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Objective: estimate the prevalence of anxiety in laryngectomy patients in the pre and postoperative periods and its relation with the self-care level. Method: observational research of 40 patients with stage IV laryngeal cancer. Three observations took place: in the preoperative phase, at seven and at 14 days after the surgery; between June 2010 and December 2012. Two self-care levels were defined: self-sufficient and needing help for activities of daily living and treatment- related activities. To assess the anxiety levels, Zigmond's hospital anxiety scale (1983) was used. Results: in the preoperative and postoperative phases, the patients presented high levels of anxiety. Concerning self-care, on average, self-sufficient patients presented lower levels of anxiety than patients who needed help to accomplish activities of daily living and activities deriving from the surgery, without significant differences. Conclusion: anxiety is present at all times in laryngectomy patients and the reduction of the self-care deficit seems to decrease it, without putting a permanent end to it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: The choice of technique will depend on the glottic gap observed by stroboscopy, the alteration of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and the recorded values of harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), jitter and shimmer, and the general health, age and underlying pathology. There are statistically significant differences between the values of VHI, shimmer and jitter in favour of those cases operated on within 6 months of diagnosis. Alternatives are discussed. Objectives: This study analysed and compared the functional, morphological and acoustic results, after surgery, through the techniques of medialization thyroplasty and infiltration of biomaterials to correct incomplete closure of the glottis. Methods: A total of 21 patients with dysphonia due to vocal fold insufficiency (13 women and 8 men) and ages ranging between 30 and 65 years (mean age 40.84, SD 12.5) were evaluated. The material used for augmentation surgery consisted of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres. Measurements (VHI, jitter, shimmer and HNR) were performed before surgery and at 6 and 24 months post-intervention. Results: Overall, statistically significant differences were observed relating to measurements ( p < 0.01) and surgical techniques ( p < 0.05) analyzed. In particular, these differences were located in pairs pre-surgery - 6 months post-surgery and pre-surgery - post 24 months, in the four variables, and between the two techniques used in jitter ( p = 0.008), HNR ( p = 0.045) and VHI ( p = 0.035). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusion: The choice of technique will depend on the glottic gap observed by stroboscopy, the alteration of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI) and the recorded values of harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR), jitter and shimmer, and the general health, age and underlying pathology. There are statistically significant differences between the values of VHI, shimmer and jitter in favour of those cases operated on within 6 months of diagnosis. Alternatives are discussed. Objectives: This study analysed and compared the functional, morphological and acoustic results, after surgery, through the techniques of medialization thyroplasty and infiltration of biomaterials to correct incomplete closure of the glottis. Methods: A total of 21 patients with dysphonia due to vocal fold insufficiency (13 women and 8 men) and ages ranging between 30 and 65 years (mean age 40.84, SD 12.5) were evaluated. The material used for augmentation surgery consisted of calcium hydroxylapatite microspheres. Measurements (VHI, jitter, shimmer and HNR) were performed before surgery and at 6 and 24 months post-intervention. Results: Overall, statistically significant differences were observed relating to measurements ( p < 0.01) and surgical techniques ( p < 0.05) analyzed. In particular, these differences were located in pairs pre-surgery - 6 months post-surgery and pre-surgery - post 24 months, in the four variables, and between the two techniques used in jitter ( p = 0.008), HNR ( p = 0.045) and VHI ( p = 0.035). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions: In our study, pedicled nasal flap (NF) did not provide better results than free nasal graft (NG) for primary closure of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea. In the future, a multicenter randomized study would be needed to confirm this result. The choice of surgical technique will depend on the surgeon's experience, and the position and size of the defect. Objectives: To evaluate our results in repairing CSF leaks, comparing the two techniques we used: free NG and pedicled NF. Methods: A total of 33 patients diagnosed with CSF rhinorrhea were operated on between June 2000 and May 2010; 17 were women. The mean age was 44.7 years (± 13.0). Twenty-two (66.6%) NFs of the middle and lower turbinate and septum were performed, the rest being NGs of the middle and lower turbinate only. A descriptive statistical analysis and a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis were carried out and the log-rank statistic was used to compare both techniques. Results: In the present study, 78% of defects were closed in all cases; NF was used in 86% (19) and NG in 63.63% (7). The mean follow-up was 71.5 (95% confidence interval (CI), 56.9-86.1) months. There were no statistically significant differences ( p > 0.05). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conclusions: Endoscopic medial maxillectomy (EMM) is a safe, effective method for the treatment of inverted papillomas (IPs) of the paranasal sinuses. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of EMM as a surgical technique in the treatment of IP compared with non-endoscopic techniques. Patients and methods: This was a retrospective study of 52 patients with an IP diagnosed by biopsy from 1990 to 2004. EMM was performed in 34 patients (65.4%), whereas non-endoscopic techniques were used in 18 (34.6%). The mean duration of follow-up was 54.2 months. Results: Recurrence occurred in 4 of the 34 patients who underwent EMM (11.8%; 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 39 at 26%) and in 8 of the 18 patients treated using non-endoscopic techniques (44.4%; 95% CI = 23.2 at 67.3%). There was a statistically significant difference (p<0.05) between treatments, assessed by Kaplan-Meier estimator and log-rank testing. Of the 12 patients who suffered a recurrence, 6 (50%) were treated with endoscopic surgery, 4 (33%) with mediofacial degloving and 2 (17%) were merely followed up; no malignant degeneration occurred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]