COVID-associated rhinocerebral mucormycosis: a retrospective analysis of presentation and outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To comprehensively analyse the disease presentation and mortality of COVID-associated rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the demographics, clinical and radiographic findings was performed. A binary logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the survival of patients with mucormycosis from hypothesised predictors. RESULTS: A total of 202 patients were included in this study. Statistical significance was demonstrated in the predilection to the male gender, recent history of SARS-COV-2, history of use of corticosteroid and hyperglycemia in this cohort of CAM. The mortality rate was 18.31%. Advanced age, raised HbA1c and intra-orbital extension were found to be predictors adversely affecting survival. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis, aggressive surgical therapy, early and appropriate medical therapy can help improve outcomes. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level 4.

Intra-ductal Foreign Body (Fish Bone Fragment) as a Cause of Obstructive Sialadenitis: A Case Report.

Submandibular sialadenitis is a common ailment in otorhinolaryngological and oral surgical practice. Some of the common causes of sialadenitis include sialolithiasis, inspissated mucous plugs, strictures and anatomical ductal variations. Very rarely do foreign bodies cause obstructive sialadenitis. Fish bone as a foreign body is routinely seen, with the most common locations being oropharynx, hypopharynx, oseophagus and tongue. We report an intriguing case of a 40 year old male with sialadenitis of the right submandibular gland due to an intra-ductal fish bone.

Sialendoscopic Management of Obstructive Salivary Gland Pathology: A Retrospective Analysis of 236 Cases.

PURPOSE: To analyze and assess the results of treating obstructive salivary gland pathology by sialendoscopy or sialendoscopic-assisted surgery and analyze the difference in submandibular and parotid gland pathology. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between December 2012 and March 2020, 211 patients (236 procedures) underwent sialendoscopy/sialendoscopic-assisted surgery for treatment of obstructive salivary gland pathology. The cases were retrospectively analyzed for type of pathology, symptomatic relief, type of intervention (endoscopy alone or combined with open surgery), recurrence of symptoms, number of gland excisions, and complications encountered. Sialolith cases (n = 117) were treated by sialendoscopic/sialendoscopy-assisted surgical sialolithotomy using basket or graspers. Strictures (n = 69) were treated by serial dilatation or balloon dilatation with or without intraductal steroid. Mucous plugs (n = 26) were managed by sialendoscopic lavage and occasional retrieval using wire baskets. RESULTS: There were 123 submandibular sialendoscopies in 118 patients and 113 parotid sialendoscopies in 95 patients. Of the 123 submandibular sialendoscopies, 99 were treated for sialolithiasis, 14 for strictures, 3 for mucous plugs, and 2 for foreign bodies. Of the 95 parotid sialendoscopies, 18 were treated for sialolithiasis, 55 for strictures, 23 for mucous plugs, and 1 for foreign body. The success rate was 85.3% for submandibular gland treatment and 92% for parotid gland treatment. About 62.7% of cases were treated by combined method (sialendoscopy with open approach) in submandibular gland and 50% in parotid gland. The number of gland excisions performed was 5 (2.1%). CONCLUSIONS: Sialendoscopy although associated with a gradual learning curve can be used for all cases of obstructive salivary gland pathology with excellent success rate and minimum morbidity. Parotid gland obstructive pathology is distinct from that seen in the submandibular gland, with strictures and mucous plugs contributing to most cases. Diagnosing and treatment planning for strictures and mucous plugs should therefore be as seamless as that for sialoliths.

A comparitive study of diclofenac transdermal patch against oral diclofenac for pain control following removal of mandibular impacted third molars.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study was to evaluate subjectively the analgesic efficacy of Oral Diclofenac Sodium against Diclofenac Sodium Transdermal patch in the management of postoperative pain following surgical removal of impacted mandibular third molars. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty healthy subjects belonging to both the sexes in the age group of 18-40 years with bilateral mesioangular impactions of mandibular third molar teeth underwent surgical removal under local anaesthesia by administering an inferior alveolar nerve block on two different occasions with a minimum interval of 1 week in-between the procedures. The postoperative pain was recorded on visual analog scale, a verbal rating scale, a pain relief scale and a pain intensity scale. Readings were taken at 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours postoperatively, taking the time at which the surgery was completed as a reference. On the second and third days, the repeat medication was administered at that reference time and recordings taken at the same intervals for a total of 3 days. Patients received the study medication i.e. Diclofenac Sodium 100mg once a day for 3 days after performing surgery on one side and the same patients were given Diclofenac Sodium Transdermal Patch 100mg once a day for 3 days after performing surgery on the contralateral side. RESULTS AND OBSERVATIONS: Both the statistical analysis and clinical observation showed that on the first postoperative day diclofenac sodium administered orally has slightly more significant efficacy when compared to the drug administered transdermally. However, on the second and third postoperative days there was no statistical or clinical difference in the pain control by either route of administration. CONCLUSIONS: The study concludes that transdermal diclofenac sodium can be used as an alternative form of pain control following removal of impacted mandibular third molars, however considering that the analgesic potency might be lesser in the immediate postoperative period, it might be prudent to use oral diclofenac sodium for immediate postoperative pain relief, following which transdermal route can be used for pain control.