Control of epistaxis in the multiple trauma patient.

Severe epistaxis in the multiple trauma victim can be rapidly controlled with immediate insertion of the intranasal anteroposterior balloon. The patient's other life threatening injuries can then be assessed in an orderly fashion. Once the patient has been stabilized, the balloon can be deflated and removed and the patient's maxillofacial injuries assessed and treated in a controlled setting.

Botulinum toxin for the treatment of hyperfunctional lines of the face.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effectiveness of botulinum toxin injections for the management of hyperfunctional facial lines in patients with dystonia. DESIGN: Twenty-six patients were included in the study: 24 patients had dystonic movement of the face as either a primary or secondary component, and two patients were treated for purely hyperfunctional lines. Botulinum toxin type A was injected via a monopolar hollow-bore Teflon-coated electromyography needle into the facial muscles associated with the hyperfunctional lines. Doses were divided into 1.25- to 10-U aliquots. Qualitative assessments by the patient and physician were made before injection and 2 to 3 weeks after injection. PATIENTS: Twenty-six patients (two male and 24 female) with hyperfunctional lines were included. The ages were from 32 to 84 years with an average age of 59 years. Twenty had dystonia, four had hemifacial spasm, and two had pure hyperfunction without neuromuscular disease. RESULTS: All of the patients had an effect of toxin within the first 24 to 72 hours. All of the patients experienced benefit from the toxin injections with partial or total resolution of painful contractions or unsightly hyperfunctional lines and spasms. The effects of the injection lasted 3 to 6 months. No systemic side effects were noted. Adverse effects included mild, temporary eyelid or lip weakness. CONCLUSION: Based on this initial pilot study, botulinum toxin may be an important new option for the treatment of patients with hyperfunctional facial lines.

The management of hyperfunctional facial lines with botulinum toxin. A collaborative study of 210 injection sites in 162 patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimum dose and efficacy of botulinum toxin injections in the management of hyperfunctional facial lines. DESIGN: This study included 210 hyperfunctional facial sites in 162 different patients. The patients had preinjection and postinjection photographic documentation and ratings on a 4-point qualitative evaluation scale of lines at rest and with action. The patients then had botulinum toxin type A injections via a monopolar hollow bore, Teflon-coated electromyographic needle into the facial muscles associated with the hyperfunctional lines. The total dose for each region of 1.25 to 25 U was divided into 1.25- to 5-U aliquots representing 0.1 to 0.2 mL per injection site, depending on the site and the prior experience with that patient on using toxin. The patients had their reevaluation at 2 to 3 weeks after injection. Patients returned for further follow-up when the therapeutic effect diminished. PATIENTS: One hundred sixty-two patients had 210 hyperfunctional sites evaluated and injected. The group consisted of 25 male patients and 137 female patients ranging in age from 21 to 78 years with a mean (+/-SD) of 46.1 (+/-1.98) years. All patients had cosmetically troubling hyperfunctional lines involving the forehead, glabella, crow's feet (lateral canthal lines), nasolabial area, platysma, and mentalis region. RESULTS: All patients had an effect of toxin within the first 24 to 72 hours. Ninety-five percent of the patients treated had cosmetic improvement of unsightly facial lines or contractions. The best results were achieved in management of the forehead lines, followed by glabella, crow's feet, and nasolabial. The dose for forehead lines was 5 to 25 U (mean +/- SD, 17.3 +/- 6.2 U); glabellar lines, 5 to 20 U (mean +/- SD, 11.1 +/- 3.1 U); crow's feet, 5 to 15 U (mean +/- SD, 6.2 +/- 1.6 U); nasolabial, 2.5 to 5 U (mean +/- SD, 3.12 +/- 1.2 U); and platysma, 10 to 20 (mean +/- SD, 15 +/- 4.0 U). Evaluation by age and site suggested a trend of increased toxin dose with increased age. Effects of the toxin are usually seen 24 to 72 hours after injection, and last from 3 to 6 months, whereon the increased muscular activity returns, as do the hyperfunctional lines. The only morbidity was related to temporary mild weakness of other adjacent facial muscles. There were no systemic side effects noted. CONCLUSION: Botulinum toxin is a safe and important adjunctive technique for the management of patients with symptomatic hyperfunctional facial lines.

