Does oral appliance efficacy in treating obstructive sleep apnea depend on the appliance specialist's experience?

PURPOSE: In France, oral appliances (OAs) are the first-line treatment for moderate and second-line treatment for severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome. In general, the sleep specialist refers his/her patient to the appliance specialist for the impressions and the fitting. However, is there a relationship between the volume of activity of the appliance specialist and the efficacy of this device? METHODS: Our unit includes seven appliance otolaryngology specialists whose activities are highly variable (number of patients varying by a factor of almost 10). Data from a prospective follow-up registry of patients treated with an OA for moderate and severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome were studied, and differences in outcomes between practitioners in the team were sought. RESULTS: Among 859 patients, OAs significantly reduced the apnea-hypopnea index. Even if the patients were not completely comparable from one practitioner to another, there was a significant heterogeneity in efficacy (complete or partial response of the apnea-hypopnea index and failure of OAs) between practitioners (p = 0.0038; 0.0011; 0.0007 respectively), with better results in practitioners with a higher level of OA activity. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that it may be preferable to refer patients to OA practitioners who see a higher volume of patients with moderate or severe obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome treated with an OA.

Autologous fat injection for empty-nose syndrome.

AIMS: Inferior meatus augmentation by injection or implants is one of the treatments for empty-nose syndrome (ENS), but levels of evidence of efficacy are low. We present the technique and evaluate our experience. The primary objective was to analyze changes in Empty Nose Syndrome 6-item Questionnaire (ENS6Q) scores after treating patients with ENS by autologous fat injection. Secondary objectives were the analysis of the evolution of each of the six ENS6Q items and identification of complications. Eleven patients underwent a minimally invasive approach to limit nasal airflow using fat injection between March 2021 and December 2022. RESULTS: Ten of the 11 patients showed a decrease in overall ENS6Q score (P=0.0058); 6 had a final ENS6Q score<11. Ten were satisfied with the procedure, but remained symptomatic. The procedure did not result in any complications. CONCLUSION: These encouraging results confirm the data in the literature suggesting that fat injection improves symptomatology in empty nose syndrome. However, like other minimally invasive approaches to limit nasal airflow, it does not eliminate all symptoms. These results need to be confirmed by studies on larger cohorts with longer follow-up, preferably in a multicenter setting.

[Mandibular advancement devices in patients with severe OSAHS]. / Les orthèses d'avancées mandibulaires chez les patients souffrant d'un SAHOS sévère. Éfficacité à court et long terme, facteurs prédictifs d'efficacité.

INTRODUCTION: Mandibular advancement devices, more simply known as Oral Appliances (OAs), represent one of the current treatments for Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS). The primary objective of the study was to measure their efficacy in the severe OSAHS population. The secondary objectives were to determine predictive factors for the OA efficacy and to determine the tolerance and frequency of treatment discontinuation. METHODS: OA efficacy outcomes based on Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI) reduction, complications, and discontinuation rates were collected from 271 prospectively followed severe OSAHS patients treated with OAs. RESULTS: OA treatment reduced the AHI by a mean 21.5 respiratory events/h, P<10-5. The complete response rate was 19.3%. With their OAs, 70.7% of patients presented AHI reduction>50% and 58.5% of patients exhibited AHI less than 15/h. The effectiveness of OA on AHI did not vary significantly over time (P=0.0936). OA was discontinued by 9.6% of patients, mainly due to its ineffectiveness, and more rarely because of intolerance. CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular advancement orthosis is an effective and well-tolerated treatment for severe OSAHS. In 70.7% of the cases studied, the oral appliance reduced AHI by at least 50%, and it should be more systematically proposed in the event of failure or refusal of CPAP treatment.

[Patient satisfaction after mandibular orthosis fitting by teleconsultation]. / Satisfaction des patients après réglage des orthèses mandibulaire par téléconsultation.

