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Total Laryngectomy seriously affects on patients Quality of Life and on their psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to verify the effects of pre-operative Speech-Language Pathology counselling on laryngectomized patients. Pilot randomized controlled trial. Twenty-seven patients undergoing total laryngectomy and primary tracheoesophageal puncture were randomized as follows: 14/27 subjects were collocated in the Experimental group who received preoperative Speech-Language Pathology counselling and 13/27 in the Control group group that did not receive it. Two interviews and four questionnaires (Psychological Distress Inventory, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Italian-Self-Evaluation of Communication Experiences after Laryngeal Cancer) were administered immediately after surgery (T0), 1- (T1) and 3-months (T2) after hospital discharge in order to asses levels of distress, post-traumatic stress and anxious-depressive symptoms, acquisition and acceptance of the new voice. Student's t test and chi square test showed that the two groups of patients were equivalent. Experimental group was more satisfied with the information and obtained statistically better (p < 0.05) scores in terms of levels of distress, post-traumatic stress, anxious-depressive symptoms and acceptance of the new voice than the Control group. The Speech-Language Pathology counselling may reduce the anguish, sadness and anticipatory anxiety deriving from the uncertainty of the post-operative course and it might facilitate the process of emotional adaptation, making patients more capable and prepared to face their new condition., Author(s): Ylenia Longobardi [sup.1] , Vezio Savoia [sup.2] , Claudio Parrilla [sup.1] , Maria Raffaella Marchese [sup.1] , Luciana Morra [sup.1] , Giorgia Mari [sup.1] , Emilia Degni [sup.1] , [...]

Objectives: Cranial nerve paralysis is a rare complication of spinal and epidural anesthesia, and some cases of vocal fold paralysis (VFP) have been reported. The aim of this article is to report a case, identify evidence supporting the possibility of VFP being a complication of spinal and epidural anesthesia and to investigate the frequency, the characteristics, and the possible mechanisms of such a complication. Data Sources: CINAHL Complete, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Pubmed, and EMBASE. Methods: Case report according to CARE guidelines; scoping review according to PRISMA‐ScR criteria. All types of studies that reported on patients of any age and sex, all types of spinal/epidural anesthesia regardless of the location and of drugs used were included. A data extraction sheet was completed for each study selected for inclusion based on the full‐text screenings. Extracted data included: study characteristics, participant characteristics, intervention characteristics, outcome measures, clinical investigations. The study did not receive external funding. Results: Eight studies met inclusion criteria and a total of 13 events (in 12 patients, including ours) were reported to date. Although there are some hypotheses in regard to the mechanism underlying the phenomena, including mechanical and inflammatory ones, the exact cause is still unclear. Conclusions: Only few cases of VFP after spinal or epidural anesthesia have been reported to date; however, it seems possible that VFP might be a potential underreported complication of such procedures. We believe that more research on the topic is warranted, especially considering the wide population potentially at risk. Level of Evidence: NA Laryngoscope, 134:3477–3484, 2024 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores a modified technique called submandibular degloving for submandibular sialoadenectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the submandibular gland. The technique aims to minimize complications by preserving the fascia, facial vessels, and nerves. The study presents the outcomes of 35 cases using this technique, demonstrating no recurrences of neoplastic lesions and a low rate of nerve injuries. While the technique shows promise, the study acknowledges limitations such as being a single-center case series and lacking a control group, highlighting the need for further research to validate the findings. [Extracted from the article]