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Background: Foreign bodies in the upper aerodigestive tract represent an uncommon cause of visits to emergency departments. In the majority of cases, foreign bodies do not go beyond the pharynx. They cause dyspnoea or pneumonia if they reach the tracheobronchial tree. If ingested, they will pass spontaneously through the gastrointestinal canal in the majority of cases. Nevertheless, especially in the case of sharp-pointed or large objects, the foreign bodies can stop in the oesophagus. In case of dysphagia, stinging sensation and/or odynophagia occurring after eating a meal, a foreign body in the upper aerodigestive tract should be suspected. If not clinically visible, imaging is required. Case presentation: A 72-year-old woman presented to the Emergency Department with pharyngodynia, odynophagia, stinging, dysphagia, and sialorrhea for 12 hours. Her symptoms started after eating a meal involving meat. The patient underwent a standard two-projection radiogram of the neck. The antero-posterior projection radiogram was unremarkable. The lateral projection radiogram showed 16 millimetres in maximum length radiopaque foreign body within the cervical oesophagus. The patient underwent transoral flexible oesophagoscopy under general anaesthesia, which resulted in successful removal of the foreign body (bony fragment). Her symptoms improved rapidly after the procedure, and the patient was discharged after 48 hours in good health. Conclusion: A foreign body in the cervical oesophagus may lead to visceral perforation. Once suspected, every effort should be made to identify and remove the foreign body to avoid potentially catastrophic consequences. In some cases, imaging could be necessary to detect the foreign body.

Objective Thyroid surgery may lead to postoperative complications. The aim of this paper was to determine whether the rate of postoperative hypoparathyroidism (HPT) is influenced by whether surgery is staged. Design Single-institution retrospective observational study. Methods The clinical records of 786 patients treated at the Otolaryngology Unit of the Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia between January 1990 and December 2015 were reviewed. Patients were divided into two groups according to the surgical treatment received: group TT (637 patients, 81.04%) underwent single-stage total thyroidectomy; Group cT (149 patients, 18.96%) underwent loboisthmusectomy and delayed completion total thyroidectomy. Transient and permanent HPT, assessed after 6 months of follow-up, were the primary endpoints. Risk factors of postoperative HPT were also analysed as secondary outcomes. Results Rates of transient HPT in group TT were higher than those observed in group cT, (P = 0.0057). Analysis of risk factors identified sex as an independent risk factor for transient HPT only for group TT (P = 0.0012) and the number of parathyroid glands remaining in situ (PGRIS) as an independent risk factor for transient and permanent HPT for group TT (P < 0.0001 and P = 0.0002, respectively). Conclusions This study suggests that the risk of transient postoperative HPT is lower in patients that undergo completion thyroidectomy. Further independent risk factors for postoperative HPT are female sex and PGRIS score. In light of the growing use of conservative surgery for thyroid neoplasms, these findings could help to adequately plan surgery in order to reduce endocrine complications.

Since the first descriptions of superior canal dehiscence (SCD) syndrome, it has been widely demonstrated how a bony defect overlying the superior semicircular canal (SSC) can result in a low-imped...

Objective: To assess all different patterns of associated abnormalities on audiometry, bithermal caloric test (BCT) and cervical/ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) to air/bone-conduction in patients with selective posterior semicircular canal (PSC) hypofunction and to correlate them with underlying disorders. Study Design: Retrospective review. Setting: Tertiary referral center. Patients: 51 patients (23 men, 28 women, mean age 57.5 yr) with isolated PSC deficit (one bilateral). Interventions: Correlation with instrumental data and underlying diagnoses. Main Outcome Measures: Video-oculographic findings, objective measurements on audiometry, BCT, VEMPs and video-head impulse test (vHIT). Results: Ongoing or previous acute vestibular loss (AVL) was diagnosed in 13 patients (25.5%, 3 inferior vestibular neuritis, 10 AVL with sudden sensorineural hearing loss [SSNHL]), Meniere's disease (MD) in 12 (23.5%), cerebellopontine angle (CPA) lesion in 9 (17.6%), various causes in 7 (13.7%), benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) involving the non-ampullary arm of PSC in 5 cases (9.8%) whereas unknown pathology in 5 (9.8%). Involvement of at least one additional receptor besides PSC was seen in 89.8% of cases. Cochlear involvement was diagnosed in 74.5% with pure-tone average significantly greater in patients with AVL+SSNHL (p < 0.05). Overall involvement of labyrinthine receptors or afferents was highest in patients with AVL+SSNHL (p < 0.01), MD and CPA lesions (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Isolated loss of PSC function on vHIT is mostly accompanied by additional labyrinthine deficits that could only be identified through an accurate instrumental evaluation. Assessment of all receptors and afferents should be always pursued to identify the lesion site and better understand the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms.

