Upper airway multilevel radiofrequency under local anesthesia can improve CPAP adherence for severe OSA patients.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of upper airway radiofrequency (RF) tissue reduction under local anesthesia (LA) in severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients using continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in order to improve their compliance and adherence. DESIGN: Thirty (30) patients were included in this randomized clinical trial, suffering from severe OSA seeking medical advice for better upper airway management while using CPAP. Multilevel RF tissue reduction at tongue base, soft palate and inferior nasal turbinates was done under LA in multiple sessions. The Apnea hypopnea index (AHI), arousal index, lowest SpO2, CPAP pressure, and CPAP using time were recorded pre-operatively and six months after the last RF session. RESULTS: Post-operatively, there were significant reduction in AHI (86.03 ± 20.5 vs. 54.65 ± 16.6 p < 0.001), arousal index (71.14 ± 17.7 vs. 35.90 ± 11.8 p < 0.001), and CPAP Pressure (17.13 ± 1.7 vs. 10.97 ± 1.5 p < 0.001). Also there was a significant increase in the lowest SpO2 (60.2 ± 0.2 vs. 75 ± 0.1 p < 0.001), and CPAP using time in hours (1.57 ± 0.56 vs. 3.75 ± 0.41 p < 0.001). Visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain was recorded showing that all patients reported throat pain mainly in the first five post-operative days which was well controlled on analgesia. CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Upper airway multilevel RF tissue reduction of tongue base, soft palate and inferior nasal turbinates under local anesthesia significantly improves the tolerance and adherence of severe OSA patients using CPAP.

Post COVID-19 Head and Neck Mucormycosis: MR Imaging Spectrum and Staging.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a systematic approach for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) analysis, imaging spectrum, and classification system for the staging of post-COVID-19 head and neck mucormycosis. METHOD: The study included 63 post-COVID-19 patients with pathologically proven mucormycosis who underwent head and neck MR imaging. Three independent radiologists assessed the imaging spectrum of mucormycosis, MRI characteristics of sino-nasal mucormycosis, and extra-sinus extension, and submitted a final staging using a systematic approach and a proposed categorization system. A consensus reading was considered the reference imaging standard. The kappa statistics were used to assess the categorization system's diagnostic reliability. RESULTS: The overall interreader agreement of the MR staging system was very good (k-score = 0.817). MR imaging spectrum involved localized sino-nasal mucormycosis (n = 7 patients, 11.1%), sino-nasal mucormycosis with maxillo-facial soft tissue extension (n = 28 patients, 44.5 %), sino-nasal mucormycosis with maxillo-facial bony extension (n = 7 patients, 11.1%), sino-naso-orbital mucormycosis (n = 13 patients, 20.6%), and sino-nasal mucormycosis with cranium or intracranial extension (n = 8 patients, 12.7%). Extra-sinus extension to the orbit and brain did not have significant association with involvement of the posterior ethmoid/sphenoid sinuses and maxillo-facial regions (p > 0.05). MRI-based staging involved four stages: stage 1 (n = 7, 11.1%); stage 2 (n = 35, 55.6%), and stage 3 (n = 13, 20.6%), and stage 4 (n = 8, 12.7%). Involvement of the bone and MR-based staging were significant predictors of patients' mortality p = 0.012 and 0.033, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study used a diagnostic-reliable staging method to define the imaging spectrum of post-COVID-19 head and neck mucormycosis and identify risk variables for extra-sinus extension.

Simple Endoscopic Application of Laryngeal Keel Stent.

This study describes a simple extraendolaryngeal technique to apply laryngeal keel in dealing with anterior commissure web/fibrosis. Standard extraendolaryngeal punctures were applied via 20-gauge needles, 30° from the skin surface, in midline through the cricothyroid and thyrohyoid membranes. These needles were used as a conduit for the passage of 2/0 Prolene threads, which were retrieved through the laryngoscope by crocodile forceps. Both laryngoscopic ends of the Prolene threads were passed through a fabricated silastic sheet (keel stent) via a 22-gauge free needle, and these ends were tied to have a secure internal knot. Steady traction was applied on the other 2 external threads until there was appropriate application of this keel stent within the vicinity of anterior commissure. Finally, these external ends were tied to have a secure external knot. A keel stent could be applied without the need for special instrumentation and with reasonable outcomes (proper healing of anterior commissure, satisfied voice outcome, and patent airway).

