New robotic platform for transoral robotic surgery: an IDEAL stage 0 study.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the feasibility to perform transoral robotic surgery (TORS) with a new robotic platform, the Versius Surgical System (CMR Surgical, UK) in a preclinical cadaveric setting in accordance to stage 0 of the IDEAL-D framework. Design: IDEAL stage 0 preclinical assessment of the Versius Robotic System in TORS in human cadavers. Setting: All procedures were performed in a simulated operating theatre environment at a UK surgical training centre. Participants: 11 consultant head and neck surgeons from the UK, mainland Europe and the USA took part in TORS procedures on six human cadavers. Interventions: 3 key index procedures were assessed that represent the core surgical workload of TORS: lateral oropharyngectomy, tongue base resection and partial supraglottic laryngectomy. Main outcome measures: The primary outcome was the successful completion of each surgical procedure. Secondary outcomes included the optimisation of system setup, instrumentation and surgeon-reported outcomes for feasibility of each component procedural step. Results: 33 cadaveric procedures were performed and 32 were successfully completed. One supraglottic laryngectomy was not fully completed due to issues dividing the epiglottic cartilage with available instrumentation. Surgeon-reported outcomes met the minimal level of feasibility in all procedures and a consensus that it is feasible to perform TORS with Versius was reached. Available instrumentation was not representative of other robotic platforms used in TORS and further instrument optimisation is recommended before wider dissemination. Conclusions: It is feasible to perform TORS with the Versius Surgical System (CMR Surgical) within a pre-clinical cadaveric setting. Clinical evaluation is needed and appropriate with the system. Further instrument development and optimisation is desirable.

Thyroid Metastasis From Caecal Adenocarcinoma.

The thyroid is a rare site of colorectal metastasis, comprising 0.1% of the surgical case series. A 62-year-old woman with caecal adenocarcinoma and previously surgically resected lung and liver metastases presented incidentally with a right thyroid nodule, which had grown and become symptomatic. Imaging revealed the nodule to have extracapsular spread, and cytology demonstrated metastatic adenocarcinoma. The patient underwent a technically challenging right thyroidectomy and neck dissection, with the final histopathological review demonstrating metastatic adenocarcinoma from a colorectal primary. The patient has subsequently undergone adjuvant radiotherapy. This case highlights an uncommon source of metastasis to the thyroid, which may aid clinicians to recognise and initiate treatment. It also highlights the technical challenges of performing surgery in such cases.

Reducing the unknowns: A systematic review & meta-analysis of the effectiveness of trans-oral surgical techniques in identifying head and neck primary cancer in carcinoma unknown primary.

OBJECTIVES: The use of transoral robotic surgery (TORS), transoral laser microsurgery (TLM) and more recently reported transoral endoscopic electrocautery (TOEC) in identifying the primary cancer in head and neck Carcinoma Unknown Primary (CUP) patients have gained popularity. This review aims to assess the effectiveness of TORS, TLM and TOEC. MATERIALS & METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out. EMBASE, MEDLINE and CINAHL databases were searched from inception to September 2020. All primary studies were considered for inclusion. Primary outcome measure was detection rates of primary cancer of the different techniques. Secondary outcome measures were complications and length of hospital stay. RESULTS: 289 studies were identified of which 30 met the inclusion criteria. The primary cancer was identified in 567 /777 patients (pooled results was 64% (95% CI 54-73). The primary identification rates were 45% and 32% in lingual (n = 273) and palatine tonsillectomy (n = 118) respectively. The primary cancer identification rates by surgical techniques are: TORS was 60% (95% CI 49-70), TLM was 80% (95% CI 0.58, 1.01), TOEC was 41% (95% CI 0.05, 0.76). 529/777 (68%) tumours were Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) related. The pooled data of studies that reported on detection rates relating to HPV status were 178/216 (82%) for HPV +ve and 7/59 (12%) for HPV -ve tumours. Coefficient of variation results suggest heterogenous data for TORS and TLM. The commonest complication was haemorrhage (5.3%). The length of reported hospital stay ranged from 1.4 to 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest systematic review in the subject. The quality of studies and heterogeneity of data limit conclusive findings. Lingual tonsillectomy is an effective procedure in CUP work up. Further larger, multicentre, prospective studies of PET CT negative CUP patients is needed to draw conclusive results.

