircular canal BPPV at first. After modified Epley maneuver, the type of nystagmus was changed to atypical forms. After left cupulolith reposition maneuver (CRmM), the nystagmus and dizziness were disappeared finally.