Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by transoral robotic surgery versus upfront surgery for locoregionally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma: A propensity score matched analysis.

BACKGROUND: Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) performed after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is a promising treatment for advanced-stage oropharyngeal carcinoma (OPSCC) able to reduce the adjuvant therapy administration rate. METHODS: A retrospective bi-centric study was conducted to analyze NAC + TORS versus upfront TORS patients. A 1:1 propensity score matching was used to compare the two groups. RESULTS: Among the 300 patients with stage III-IV OPSCC, 204 patients were matched for comparing NAC + TORS versus upfront TORS. Between the two groups, no significant difference was observed in recurrences and in survival for RFS, OS, and DSS. In the NAC + TORS p16-positive population, adjuvant therapy could be spared in 51% versus 16% in the upfront surgery cohort (p < 0.001) due to the lower frequency of pathological risk factors after NAC. CONCLUSIONS: NAC followed by TORS for locoregionally advanced OPSCC demonstrated to achieve non-inferior survival outcomes to upfront surgery, while in the p16-positive population allowed to significantly spare adjuvant therapy.

The Potential Effect of Changing Patient Position on Snoring: A Systematic Review.

Approximately 45% of adults snore occasionally, and 25% snore regularly, with a higher prevalence in men and an increase among postmenopausal women due to hormonal changes. Snoring is a health concern linked to vascular disease and decreased quality of life for both snorers and their bed partners. Effective snoring treatment, which aims to reduce or eliminate the sound, is challenging and depends on factors like age, comorbidities, disease severity, and anatomical features. This review aims to provide a systematic overview of the current literature on the effects of positional therapy (PT) on snoring. Various devices facilitate PT, including anti-snoring pillows and vibration alarms. PT devices maintain head and neck alignment to keep airways open, while head of bed elevation (HOBE) solutions reduce upper airway collapses by elevating the head and trunk. Studies show that PT and HOBE reduce snoring by increasing airway cross-sectional area and decreasing closing pressure. Despite their benefits, these non-surgical treatments have limitations, such as discomfort in certain sleeping positions and intolerance to prolonged head elevation. While reducing snoring intensity is critical for health reasons, further comparative studies between the different devices are needed to enhance snoring management.

Barbed Pharyngoplasty simulation using a 3D-printed model: design and validation study.

PURPOSE: Learning how to use barbed sutures and perform Barbed Pharyngoplasty (BP) is challenging due to limited surgical training opportunities. This work aims to design, develop, and validate a new 3D surgical simulator to train ENT residents and specialists in performing BP. METHODS: The Barbed Pharyngoplasty Simulator (BPS) was designed using diagnostic images of the facial mass and testing different materials to replicate the mucosal and bony tissues. ENT specialists with experience in BP and ENT residents were included in the validation study and were asked to perform the Alianza BP. After the simulation, they compiled the Face and Content Validity Questionnaires. RESULTS: The BPS consists of a reusable cranial structure that contains the disposable palatopharyngeal structure, replicating the palatal structures and the tongue. Fifteen experienced ENT specialists and nine residents were included in the study. Findings demonstrated that the BPS faithfully replicated the muscular and fibrous-bony palatopharyngeal structures, with only 11% of residents having a negative opinion of the mucosal tissue. All the participants positively rated the sensation of using surgical instruments on the simulator. Also, ENT residents rated all aspects of the content validity test from normal to excellent, while specialists rated the BPS as a general training tool from normal to excellent; for lateral pharyngoplasty, BP, and Alianza, only 6.7% of participants disagreed with its usefulness, and 13.3% disagreed with it for anterior pharyngoplasty. CONCLUSION: The BPS proposed in this preliminary study can potentially be a valuable tool in BP surgical training for residents and young otolaryngologists.

Unraveling the Complexities of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation Biomarkers in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review.

