Hyoid bone fracture: an unrecognised complication of intubation or transoesophageal echocardiogram?

A 55-year-old man sustained a compound hyoid fracture in the perioperative period surrounding coronary artery bypass surgery. The two most likely mechanisms of injury were external laryngeal pressure sustained either during transoesophageal echocardiogram (TOE) or intubation. He was managed operatively and made an uneventful recovery. The procedure that led to the hyoid fracture was not determined. Of note, this has not been previously described as a complication of either procedure.

Predicting lymph node metastases in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: use of a morphological scoring system.

BACKGROUND: Predicting which patients will develop nodal metastasis from cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) remains difficult. This study evaluates a recently described histological risk model validated for mucosal head and neck SCC (HNSCC) when applied to cutaneous tumours. In this model, morphologic variables including worst pattern of invasion, lymphocytic host response and perineural invasion were shown to predict disease recurrence, loco regional recurrence and overall survival in mucosal HNSCC. METHODS: Patients with cSCC and known metastatic spread were identified from the author's database over a 5-year period between July 2007 and July 2012. Histology specimens from the original primary tumour were separately analysed by 2 histopathologists. Scores were compared against T-Stage matched control specimens without metastatic spread. RESULTS: 27 patients with metastatic cSCC were identified. Scores for worst pattern of invasion (WPOI) were significantly higher in individuals with lymph node metastases (p=0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Adverse pattern of invasion, defined as presence of small tumour islands or tumour satellites may be an independent risk factor for developing nodal metastases in cSCC. These tumours are difficult to investigate histopathologically as it is difficult to be confident the correct primary is chosen for study.

Airway complications of pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

OBJECTIVES: Prolonged intubation is a risk factor for the development of laryngotracheal stenosis. Children who undergo extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) usually remain intubated for an extended period. It is unclear whether the impaired cardiorespiratory status that necessitated ECMO places these children at a higher risk of laryngotracheal stenosis. This study was performed to assess the incidences of laryngotracheal stenosis and tracheostomy in children who undergo ECMO. METHODS: We identified all patients under 18 years of age who underwent ECMO over a 10-year period concluding July 1, 2009, by use of the extracorporeal life support database of Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne. All children in this database who underwent either a diagnostic or a therapeutic surgical procedure on the airway were identified. RESULTS: The 218 patients included in the study had an overall survival rate of 51.4%. A total of 14 patients (6.4%) required a surgical procedure on the airway, and 11 of these (5.0%) needed tracheostomy. Ten of these 14 patients (71.4%) survived; of these, 2 presented with congenital laryngotracheal stenosis, 3 developed clinically significant laryngotracheal stenosis as a likely consequence of ECMO, and 5 required tracheostomy alone for long-term ventilation. The rate of airway stenosis was 2.7% in survivors. CONCLUSIONS: The rate of laryngotracheal stenosis in children who require ECMO is acceptably low.

Hoarseness - what is the voice trying to tell you?

BACKGROUND: Most episodes of hoarseness are benign and self limiting. METHODS: This article describes the causes and management of hoarseness in adults, outlines the features of common causes of voice disturbance in adults, and highlights a number of red flags that should trigger urgent referral. DISCUSSION: Patients with hoarseness lasting more than 3 weeks require specialist assessment to visualise the larynx.

Functional outcomes following total laryngopharyngectomy.

BACKGROUND: Despite increasing use of laryngeal preserving protocols, laryngopharyngectomy remains the gold standard treatment for locally advanced hypopharyngeal and upper oesophageal tumours and for salvage following failed chemoradiotherapy. Nevertheless, improved perioperative medical care and experience in reconstruction have reduced mortality and improved functional outcomes. METHODS: All patients undergoing total laryngopharyngectomy between July 2001 and July 2006 were prospectively recorded in a head and neck database. Demographics and functional outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Eighteen patients underwent laryngopharyngectomies with 5 having failed chemoradiotherapy and 13 presented with locally advanced tumours. Patients were reconstructed using free jejunal interposition if the lower anastomosis was in the neck (50%). They developed early fistulas (33%), late strictures (33%) and 44% spoke with a tracheo-oesophageal puncture, the rest with an electrolarynx. If the lower anastomosis was below the manubrium, patients required a gastric pull-up (38.9%). Gastric pull-up patients had fewer fistulas but more number of chest complications. More gastric pull-up patients tolerated solid diet and 43% managed oesophageal speech, the remainder using an electrolarynx. Overall, 88.9% of jejunums and 100% of gastric pull-ups tolerated oral alimentation and 100% used verbal communication. During a mean follow up of 34 months, 7 patients (38.9%) died; four patients died of local recurrence, two of distant metastases and one of unrelated causes. CONCLUSION: Surgical treatment of neoplasms of the hypopharynx and cervical oesophagus is technically demanding and involves careful postoperative care to manage complications. Despite having a poor tumour-related prognosis, laryngopharyngectomy may be carried out in selected patients with low mortality and acceptable functional and survival results.