A pilot study to determine the effects of nasal co-phenylcaine on drug-induced sleep endoscopy.

PURPOSE: The use of nasal decongestant and nasal anaesthesia is currently not recommended during drug-induced sleep endoscopy (DISE) according to the European position paper. The evaluation of the effects of nasal decongestant/anaesthesia on DISE has not been performed before and our aim is to perform a pilot study to determine whether nasal decongestants/anaesthesia affects DISE outcomes. METHODS: 27 patients undergoing DISE for OSA or for simple snoring were included. On each patient, DISE was performed twice, before and approximately 10 min after the administration of two puffs of co-phenylcaine nasal spray (lidocaine hydrochloride 5%, phenylephrine 0.5%, and benzalkonium chloride 0.01%) into each nostril. A nasal peak inspiratory flow was used for the objective assessment of nasal airway obstruction. During the first and the second DISE the loudness of the snoring was also recorded. RESULTS: Change in DISE total grading after nasal spray administration was not statistically significant. For the same grading, changes in percentage of contribution to collapse were not statistically significant. Sex, AHI, BMI, tonsils grade, presence of rhinitis, turbinate hypertrophy, nasal septal deviation, or nasal peak inspiratory flow limitation had no influence on the effect of nasal spray. Co-phenylcaine did not significantly influence the loudness of snoring. CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot study supports the use of co-phenylcaine nasal spray during DISE and the positive effects of the nasal spray do not influence the grading outcome. Importantly, the decongestant enhances the nasal assessment during DISE and potentially aids in the diagnosis of nasal obstruction while the nasal anaesthetic component may be beneficial by reducing nasal discomfort during DISE and thereby helping to reduce the total dose of intravenous anaesthetic administered. However, further studies on a larger population are needed to confirm our results.

Voice quality after carbon dioxide laser and conventional surgery for T1A glottic carcinoma.

The different types of small vocal fold tumor therapy allow the preservation of respiration and deglutition; the quality of phonation is the most important criterion for the patient. The aim of the study is to compare vocal function after treatment of T1a tumors by conventional and laser cordectomy. Fifty-seven male patients were included in the study: 27 underwent conventional cordectomy using an external approach, and 30 underwent an endoscopic microscopic laser cordectomy. Videolaryngoscopy was performed for each subject, and the maximal phonation time was measured. Spectrograms were recorded, and a perturbation analysis was performed if a clear harmonic structure was visible. Voices were perceptually rated by two experienced phoniatricians using the GRBAS scale. Even though a slightly better voice was found after conventional surgery throughout the data, no statistically significant difference was measured in the two groups. The data on voice outcome per se do not indicate the selection of one surgical approach over another.

Actinomycosis of the masseter muscle: report of a case and review of the literature.

A rare case of cervicofacial actinomycosis arising primarily in the masseter muscle is described. The patient was a healthy 74-year-old woman who was not immunocompromised and had no other primary pathological finding in the oral cavity. The importance of the differential diagnosis for this unusual infection is demonstrated with tumoral pathological findings. Possible predisposing factors as well as diagnostic and therapeutic methods are discussed.

Leiomyosarcoma of the larynx.

Leiomyosarcoma involving the larynx is extremely rare and may be difficult to diagnose. Because of the rarity of this tumor, little information exists on its long-term follow-up and optimal management. We present a review of the literature and report on a patient with leiomyosarcoma of the larynx treated with surgery and postoperative irradiation. In addition, the diagnosis and treatment of leiomyosarcoma are discussed. At six months' follow-up the patient showed no signs of local recurrence but had developed metastases to both lungs.