BACKGROUND: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), affecting approximately 1 billion adults globally, is characterized by recurrent airway obstruction during sleep, leading to oxygen desaturation, elevated carbon dioxide levels, and disrupted sleep architecture. OSAS significantly impacts quality of life and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, particularly in the cardiovascular and cognitive domains. The cyclic pattern of intermittent hypoxia in OSAS triggers oxidative stress, contributing to cellular damage. This review explores the intricate relationship between OSAS and oxidative stress, shedding light on molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions. METHODS: A comprehensive review spanning from 2000 to 2023 was conducted using the PubMed, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases. Inclusion criteria encompassed English articles focusing on adults or animals and reporting values for oxidative stress and inflammation biomarkers. RESULTS: The review delineates the imbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors in OSAS, leading to heightened oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species biomarkers, nitric oxide, inflammatory cytokines, endothelial dysfunction, and antioxidant defense mechanisms are explored in the context of OSAS. OSAS-related complications include cardiovascular disorders, neurological impairments, metabolic dysfunction, and a potential link to cancer. This review emphasizes the potential of antioxidant therapy as a complementary treatment strategy. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the molecular intricacies of oxidative stress in OSAS is crucial for developing targeted therapeutic interventions. The comprehensive analysis of biomarkers provides insights into the complex interplay between OSAS and systemic complications, offering avenues for future research and therapeutic advancements in this multifaceted sleep disorder.

Consensus Statements among European Sleep Surgery Experts on Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Part 2 Decision-Making in Surgical Management and Peri-Operative Considerations.

Background: Reaching consensus on decision-making in surgical management and peri-operative considerations regarding snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among sleep surgeons is critical in the management of patients with such conditions, where there is a large degree of variability. Methods: A set of statements was developed based on the literature and circulated among eight panel members of European experts, utilizing the Delphi method. Responses were provided as agree and disagree on each statement, and the comments were used to assess the level of consensus and develop a revised version. The new version, with the level of consensus and anonymized comments, was sent to each panel member as the second round. This was repeated for a total of five rounds. Results: The final set included a total of 71 statements: 29 stand-alone and 11 with 42 sub-statements. On the 33 statements regarding decision-making in surgical management, there was 60.6%, 27.3%, and 6.1% consensus among all eight, seven, and six panelists, respectively. On the 38 statements regarding the peri-operative considerations, there was 55.3%, 18.4%, and 15.8% consensus among all eight, seven, and six panelists, respectively. Conclusions: These results indicate the need for an expanded review of the literature and discussion to enhance consensus among the sleep surgeons that consider surgical management in patients with snoring and OSA.

Transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal cancer: a systematic review on the role of margin status.

INTRODUCTION: Nowadays, robotic surgery finds application in the field of head and neck in the treatment of oropharyngeal tumors. The aim of this work is to examine the efficacy of transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in performing safe oncological resections of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), with particular attention to the status of margins. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Literature search of English-language studies focused on TORS through PubMed, the Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases. A total of 431 papers returned to search, but only 24 met the inclusion criteria. The review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) Guidelines. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Within the selected studies, the overall rate of OPSCC positive margins following TORS is minimal, especially when patient selection is adequate and when TORS is used by high volume centers. CONCLUSIONS: TORS is a very precise and viable therapeutic tool that provides good results in terms of surgical radicality with low positive margin rates and good results in terms of overall survival and disease-free survival; however, there is still a great heterogeneity in margins definition within the available literature. Consequently, even if this surgical approach is very promising, it is still challenging to draw firm conclusions nowadays.

Laryngomalacia and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children: From Diagnosis to Treatment.

The aim of this review is to investigate the state of the art among the association between Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and laryngomalacia, analyzing the epidemiology, the diagnostic tools, and the possible treatments available to affected patients. Laryngomalacia, characterized by the malacic consistency of the epiglottis with a tendency to collapse during inspiratory acts, producing a characteristic noise known as stridor, is a common condition in infants and particularly in those affected by prematurity, genetic diseases, craniofacial anomalies, and neurological problems. Congenital laryngomalacia, presenting with stridor within the first 15 days of life, is often self-limiting and tends to resolve by 24 months. OSA is not only a consequence of laryngomalacia but also exacerbates and perpetuates the condition. Currently, the treatments reported in the literature are based (i) on medical therapies (including watchful waiting) and (ii) on surgical treatments. Among the surgical techniques, the most described is supraglottoplasty, performed with the use of cold instruments, CO2 LASER, transoral robotic surgery, or the microdebrider.

Effectiveness of Mandibular Advancement Devices in Positional OSA Patients: A Retrospective Analysis of Predictive Variables in a Sample of Adult Patients.

