Recovery time after oral and maxillofacial ambulatory surgery with dexmedetomidine: an observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the relationship between pharmacokinetic descriptors of dexmedetomidine (predicted area under the curve during the procedure, predicted plasma level at the end of the procedure, and duration of procedure) and sedation depth (proportion of time with bispectral index < 85 during the procedure) with recovery time after ambulatory procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical observational study of patients undergoing oral and maxillofacial ambulatory surgery with dexmedetomidine as sole sedative agent. Patients received a loading dose of dexmedetomidine (0.25-1 µg kg-1) followed by a maintenance infusion (0.2-1.4 µg kg-1 h-1) to keep a bispectral index < 85 until 5 min before the end of the procedure, and were transferred to a post-anesthesia care unit until criteria for discharge were met. RESULTS: Data from 75 patients was analyzed. Sedation depth was directly associated with recovery time (Pearson correlation coefficient [r] = 0.26; p = 0.024). Around 7% of the variation in recovery time was explained by the proportion of time with bispectral index < 85. No association with procedure duration (r = 0.01; p = 0.9), predicted area under the curve (r = 0.1; p = 0.4), or predicted plasma level of dexmedetomidine at the end of the procedure (r = 0.12; p = 0.3) with recovery time was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Sedation depth with dexmedetomidine could play a role in increasing recovery time after oral and maxillofacial ambulatory surgery. In our study, the pharmacokinetic descriptors of dexmedetomidine did not seem to influence recovery time. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Sedation depth with dexmedetomidine could play a role in increasing recovery time after ambulatory procedures.

La biopsia de arteria temporal. Una experiencia de 25 años / Temporal artery biopsy. A 25-year experience

Introducción: La arteritis de la arteria temporal o de células gigantes es la vasculitis sistémica más frecuente en adultos, afectando a arterias de tamaño mediano y grande, sobre todo ramas de la arteria carotídea. El tratamiento son corticoides a dosis altas y la falta de tratamiento puede conllevar complicaciones importantes, siendo la complicación más grave la neuropatía óptica isquémica anterior. Material y métodos: Se realizaron una revisión retrospectiva de las biopsias de arteria temporal realizadas en nuestro centro en los últimos 25 años y un estudio descriptivo y analítico de las mismas. Resultados: Se realizaron un total de 629 biopsias a pacientes entre los años 1991 y 2016. Un 18,4% de ellas resultaron ser positivas. Un 68,5% de los pacientes eran mujeres y la media de edad fue de 75,8 años. Se recogieron los valores de longitud de la muestra, la velocidad de sedimentación (VSG) y la proteína C reactiva en los pacientes a los que se realizó la biopsia a partir de 2011 (n = 142), no encontrándose diferencias significativas entre los 2 grupos (biopsias negativas y positivas) para ninguna de las 3 variables. Conclusión: La biopsia de arteria temporal sigue siendo la prueba diagnóstica gold standard. Los valores con mayor valor predictivo son la elevación de VSG y síntomas clínicos visuales y de cefalea de reciente instauración. El tiempo entre la sospecha diagnóstica y la biopsia debe ser el menos posible, para confirmar el diagnóstico, y poder ajustar o suspender el tratamiento con corticoides y evitar así las complicaciones de esta patología

Introduction: Temporal arteritis or giant cell arteritis is the most common systemic inflammatory vasculitis in adults, affecting large and medium-sized vessels, typically braches of the carotid artery. Treatment is with high-dose corticosteroids. A lack of treatment could lead to important consequences, the most serious of which is visual loss due to anterior ischemic neuropathic neuropathy. Material and methods: A retrospective revision of the temporal artery biopsies done in our center in the past 25 years was carried; a descriptive and analytic study was done. Results: A total of 620 biopsies were done on patients between 1991 and 2016. 18.4% of them were positive. 68.5% of the patients were female, and the average age was 75.8 years. The length of the biopsy and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein levels of the patients biopsied after 2011 (n = 142) were documented. No significant differences were found between the 2 groups (positive and negative biopsies) for any of the 3 variables. Conclusion: Temporal artery biopsy is still the gold standard diagnostic test. The variables with the highest predictive value are the increase in ESR levels, and clinical symptoms (visual disturbances and new-onset headache). The time between diagnostic suspicion and biopsy is crucial, in order to confirm the diagnosis and, initiate, adjust or suspend corticosteroid treatment, and prevent irreversible complications

Oral squamous cell carcinoma after dental implant treatment / Carcinoma epidermoide intraoral después del tratamiento implantológico dental

