RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: Temporary tracheostomies (TT) are often used in oral oncologic surgery to secure the postoperative airway. Our primary objective was to determine if there was an over-indication for elective tracheostomy in our population. If so, our secondary objective was to ascertain which patients could have possibly avoided TT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of patients with oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma in which resection with curative intent and TT were performed. Variables collected included demographics, comorbidities, and complications. Additionally, we retrospectively applied the Cameron and TRACHY tracheostomy scoring systems to evaluate overall tracheostomy recommendations. RESULTS: A total of 116 elective tracheostomies were performed between January 2019 and December 2020. According to the Cameron and TRACHY scoring systems, recommendations for tracheostomy coincided in only 54.3% and 45.7%, respectively. Tumor anatomy and type of reconstruction were associated with less time until decannulation. Additionally, in patients without TT recommendation determined by both scores with tumor anatomy and location, as well as T and N stages were also associated with less time until decannulation. CONCLUSION: There appears to be an over-indication for elective tracheostomy in our patients with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer. The patients that could have potentially avoided elective TT were those with lateral anatomy, without flap or with fasciocutaneous flap, location in the mandibular alveolus or anterior tongue, as well as N0/N1 and T1/T2 patients.
RESUMEN
Eagle syndrome is a rare disease characterised by symptoms associated with an elongated styloid process or calcification of the stylohyoid and stylomandibular ligament. Symptoms associated with Eagle Syndrome include orofacial and cervical pain, dysphagia, and pharyngeal foreign body sensation. Additionally, it can present with cerebrovascular symptoms due to the compression of adjacent neurovascular structures within the vicinity of the styloid process during rotation and extension of the neck. This report presents the case of a 33-year-old male with bilateral elongated styloid processes in whom the only symptom referred was recurrent syncope. The diagnosis was made years after the initial complaints and after several observations and imagings performed by different specialities. Surgical resection of the elongated process by the cervical approach was the treatment of choice. In patients with cerebrovascular symptoms, principally those induced by positional changes of the neck, Eagle syndrome should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