Objectives To evaluate the efficacy of mandibular advancement devices (MADs) in improving apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) in positional obstructive sleep apnea (POSA), compared with a control group of nonpositional OSA (NPOSA) patients, from mild to very severe degree, in order to to find the main variables characterizing the examined group as potential predictors of treatment success. Materials and Methods In the present observational study, we retrospectively collected polysomnographic records of 39 positional adult patients, divided into 30 supine isolated OSA (siOSA) and 9 supine predominant OSA (spOSA) undergoing MADs from 2003 to 2019, and compared with those of a control group of 47 NPOSA patients. Demographics and anthropometrical data, home sleep apnea test (HSAT) records, drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) results, and dental casts evaluation were analyzed pre- and post-treatment with MADs. Results A prevalence of the male sex (86%), mean age of 49,4 ± 14.98 years, and mean body mass index (BMI) of 26.74 ± 4.29 kg/m 2 were found among the OSA patients with significant differences between the three groups for sex and BMI. After MADs, the HSAT revealed significant reduction of AHI in all of the groups, with greater reduction of the supine AHI in POSA and significant reduction of the snore index for NPOSA. The hypopharynx section (H) of the NOHL Index, a fourth degree of hypopharyngeal collapse and an anteroposterior pattern was the most frequent to occur (19.9%) from DISE exam. No significant correlation between the initial total AHI and the dental variables was found, except for a reduced maxillary intermolar distance. Conclusion MADs are effective in reducing AHI in POSA and NPOSA patients from mild to very severe degree. Supine AHI decreased after treatment with MADs mainly in siOSA and spOSA patients compared with the NPOSA group. The snore index decreased significantly after treatment with MADs in all groups, showing the greater reduction in the NPOSA group. The tongue base (H) represented the most frequent anatomic area of collapse and there was a high prevalence of upper maxillary constriction.

Transoral robotic styloidectomy for Eagle syndrome: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study is to conduct a systematic review of the existing literature on styloidectomy performed through transoral robotic surgery (TORS) in Eagle syndrome (ES). DESIGN AND SETTING: Two independent reviewers (RC and AC) conducted a systematic review of PubMed and Embase databases, seeking articles on TORS performed for ES treatment. The search was conducted in July 2023. The review was carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PARTICIPANTS: The review included a total of 17 adult patients, comprising 12 females and 5 males, with an average age of 52.2 years, all diagnosed with ES. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: For each patient, we assessed the overall length of the styloid process, the affected side, total intervention duration, hospitalization duration, pre and postoperative Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores, and the presence of minor and major complications. RESULTS: We identified 4 articles describing 17 instances of TORS as a surgical treatment for ES in the literature, totaling 18 styloidectomies. The mean age of the patients was 52.2 years, with 12 females and 5 males. The average operation time, inclusive of the docking phase, was 68.8 minutes. Sixteen patients (94.1% of the total) experienced complete symptom disappearance or near-complete resolution after surgery. One patient (5.9%) showed improvement categorized as 'non-meaningful.' Only one case of minor complication was reported among the 17 procedures (5.9%).

Consensus Statements among European Sleep Surgery Experts on Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Part 1 Definitions and Diagnosis.

Seeking consensus on definitions and diagnosis of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among sleep surgeons is important, particularly in this relatively new field with variability in knowledge and practices. A set of statements was developed based on the literature and circulated among eight panel members of European experts, utilizing the Delphi method. Responses in agreement and disagreement on each statement and the comments were used to assess the level of consensus and develop a revised version. The new version with the level of consensus and anonymized comments was sent to each panel member as the second round. This was repeated a total of five rounds. The total number of statements included in the initial set was 112. In the first round, of all eight panelists, the percentage of questions that had consensus among the eight, seven, and six panelists were 45%, 4.5%, and 7.1%, respectively. In the final set of statements consisting of 99, the percentage of questions that had consensus among the 8, 7, and 6 panelists went up to 66.7%, 24.2%, and 6.1%, respectively. Delphi's method demonstrated an efficient method of interaction among experts and the establishment of consensus on a specific set of statements.