Objective Though fluctuations in vestibular function represent a common finding in Meniere's disease, we describe how benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) may result in fluctuations of vestibulo-ocular reflex for the involved canal depending on the disposition of otoliths. Patient A 54-year-old woman suffering from refractory posterior canal (PC)-BPPV resulting in fluctuating PC function. Interventions Diagnostic evaluation and rehabilitative treatment for BPPV involving the affected PC. Main outcome measures Video-Frenzel and video-head impulse test (vHIT) findings before and after canalith repositioning procedures for PC-BPPV. Results BPPV involving the nonampullary arm of right PC was diagnosed based on presenting positional downbeat nystagmus and selective right PC hypofunction at the vHIT. During physical treatment, nystagmus first became positional paroxysmal upbeat likely due to a shift of debris into the ampullary arm of the canal, then turned to spontaneous downbeat nystagmus consistently with a plug effect exerted by particles entrapped within the nonampullary arm of PC and finally receded proving an otoliths fall within the utriculus. Simultaneously, vHIT documented fluctuations for right PC vestibulo-ocular reflex gain as it first increased to normal values, then severely declined and finally normalized, respectively. High-resolution computed tomography scan detected ipsilateral superior canal dehiscence. Conclusions In accordance with recently reported vHIT findings in different types of BPPV, fluctuation of PC function could be likely explained by the effect of particles on cupular dynamic responses depending on the portion of the canal gradually involved. Superior canal dehiscence may have played a role facilitating otoliths mobilization by reducing labyrinthine impedance.

To evaluate frontal sinus complications developed after previous external craniotomies requiring frontal sinus reconstruction and their treatment with an endoscopic approach. We retrospectively evaluated 22 patients who referred to Sant’Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital and Bellaria Hospital (Bologna, Italy) between 2005 and 2017. All patients presented with frontal sinus disease after frontal craniotomy with sinus reconstruction performed to treat various pathological conditions. We reported our experience in the endoscopic management of such complications and we reviewed the current literature concerning the endoscopic treatment of these conditions. In total, 14 frontal mucoceles, 4 cases of chronic frontal sinusitis, 2 mucopyoceles and 2 fungus ball of the frontal sinus were identified. Endoscopic surgical treatment included 7 DRAF IIa, 1 DRAF IIb, 11 DRAF III and 3 DRAF IIc (modified DRAF III) approaches. The success rate of the surgical procedure was 86% (19/22 patients). Recurrence of the initial pathology occurred in three patients (14%) requiring a conversion of previous frontal sinusotomy into a DRAF III sinusotomy. Frontal sinusopathy can be a long-term complication following craniotomies and may lead to potentially severe pathological conditions, such as mucoceles and frontal sinus inflammation. Its management is still debated and requires recovery of the patency of nasal-frontal route. Our study confirms that the endoscopic endonasal approach may offer a valid solution with low morbidity avoiding re-opening of the craniotomic access. For selected cases, endoscopic approach could also be performed simultaneously to craniotomy as a combined surgery to reduce the risk of short- and long-term complications. Long-term follow-up is mandatory in patients with a history of opened and reconstructed frontal sinus and should include imaging and endoscopic outpatient evaluation.

