Effect of Low-Pressure Drainage Suction on Pharyngocutaneous Fistula After Total Laryngectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) is one of the most severe multifactorial complications following laryngectomy. The current study aimed at determining the effect of a low-pressure vacuum drain on the incidence of PCF after total laryngectomy. METHODS: The current randomized clinical trial was conducted on 35 patients undergoing total laryngectomy in Hazrat Rasoul Akram and Firoozgar hospitals in Tehran, Iran. The subjects were divided into the vacuum drain (n = 15) and control (without vacuum drain) (n = 20) groups. The incidence of PCF and the recovery time were recorded. RESULTS: The rate of PCF formation from the stoma and wound edges was significantly lower in the low-pressure vacuum drain group than in the control group (6.7% vs 40%) (P < .05). There was no significant difference between the groups in time to recovery from PCF. CONCLUSION: The low-pressure vacuum drain method is effective in reducing the incidence of PCF after total laryngectomy.

Defining the Best Nasal Tip Projection among Iranian Women.

Rhinoplasty is one of the most complicated aesthetic surgeries. One important factor in nasal profile analysis before surgery is the NTP (Nasal Tip Projection). There has been controversy over defining the best tip projection and due to cultural differences there is a need to find the best formulation for Iranian noses. We selected 50 randomized patients. Lateral nasal views were captured from all of the patients. In order to equalize the photos, all tip rotations changed first to 105. We selected four methods for measuring NTP (Goode, Crumley 1, Crumley 2, and Powell and Humphreys). Based on these methods NTP was shown in four pictures. A questionnaire was designed for rating the pictures. Questionnaires were filled in by 3 different groups: rhinoplasty surgeons, general people, and artists. A total of 73 questionnaires were filled in. The analysis and comparison were done. Crumley 2 is the best NTP measurement method from the surgeons' and artists' view. Goode is the method preferred by general people. Powell & Humphreys method seems to be the worst method from all 3 groups' view. It seems that general people prefer smaller noses, because projection in Goode method is almost less than Crumley 2.