Is Computed Tomography Necessary Before Septoplasty? Correlation With Physical Examination and Patient Complaints.

INTRODUCTION: Septoplasty is one of the most common surgeries performed by otorhinolaryngologists. The gold standard for the evaluation of septal deviation is anterior rhinoscopy and nasal endoscopy. Frequently, computed tomography (CT) is also performed, although the correlation between septal deviation on CT and physical examination is unclear. OBJECTIVES: To study the relationship between symptoms and physical and radiological evaluation in patients who underwent septoplasty. METHODS: A prospective study of patients with nasal obstruction and septal deviation who underwent septoplasty. Anterior rhinoscopy and nasal endoscopy were performed by the surgeon, and the CT was evaluated by a radiologist. The degree of obstruction was evaluated in three distinct septal locations. The Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) score was used before the surgery and two months after the surgery. RESULTS: The study included 43 patients, of whom 60.5% were male, with an average age of 37.09 years (±12.56). The degree of septal deviation in the physical examination was significantly different from that observed in CT (p˂0.05). Cartilaginous or maxillary crest septal deviations >75% were more commonly recognized by physical examination, while osseous septum deviations of 25%-50% were more easily detected by CT. There was no difference between the degree of septal deviation and the preoperative NOSE. The median preoperative NOSE was 60, and the postoperative was 5, with significant improvement (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: CT doesn't appear to be useful in the evaluation of septal deviation since it is different from the findings of a physical examination and isn't associated with the NOSE score. Clinical decisions should be based on a physical examination and patient complaints.

Voice rehabilitation with voice prosthesis: Long term results, complications and risk factors.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the advances in surgical and non-surgical organ preservation treatments, total laryngectomy (TL) remains the most effective treatment in advanced larynx cancer and as salvage procedure in chemoradiation failure. One of the most devastating sequel after TL is loss of voice. Voice prosthesis (VP) is currently the preferred choice for voice rehabilitation. The purpose of this study is to identify VP complications, its lifespan and factors that influence the longevity of the VP. METHODS: We performed a retrospective study at a Tertiary University Hospital. Medical records of patients that underwent total laryngectomy, between January 1st of 2008 and 31st of December of 2017 were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 84 patients that underwent laryngectomy, 60 had VP. The average age at the time of surgery 60.2 years old and there was a male preponderance (57:3). The mean lifespan of the prosthesis was 7.53 months. Leakage through the prosthesis was the most common reason for replacement of the prosthesis, followed by leakage around the prosthesis. Follow up time and manual suture were associated with prosthesis replacement. There was no significant relationship between the staging, tumor location or adjuvant radiotherapy and number of prosthesis replacement or its lifespan. CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitation after TL is of major importance to improve quality of life after surgery. Tracheoesophageal puncture with voice prosthesis is a safe procedure for vocal rehabilitation and was performed in the majority of patients in our study. Follow-up time and type of suture were the main determinants of the lifespan of the prosthesis.

Voice rehabilitation with voice prosthesis: Long term results, complications and risk factors

Objectives: Despite the advances in surgical and non-surgical organ preservation treatments, total laryngectomy (TL) remains the most effective treatment in advanced larynx cancer and as salvage procedure in chemoradiation failure.One of the most devastating sequel after TL is loss of voice. Voice prosthesis (VP) is currently the preferred choice for voice rehabilitation. The purpose of this study is to identify VP complications, its lifespan and factors that influence the longevity of the VP.MethodsWe performed a retrospective study at a Tertiary University Hospital. Medical records of patients that underwent total laryngectomy, between January 1st of 2008 and 31st of December of 2017 were analyzed.ResultsOf the 84 patients that underwent laryngectomy, 60 had VP. The average age at the time of surgery 60.2 years old and there was a male preponderance (57:3).The mean lifespan of the prosthesis was 7.53 months. Leakage through the prosthesis was the most common reason for replacement of the prosthesis, followed by leakage around the prosthesis.Follow up time and manual suture were associated with prosthesis replacement. There was no significant relationship between the staging, tumor location or adjuvant radiotherapy and number of prosthesis replacement or its lifespan.ConclusionsRehabilitation after TL is of major importance to improve quality of life after surgery. Tracheoesophageal puncture with voice prosthesis is a safe procedure for vocal rehabilitation and was performed in the majority of patients in our study.Follow-up time and type of suture were the main determinants of the lifespan of the prosthesis. (AU)

Objetivos: A pesar de los avances en los tratamientos quirúrgicos y no quirúrgicos para la preservación de órganos, la laringectomía total (LT) sigue siendo el tratamiento más efectivo en el cáncer avanzado de laringe, y como procedimiento de rescate en caso de fallo de la radioquimioterapia.Una de las secuelas más devastadoras tras la LT es la pérdida de la voz. Las prótesis de voz (PV) son actualmente la elección preferida para la rehabilitación de la voz. El objetivo de este estudio es identificar las complicaciones de las PV, su vida útil y los factores que influyen en la longevidad de dichas prótesis.MétodosRealizamos un estudio retrospectivo en un hospital universitario terciario, en el que se analizaron los registros médicos de los pacientes sometidos a laringectomía total entre el 1 de enero de 2008 y el 31 de diciembre de 2017.ResultadosDe los 84 pacientes sometidos a laringectomía, 60 tenían PV. La edad media en el momento de la cirugía fue de 60,2 años, y hubo una preponderancia de varones (57:3).La vida útil media de las prótesis fue de 7,53 meses. La fuga a través de la prótesis fue el motivo más común de su sustitución, seguida de la fuga alrededor del dispositivo.El tiempo de seguimiento y la sutura manual estuvieron asociados a la sustitución de la prótesis. No existió una relación significativa entre la estadificación, la localización del tumor o la radioterapia adyuvante y el número de sustituciones de prótesis o su vida útil.ConclusionesLa rehabilitación tras la LT es de gran importancia para mejorar la calidad de vida tras la cirugía. La punción traqueoesofágica con prótesis de voz es un procedimiento seguro para la rehabilitación de la voz, habiéndose realizado en la mayoría de los pacientes de nuestro estudio.El tiempo de seguimiento y el tipo de sutura fueron los principales determinantes de la vida útil de las prótesis. (AU)