To provide a summary of the evidence on the comparative effectiveness of two surgical treatment strategies, sentinel node biopsy (SNB) and elective neck dissection (END), in patients with T1–T2 oral cancer and clinically negative (cN0) neck, in terms of overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS) and neck recurrence rates (NRRs). A systematic review was performed by including studies published up to April 2019. Meta-analysis was performed to compare NRRs between SNB and END. A narrative summary of the results was generated for OS, DFS and morbidity outcomes. The certainty of evidence was assessed according to the GRADE methodology. No randomized studies were retrieved. Five observational studies were included in the comparative effectiveness analysis and four observational studies were included in the comparative morbidity analysis. The pooled risk ratio showed no differences in NRRs between SNB and END (10.5% vs 11.6%; pooled RR 1.09; 95% CI 0.67–1.76). No differences in OS or DFS between the two treatments were found. SNB appears to be associated with a lower rate of postoperative complications and lower shoulder dysfunction than END. Conversely, the results of the quality of life (QoL) questionnaires are not sufficient to advocate a particular strategy. Our review highlights the lack of well conducted and randomized studies comparing SNB to END, leading to poor clinical evidence. Although our findings suggest no significant differences in OS, DFS and NRR between the two strategies, the certainty of our evidence is too low to make it useful for clinical decision making.

The diagnosis of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) involving the posterior semicircular canal (PSC) is traditionally entrusted to positioning tests where patients are rapidly brought in the supine position. This prospective study aims to define the role of a diagnostic protocol for PSC-BPPV including only upright tests.109 patients with PSC-BPPV were enrolled. The Head Pitch Test (HPT) was carried out first. If uneventful, the patient's head was turned 45° to each side and bent back-and-forth along the plane aligning either with the right anterior-left posterior (RALP) or left anterior-right posterior (LARP) canals, thus performing the upright RALP / upright LARP (uRALP/uLARP) test. Nystagmus observed was used to predict the diagnosis, which was therefore confirmed by Dix-Hallpike tests.PSC-BPPV could be correctly diagnosed in 75.2% of cases with the sole HPT and in 87.2% of cases by adding the uRALP/uLARP test (Upright Protocol). The time elapsed from symptoms onset was closely related to the protocol sensitivity, as it reached 100% (64/64) in acute patients while decreased to 68.9% (31/45) in cases evaluated after 7 days (p 0.001).Upright maneuvers could correctly diagnose PSC-BPPV in most cases. uRALP/uLARP test demonstrated to improve the sensitivity of the HPT, mainly in recent-onset BPPV.

Background: Local and systemic corticosteroids have long been the workhorse in management of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), although there is no universally accepted modality of prescription. We carried out a survey in Italy to capture current trends in the use of topical and systemic corticosteroids in patients with CRSwNP. Methods: A survey was set up on Survey Monkey®. Each author distributed the link to the survey in an ad hoc manner and a total of 437 participants filled out the survey. Results: Mometasone furoate (79.3%) was the most frequently prescribed, administered daily by 61.9% of participants; the remaining preferred to discontinue treatment for brief periods to reduce side effects or to modulate the therapy in mild cases. The majority believe that a short cycle of systemic steroids should be prescribed for re-exacerbation of symptoms and that the number of cycles in the previous year should be evaluated to define control of the disease even if international guidelines do not provide clear indications on this topic. A certain degree of divergence emerged from responses regarding how long and the maximal dose of systemic steroids which place patients at high risk for adverse events. Finally, systemic corticosteroids seem to offer only temporary benefit on recovery of smell without guaranteeing long-term control even if the patient is adherent to topical corticosteroids. Conclusions: Our results highlight the need for clear guidelines on oral steroids, which could help supporting the use of a precision medicine approach, including indications for new biological agents.

