Cervical Radiculopathy Presenting as Ischemic Stroke After Carotid Artery Stent Placement.

Abrupt loss of focal brain function is the main characteristic of the beginning of ischemic stroke. However, individuals with disorders other than stroke can also present with similar features. These conditions include seizure disorders, migraine, central nervous system abscess or tumor, head trauma, subdural hematoma, cerebral venous thrombosis, viral encephalitis, conversion reaction, hypertensive encephalopathy, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord disorder. An 82-year-old man presented with a sudden onset of numbness in his left forearm in the distribution of C6 and C7 spinal nerves, 2 days after undergoing endarterectomy and stent placement in his right carotid artery because of stenosis. He was diagnosed with hypo-pharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (T1, L0, M0) 17 years earlier (2006) which was treated with 70 Gy intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). The patient underwent stent insertion into his left carotid artery 3.5 years earlier because of 80% carotid artery stenosis. He was initially suspected to have an ischemic stroke. However, computed tomography angiography of the head and neck did not show stenosis or occlusion of the major intracranial arteries and no aneurysms were identified. It showed interval stenting of the cervical portion of the right carotid artery and stable appearance of left carotid artery stent. Both carotid artery stents and the vertebral arteries were patent. The cervical spine showed bilateral moderate to severe foramen stenosis in C3-C4 and C5-C6, and moderate to severe stenosis in the right C2-C3 and left C4-C5. His symptoms subsided after performing neck extension exercises. This is the first report of a patient whose cervical radiculopathy symptoms were suspected to be caused by ischemic stroke. The recent angioplasty and stent placement in the right carotid artery made the association more likely and had to be excluded. Clinicians should be aware that cervical radiculopathy could present as ischemic stroke. It is therefore important that disorders that cause symptoms similar to ischemic stroke are also considered in these individuals.

Correction of carotid artery stenosis by stent placement ameliorated paroxysmal hypertension after radiation treatment of hypopharyngeal carcinoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Paroxysmal hypertension can be associated with failure of the carotid artery baroreceptors due to past exposure to radiation treatment. This report describes a patient whose repeated paroxysmal hypertensive episodes were ameliorated following placement of a carotid artery stent for the treatment of carotid artery stenosis. CASE REPORT: A 79-year-old caucasian male was diagnosed with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (T1, L0, M0) in 2006, and received 70 Gy intensity-modulated radiotherapy in 2006 and underwent a total laryngectomy in 2008. He experienced paroxysmal hypertensive episodes since 2010 that exacerbated in frequency in 2019. Eighty percent left internal carotid artery stenosis was demonstrated by ultrasound and arteriography. Angioplasty and stenting of the left carotid artery was performed. A Doppler ultrasound study performed 5 months after the stent placement did not reveal any hemodynamic stenosis in the left carotid artery. The patient experienced postprandial hypotension and had experienced only three episodes of paroxysmal hypertension in the following 24 months. He was able to abort paroxysmal hypertensive episodes by eating warm food. DISCUSSION: This is the first report of a patient whose paroxysmal hypertensive episodes that occurred following radiation of the neck subsided after placement of a stent in a stenotic carotid artery. The exact mechanism leading to this phenomena is unknown but may be due to several factors. The reversal of the carotid artery stent and improvement in blood flow to the carotid artery baroceptors may play a role in this phenomenon. CONCLUSION: The ability to ameliorate paroxysmal hypertensive episodes in a patient with carotid artery stenosis by stent placement may be a promising therapeutic intervention for paroxysmal hypertension.

"The Laryngectomee Guide" is available in 18 languages (Free eBooks).

"The Laryngectomee Guide" contains information about the diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal cancer, side effects of radiation and chemotherapy; methods of speaking; airway, stoma, and voice prosthesis care; eating and swallowing; medical, dental and psychological concerns; respiration; anesthesia; and travelling. The Guide is available now in 18 languages (English, French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish (4 versions), Bulgarian, Bosnian, Greece, Romanian, Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Simple and traditional Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, and Russian).

