Faculty Bibliography

This article reviews the current and evolving status of cochlear implants, including technology, design, candidacy, outcomes and future directions. It examines these variables in terms of their present and future impact on clinical outcomes in pediatric and adult populations

SUMMARY: The basic science of wound healing is largely omitted from the curriculum of many voice clinicians. This fact is relatively disheartening as most therapeutic manipulation in the realm of laryngology and voice disorders deals with injured tissue. Therefore, the selection of therapeutic tasks for persons with vocal injury should ideally be informed by basic science in wound healing. Recently, several investigators have initiated lines of research to determine the course of vocal fold wound healing and the potential role of therapeutic agents, including behavioral agents. The current review seeks to provide a foundation of basic wound healing science and present the most current data regarding the wound healing process in the vocal folds

PURPOSE: Since its description in the 1970s, the radial forearm free flap has earned a clearly defined role in the armamentarium of reconstructive head and neck surgery. Three decades later, the donor site remains an intrinsic drawback primarily due to its esthetic impact, although functional morbidity is significant in a minority. These points do not outweigh significant advantages but are occasionally reasons for the choice of alternative flaps. Modifications evolved in an effort to improve these undesirable features include primary closure, rotation-advancement, proximal paddle placement, full-thickness skin graft (FTSG) and suprafascial dissection. We describe a novel technique of engineering a composite graft of cadaveric acellular dermal matrix and autologous split-thickness skin graft (STSG) for a better donor-site closure. METHODS: From December 1995 to August 2003, 23 patients underwent radial forearm reconstruction of head and neck defects. Control patients (Group I; n = 5) had donor sites closed by conventional STSG technique (0.014-0.016 inch). In 18 patients (Group II), the donor site was closed with a composite technique (dermal allograft, 0.020-0.030 inch, and an ultrathin STSG, 0.0080 inch). Both groups of patients were retrospectively studied for comparative defects. Contralateral upper extremities also served as controls. All patients underwent a standardized functional examination of the donor and contralateral extremities, as well as an outcome questionnaire. All extremities were photographed for visual comparison by the author. RESULTS: Three of the 5 group I patients were available for follow-up, which averaged 64 months (60-72 months). Thirty-three percent had a decrease in functional parameters and 67% complained of paresthesia. Patient satisfaction was 3.5/5. Six of the 18 patients were excluded from Group II due to insufficient follow-up or inability to follow. Follow-up averaged 8 months (1-24 months). Functional parameters in all patients were comparable to the contralateral extremity, except in 1 patient. In this case, a 0.030-inch allograft was used which never revascularized, inhibiting wrist motion. Other patients exhibited excellent range of motion of the wrist and fingers. This was the only patient in this group that exhibited paresthesia of the donor site. Patient satisfaction was 4.6/5. Esthetic results were extremely gratifying as judged by the author. Esthetic results were better than those observed in Group I. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Composite grafting with acellular dermal matrix and STSG provides a comparable (trending to superior) result with traditional STSG for the treatment of radial forearm graft donor sites. Even if functionally equivalent, it is esthetically superior and therefore a technique warranting further investigation

CONTEXT: Post-obstructive pulmonary edema (PPE) is an uncommon complication which develops immediately after the onset of acute airway obstruction such as laryngospasm or epiglottitis (type I) or after the relief of chronic upper airway obstruction such as adenotonsillar hypertrophy (type II). OBJECTIVE: To describe the development of type I PPE following laryngospasm in pediatric and adult patients undergoing otolaryngologic surgical procedures other than those for treatment of obstructive sleep apnea. DESIGN: Retrospective case series of 13 otolaryngology patients from 1996 to 2003. SETTING: Tertiary care teaching hospital and its affiliates. PATIENTS: 13 patients (4 children, 9 adults, 5 males, 8 females) ranging in age from 9 months to 48 years. RESULTS: Operative procedures included adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, removal of an esophageal foreign body, microlaryngoscopy with papilloma excision, endoscopic sinus surgery, septorhinoplasty, and thyroidectomy. Six patients required reintubation. Treatment included positive pressure ventilation, oxygen therapy, and diuretics. Seven patients were discharged within 24 hours and the others were discharged between 2 and 8 days postoperatively. There were no mortalities. CONCLUSION: Laryngospasm resulting in PPE may occur in both children and adults after various otolaryngologic procedures. Among the subgroup of children, our study is the first to report its occurrence in healthy children without sleep apnea undergoing elective surgery