Objective The aim of this study was to report the rationale and selection criteria for hemithyroidectomy and ipsilateral central neck dissection in patients with selected papillary thyroid cancer and to report the surgical and oncological outcomes. Design Single-institution retrospective observational study. Methods The clinical records of patients with a histopathological diagnosis of low-risk pT1 papillary thyroid cancer who underwent hemithyroidectomy with or without ipsilateral central neck dissection between March 2000 and April 2018 at a tertiary referral center were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic, clinical, and histopathological data were collected. Results During the study period, 176 patients underwent hemithyroidectomy for PTC. Thirteen patients (13/176, 7.39%) were lost to follow-up and 74 patients (74/163 45.40%) underwent completion thyroidectomy within 1 month because they were classified intermediate ATA initial risk based on definitive pathology. The final study group was composed of 89 patients, who had a median follow-up of 5.3 years. The mean follow-up was 6.3 years (range: 36–207 months). Eighty-four patients (94.38%) did not experience recurrence in the follow-up period. A total of 5/89 patients (5.62%) underwent delayed completion thyroidectomy with or without neck dissection for recurrent malignancy in the residual lobe (3/5) or regional lymph nodes (2/5). The median time from surgery to recurrence was 24.8 months (range: 6–60). The follicular variant was an independent risk factor for recurrence. Conclusions Hemithyroidectomy with or without prophylactic ipsilateral central neck dissection is a valuable treatment option in selected low-risk papillary thyroid cancers and ensures a low risk of recurrence. Prophylactic ipsilateral central compartment dissection could have a role in improving cancer staging, and accurate ultrasonographic follow-up is essential to identify local recurrence.

Objective Patients with acute respiratory failure due to COVID-19 have a high likelihood of needing prolonged intubation and may subsequently require tracheotomy. Usually, the choice of technique (percutaneous dilatational tracheotomy [PDT] versus open surgical tracheotomy [OST]) depends on the preference of surgeons and patient-related factors. In case of COVID-19, airborne spread of viral particles and limited time of apnea must be considered in the choice of the safest technique. The aim of this study is to compare the complication rates and offer an assessment of relative risks and benefits of PDT versus OST in patients with severe COVID-19. Methods We performed a retrospective study considering 47 consecutive patients affected by severe acute respiratory distress syndrome due to SARS-CoV-2 infection, needing invasive mechanical ventilation and subsequent tracheostomy. This study was performed at the Intensive Care Unit of our tertiary referral center. Complication rates were analyzed. Results Seventeen patients underwent PDT and 30 patients were submitted to OST. Twenty-six patients (55.3%) had post-operative complications (local infection, hemorrhage, subcutaneous emphysema) with no significant difference between PDT and OST. Conclusion PDT and OST are characterized by similar postoperative complication rates in severe COVID-19 patients. These findings suggest that OST might be preferred if expert ENT surgeons are available, as PDT could result in longer apnea and exposure to generated aerosol. However, authors recommend considering either OST or PDT at the discretion of the medical staff involved, according to the personal experience of the operators performing the procedure.

Objective Restriction in healthcare services during the COVID-19 pandemic caused delays in the diagnosis and treatment of several diseases. To overcome the risk of missed diagnosis of head and neck cancers, before deleting the scheduled appointments, we have introduced a selection of the patients by examining the clinical presenting issue and previous medical history. The aim of this study is to show the effects of the abovementioned strategy on the diagnosis and management of laryngeal cancer. Methods Data were extracted from the Hospital software regarding the new diagnosis of laryngeal SCC in the periods from March 2020 to December 2020 during the pandemic (study group) and from March 2019 to December 2019 (control group) were collected. Data were compared regarding: TNM stage, time from first medical examination to histological diagnosis (Time-1), and time form histological diagnosis to beginning of treatments (Time-2). Results The final study group was composed by 19 laryngeal cancers, the control group by 25 cases. No significant differences were found in the tumour stage between the groups. In the study group, Time-1 was shorter (24 days versus 43 days, p = 0.012), while Time-2 in surgically-treated patients was longer (20 days versus 9 days, p = 0.012). Conclusion During the pandemic, there was a dramatic lack of medical and nurse staff needed for surgical procedures. As consequence, the time between the diagnosis of malignancy and surgical treatment increased. In our unit, an efficient patient selection strategy to reschedule medical appointments avoided a dangerous shift toward higher laryngeal cancer stages.

