Efficacy of microsurgical vascular decompression in trigeminal neuralgia.

OBJECTIVES: Analysis of the long-term efficacy of microvascular decompression surgery in trigeminal neuralgia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A single-center retrospective study included patients undergoing microvascular decompression surgery for trigeminal neuralgia after failure of well-conducted medical or complementary therapy, with visualization of nerve compression syndrome on MRI. RESULTS: Eighty-seven patients were included. Nerve compression was alleviated without interposition of polytetrafluoroethylene in 79.3% of cases. Postoperative efficacy on pain was immediate in 97.7% of cases. There were no postoperative deaths, and the rate of severe complications was low (2.3%). The efficacy of microvascular decompression surgery was total at 2 years in 90.8% of cases and at 10 years in 92.3%, without resumption of medical treatment. The failure rate was 10.3%; 26.3% of these patients had been previously treated by a lesional technique (P: 0.043) and 33.3% by interposition of polytetrafluoroethylene (P: 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: With confirmed clinical and radiological diagnosis, microvascular decompression surgery for trigeminal nerve compression was safe, with total effectiveness in the immediate, short and long terms. It should be considered in first line in case of failure or intolerance of well-conducted medical treatment.

International consensus (ICON) on basic voice assessment for unilateral vocal fold paralysis.

There is a growing need for evaluation tools allowing the quantification of the outcome after voice surgeries. Since the end of the 1990s, multiple unfruitful attempts have been made to reach a consensus, including the Dejonckere protocol for the European Laryngological Society in 2001. This suggested to perform objective and quantifiable measures in the following domains: perception, acoustic, aerodynamic, self-evaluation by the patient and videolaryngostroboscopy. But in a PubMed® search with the keywords "Voice Assessment" and "Voice Outcome" since 2001 retrieving 452 articles, only 33 of them were using methods taking into account the first four dimensions proposed by Dejonckere. To elaborate a new and simpler protocol, we chose to focus on unilateral vocal fold paralyses (UVFP), which represents a homogeneous disease in terms of physiology. This protocol was elaborated on the basis of a review of the literature and of the database and experience of the IFOS panel members. In summary, our group recommends the use and implementation of the ELS "basic protocol" with some minor modifications. Voice audio recordings are an indispensable prerequisite, and may even have medico-legal implications. We recommend the systematic use of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Perceptual analysis must be performed by using Hirano's GRB scale and voice breathiness has to be prioritized. Currently, acoustic analysis remains optional given the lack of data to support clinical usefulness. Aerodynamic studies should include at a minimum an evaluation of the Maximum Phonation Time, calculated in seconds following multiple trials in order to obtain a recording representing the patient's best possible glottis closure.

[The tumors of the ear]. / Les tumeurs de l'oreille.

Any cutaneous lesion of the outer ear must be managed jointly by a dermatologist and an ENT, regardless of the age of the patient. The presence of a malignant cutaneous carcinoma (Squamous cell carcinoma or melanoma) of the pavilion requires a minimum extension assessment by a cervical ultrasound, CT-scan and MRI will be prescribed according to the degree of infiltration and the presence of clinics signs (lymphadenopathy, facial paralysis, cognitive impairment). A polyp of the external auditory meatus must be systematically biopsied in consultation and, if necessary, in the operating room with fresh anatomopathological analysis. Any "otitis externa", which does not progress favorably under local treatment, must lead to eliminate a tumoral pathology of the external acoustic meatus or of the middle ear. Any suspicion of cholesteatoma should lead to an ENT consultation to confirm the diagnosis and consider its treatment to limit the auditory dysfunction. Any unilateral neurosensorial hearing loss or unilateral vestibular involvement with normal otoscopy should lead to eliminate a inner ear tumor by an MRI of the inner ear and the ponto-cerebellar angle in millimeter sections.

Assessment and management of cervico-mediastinal goiter.

Cervico-mediastinal goiter is a particular entity from the point of view of thyroid surgery. Its volume, hardness and intrathoracic extension require the surgeon to adapt technique and perform a painstaking preoperative work-up, so as to draw up fully-fledged plan. CT is now indispensable, to anticipate risks and determine whether sternotomy is needed. Surgery seems to induce more postoperative complications than in conventional surgery, although they can be reduced by retrograde dissection of the inferior laryngeal nerve and downward dissection of the posterior side of the lobe to optimize control of adjacent structures. This surgery requires optimal teamwork between all of the specialties involved in patient management: medical, radiological, anesthesiological and surgical.

[Gynecological emergencies: A prospective study about patients purpose of consultation and outcome]. / Urgences gynécologiques : étude prospective sur les motifs de consultation et devenir des patientes.

OBJECTIVES: Aiming to evaluate the profile type, complaint and outcome of patients consulting a gynecologic emergency unit in order to enhance "real" emergencies and improve their management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled prospectively 308 women consulting to Reims teaching hospital gynecologic emergency unit from the 15th of May to the 25th of June 2013. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty-seven women (83.4%) spontaneously consulted without previous medical examination. Two hundred and thirty-eight of them (77.3%) had already been through gynecologic emergency units and 99 (32.1%) had no regular follow-up. Pelvic pain and/or metrorragia were registered as main complaint for 219 patients (71.1%). Median age was thirty years old (±11) and an average forty-minute wait was recorded. Gynecologic ultrasound was the first exam to be performed after clinical examination for 255 patients (82.8%). Twenty-two (7.1%) were hospitalized for surgical procedures or medical care, respectively 10 (3.2%) and 12 (3.9%). Among 51 women addressed by another healthcare professional, 9 were hospitalized (17.6%) versus 12 hospitalized (4.7%) out of 257, when consulting without initial professional expertise. A significant relationship between hospitalizations and general practitioner consultation was found with an OR=4.34 (95%CI: 1.51-12.05, P=0.002). Main motive of consultation involving home treatment turned out to be on-going pregnancies (92 patients, 29.9%). CONCLUSION: A large majority of gynecologic hospital consultations, responsible for time waste and professional monopolizing, can be treated by general practitioners and could contribute to a better management of life-threatening emergencies.

Relevance of intraoperative indocyanine green injection in breast reconstruction using DIEP procedure for abdominal scars.

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The presence of midline sub-umbilical and/or suprapubic scar can sometimes hinder breast reconstruction using deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) procedure. BASIC PROCEDURES: We report the use of indocyanine green injection in a 60-year-old woman in the context of deep inferior epigastric perforator (DIEP) procedure for unilateral breast reconstruction (bilateral breast cancer) with abdominal scar (midline sub-umbilical scar and Pfannenstiel incision scar). MOST IMPORTANT FINDINGS: This technique underlines the importance of neoangiogenesis mechanisms and helped simplify the surgical gesture initially planned (in order to ensure volume in spite of the scars as a DIEP procedure with double anastomoses was initially planned). PRINCIPAL CONCLUSIONS: This intraoperative vascular imaging technique is a minimally invasive, simple and quick procedure allowing the precise visualization of vascularized territories.