'The Laryngectomee Guide' in Malaysian Language.

'The Laryngectomee Guide' (Panduan Pesakit Laringektomi) is available now in Malaysian language. The Guide provides information that can assist laryngectomees and their medical providers about medical, dental and psychological issues. It contains information about side effects of radiation and chemotherapy; methods of speaking; airway, stoma, and voice prosthesis care; eating and swallowing; medical, dental and psychological concerns; respiration; anesthesia; travelling and how to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Oral Intubation Attempts in Patients With a Laryngectomy: A Significant Safety Threat.

It is impossible to secure the airway of a patient with "neck-only" breathing transorally or transnasally. Surgical removal of the larynx (laryngectomy) or tracheal rerouting (tracheoesophageal diversion or laryngotracheal separation) creates anatomic discontinuity. Misguided attempts at oral intubation of neck breathers may cause hypoxic brain injury or death. We present national data from the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, the American Head and Neck Society, and the United Kingdom's National Reporting and Learning Service. Over half of US otolaryngologist respondents reported instances of attempted oral intubations among patients with laryngectomy, with a mortality rate of 26%. UK audits similarly revealed numerous resuscitation efforts where misunderstanding of neck breather status led to harm or death. Such data underscore the critical importance of staff education, patient engagement, effective signage, and systems-based best practices to reliably clarify neck breather status and provide necessary resources for safe patient airway management.

Tracheoesophageal Voice Prosthesis Use and Maintenance in Laryngectomees

Abstract Tracheoesophageal speech is the most common voicing method used by laryngectomees. This method requires the installation of tracheoesophageal prosthesis (TEP), which requires continuous maintenance to achieve optimal speaking abilities and prevent fluid leakage from the esophagus to the trachea. The present manuscript describes the available types of TEPs, the procedures used to maintain them, the causes for their failure due to fluid leakage, and the methods used for their prevention. Knowledge and understanding of these issues can assist the otolaryngologist in caring for laryngectomees who use tracheoesophageal speech.

Late side effects of radiation treatment for head and neck cancer.

Patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer (HNC) experience significant early and long-term side effects. The likelihood and severity of complications depends on a number of factors, including the total dose of radiation delivered, over what time it was delivered and what parts of the head and neck received radiation. Late side effects include: permanent loss of saliva; osteoradionecrosis; radiation recall myositis, pharyngoesophageal stenosis; dental caries; oral cavity necrosis; fibrosis; impaired wound healing; skin changes and skin cancer; lymphedema; hypothyroidism, hyperparathyroidism, lightheadedness, dizziness and headaches; secondary cancer; and eye, ear, neurological and neck structures damage. Patients who undergo radiotherapy for nasopharyngeal carcinoma tend to suffer from chronic sinusitis. These side effects present difficult challenges to the patients and their caregivers and require life-long strategies to alleviate their deleterious effect on basic life functions and on the quality of life. This review presents these side effects and their management.

Tracheoesophageal Voice Prosthesis Use and Maintenance in Laryngectomees.

Tracheoesophageal speech is the most common voicing method used by laryngectomees. This method requires the installation of tracheoesophageal prosthesis (TEP), which requires continuous maintenance to achieve optimal speaking abilities and prevent fluid leakage from the esophagus to the trachea. The present manuscript describes the available types of TEPs, the procedures used to maintain them, the causes for their failure due to fluid leakage, and the methods used for their prevention. Knowledge and understanding of these issues can assist the otolaryngologist in caring for laryngectomees who use tracheoesophageal speech.

Paroxysmal Hypertensive Episodes Caused by Direct Massage of the Carotid Artery by a Doppler Ultrasound of the Neck in a Laryngectomee.

Paroxysmal hypertension (PH) can be associated with the carotid artery baroreceptors' failure due to past exposure to radiation treatment. This report presents a patient who experienced repeated PH episodes due to the direct massage of the carotid artery during Doppler ultrasound of the neck. The radiation damage to the carotid artery baroreceptors might have increased their hypersensitivity to the mechanical and ultrasonic stimulation during the diagnostic test, leading to the hypertensive episodes. Patients who had received radiation therapy for head-and-neck cancer and require Doppler ultrasound of the carotid artery should be monitored for PH by recording their blood pressure prior and after the test.

