Postoperative myxedema coma in patients undergoing major surgery: Case series.

OBJECTIVE: Myxedema coma is a serious complication of hypothyroidism that can be precipitated by major surgery. It is extremely rare, with only a few reports in the literature. This study aims to present a relatively large case series of post-surgical myxedema coma and to analyze medical and surgical risk factors. METHODS: Analysis of the patients' surgical records and medical charts. RESULTS: Four patients developed postoperative myxedema coma and were evaluated for risk factors. Three had known hypothyroidism. Two had undergone large head and neck composite resections necessitating a free flap repair for malignant disease. One had undergone coronary artery bypass graft for ischemic heart disease, and another had undergone endoscopic cholecystectomy for complicated cholecystitis. All four patients required prolonged hospitalization, including treatment in the intensive care unit. One patient had undergone full cardiopulmonary resuscitation directly related to the myxedema coma state. CONCLUSION: We present a series of four patients who developed myxedema coma following major surgery. We recommend that patients with known hypothyroidism who are scheduled for major surgery should be tested for thyroid function status and assessed for postoperative risk of hypothyroidism. Those who develop complications following major surgery, should be immediately tested for thyroid function to rule out myxedema coma.

A prospective randomized double-blind trial of fibrin glue for reducing pain and bleeding after tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Varying surgical techniques as well as a large selection of analgesics and other medications have been evaluated over the years in the hopes of reducing post-tonsillectomy pain. Several publications in recent years have demonstrated the efficacy of fibrin glue in reducing post-tonsillectomy bleeding and pain. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of fibrin glue on pain and bleeding after tonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: A prospective randomized double-blind study was performed on 168 consecutive patients undergoing tonsillectomy for obstructive sleep apnea and chronic tonsillitis. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned to the treatment protocol. In the study group, the tonsillar beds were coated with fibrin glue (Quixil, OMRIX biopharmaceuticals) at the end of the operation. Patients in the controlled group underwent tonsillectomy without the use of fibrin glue. The patients were then monitored for postoperative bleeding, and a patient-based pain assessment instrument was used to evaluate pain, ability to eat and analgesics consumption for 10 days after surgery. RESULTS: Ninety-six patients returned for postoperative follow up and filled in the questionnaire. As our medical center is the only hospital in the southern district of Israel and we hospitalize every person who presents with post-tonsillectomy bleeding, we can assume that any patient from either group who presented with post-tonsillectomy bleeding would be familiar to us. Analysis showed that no statistically significant differences relating to postoperative pain, bleeding, use of analgesics and postoperative eating resumption were detected between the patients treated with fibrin glue and controls. CONCLUSIONS: We cannot substantiate a significant beneficial effect of fibrin glue in post-tonsillectomy pain control, prevention of bleeding or facilitating eating and thus find no indication for the routine use of fibrin glue in tonsillectomy.

The role of tinnitus evaluation tests in differentiating functional versus organic tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of tinnitus tests in differentiating patients with functional tinnitus from patients with organic tinnitus. DESIGN: One hundred ninety-six patients with tinnitus were divided into 2 groups. Forty-three patients, group 1, were not exposed to noise and had sensorineural hearing loss. One hundred fifty-three patients, group 2, were exposed to noise and claimed disability. All the patients underwent 4 tinnitus evaluation tests: pitch matching, intensity matching, residual inhibition, and tinnitus masking. We compared the results of the tinnitus tests between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Group 1 patients had a high-frequency, low-intensity tinnitus that tended to be more inhibited by narrow-band noise, was usually consistent with type I Feldman masking curve, and could be effectively masked. Group 2 patients had tinnitus that could not be characterized. The results of the tinnitus tests were significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSION: Tinnitus tests may help us differentiate functional tinnitus that is not of cochlear origin from genuine tinnitus.

Management of bilateral benign paroxysmal positional vertigo.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a series of patients with bilateral benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BiBPPV), with respect to demographics, management, and outcome. METHODS: All patients who were identified and treated for BiBPPV in a previous 36-month period with a minimal follow-up period of 6 months were included. Patients were treated with Epley's maneuver (EM) on the side that was more symptomatic and that had a greater velocity and amplitude of tortional nystagmus. Patients were re-treated according to symptoms and findings on follow-up visits. RESULTS: Ten patients were identified with BiBPPV. Most patients complained of nonlocalized positional vertigo and unsteadiness. Four were males and 6 were females, and the mean age was 54 years. There was a positive history of recent head trauma in 4 of the patients. All patients recovered after performing a mean of 2.6 EMs during a 3-month period. One patient experienced unilateral recurrence and was re-treated successfully. CONCLUSION: BiBPPV has typical characteristics and can be managed successfully with EM, performed on the more symptomatic side, followed by repeated treatments as needed. EBM RATING: C.

Control of massive bleeding from facial gunshot wound with a compact elastic adhesive compression dressing.

The issue of immediate control of acute external traumatic hemorrhage is poorly dealt with in the medical literature. A compact unit incorporating the desired components capable of applying significant compression over diverse body areas has been suggested in the past but not formally demonstrated effective in practice. In this report we describe the treatment of a young man presenting with a very large, complex, profusely bleeding facial gunshot wound. The calvarium remained intact. The upper airway was diverted and secured by performing a cricothyroidotomy. A transparent elastic adhesive dressing was then applied by covering the anterior aspect of the face by a contact pad followed by sequential wrapping of the roll covering all structures between the forehead and the neck. This procedure successfully controlled the hemorrhage and maintained the victim's condition hemodynamically stable until definitive surgical intervention at the level 1 medical center. We attribute the survival of this victim to the innovative dressing technique and excellent cooperation between the trauma team and hospital staff. This case demonstrates the contribution of elastic adhesive compression dressing towards saving the lives of those inflicted by severely challenging bleeding wounds. We suggest this technique be considered by Emergency personnel working in the prehospital arena in selected cases.