The aim of this study is to provide a systematic review of the literature about the etiology, clinical and radiological presentation, surgical management, and outcomes of pneumolabyrinth (PNL). A systematic review of the literature was performed including studies published up to September 2020 in electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Scopus). The PRISMA standard was applied to identify English, Italian, or French-language studies mentioning PNL. Full texts lacking information on the etiology were excluded. Data concerning the cause, site of air bubbles/fistula, clinical presentation, treatment, and outcome were collected. A qualitative synthesis of the results was performed. Seventy-eight articles were eventually included; 132 patients were involved in the qualitative synthesis. The most common causes were: stapes surgery (24/132, 18.2%), temporal bone fracture (42/132, 31.8%), head trauma without temporal bone fracture (19/132, 14.4%), penetrating trauma (21/132, 15.9%), and barotrauma (15/132, 11.4%). The site most commonly involved was the vestibule (102/107, 95.3%), followed by cochlea (43/107, 40.2%) and semicircular canals (25/107, 23.4%). The etiopathogenesis of PNL can be summarized in traumatic, iatrogenic, or inflammatory/infective. Its management consists in exploratory tympanotomy and sealing the fistula, but also conservative treatments can be attempted. Vestibular symptoms disappear in the majority of cases. Instead, the prognosis of hearing function is widely variable, and complete recovery is less probable. The certainty of evidence is still too low to make it useful for clinical decision-making.

We describe a rare case of spontaneous upbeat nystagmus (UBN) attributable to a canalith jam involving the anterior semicircular canal (ASC) in a patient in whom comprehensive vestibular assessment was useful to identify the underlying pathomechanism. A 56-year-old woman with unsteadiness following repositioning procedures for left-sided benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) presented with spontaneous UBN that showed slight right torsional components. A vestibular test battery detected isolated left ASC hypofunction on a video-head impulse test (Video-HIT). We postulated a persistent utriculopetal deflection of the left ASC cupula, which was attributable to entrapment of debris in a narrow canal tract, with consequent sustained inhibition of the ampullary afferents. Although spontaneous UBN receded after impulsive physical therapy, unsteadiness deteriorated into positional vertigo secondary to canalolithiasis involving the ipsilateral posterior canal. In our view, physical therapy possibly fragmented the canalith jam and released free-floating otoconia that eventually settled into the ipsilateral posterior canal. Video HIT revealed normalization of ASC hypofunction, and leftsided posterior canal canalolithiasis was successfully treated using appropriate repositioning procedures. We propose that a canalith jam involving the ASC should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spontaneous UBN, particularly in patients with a history of BPPV and isolated ASC hypofunction detected on video HIT.

Purpose: To correlate objective measures of audio-vestibular function with superiorcanaldehiscence (SCD) size and location in ears with SCD and compare results with literature. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 242 patients exhibiting SCD and/or extremely thinned bone overlying superior canals (SC) on CT scans and selected 73 SCD patients (95 ears with SCD). Data concerning audiometry, impedance audiometry, video-head impulse test (vHIT), cervical vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (cVEMPs) and ocular VEMPs (oVEMPs) to air- (AC) and bone-conducted (BC) stimuli were collected for each pathologic ear and correlated with dehiscence size and location. Results: AC pure-tone average (PTA) (p = 0.013), low-frequency air–bone gap (ABG) (p < 0.001), AC cVEMPs amplitude (p = 0.002), BC cVEMPs amplitude (p < 0.001) and both AC and BC oVEMPs amplitude (p < 0.001) positively correlated with increasing SCD size. An inverse relationship between dehiscence length and both AC cVEMPs and oVEMPs thresholds (p < 0.001) and SC vestibulo–ocular reflex (VOR) gain (p < 0.001) was observed. Dehiscences at the arcuate eminence (AE) exhibited lower SC VOR gains compared to SCD along the ampullary arm (p = 0.008) and less impaired BC thresholds than dehiscences at the superior petrosal sinus (p = 0.04). Conclusion: We confirmed that SCD size affects AC PTA, ABG and both amplitudes and thresholds of cVEMPs and oVEMPs. We also described a tendency for SC function to impair with increasing SCD size and when dehiscence is located at the AE. The latter data may be explained either by a spontaneous canal plugging exerted by middle fossa dura or by a dissipation through the dehiscence of mechanical energy conveyed to the endolymph during high-frequency impulses.