INTRODUCTION: Since the COVID-19 crisis, we have all had to apply telemedicine. As an example, we offered patients teleconsultations for titration of their mandibular advancement device for sleep apnea. The main objective of this study was to determine patient satisfaction with this new method of consultation. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey using a satisfaction questionnaire was carried out in patients having been given an appliance adjustment teleconsultation by our establishment between March 2020 and February 2021. RESULTS: Adjustment of their orthosis by telemedicine was systematically proposed to seventy-five patients, of whom seventeen accepted (22.7%), with a mean age of 52.3 years. The consultations were short (mean duration: 5min), and more than a third were carried out at the patient's workplace; by and large, they were considered highly satisfactory (mean score 4.3/5). CONCLUSION: Although appliance adjustment by teleconsultation was not overwhelmingly accepted when offered, it gave great satisfaction after performance. This type of consultation is both technologically and administratively easy to organize, and it can be proposed as a supplementary service, suitable for all ages.

[Mandibular advancement device and multidisciplinary consultation of sleep-disorders]. / Orthèse d'avancée mandibulaire et consultation pluridisciplinaire sur les pathologies du sommeil.

BACKGROUND: Multidisciplinary consultation of sleep-disorders can include recommendation of a mandibular advancement device (MAD) for some patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). AIM: To assess the outcomes of patients for whom an oral MAD was prescribed following multidisciplinary consultation for OSAS in a University Hospital Center. METHODS: All patients referred by hospital or community specialist who had visited this specialized service from December 2015 to December 2017 and to whom an MAD was prescribed were included in this study. The objective was to analyze their clinical course after this consultation and to assess the effectiveness of these devices in this population. RESULTS: In all, 184 patients were seen by the multidisciplinary consultation between December 2015 and December 2017. An MAD was offered to 148 patients and 70 of these went on to have one. Of these 52 of them received follow-up polygraphy (PG) with it in place. This confirmed effectiveness in 18 cases (decrease of at least 50% of the AHI. The average AHI went from 34.8/hr to 22.5/hr. Sixty-five of the 148 patients were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: After specialized consultation on sleep-disorders, only one-third of the patients to whom an OA was prescribed had polygraphic exam. OA was less effective than in equivalent series. Correctives measures (such as a multidisciplinary standard sheet) have been set up to ensure a close follow-up of patients.

[Oral appliances for obstructive sleep apnoea: What can we expect?] / Orthèses d'avancée mandibulaire et syndrome d'apnées-hypopnées obstructives du sommeil : qu'en attendre ? Revue de la littérature, comparaison par design.

INTRODUCTION: Mandibular appliances are a treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea. There are many designs, but in the literature they tend to be grouped into a single entity without considering that efficiency, tolerance, compliance, or side effects are inherent in the design of each of them. A more detailed literature review is therefore warranted for the reader who wants to understand the relative effectiveness of each appliance. STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: We conducted a literature search using the "oral appliance" and "obstructive sleep apnea" criteria on Pubmed, Embase and Cochrane. This allowed us to compare outcome parameters by appliance class and to highlight the rare studies comparing different appliances. CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular appliances are not a homogeneous entity. Common use includes only appliances designed for propulsion (with rods and jacks) and retention. However, the few comparative studies available do not identify which are the most effective types or the types with an optimal efficacy/tolerance ratio. PERSPECTIVES: Further appliance comparison studies are needed to determine the most effective type or with an optimal efficacy/tolerance ratio.

Salvage surgery for recurrence of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A retrospective study from 2005 to 2013.

OBJECTIVES: Salvage surgery is the gold-standard treatment for locoregional recurrence of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer following radiation therapy. Imperfect oncologic and functional results, however, require patient selection. The main objective of the present study was to determine preoperative factors for survival. Secondary objectives were to study 5-year overall and disease-free survival, general and locoregional complications, and functional results in terms of feeding and tracheotomy closure. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A retrospective multicenter study included 52 patients treated by salvage surgery for recurrence of laryngeal or hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma after radiation therapy between 2005 and 2013. RESULTS: Factors associated with improved 3-year overall survival on univariate analysis comprised laryngeal primary (P=0.001), laryngeal recurrence (P=0.026), rT1, rT2 or rT3 rather than rT4 tumor (P=0.007), previous chemotherapy (P=0.036), and neck dissection during salvage surgery (P=0.005), the last of these being confirmed on multivariate analysis. Five-year overall survival was 36.0% (range, 27.6-44.4%), for a median 23.04 months (95% CI, 19.44-26.64). Five-year disease-free survival was 23.5% (range, 16.0-31.0%), for a median 8.04 months (95% CI, 2.04-14.04). CONCLUSION: Salvage surgery for laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer is difficult, and survival is not good. Laryngeal primary and recurrence location, moderate tumor volume and extension (