Topical mitomycin C application post endoscopic removal of antrochoanal polyp.

OBJECTIVE: Assessment the effect of topical application of mitomycin-C (MMC) after endoscopic removal of antrochoanal polyp (ACP) on its recurrence rate. METHODS: This prospective study was done on patients with ACP. Endoscopic nasal surgery has been done to remove the polyp after wide middle meatal antrostomy. The patients were categorized into two groups. In MMC group, after endoscopic ACP removal, MMC on a piece of cotton was topically applied inside the maxillary antrum in the suspected site of ACP origin. A second group was used as a control group without MMC application. RESULTS: The study included on 40 patients; 20 patients in each group. Topical MMA application was easily performed. No granulation, crust, infection, or bleeding was reported in all cases of both groups. Recurrent polyp was not reported in MMC group, while recurrent polyp was detected in four cases (20%) in control group without MMA application with statistically significant difference (P = .035). CONCLUSION: Topical MMC application inside the maxillary sinus after endoscopic removal of the ACP is safe, easy, and effective. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2c.

Cephalic de-mucosalized superiorly-based pharyngeal flap: A modified mucosa-preserving technique for velopharyngeal insufficiency.

INTRODUCTION: Superiorly-based pharyngeal flap (PF) is the most frequently employed surgical technique to correct velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). Bared posterior pharyngeal wall might prolong the period of convalescence with throat pain and discomfort. Delayed donor site healing problems and subsequent fibrosis with downward migration of the transposed flap might be one a cause of failure and might necessitate revision. AIM OF THE WORK: To present a modified technique of PF aiming at dealing with the problems of donor site defects via immediate self-mucosal covering of the cephalic portion of the bed. METHODS: This case series study was conducted on patients with persistent VPI. All patients underwent the new modified technique of cephalic de-mucosalized pharyngeal flap (CDPF). The basic premise was to harvest a laterally-based mucosal flap from the upper part of the posterior pharyngeal wall. A superiorly-based pharyngeal flap (with a bared cephalic segment and a mucosalized caudal segment) was elevated off the posterior pharyngeal wall and inserted in the soft palate. Then the laterally-based mucosal flap was spread over the superior part of donor site of the posterior pharyngeal wall. RESULTS: 13 VPI patients were included in this study. Their age ranged from 5 to 12 years with a mean of 5.6 ±â€¯1.2. The follow-up period ranged from 8 to 14 months. All flaps and beds were completely healed within 2-3 weeks and no patients showed flap dehiscence, infection or palatal fistula. Postoperative speech assessment showed significant improvement of velopharyngeal function, resonance balance, and reduction in nasal emission. CONCLUSIONS: The modified technique provides an immediate self-mucosa cover to the superior part of the posterior pharyngeal wall, thus it could promote primary healing at the donor site with a short period of convalescence. CDPF separates the two opposing raw surfaces of the flap and the posterior pharyngeal wall. The mucosal flap might guard against downward migration of the flap.

Surgicel use in control of primary postadenoidectomy bleeding.

Although postadenoidectomy bleeding is a rare complication, it is serious and potentially fatal. Postnasal packing and cautery of the adenoid bed are the most popular methods of controlling postadenoidectomy bleeding. Many hazards and complications may arise from traditional nasopharyngeal packing and nasopharyngeal cautery. In this case series, oxidized regenerated cellulose (Surgicel Nu-Knit; Ethicon; Somerville, N.J) was inserted and used as postnasal packing to control primary postadenoidectomy bleeding in 9 cases after conventional curettage adenoidectomy. All patients underwent nasophayngoscopic examination with a 0° rigid telescope to re-curette if any remnant was still present, and were repacked with appropriate size ribbon gauzes for at least 15 minutes before applying Surgicel. Surgicel succeeded in controlling primary postadenoidectomy bleeding in all cases, with no need for any further intervention. At the 1-month follow-up, no complications were reported. We conclude that Surgicel postnasal pack effectively controls primary postadenoidectomy bleeding. Its many advantages make it superior to other traditionally used material. It is readily available, tolerable, relatively inexpensive, hemostatic, adhesive, freely reshaped, bactericidal, causes no granulation reaction, has no need to be removed, and the patient does not need to be in the ICU or sedated.