The management of periorbital cellulitis secondary to sinonasal infection: a multicenter prospective study in the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Periorbital cellulitis is a potential sight-threatening complication of sinusitis. The majority of patients improve with medical management. Previous studies have suggested significant variations in practice and lack of evidence regarding the optimal management of this condition. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted over a 12-month period at 8 centers in the United Kingdom assessing the management of patients requiring inpatient treatment for periorbital cellulitis secondary to sinonasal infections. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients were recruited, of whom 40 were excluded. Of the remaining 103 patients, 5 (4.9%) were diagnosed with neurosurgical complications. This resulted in 98 patients admitted with periorbital cellulitis secondary to an upper respiratory tract infection/sinusitis. A total of 72 were children, of whom 12 (16.7%) required surgical intervention; and of 26 adults, 5 (19.2%) required surgery: the most common antimicrobial regimes administered were intravenous ceftriaxone (with or without metronidazole), and co-amoxiclav. The use of both ceftriaxone and metronidazole from admission was associated with the shortest duration of inpatient stay (3.8 days) in comparison to ceftriaxone alone (5.8 days) or co-amoxiclav (4.5 days) and a reduction in number of patients requiring surgical intervention. There was also an association between the early use of intranasal decongestants and steroids and reduction in requirement for surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: For a condition where swab and blood cultures are often negative, this study supports the use of ceftriaxone in combination with metronidazole. The administration of intranasal decongestants and corticosteroids correlated with a smaller percentage of those progressing to surgery in those with and without periorbital abscesses.

A study evaluating the effects of throat packs during nasal surgery: a randomised controlled trial.

The aims of this study were to identify differences in post-operative nausea and vomiting (PONV) and throat pain between throat packed and non-packed patient groups in nasal surgery. This was a prospective, double blind, randomised controlled trial. A water-soaked throat pack gauze was inserted in the mouth to occlude the oropharynx was used in the throat pack group. The second group received no throat pack. A validated PONV questionnaire was completed 6 h post-operatively. Visual analogue scores (VAS) for throat pain were completed in recovery, 2, and 6 h post-operatively. 80 patients were enrolled (40 into each group based on power calculation). With regard to the primary outcome measure, mean PONV score for the throat pack group was 2.75 [median 0, standard deviation (SD 10.86)] and the mean PONV score for the non-packed group was 0.36 (median 0, SD 1.39). The difference in PONV was not statistically significant [P value 0.375, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.19 to 3.32]. With regard to throat pain VAS scores (our secondary outcome measure), in recovery, the mean throat pain VAS score for the throat packed group was 2.5 (median 1, SD 2.8) and the mean throat pain VAS score for the non-throat packed group was 1.3 (median 0, SD 2.5). Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between the two groups with the throat pack group experiencing more throat pain in recovery (P value 0.018 (95% CI 1.13-2.52). At 2 and 6 h post-operatively, the mean throat pain VAS scores for the throat packed group were 2.1 and 2.3, respectively, and the mean throat pain VAS score for the non-throat packed group was 2.3 and 1.4, respectively. Statistical analysis showed non-significant difference between the two groups at 2 and 6 h post-operatively. The use of throat packs in nasal surgery does not confer PONV reduction benefit. The use of throat pack, however, is associated with a small but statistically significant more throat pain in the initial recovery period from nasal operations.

Do salivary bypass tubes lower the incidence of pharyngocutaneous fistula following total laryngectomy? A retrospective analysis of predictive factors using multivariate analysis.