Clinical Application of Pediatric Sleep Endoscopy: An International Survey.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate through an international survey the actual clinical application of drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) in pediatric patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and to clarify the use, application, clinical indications, and protocol of pediatric DISE. METHODS: A specific survey about pediatric DISE was initially developed by five international otolaryngologists with expertise in pediatric sleep apnea and drug-induced sleep endoscopy and was later spread to experts in the field of sleep apnea, members of different OSA-related associations. RESULTS: A total of 101 participants who answered all the survey questions were considered in the study. Sixty-four sleep apnea experts, equivalent to 63.4% of interviewed experts, declared they would perform DISE in pediatric OSA patients. A total of 81.9% of responders agreed to consider the DISE as the first diagnostic step in children with persistent OSA after adenotonsillectomy surgery, whereas 55.4% disagreed with performing DISE at the same time of scheduled adenotonsillectomy surgery to identify other possible sites of collapse. In the case of young patients with residual OSA and only pharyngeal collapse during DISE, 51.8% of experts agreed with performing a velopharyngeal surgery. In this case, 27.7% disagreed and 21.4% were neutral. CONCLUSION: Pediatric DISE is internationally considered to be a safe and effective procedure for identifying sites of obstruction and collapse after adenotonsillectomy in children with residual OSA. This is also useful in cases of patients with craniofacial malformations, small tonsils, laryngomalacia or Down syndrome to identify the actual site(s) of collapse. Despite this evidence, our survey highlighted that pediatric DISE is not used in different sleep centers.

Oncological features and outcomes of laryngeal cancer surgery: a multicentric study.

BACKGROUND: Laryngeal cancer (LC) is among of the most frequent head and neck cancers, associated to a high social impact and mortality. Unfortunately, the current treatment outcomes of LC are often scant, with different factors affecting patient's prognosis (i.e., advanced age, advanced disease stage, lymph node involvement, tumor pathological features, type of intervention). The aims of the present study were: 1) to evaluate the epidemiological and clinical features of patients affected by LC; and 2) to focus on tumor risk factors affecting patient's overall survival (OS) and recurrences. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of all patients affected by LC and surgically treated at two different hospital settings has been performed. RESULTS: Two hundred twenty-five patients were enrolled in the present study; of these 189 were males (84%) and 36 (16%) were females. The most frequently performed surgery was total laryngectomy. Thirty-two (14.2%) patients experienced local recurrence, while 15 patients (6.6%) had regional recurrence and 15 distant metastases. Multivariate analysis showed that locoregional recurrence was associated to the occurrence of distant metastases (P=0.002, HR=25,35). Analyzing OS, the only statistically significant factor that correlated with an increased risk of mortality (P<0.015, HR=2,45) was locoregional recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: The present study confirms the literature data about age and sex distribution of LC, about tumors localization, lymph nodes metastasis and distant metastasis incidence and OS rate, based on T and N stage. Interestingly, within this series, the presence of locoregional recurrence or distant metastasis is related to a worst prognosis and a lower overall survival rate.

Chat GPT for the management of obstructive sleep apnea: do we have a polar star?

PURPOSE: This study explores the potential of the Chat-Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (Chat-GPT), a Large Language Model (LLM), in assisting healthcare professionals in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). It aims to assess the agreement between Chat-GPT's responses and those of expert otolaryngologists, shedding light on the role of AI-generated content in medical decision-making. METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted, involving 350 otolaryngologists from 25 countries who responded to a specialized OSA survey. Chat-GPT was tasked with providing answers to the same survey questions. Responses were assessed by both super-experts and statistically analyzed for agreement. RESULTS: The study revealed that Chat-GPT and expert responses shared a common answer in over 75% of cases for individual questions. However, the overall consensus was achieved in only four questions. Super-expert assessments showed a moderate agreement level, with Chat-GPT scoring slightly lower than experts. Statistically, Chat-GPT's responses differed significantly from experts' opinions (p = 0.0009). Sub-analysis revealed areas of improvement for Chat-GPT, particularly in questions where super-experts rated its responses lower than expert consensus. CONCLUSIONS: Chat-GPT demonstrates potential as a valuable resource for OSA diagnosis, especially where access to specialists is limited. The study emphasizes the importance of AI-human collaboration, with Chat-GPT serving as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for medical professionals. This research contributes to the discourse in otolaryngology and encourages further exploration of AI-driven healthcare applications. While Chat-GPT exhibits a commendable level of consensus with expert responses, ongoing refinements in AI-based healthcare tools hold significant promise for the future of medicine, addressing the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of OSA and improving patient outcomes.