A novel approach for simultaneous tibiofibular synostosis takedown and peroneus longus ligamentoplasty for posttraumatic tibiofibular synostosis: a case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: A singular procedure involving both a distal tibiofibular synostosis resection with syndesmosis repair by peroneus longus ligamentoplasty has not been reported in the English literature. We report a case of simultaneous distal tibiofibular synostosis resection and syndesmosis stabilization by peroneus longus ligamentoplasty for the treatment of symptomatic distal tibiofibular synostosis formation, following neglected syndesmosis injury. CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old Caucasian man presented with ankle pain and painful range of motion 20 months following ankle trauma. Distal tibiofibular synostosis was identified, and our patient was successfully treated by simultaneous synostosis takedown and peroneus longus ligamentoplasty for distal tibiofibular syndesmosis repair. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience illustrates that in cases of painful posttraumatic distal tibiofibular synostosis, simultaneous synostosis resection with peroneus longus ligamentoplasty may show good clinical results. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

Determining the utility of standard hospital microbiology testing: Comparing standard microbiology cultures with DNA sequence analysis in patients with chronic sinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate DNA sequencing analysis (DNAsa) of sinus cultures in patients with CRS is a reliable method of detecting pathogens in polymicrobial CRS infections. METHODS: After obtaining Institutional Review Board approval for this prospective cohort study, we selected a random sample of 50 patients with CRS at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital between September 2016 and March 2017. We defined CRS as a history of rhinosinusitis refractory to maximal medical therapy and prior endoscopic sinus surgery. Patients demonstrating active purulence in a sinus cavity were prospectively selected to undergo standard hospital cultures (SHC) and DNAsa cultures. Organisms identified in both methods were compared for each patient. RESULTS: Specimens were obtained from 29 female and 16 male patients with a mean age of 50 years. A total of 45 cultures were included in our final analysis; five cultures were excluded after inappropriate laboratory processing. Results from these patients were compared and analyzed. Cohen's weighted kappa analysis showed agreement between the two testing methods in identifying predominant microorganisms. DNAsa detected 31.9% more microorganisms compared to SHC (P < 0.05). When multiple microorganisms were detected, DNAsa yielded more positive results compared to SHC (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: DNAsa detects all microorganisms identified by SHC as well as predominant microorganisms not detected by SHC. Thus molecular pathogen identification may be more reliable for identifying multiple microorganisms as compared to standard culture techniques that identify only one or two microorganisms. In recalcitrant cases of CRS, DNAsa may provide better guidance in selection of appropriate antimicrobial treatment.

The challenges of treating tracheobronchitis in a laryngectomee due to nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Laryngectomees run the risk of developing severe respiratory tract infections especially during the winter and when they do not wear a stoma cover. A case of severe tracheobronchitis in a laryngectomee is presented that illustrates the risks and difficulties encountered in managing this infection in a neck breather. CASE PRESENTATION: A 76-year-old Caucasian man, a laryngectomee, presented with bacterial tracheobronchitis and conjunctivitis due to beta-lactamase-producing nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae. He was febrile (38.9 °C; 102.0 F), and had repeated episodes of hypertension. He was treated with levofloxacin 500 mg/day, ciprofloxacin eye drops, acetaminophen, and guaifenesin. Humidification of his trachea and the airway was sustained by insertions of saline into the stoma as well as breathing humidified air. The main challenge was to maintain the patency of his airway as the mucus was very dry and viscous and tended to stick to the walls of his trachea and the stoma. His condition improved within 7 days and he had a complete recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining the patency of the airway in laryngectomees who suffer from lower respiratory tract infection is of utmost importance as the mucus can be very dry and viscous and can stick to the walls of the trachea and the stoma.