Salivary bypass tubes (SBT) are increasingly used to prevent pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) following laryngectomy and pharyngolaryngectomy. There is minimal evidence as to their efficacy and literature is limited. The aim of the study was to determine if SBT prevent PCF. The study was a multicentre retrospective case control series (level of evidence 3b). Patients who underwent laryngectomy or pharyngolaryngectomy for cancer or following cancer treatment between 2011 and 2014 were included in the study. The primary outcome was development of a PCF. Other variables recorded were age, sex, prior radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy, prior tracheostomy, type of procedure, concurrent neck dissection, use of flap reconstruction, use of prophylactic antibiotics, the suture material used for the anastomosis, tumour T stage, histological margins, day one post-operative haemoglobin and whether a salivary bypass tube was used. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed. A total of 199 patients were included and 24 received salivary bypass tubes. Fistula rates were 8.3% in the SBT group (2/24) and 24.6% in the control group (43/175). This was not statistically significant on univariate (p value 0.115) or multivariate analysis (p value 0.076). In addition, no other co-variables were found to be significant. No group has proven a benefit of salivary bypass tubes on multivariate analysis. The study was limited by a small case group, variations in tube duration and subjects given a tube may have been identified as high risk of fistula. Further prospective studies are warranted prior to recommendation of salivary bypass tubes following laryngectomy.

A microscopically calcified Meckel's diverticulum: a histopathological perspective of a case of both gastric and pancreatic mucosae.

A 2-year-old child presented with a 1-week history of abdominal pain and non-bilious vomiting. Upon examination, the abdomen was distended and faecal aspirate was noted from a nasogastric tube. Ultrasound scan and a failed air enema demonstrated intestinal intussusception warranting a surgical intervention. The intraoperative findings were of an ileocolic intussusception that was reduced and a Meckel's diverticulum (MD) was noted as a lead point necessitating resection with an end-to-end anastomosis. Histopathological analysis revealed a heterotopic MD containing both gastric and pancreatic mucosae with dystrophic calcification. MD is a pathologically diverse condition. The commonest histopathological picture in MD is that of an ectopic gastric mucosa at the terminal ileum. The histopathological analysis of this case demonstrated the interesting heterotopic results with calcification, which the histopathologist needs to be aware of when interpreting a surgical specimen with a clinical picture consistent with intussusception.

Utility of an intraoperative ultrasound in lateral approach mini-parathyroidectomy with discordant pre-operative imaging.

Objectives of this study were to assess the utility of intra-operative ultrasound to resolve discordant pre-operative imaging prior to a lateral approach mini-parathyroidectomy, by studying prospective case series in a head and neck endocrine unit. Patients with primary hyperparathyroidism due to a single adenoma with discordant pre-operative ultrasound and sestamibi were enrolled. They underwent a further intra-operative ultrasound by a head and neck radiologist with a view to proceed with a mini-parathyroidectomy. The main outcome measure was utility of intra-operative ultrasound compared to operative findings and pre-operative imaging. Secondary measures were complications of mini-parathyroidectomy, operative and ambulatory discharge time. Twenty-two patients underwent surgery with intra-operative ultrasound in the surgical position. The intra-operative ultrasound findings correlated with the operative findings in all cases (100 %). There were 16 inferior adenomas and 6 superior adenomas. Six inferior adenomas were in a retrosternal position, eight were obscured by benign thyroid lesions and a further two reported pre-operatively as superior. Three out of six superior adenomas were reported as inferior pre-operatively as the inferior thyroid artery was inadequately visualised, two were retro-carotid and one was retro-oesophageal. All patients were discharged within 23 h of surgery. There were no unsuccessful focused explorations. Histological analysis confirmed the adenomas. No morbidity (vocal cord palsy, haematoma, hungry bones) was noted. The results indicated that intra-operative ultrasound by a dedicated radiologist is a valuable tool in resolving discordance of pre-operative imaging. Appropriate patient positioning with neck extension and muscle relaxation allows placement of the probe in the obscure retro-carotid and retro-oesophageal locations and unmasks apparent "mediastinal" parathyroids facilitating focused dissection.