Auricular composite grafting to repair nasal vestibular stenosis.

Nasal vestibular stenosis is defined as a narrowing of the nasal inlet resulting in airway obstruction. Causes include nasal trauma, infection, and iatrogenic insults. The objectives of this article are to illustrate nasal vestibular stenosis and to analyze common causes and surgical treatments. The operative technique of the senior author (M.S.K.), will be presented. Donor site morbidity and patient outcomes will be discussed. Sixteen patients were seen during a 5-year period. Eleven women and 5 men were evaluated and found to have nasal vestibular stenosis. Three patients had stenosis as a result of nasal fracture or laceration. Stenosis developed in the remaining 13 as a result of nasal surgery. All patients underwent auricular composite grafting, and grafts took in 100%. Partial skin slough occurred in up to 50%; however, re-epithelialization was seen within 3 weeks. Complications were seen at the donor site. Immediate patient satisfaction was seen and continues during long-term follow-up.

Air pulse quantification of supraglottic and pharyngeal sensation: a new technique.

There are no published studies evaluating the sensory capacity of the region innervated by the superior laryngeal nerve. A normal sensory capacity is important in this area, since hypesthesia or anesthesia of the pharynx and supraglottic larynx may result in dysphagia and aspiration. This often occurs after stroke or after ablative surgery of the pharynx and larynx. Evaluating the efficacy of restorative procedures for supraglottic and pharyngeal sensation is dependent on defining and quantifying the sensory deficit. We have developed a new, noninvasive method to measure sensation in the pharynx and supraglottic larynx. A puff of air--of precisely controlled duration and pressure--was delivered via a flexible telescope to the anterior wall of the pyriform sinus. Surface sensibility was determined according to the psychophysical method of limits by varying air pressure while holding puff duration constant. We conducted 204 trials in 20 healthy adults. The average sensory discrimination threshold was 2.09 +/- 0.15 mm Hg. An intraclass correlation revealed excellent consistency (R = .80). There was no statistically significant difference between the right and left sides. Brief air pulse stimulation is an easy, relatively safe, and reliable method of determining supraglottic and pharyngeal sensory discrimination thresholds.

Supraglottic and pharyngeal sensory abnormalities in stroke patients with dysphagia.

Dysphagia and aspiration are two devastating sequelae of stroke, accounting for nearly 40,000 deaths from aspiration pneumonia each year in the United States. While motor deficits in the larynx and pharynx are thought responsible for dysphagia and aspiration in stroke patients, no prior study has evaluated whether these patients also have sensory deficits. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensory capacity of the laryngopharynx (LP) in supratentorial or brain stem stroke patients who presented with dysphagia. Fifteen stroke patients (mean age, 66.7 +/- 13.8 [SD] years) were prospectively evaluated by means of our previously described method whereby air pulse stimuli were delivered via a flexible fiberoptic telescope to the mucosa innervated by the superior laryngeal nerve. There were 15 age-matched controls. No LP sensory deficits were found in any of the age-matched controls. In all stroke patients studied, either unilateral (n = 9) or bilateral (n = 6) sensory deficits were identified. Deficits were defined as either a moderate impairment in sensory discrimination thresholds (3.5 to 6.0 mm Hg) or a severe sensory impairment (> 6.0 mm Hg). These sensory discrimination thresholds were significantly greater than in age-matched controls (7.05 +/- 0.17 mm Hg for the supratentorial group and 6.05 +/- 1.22 mm Hg for the infratentorial group versus 2.61 +/- 0.69 mm Hg for the controls). Among patients with unilateral deficits, sensory thresholds were moderately to severely elevated in all 9 cases on the affected side compared with the unaffected side (p < .01, Fisher's exact test). Moreover, the sensory thresholds of the unaffected side were not significantly different from those of age-matched controls (2.51 +/- 0.25 mm Hg versus 2.61 +/- 0.69 mm Hg, respectively). All 6 patients with bilateral deficits had severe impairments. The results of an outcome assessment in 13 of 15 patients revealed that 2 out of 5 patients with moderate LP sensory impairment and 5 out of 8 with severe impairment developed aspiration. Our results show for the first time that stroke patients with dysphagia have significant sensory deficits in the LP and that these impairments are likely to contribute to the development of aspiration.