NUT carcinoma (NUT-C) is a relatively new malignancy that was recently listed in the 4th edition of the WHO Classification of Head and Neck Tumors in 2017. NUT carcinoma is a rare, aggressive, poorly differentiated carcinoma genetically defined by chromosomal rearrangement of the nuclear protein in testis (NUTM1) gene. The prognosis is extremely poor, with a mean survival

Objectives: Patients with acute respiratory failure due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have a high likelihood of needing prolonged intubation and may subsequently require tracheotomy. Indications and timing for performing tracheotomy in patients affected by severe COVID-19 pneumonia are still elusive. The aim of this study is to analyze the role of tracheotomy in the context of this pandemic. Moreover, we report the timing of the procedure and the time needed to complete weaning and decannulation in our center. Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort study included adults (≥18 years) with severe COVID-19 pneumonia who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the tertiary care center of Reggio Emilia (Italy). All patients underwent orotracheal intubation with invasive mechanical ventilation, followed by percutaneous or open surgical tracheotomy. Indications, timing of the procedure, and time needed to complete weaning and decannulation were reported. Results: Forty-four patients were included in the analysis. Median time from orotracheal intubation to surgery was 7 (range 2-17) days. Fifteen (34.1%) patients died during the follow-up period (median 22 days, range 8-68) after the intubation. Weaning from the ventilator was first attempted on median 25th day (range 13-43) from orotracheal intubation. A median of 35 (range 18-79) days was required to complete weaning. Median duration of ICU stay was 22 (range 10-67) days. Mean decannulation time was 36 (range 10-77) days from surgery. Conclusions: Since it is not possible to establish an optimal timing for performing tracheotomy, decision-making should be made on case-by-case basis. It should be adapted to the context of the pandemic, taking into account the availability of intensive care resources, potential risks for health care workers, and benefits for the individual patient.

Objective To describe a rare case of pneumolabyrinth (PNL) and pneumocephalus (PNC) due to otogenic meningitis in a patient with superior canal dehiscence (SCD) resulting in profound sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), semicircular canals impairment but preservation of SCD-related enhanced otolith function. Patient A 65-year-old woman with otogenic meningitis. Intervention Temporal bone high-resolution computed tomography (CT) scans, brain-magnetic resonance imaging, audiometry, bedside examination, video-head impulse test, and vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs). Main outcome measures Enhanced otolith function despite canal and cochlear loss. Results The patient developed right profound SNHL and acute labyrinthitis. Imaging showed middle ear inflammatory tissue, right PNL and PNC despite lack of bony fractures. Bilateral SCD and tegmen dehiscence were detected. The patient underwent mastoidectomy, drainage of effusion, and surgical repair of tegmen dehiscence. Exploratory tympanotomy was uneventful. She was treated with intravenous antibiotics and dexamethasone for 3 weeks with improvement of general condition. At 3-weeks follow-up, right profound SNHL persisted with global hypofunction for ipsilateral semicircular canals and selective impairment for left superior canal activity at video-head impulse test. Surprisingly, both cervical and ocular-VEMPs exhibited bilaterally abnormal amplitudes and reduced thresholds, consistently with preserved SCD-related macular hypersensitivity to sounds even on the affected side. Conclusions This case report exhibits a unique clinical scenario as it offers interesting insights concerning PNL aetiology despite lack of either bony fractures or barotrauma and PNC likely conveyed intracranially by SCD. Moreover, it provides an unusual pattern of functional dissociation among inner-ear receptors showing enhanced otolith function despite severe labyrinthine damage.

Background: Swallowing disorders are common problems after partial laryngectomy. The aim of this study is to illustrate the long-term functional results of rehabilitation of swallowing by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) injection. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with dysphagia after partial laryngectomy who underwent injection of PDMS for rehabilitation of swallowing were included in the study. Impairment of swallowing and quality of life (QoL) were investigated with questionnaires: M. D. Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI) and Performance Status Scale for Head and Neck Cancer (PSS-HNC). Functional results at fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES) were analyzed using a modified penetration-aspiration scale. Results: Mean follow-up was 8.5 years. Twenty-six patients showed an improvement at questionnaires (p < 0.001). Median improvement was 6 (p < 0.001) in the modified penetration-aspiration scale. Total laryngectomy was required in one patient. Conclusions: PDMS injection is a good option for rehabilitation of swallowing in case of dysphagia after partial laryngectomy. It improves QoL and the results persist after a long follow-up period.

Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis (CNPAS) is a rare anomaly causing respiratory distress in newborns. While the primary surgical technique is well established, the timing of the removal of the stents and the management of restenosis remain a matter of debate. We report a case of a female newborn affected by CNPAS with the recurrence of respiratory distress after primary surgery due to the early removal of nasal stents, causing an overgrowth of granulation tissue. This report notes that restenosis was successfully managed by repeating the procedure over a 14-day period, with soft polyvinyl chloride uncuffed tracheal tubes acting as nasal stents.

Patients affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 disease (COVID-19) with respiratory distress may need invasive mechanical ventilation for a long period of time. Head and neck surgeons are becoming increasingly involved in the care of COVID-19 patients because of the rapidly increasing number of tracheotomies required. This procedure, when performed without protection, may lead to the infection of the medical and nursing staff caring for the patient. The aim of this report is to share our protocol for performing a safe surgical tracheotomy in COVID-19 patients. Infection of the nursing/medical staff involved in the first 30 tracheotomies performed in patients affected by COVID-19 in the Intensive Care Unit of a tertiary referral center were evaluated. Mistakes that occurred during surgery were analyzed and discussed. None of the nursing/medical staff presented signs or symptoms of COVID-19 within 15 days after the procedure. Conclusion: The authors have prepared a protocol for performing a safe surgical tracheotomy in patients affected by COVID-19. Surgeons who might be involved in performing the tracheotomies should become familiar with these guidelines.

Purpose: To investigate and compare the effect of endoscopic and microscopic type 1 tympanoplasty on the cochlear function, to determine if they have a different impact on the inner ear function. Methods: 72 ears treated by transcanal endoscopic type 1 tympanoplasty and 84 ears treated by microscopic type 1 tympanoplasty in 3 tertiary referral centers were enrolled in the study. Microscopic type 1 tympanoplasty were performed by transcanal or retroauricular approach. Only patients with mobile and intact ossicular chain were involved in the study. A retrospective chart review was performed. Main outcome measures were: (1) change in bone conduction thresholds at 250, 500, 1000, 2000, 4000Hz; (2) change in bone conduction Pure Tone Audiometry; (3) correlation of audiometric outcomes with surgical technique, graft type and graft position. Results: A mild postoperative bone conduction threshold shift was observed at 2000Hz and 4000Hz in both groups, without significant differences between the two groups. No statistically significant modifications in bone conduction were observed at any frequencies in patients operated by transcanal endoscopic approach compared with those who underwent transcanal or retroauricular microscopic type 1 tympanoplasty. Moreover, neither the placement nor the type of the graft seemed to influence the cochlear function preservation. Conclusions: The endoscopic and the microscopic approaches have a similar impact on the bone conduction threshold during type 1 tympanoplasty. In particular, the one-handed manipulation of the ossicular chain during the endoscopic technique did not show an increased risk of inner ear damage.

Objective To describe the possible diagnostic role of video-head impulse test (vHIT) in patients presenting with positional downbeat nystagmus (PDN) due to benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) involving the anterior canal (AC) or the non-ampullary arm of the posterior canal (PC). Patients Three patients presenting with positional vertigo, PDN, symmetrical cervical and ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials, and selective deficit of the vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) gain for a single vertical canal on vHIT. Interventions Diagnostic evaluation and rehabilitative treatment for BPPV involving the deficient canals. Main outcome measures Video-oculographic and vHIT findings before and after canalith repositioning procedures (CRP) for AC-BPPV and apogeotropic PC-BPPV. Results Each patient was treated with CRP for BPPV involving the hypoactive canal. In one case, symptoms receded with physical therapy, whereas two patients developed a paroxysmal positional upbeat nystagmus consistent with BPPV involving the ampullary arm of the ipsilateral PC and were treated with Epley CRP. Posttreatment evaluation showed resolution of symptoms and signs and restitution of canal function in all cases. Conclusions PDN can be due to both peripheral and central vestibular pathologies. In case of BPPV, involvement of the non-ampullary arm of the PC is hardly distinguishable from contralateral AC canalolithiasis. In these situations, vHIT may play a key role in the differential diagnosis. Considering these findings, we propose to include vHIT in the test battery of patient with PDN, as it may provide clues to the differential diagnosis with central pathologies enabling the identification of the canal involved by BPPV.