[Microscopic extensions of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas: impact for clinical target volume definition]. / Approche anatomopathologique de l'extension microscopique des carcinomes épidermoïdes ORL : implications pour la définition du volume cible anatomoclinique.

PURPOSE: To assess microscopic extensions of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas aiming at a proposal for target volumes of radiation therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgical specimens were prospectively analysed macroscopically and microscopically. Tumour borders were identified per macroscopic visual examination and inked on stained slides. Then microscopic implants (perineural or lymphatic involvement, or in situ carcinomas) were looked for with an optic microscope in the macroscopic healthy tissue surrounding the tumour. The maximal length from tumour border was correlated with the maximal length of macroscopically healthy tissues assessable. RESULTS: Twenty-one specimens were analysed and 12 were locally advanced tumours. Mean and median maximal microscopic extensions were 2.9 and 1.0mm (0-15mm), respectively. The 90th and 95th percentiles were 5 and 11mm, respectively. The ratio between healthy tissue length and maximal microscopic tumour extension was 10%. No correlation was found with tumour grade or volume. CONCLUSION: The presence of microscopic tumour was unlikely after 5mm from macroscopic tumour (≤5% of patients in this series) but should be assessed along with other histoclinical factors and particularities of tumour behaviour by anatomic site. A rigorous terminology should authorize a relevant appreciation of local risk of recurrence, particularly in adjuvant setting or for clinical target volume definition. Larger and more homogenous confirmatory series are needed.

[Conidiobolus coronatus infections revealed by a facial tumor]. / Infection à Conidiobolus coronatus révélée par une tumeur de la face.

INTRODUCTION: Conidiobolomycoses (Conidiobolus coronatus fungal infections) are rare and potentially severe infections prevalent in the tropics. The disease starts in the facial sinus and evolves as a subcutaneous tumor on the mid face OBSERVATION: A 19-year-old female patient from Burkina Faso presented with an acquired nasal deformation having evolved for a few months, associated to bilateral nasal obstruction. The patient had no medical or surgical history. The pathological analysis of the surgical exeresis allowed diagnosing a C. coronatus infection. DISCUSSION: The C. coronatus lives in decaying vegetation in hot and humid climates. It is a potential human pathogen that infects immunocompetent patients presenting with micro-wounds of the sinus and nasal mucosa. Hundred cases have been reported. The management is specific. The diagnosis should be discussed in case of distorting tumors of the midface.

Gelatin-thrombin matrix: a new and simple way to manage recurrent epistaxis in hematology units.

Introduction. In case of thrombopenia and/or thrombopathy, epistaxes are very difficult to manage. Case Series. Two patients, one with a thrombocytopenia, the other with a thrombopathy, were hospitalized because of repeated active epistaxes after failure of packing. Both patients were successfully treated with an application of Surgiflo without side effects and left the hospital without recurrence of epistaxis. Discussion. Being a subject of many studies dealing with epistaxis, Surgiflo is a simple treatment that seems to be very effective and without side effects to treat acute epistaxis in fragile patients with coagulation disorders. Prospective studies of tolerance and efficiency in such situations should be performed.

Synovial sarcoma of the lateral pharyngeal wall.