Peri-implantitis is an inflammatory response of the soft tissue surrounding osteointegrated implants. Squamous cell carcinoma can be sometimes confused clinically with peri-implantitis, and there have been various cases published of squamous cell carcinoma development in areas surrounding dental implants. Between 2008 and 2017, 6 cases of SCC surrounding implants were reported. 66.6% had a previous history of OSCC and association with risk factors (tobacco or alcohol consumption) was present in three patients. A literature search retrieved 54 cases (25 articles) published between 1996 and 2017. 42.6% of the patients had a previous history of OSCC, 42.6% of them also had risk factors, and 51.9% of the patients had some type of pre-malignant lesion. Of the 18 patients that had no past oncological history or pre-malignant lesion (33.3%), 8 of them did not have any risk factors either. The incidence rate of oral squamous cell carcinoma surrounding implants seems to be higher in patients with previous oral tumors. Therefore, a close follow-up of these at-risk patients (tobacco or alcohol consumption, or previous history of cancer) should be carried out, especially those that present peri-implantitis

La periimplantitis es una respuesta inflamatoria del tejido blando de alrededor de los implantes osteointegrados. El carcinoma epidermoide en ocasiones se puede confundir clínicamente con la periimplantitis, y se han reportado numerosos casos del desarrollo de carcinoma epidermoide en una región de la cavidad oral asiento de un tratamiento implantológico. Entre los años 2008 y 2017 se diagnosticaron 6 casos de carcinoma epidermoide alrededor de implantes. El 66,6% de los casos presentaban una historia previa de carcinoma epidermoide intraoral, y la asociación con factores de riesgo (tabaco o alcohol) estaba presente en 3 pacientes. De la revisión de la literatura se encontraron 54 casos (en 25 artículos) publicados entre 1996 y 2017. Un 42,6% de los pacientes tenían historia previa de carcinoma epidermoide intraoral, el 42,6% de ellos también presentaban factores de riesgo y un 51,9% tenían alguna lesión premaligna. De los 18 pacientes sin historia oncológica previa ni presencia de lesión premaligna (33,3%), 8 tampoco tenían ningún factor de riesgo. La incidencia de carcinoma epidermoide intraoral alrededor de implantes dentales parece ser mayor en pacientes con tumores orales previos. Por ello se debe recomendar un seguimiento cercano de estos pacientes de riesgo (fumadores y consumo de alcohol, o historia previa de cáncer), especialmente estos pacientes que presentan periimplantitis

Risk of re-attempts and suicide death after a suicide attempt: A survival analysis.

BACKGROUND: Suicide is the primary cause of unnatural death in Spain, and suicide re-attempts a major economic burden worldwide. The risk factors for re-attempt and suicide after an index suicide attempt are different. This study aims to investigate risk factors for re-attempt and suicide after an index suicide attempt. METHODS: This observational study is part of a one-year telephone management program. We included all first-time suicide attempters evaluated in the emergency department at Parc Taulí-University Hospital (n = 1241) recruited over a five-year period (January 2008 to December 2012). Suicide attempters were evaluated at baseline using standardized instruments. Bivariate logistic regression models were used to identify risk factors. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare the time to re-attempt between categorical variables. Comparisons were performed using Log-Rank and Wilcoxon tests. Variables with a p-value lower than 0.2 were included in a multivariate Cox regression model. Bivariate logistic regression models were considered to identify risk factors for suicide. The significance level was set to 0.05. RESULTS: Suicide re-attempters were more likely diagnosed with cluster B personality disorders (36.8% vs. 16.6%; p < 0.001), and alcohol use disorders (19.8 vs. 13.9; p = 0.02). Several [1.2% (15/1241)] of them died by suicide. Attempters who suicide were more likely alcohol users (33.3% vs. 17.2%; p = 0.047), and older (50.9 ± 11.9 vs. 40.7 ± 16.0; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol use, personality disorders and younger age are risk factors for re-attempting. Older age is a risk factor for suicide among suicide attempters. Current prevention programs of suicidal behaviour should be tailored to the specific profile of each group.

Dental implants and osteomyelitis in a patient with osteopetrosis.

Osteopetrosis (OP) is a rare genetic metabolic bone disorder characterized by osteoclast dysfunction impairing bone resorption. Together with normal osteoblastic activity this dysfunction promotes intense bone sclerosis with reduction of marrow spaces as well as bone turnover. Maxillofacial complications are common after tooth extraction. Osteomyelitis (OM) of the mandible occurs in around 10% of the cases with OP. The purpose of this paper is to report the fi rst case of OP treated with dental implants, and to describe the protocol used to treat OM that developed after failure of one implant. The treatment of OM included long-term use of antibiotics and marginal bone resection with a piezoelectric device. Similar cases to confirm the efficacy of this treatment are required.

Prognostic factors influencing contralateral neck lymph node metastases in oral and oropharyngeal carcinoma.