Barbed Repositioning Pharyngoplasty: Tips and Tricks.

The barbed repositioning pharyngoplasty surgical technique is becoming more widely used for patients with obstructive sleep apnea due to its safety, effectiveness, and rapidity, as evidenced by multicenter studies and Meta-analyses. In order to achieve uniform surgical outcomes, avoid errors that could worsen outcomes, and enable adequate data comparison, a standardized procedure is required to overcome surgeon-related variability. The aim of this paper is to provide practical tips and tricks based on our surgical practice that can make the surgeon's work easier and aid in achieving desired outcomes.

The Importance of Subjectivity in Assessing the Efficiency of Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Comment on Kuik et al. Subjective Efficiency Evaluation after Maxillomandibular Advancement Surgery in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients. J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 4023.

We recently read with interest the study by Kuik et al. [...].

Predictors of Success of Pharyngeal Surgery in the Treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Narrative Review.

(1) Background: This narrative review aims to explore the predictors of success for pharyngeal surgery in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). An extensive literature search was conducted, identifying relevant studies published up to June 2023, utilizing various databases and key search terms related to OSA, surgical interventions, and predictors of success. The review encompasses both retrospective and prospective studies, case series, and cohort studies to provide a broad understanding of the topic; (2) Methods: Review of English scientific literature on phenotypes of OSA related to predictors of success of pharyngeal surgery; (3) Results: Of 75 articles, 21 were included, in these the following were determined to be factors for surgical success: body mass index (BMI) (8 articles), apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) (8 articles), cephalometry (8 articles), palatine tonsil size (7 articles), Modified Mallampati score (2 articles), genioglossus electromyography (2 articles), Friedman score or upper airway anatomy (3 articles), nasopharyngolaryngoscopy (2 articles), drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) (1 article), oral cavity anatomy (1 article) and oxygen desaturation index (ODI) (1 article); (4) Conclusions: The lack of standardized protocols for the indication of pharyngeal surgery is a reality, however identifying known predictors of surgical success may facilitate homogenizing indications.

High-grade transformation of a polymorphous adenocarcinoma of the salivary gland: a case report and review of the literature.

Background: Polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC) represents the second most widespread neoplasm of the minor salivary glands. These tumors rarely develop a histological progression from low-grade to high-grade malignancy, named "high-grade transformation" (HGT). Only nine cases are described in literature. Case description: Here, we describe the case of a 76-year-old male patient with a PAC recurrence of the oral floor displaying HGT, and we explore the tumor cytomorphological features, genomic profiling, and the patient's clinical management. The tumor mass was characterized by poorly atypical cellular elements with vesicular nuclei and comedonecrosis foci. The growth pattern was predominantly solid, tubular, and cribriform. The lesion did not show microsatellite instability or targeted molecular alterations. The case was successfully treated with radical surgery followed by radiotherapy. Conclusion: We report for the first time the recurrence of a PAC with HGT arising in the oral floor after 20 years from the primary lesion. These preliminary data and the literature analysis enhance the knowledge of this extremely rare disease.

A New Lighting System for Surgical Vision Optimization in Barbed Pharyngoplasty for OSA.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) surgery is now a viable solution in selected patients and the "remodeling" palatopharyngeal surgery is the most common one. Recently, it has become less invasive with the introduction of barbed sutures (BS). An optimization of surgical techniques is represented by barbed pharyngoplasty (BP), which requires surgical precision and needs efficient and precise oropharyngeal visualization. Consequently, the lighting system is of pivotal importance in BP. The aim of this work is to describe the first experience on the use of a new lighting system, called KLAROTM in BP for OSA. We evaluated the KLARO™ system in 15 consecutives BP for OSA in comparison with conventional headlamp illumination. The visualization of palatopharyngeal muscle in the bottom of the tonsillar fossa, entry and exit needle, such as needle tip, were statistically better with KLAROTM than headlamp illumination for both the surgeon and resident (p < 0.05). No significant differences for the visualization of the posterior pharyngeal wall and uvula were reported. The KLAROTM lighting system allows a satisfied illumination of oral cavity and oropharynx in the majority of cases. We encourage the use of KLAROTM not only in BP for OSA, but in all oral and pharyngeal surgeries, including tonsillectomy and oncological surgery.