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively monitor children who received preoperative sedation with midazolam hydrochloride prior to adenotonsillectomy (T&A) for treatment of sleep-disordered breathing with continuous pulse-oximetry to detect potential respiratory compromise. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Hospital-based pediatric otolaryngology practice. PATIENTS: Seventy children, aged 1-12 years, diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing by clinical evaluation or polysomnography (PSG), with a median RDI of 14.25, undergoing T&A. METHODS: Children underwent a standardized anesthesia protocol including preoperative oral midazolam hydrochloride 0.5mg/kg, standard American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) monitoring, mask induction with sevoflurane, muscle relaxant with reversal if indicated, and intravenous dexamethasone sodium phosphate 0.5mg/kg. Children were monitored in the hospital until discharge criteria were met. Selected children with severe OSA were monitored overnight on the pediatric floor or the pediatric intensive care unit. Adverse respiratory events were defined as upper airway obstruction, hypoventilation, desaturation, bradycardia, or sustained lethargy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of pre and postoperative obstructive complications. RESULTS: During the study period only two patients (2.9%) had a measurable adverse event directly related to the administration of the sedation. CONCLUSION: Based on sporadic reports of adverse airway events in children with obstructive sleep apnea receiving sedation, these children frequently do not receive preoperative sedation. Given the low morbidity of preoperative sedation in our population, many children with sleep-disordered breathing may safely be pre-medicated

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The demand for cosmetic procedures has increased dramatically over the past few years, in part fueled by the prevalence of cosmetic 'makeover shows', increased media coverage on television and easy accessibility to the Internet. This growing social acceptance of aesthetic surgery has caused an increasing number of women and men to undergo elective noninvasive and invasive procedures to enhance their appearance. As the number of patients interested in cosmetic surgery increases and the number of physicians performing these procedures increases, the risk of complications invariably also rises. An article focusing on the prevention of complications in facial plastic surgery, therefore, is clearly appropriate in the current era. RECENT FINDINGS: One of the recurring themes in the literature is preventing complications before they occur. Proper patient selection, a thorough understanding of the anatomy and adhering to proper techniques are some of the methods mentioned to avoid unfavorable outcomes. SUMMARY: The literature is replete with articles that focus on the newest techniques for facial rejuvenation. Only through careful analysis of the pitfalls of cosmetic procedures, however, can the facial plastic surgeon adopt principles to help prevent complications

OBJECT: The authors conducted a cadaveric anatomical study to quantify and compare the area of surgical exposure and the freedom available for instrument manipulation provided by the following four surgical approaches to the extracranial periclival region: simple transoral (STO), transoral with a palate split (TOPS), Le Fort I osteotomy (LFO), and median labioglossomandibulotomy (MLM). METHODS: Twelve unembalmed cadaveric heads with normal mouth opening capacity were serially dissected. For each approach, quantitation of extracranial periclival exposure and freedom for instrument manipulation (known here as surgical freedom) was accomplished by stereotactic localization. To quantify the extent of extracranial clival exposure obtained, anatomical measurements of the extracranial clivus were performed on 17 dry skull bases. The values (means +/- standard deviations in mm2) for periclival exposure and surgical freedom, respectively, for the surgical approaches studied were as follows: STO = 492 +/- 229 and 3164 +/- 1900; TOPS = 743 +/- 319 and 3478 +/- 2363; LFO = 689 +/- 248 and 2760 +/- 1922; and MLM 1312 +/- 384 and 8074 +/- 6451. The extent of linear midline clival exposure and the percentage of linear midline clival exposure relative to the total linear midline exposure were as follows, respectively: STO = 0.6 +/- 4.9 mm and 7.8 +/- 11%; TOPS = 8.9 +/- 5.5 mm and 24.2 +/- 16.7%; LFO = 32.9 +/- 10.2 mm and 85.0 +/- 18.7%; and MLM = 2.1 +/- 4.4 mm and 6.7 +/- 11.1%. CONCLUSIONS: The choice of approach and the resulting degree of complexity and associated morbidity depends on the location of the pathological entity. The authors found that the MLM approach, like the STO approach, provided good exposure of the craniocervical junction but limited exposure of the clivus. The TOPS approach, an approach attended by a lesser risk of morbidity, provided adequate exposure of the extracranial inferior clivus. Maximal exposure of the extracranial clivus proper was provided by the LFO approach.