PURPOSE: The prognostic influence of different clinicopathologic factors in contralateral lymph node metastases of oral and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) has been rarely described in the literature. Prediction of these contralateral metastases may be of relevance because this factor is strongly associated with poor prognosis. This study analyzed the relationship between predictor factors and the development of contralateral metastases in oral and oropharyngeal SCC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 402 cases of oral and oropharyngeal SCC were analyzed retrospectively. Unilateral neck dissection was carried out in 190 patients, bilateral neck dissection in 101, and tumor resection without neck dissection in 111. The log-rank test was used for survival analysis of contralateral metastases. Correlation between different clinicopathologic factors and the presence of contralateral metastases was studied with the chi(2) test for univariate analysis and logistic regression for association of these factors and contralateral metastases in the multivariate analysis (P < .05). RESULTS: Of the patients, 20 (5.1%) had primary positive contralateral metastases in neck dissection specimens and 19 (4.8%) had contralateral recurrences at follow-up. When the 2 groups were taken into consideration, the rate of contralateral metastases of the series was 9%. Gender, tumor location, homolateral positive nodes, tumor extension across the midline, histologic grade, margin status, pattern of growth, and perineural spread were correlated with contralateral metastases in the univariate analysis (P < .05). However, homolateral lymph node metastases and extension across the midline were the most important predictors of contralateral metastases (P < .01) on multivariate logistic regression analysis. Positive contralateral metastases showed a strong correlation with a poor prognosis for survival in this study (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Oral and oropharyngeal carcinomas with homolateral positive lymph nodes and tumor extension across the midline are at higher risk of contralateral lymph node involvement. Prediction of contralateral metastases may be useful in planning more aggressive therapies in patients with head and neck SCC with poor prognostic criteria.

Elective neck dissection in early-stage oral squamous cell carcinoma--does it influence recurrence and survival?

BACKGROUND: This study investigates the influence on survival and regional control rates of neck dissection therapy at the time of surgery of the primary tumor in early stages of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity. METHODS: A series of 154 patients with pT1N0M0 and pT2N0M0 intraoral carcinomas was analyzed retrospectively. Neck dissection was associated with tumor ablation in 87 patients (56.5%), although 67 patients (43.5%) were treated with local resection exclusively. Survival and relapse rates were studied with the Kaplan-Meier curves and the log-rank test for univariate analysis and Cox proportional model for multivariate analysis (p < .05). RESULTS: Regional recurrences occurred in 25 cases (16.2%), 7 cases (8%) with primary neck dissection and 18 cases (26.8%) with local excision alone. Neck dissection therapy was a significant prognostic factor for recurrences and survival (p < .05). The 5-year regional control rate was of 92.5% for patients with elective lymph node ablation versus 71.2% for patients without primary neck dissection. Neck dissection was also significant for recurrences in stage I and for survival and recurrences in stage II. Neck dissection therapy also showed independent prognostic value in the Cox analysis. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with intraoral carcinomas, elective neck treatment should be considered even in cases with a small primary tumor and negative clinical examination because of the high incidence of occult nodal metastases and the tendency to regional recurrences.

Internal distraction osteogenesis with a unidirectional device for reconstruction of mandibular segmental defects.

PURPOSE: To present the authors' clinical experience with unidirectional internal distraction devices to reconstruct mandibular defects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five patients have been treated with mandibular distraction osteogenesis to reconstruct different acquired segmental defects. These mandibular defects (35 to 80 mm in length) were reconstructed by means of internal distraction devices with a transcutaneous activator. All the patients underwent complete resection of the affected bone and immediate placement of the distraction device on the remaining mandible. RESULTS: The results' analysis was based on clinical observation, postoperative radiographs, histopathologic findings and 3-dimensional computed tomographic scans. Successful distraction osteogenesis was achieved in 3 cases. In 1 case, extensive intraoral exposure of the device was observed, resulting in a failure of the procedure. One patient died of distant metastases 4 months after the resective surgery. CONCLUSION: Because of the limited number of cases, this study is preliminary. However, considering the good experimental and clinical results, this new technique offers an alternative for patients with segmental mandibular defects in which, because of local or general reasons, a more aggressive procedure should be avoided.

Papillary carcinoma arising in lingual thyroid.

Lingual thyroid is a well-known developmental abnormality, malignant transformation of which is rare. This is a case report of a papillary carcinoma located in ectopic lingual thyroid tissue, in a 28-year-old white male. A search of the literature revealed only one more such report.

Experimental mandibular regeneration by distraction osteogenesis with submerged devices: preliminary results of a canine model.

The authors describe a new technique for reconstruction of mandibular body defects. The feasibility of distraction osteogenesis with submerged (internal) devices for reconstruction of segmental mandibular defects is investigated in an experiment with five adult dogs. A segmental mandibulectomy was performed on the horizontal ramus. The bony defect was regenerated using distraction osteogenesis (bone transport) at a rate of 1 mm daily. The animals were killed after the consolidation period. Complete bone regeneration of the surgically created gap was successful in three of five dogs. Two animals failed to create new bone. In these two cases, the screws did not offer proper stability to the bony fragments, and this caused a lack of ossification. This experimental study demonstrates the possibility to use internal distraction devices to reconstruct segmental mandibular defects in a canine model. Internal devices show enormous advantages in comparison with the external ones. This method with no donor-site morbidity may become a very useful option in human mandibular reconstruction.