OBJECTIVE: The present study describes the clinical, radiological and histological features of pharyngeal synovial sarcoma, on the basis of one clinical case, and discusses management. CASE STUDY: A male patient, aged 27 years, presented with synovial sarcoma of the lateral pharyngeal wall, revealed by pharyngeal discomfort and bloody sputum. CT and MRI showed a partially necrotic tumoral process centered on the upper half of the piriform sinus. Pathologic analysis found a malignant biphasic tumor, suggestive of synovial sarcoma. Partial pharyngolaryngectomy was performed on a lateral approach, with associated radiotherapy. DISCUSSION: Synovial sarcoma raises diagnostic and therapeutic issues. Prognostic factors are not clearly established. CONCLUSION: Pharyngeal synovial sarcoma is a rare tumor. Treatment is essentially surgical, requiring wide margins; radiotherapy is usually associated. The value of chemotherapy has yet to be assessed.

Acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland with skull base invasion: case study, managed by exclusive external 3D radiation therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To review treatment options in a rare type of parotid tumor, in a clinical case study. CASE STUDY: A 62-year-old woman presenting with recurrence of acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid gland with invasion of the skull base was treated by external 3D conformational radiation, having refused large-scale exeresis. Sixty-six Gy (70Gy equivalent) were delivered in 2007. Clinical and paraclinical follow-up found regular tumor volume regression over a 2.5-year period without side-effects of radiation. DISCUSSION: There are no specific data on the efficacy of external radiation therapy in acinic cell carcinoma; reports on exclusive radiation treatment of salivary gland cancer include different histological types. Exclusive radiation treatment should be at least 66-70Gy, preferably by neutron- or hadrontherapy. CONCLUSION: Management of acinic cell carcinoma of the parotid is surgical with possible secondary radiation therapy; exclusive external radiation therapy is, however, an option in case of contra-indication for surgery or patient refusal.

[Diversity of incidence trend patterns: implications for carcinogenesis?]. / Diversité des modèles d'évolution des incidences: implication en cancérogenèse?

OBJECTIVE: Cancers of the ENT, oesophagus and lungs are caused mainly by alcohol and/or tobacco consumption but have potentially heterogeneous latencies and dose-incidence relationships. The incidence of cancers having the same risk factors may vary in a similar way over time and space. The aim of the study was to identify groups of cancers with similar spatio-temporal incidence trends. METHODS: Fifty thousand nine hundred and eighty cases of ten cancer types were collected between 1982 and 2002 in six French departments. The incidence levels and trends were assessed using an age-cohort random-effect model that took into account heterogeneity of incidence levels and trends between departments. RESULTS: Three groups of cancer sites/types with similar spatio-temporal incidence trends were identified: (1) oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, oesophagus, and lung squamous cell carcinomas in which the incidence decreased similarly in time and space; (2) other types of lung cancer and lung adenocarcinomas whose incidence increased similarly; and (3) lung large- and small-cell carcinomas whose incidence trends were heterogeneous. CONCLUSION: Using the tools of descriptive epidemiology different cancer groups with different temporal and spatial incidence trends were identified. This diversity suggests different latencies and different sensitivities of those groups to the main risk factors, alcohol and tobacco.

Supraglottic laryngeal paraganglioma.

INTRODUCTION: Laryngeal paraganglioma is a rare, mainly supraglottic, tumor. CLINICAL CASE: A 67-year-old woman was operated on in June 2009 for supraglottic laryngeal paraganglioma, with simple postoperative course. DISCUSSION: Anatomopathologic features, malignant paraganglioma and the various possible treatments are presented and discussed. Surgical exeresis with an external approach should in our opinion remain the reference treatment, for optimal control of exeresis of this potentially hemorrhagic tumor with risk of recurrence in case of incomplete exeresis.

[Modified Texier mediodorsal transposition island skin flap of the nose. Report of four cases of ala nasi reconstruction]. / Lambeau médiodorsal du nez de transposition en îlot cutané de Texier modifié. A propos de quatre cas de réparations alaires.

First described by Texier in 1994, the mediodorsal transposition flap of the nose is an island flap. The paramedian dorsal arteries (anastomosed to the interdomal plexus) ensured the axial vascularisation in SMAS plane. The authors will discuss their personal approach to the surgical procedure for the improvement of final result, with four clinical cases. This flap can be used for aesthetic unit reconstruction of cutaneous or mucosal different alar defect (partial or complete, full-thickness or not). This reliable flap represents an alternative technique of composed grafts, of different nasolabial flaps, and of forehead flap.