Objectives To describe a unique case of acute vertigo presenting with spontaneous horizontal nystagmus (SHN) and a clinical picture consistent with right acute peripheral vestibular loss (APVL) in which an isolated hypofunction of a horizontal semicircular canal (HSC) permitted to detect a spontaneous canalith jam and treat the patient accordingly. Methods Case report and literature review. Results A 74-year old woman presented with acute vertigo, left-beating SHN and a clinical picture consistent with right APVL. Nevertheless, vestibular evoked myogenic potentials were normal with symmetrical amplitudes and the video head impulse test (vHIT) revealed an isolated hypofunction of the right HSC. After repeated head shakings, the supine roll test evoked bilaterally a positioning paroxysmal geotropic horizontal nystagmus suggesting benign paroxysmal positional vertigo involving the non-ampullated arm of the right HSC. vHIT and caloric testing confirmed restitution of HSC function after repositioning maneuvers. Conclusions In case of acute vertigo with SHN, a complete functional assessment of vestibular receptors and afferents should always be given in order to avoid misdiagnosis. Canalith jam should be considered in case of spontaneous nystagmus and isolated canal hypofunction.

Nasolacrimal duct obstruction is the most common cause of persistent tearing and ocular discharge in children. The incidence of this disorder is higher in subjects who have craniofacial disorder and Down syndrome.

Background. The purpose of this study was to assess the factors influencing swallowing and phonatory results after partial laryngectomy. Methods. We carried out a medical chart review of patients who underwent partial laryngectomies between June 2003 and November 2010, focusing on functional outcomes. Results. Thirty-two patients were enrolled. No statistically significant difference was found in the comparison of phonatory outcomes of patients with preservation of both arytenoids; the results of the Yanagihara classification were significantly different (p ¼ .015) in patients with an atypical neoglottis; radiotherapy statistically significantly influenced only the mean fundamental frequency (p ¼ .035). The type of partial laryngectomy does not seem to affect the deglutition results; radiotherapy statistically significantly affected the dysphagia score (DS; p ¼ .03), penetration aspiration (p ¼ .02), and MD Anderson Dysphagia Inventory (MDADI; p ¼ .02). Conclusion. Horizontal supraglottic laryngectomy and supracricoid partial laryngectomy give the same swallowing results. The presence of both arytenoids does not influence the final outcome compared to patients in whom only 1 arytenoid is preserved. Postoperative radiotherapy only influences the swallowing function. V C 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 35: 214-219, 2013

The objective of this study was to analyze atypical neoglottis after supracricoid subtotal laryngectomy (SSL) from a morphological and functional point-of-view using retrospective case series reviewin a Tertiary university referral center setting. From May 2003 until January 2010, 106 patients underwent SSL (CHEP, CHP, THEP, THP) for laryngeal cancer, in the Otolaryngology Department of the University Hospital of Modena. We performed a retrospective analysis of recorded videos in our database of patients who underwent SSL. Patients with atypical neoglottis were included in the study. Six patients with atypical neoglottis were identified and morphologically evaluated. The functional outcomes were collected and analyzed. Atypical neoglottis may form after SSL, in particular in the case of CHEP. In most cases, these atypical conformations are due to anomalous positioning of the epiglottis, or involvement of the lateral pharyngeal wall in the sphincteric and vibratory function of the neoglottis. Atypical neoglottis formation seems to guarantee adequate functional outcomes in terms of vocal and swallowing performance. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.

Objective: We evaluated the efficacy of voice therapy according to Borragan's method associated to S. Magnani's vocal counselling in functional dysphonia in children. Patients and methods: We prospectively treated 16 patients with vocal fold nodules (10 males, 6 females). Age ranged from 6 to 11 years with a mean age of 9 years. We performed a full screening phoniatric evaluation. In addition psychological tests were carried out to investigate psychological background. Results: We lost three patients at follow-up; one patient received surgery, eight patients healed (43.75%), four improved (25%). There was no statistical difference in the analysis of electroacoustical parameters while MPT significatively raised after therapy. Conclusion: If patients have motivation voice therapy could improve functional dysphonia in children. It is also important psychological background. Further studies on bigger populations with long-term follow-up are needed. © 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.