Age-related changes in pharyngeal and supraglottic sensation.

As one ages, sensory discrimination in the oral cavity progressively diminishes, and dysphagia and aspiration are more likely to occur. Whether similar age-related laryngeal and pharyngeal sensory abnormalities exist and contribute to dysphagia and aspiration is unknown. The purpose of this study was to determine if sensory discrimination in the area innervated by the superior laryngeal nerve diminishes with increasing age. By applying a previously described new device and technique that utilizes brief air pulse stimulation of the anterior wall of the pyriform sinus, sensory discrimination can be reliably determined. We carried out 672 trials in 56 healthy adults divided into three age groups: 20 to 40, 41 to 60, and 61 to 90 years of age. Overall, the average sensory discrimination was 2.30 +/- 0.50 mm Hg. In subjects 20 to 40 years of age, sensory discrimination was 2.07 +/- 0.20 mm Hg, while in subjects 61 to 90 years of age, sensory discrimination was 2.68 +/- 0.63 mm Hg (p < .05). There also was a statistically significant difference between the 41- to 60-year and 61- to 90-year age groups (p < .05). Progressive diminution in pharyngeal and supraglottic sensitivity with increasing age might be a contributing factor in the development of dysphagia and aspiration in the elderly.

Surgical management of the paralyzed eyelid.

The most devastating sequelae of the facial nerve paralysis is the loss of eyelid function. The inability to blink, lubricate and protect the globe can lead to exposure keratitis, corneal abrasion and even the loss of vision. Eyelid closure is approximately 85% upper eyelid and 15% lower eyelid. In order to ensure adequate protection of the globe, deficiencies of both eyelids must be addressed. We report our experience with 20 patients with eyelid paralysis. Upper lid reanimation was performed by the placement of gold lid weights on the tarsal plate. Lower lid reanimation procedures included lateral canthopexy and horizontal lid shortening. A discussion of the above-mentioned procedures, the timing of the procedures and a critical analysis of results will be included. A comprehensive approach to the management of the paralyzed eye will be presented.

Present status of eyelid phototherapy. Clinical efficacy and transmittance of ultraviolet and visible radiation through human eyelids.

BACKGROUND: Phototherapy for the eyelid has not previously been recognized as a safe and effective treatment of photoresponsive dermatoses of the eyelid, such as atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, psoriasis, lymphomatoid papulosis, and parapsoriasis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of this treatment. METHODS: Two cases are presented to demonstrate clinical efficacy. In addition, a retrospective eye evaluation of seven patients receiving a combined total of greater than 1300 eyelid phototherapy treatments was performed. To determine whether potentially harmful UV radiation is significantly transmitted through eyelid skin, an in vitro study was conducted to measure the percentage transmittance of ultraviolet-visible radiation through five excised eyelids. RESULTS: In the two cases presented, remarkable improvement occurred without adverse side effects, suggesting that it is possible to deliver incremental UV dosages to eyelid skin to achieve clearing of skin disease. Retrospective analysis of patients' records revealed no ocular disease from the phototherapy. In vitro eyelid examination produced data that indicated negligible quantities of UV radiation were transmitted through eyelid skin compared with the visible spectrum, in which up to 77% of the radiation was transmitted through the tissue. CONCLUSION: The combined clinical experience and transmittance data suggest that eyelid phototherapy is a safe and effective treatment in selected patients.