The impact of different anticoagulants and antiplatelets regimens on acute epistaxis outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The impact of anticoagulants (AC) and antiplatelets (AP) on the management of acute epistaxis remains unclear. This study investigated the association between AC/AP therapy and treatment outcomes in patients with acute epistaxis. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective analysis of patients presented to the otolaryngology emergency room with acute epistaxis (2014-2022). Patients were categorized based on their regular medications: AP, dual AP therapy (DAPT), new oral anticoagulants (NOAC), vitamin K antagonists (VKA), or no regular AC/AP use (control group). Outcome measures included rates of minor interventions (chemical or electrical cautery, nasal tamponade), major interventions (endoscopic ligation, embolization), recurrent emergency department visits, admission rates, and duration. RESULTS: 786 patients were included with an average follow-up period of 52.56 ± 20.4 months. Compared to the control group, patients on AP, DAPT, or VKA had significantly higher rates of minor interventions (63.1% vs. 74.4%, 79.6%, and 77.3%, respectively, p < 0.05). DAPT users exhibited a higher rate of major interventions than the control (5.6% vs. 1.3%, p = 0.053). NOAC users showed no significant difference in minor interventions compared to control and required no major interventions. Both NOAC and VKA users had significantly higher rates of recurrent epistaxis events and prolonged hospitalization compared to the control (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: NOAC demonstrated more favorable outcomes than VKA in patients with acute epistaxis, and DAPT use was associated with an increased need for major interventions. These findings suggest a more conservative approach in NOAC users than other AC/AP agents.

ROBOTIC-ASSISTED TRANSAXILLARY THYROID SURGERY - THE RABIN MEDICAL CENTER EXPERIENCE

AIMS: To review the experience of a single-center with RATS and to assess its outcome, feasibility and safety. BACKGROUND: With the advent of minimally invasive techniquesin thyroid surgery, robot-assisted transaxillary thyroid surgery (RATS) has become one of the most popular approaches. Its main advantages are improved cosmetic outcome, thereby increasing patient satisfaction, improved visualization and range of motion. Several large-scale studies, have demonstrated its safety and feasibility. METHODS: A retrospective review of all RATS consecutive cases at Rabin Medical Center. RESULTS: A total of 38 RATS procedures were performed between July 2012 and May 2015. The mean age of patients was 39 years (22-74); all patients were females; the average BMI was 25 (18-32). Thirty-seven patients underwent partial thyroidectomy and one - total thyroidectomy. The average maximal diameter of nodules pre-operatively was 2.5 cm (0.5- 5). Seventeen patients (44%) had papillary carcinoma; 13 (33%) - hyperplastic nodules and 8 (20%) - benign thyroid adenomas or goiters. The average total operative time was 166 minutes. One case was converted to open due to a large tumor; there were 6 (15.7%) cases of vocal cord paresis, of which 1 (2.6%) was permanent; there were 8 (21%) cases of hypoesthesia - all resolved within 4-12 weeks. There were no cases of permanent brachial plexus injury. CONCLUSIONS: In skilled hands, RATS is a safe alternative to conservative thyroidectomy, and should be presented to patients with aesthetic concerns. As with any new emerging technique, careful patient selection is crucial and further evidence must be sought to confirm its indications over time.

Intraoperative Frozen Section in "Suspicious for Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma" after Adoption of the Bethesda System.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the accuracy and utility of intraoperative frozen section examination (iFSE) in patients with a preoperative fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of "suspicious for malignancy" (SFM)-Bethesda V, after the adoption of the Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. SETTING: Tertiary medical center. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: All patients with SFM-Bethesda V who underwent thyroid surgery with iFSE between 2010 and 2015 were included. In cases where the iFSE was reported to be malignant, a total thyroidectomy was performed; otherwise, thyroid lobectomy (hemithyroidectomy) was performed. RESULTS: The current series included 47 patients diagnosed preoperatively with FNA cytology of SFM-Bethesda V. The malignancy rate was 74.5% (35 of 47). Twenty-four patients with nonmalignant iFSE results underwent lobectomy during their initial surgery: 12 were subsequently found with benign final histology and did not undergo completion thyroidectomy; the other 12 patients had malignant results on final histology, but only 4 of them underwent completion thyroidectomy. iFSE resulted in a sensitivity and specificity of 65.7% and 100%, respectively, with a positive predictive value of 100% (23 of 23) and a negative predictive value of 50% (12 of 24). Accuracy of the iFSE methodology was 74.5% (35 of 47). CONCLUSIONS: With no significant preoperative clinical or sonographic predictors for thyroid malignancy and given the high specificity of iFSE, our results support the use of iFSE for patients with preoperative FNA cytology of SFM-Bethesda V who are undergoing thyroid surgery, to determine the extent of required surgery.

Analysis of cigarette smoking mechanism by real time video-endoscopic documentation.

OBJECTIVE: To view, document and analyze the smoking mechanism as seen via video-endoscopic examination during the action of cigarette smoking. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. METHODS: Twenty-two healthy smoking volunteers were examined with a trans-nasal video-laryngoscope while breathing, sniffing and cigarette smoking. Smoking a whole cigarette was recorded in each participant. The different stages of smoking were defined and their duration was measured. The glottic opening angle was calculated during breathing, sniffing and smoking. RESULTS: A smoking cycle with four distinct stages was recognized. The stages included an oral smoke accumulation, pharyngo-laryngeal jet inhalation, infralaryngeal spread, and finally humidified exhalation stage. The stages' mean duration was 1.93(±1.21), 0.39(±0.31), 2.00(±1.12) and 4.5(±2.70) seconds, respectively. The glottic opening angle during smoke inhalation was wider in 16% (p = 0.02) compared to normal inhalation during breathing. The glottic opening during smoke exhalation was comparable to what was observed during normal exhalation. The reduction in the glottic opening was more significant during the action of smoking compared with normal breathing (p = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking follows a consistent sequence of events, defined by specific anatomic configuration and relatively persistent duration. The fast turbulent flow of the smoke over the narrow glottic aperture and at the areas of bifurcation at the trachea and bronchi may have a role in the high relative risk for carcinoma in these areas.