Gaetano Motta

Oxidative stress in chronic otitis media with effusion

Abstract Conclusions: The high oxidant levels in chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) observed in our research and the improvement seen in children with chronic OME after antioxidant treatment suggest that oxygen-derived free radicals play an important role in chronic OME. Objectives: OME is a common pathologic condition characterized by nonpurulent fluid in the middle ear (ME) that leads to moderate conductive hearing loss and flat tympanogram. During OME inflammatory cells generate large amounts of superoxide radicals to improve bactericidal activity. Overproduction of oxygen-derived free radicals induces oxidative damage in humans. Glutathione (GSH) is one of the major components of the antioxidant system that protects cells from oxidative stress. The aim of the study was to evaluate oxidative stress in chronic OME by investigation of ME fluids collected during myringotomy. Methods: During myringotomy, fluid was collected from the ME to evaluate lipid peroxide levels in the effusion. Fifty-nine children with ME effusion without any resolution after repeated medical treatments were enrolled in the study. Results: Lipid peroxide levels in all samples were high (mean 11.5 nmole/million cells), similar to the values found in other chronic diseases. GSH might be employed during surgery while applying ventilation tubes and after surgery to prevent oxidative stress.

Functional Results in Stapedotomy with and without CO2 Laser

The authors have studied the use of the CO2 laser in performing primary stapedotomy in 451 patients affected by otosclerosis, operated between 1996 and 2000. Footplate perforation was practised with a traditional method, by means of a microdrill, in 169 subjects. A CO2 laser was instead used in other 282 cases; the authors effected the platinotomy with a single spot, repeated if necessary, with the diameter adjusted to the caliber of the prosthesis. This procedure allowed a smooth-edged perforation to be obtained. In the 282 laser-operated patients, there was a significantly higher proportion having closure of the cochlear reserve within 10 dB than that found in the cases where the microdrill was used. Moreover, no postoperative anacusia or severe vertigo were recorded; this confirms the safety of the CO2 laser as regards the inner ear. The functional results, therefore, document the validity of the exposed technique.

Management of chronic otitis media with effusion: the role of glutathione.

Background The inflammatory cells documented in chronic otitis media with effusion (OME) spontaneously release oxidants which can induce middle ear (ME) epithelial cell damage. Glutathione (GSH), a major extracellular antioxidant in humans, plays a central role in antioxidant defense.

One-stage removal of residual intracanalicular acoustic neuroma and hemihypoglossal-intratemporal facial nerve anastomosis: technical note.

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCEIncomplete removal of residual intracanalicular tumor and injury to the facial nerve are the main problems associated with surgery of large acoustic neuromas via the retromastoid suboccipital approach. In patients with residual or recurrent intracanalicular neuromas, the translabyrinthine approach is the preferred surgical route, allowing complete tumor removal; it may eventually also be used for exposure of the intratemporal portion of the facial nerve for a hemihypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis when a postoperative facial palsy exists This one-stage procedure has not been described previously. CLINICAL PRESENTATIONThree patients with postoperative facial palsy and residual intracanalicular tumor after surgical removal of a large acoustic neuroma via the retromastoid suboccipital approach underwent reoperation via the translabyrinthine approach and one-stage removal of the residual tumor and hemihypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis. All three patients had a complete facial palsy of House-Brackmann Grade VI and a residual tumor of 8 to 12 mm. TECHNIQUEA classic translabyrinthine approach was used to open the internal auditory canal and remove the residual intracanalicular tumor. The facial nerve was exposed in its mastoid and tympanic parts, mobilized, and transected; then, the long nerve stump was transposed into the neck and used for an end-to-side anastomosis into the hypoglossal nerve. The operation resulted in variable improvement of the facial muscle function up to Grade III (one patient) and Grade IV (two patients). CONCLUSIONReoperation via the translabyrinthine approach is indicated for removal of residual intracanalicular acoustic neuroma and realization of a hypoglossal-facial nerve anastomosis in a single procedure. It is suggested that this type of anastomosis may also be used during the initial operation for acoustic neuroma removal when the facial nerve is inadvertently sectioned.

CO2 Laser Treatment of Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis in Adduction

This study presents results obtained from 83 patients with bilateral vocal cord paralysis in adduction treated between 1982 to 2001, with CO2 laser microlaryngoscopy. In relation to the different types of surgery followed, three distinct treatment groups were included: group 1 (1982–1984) included 5 patients treated with vaporization of the vocal process of the arytenoid and the homolateral posterior third of the true vocal cord. Group 2 (1983–1990) contained 19 patients who were treated with arytenoidectomy and removal of the homolateral posterior half of the true vocal cord and group 3 (1990–2001), including 59 patients who were treated with arytenoidectomy and removal of the homolateral posterior half or two thirds of both the true and false vocal cord. Functional results were assessed by means of spirometry, spectrography and aerophonic examinations performed at 5, 90, 180, and 240 days postoperatively. The results show that removal of the posterior third of the true vocal cord and false vocal cord, combined with arytenoidectomy, is the surgical treatment of choice to resolve respiratory insufficiency in these patients.

Sleeve gastrectomy improves obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS): 5 year longitudinal study

BACKGROUND Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is prevalent among morbidly obese patients. Evaluation of the specific effects of sleeve gastrectomy (SG) on upper airway function has not been reported. Given the possibility that some patients will not respond despite weight loss, no studies have investigated whether other mechanisms may be responsible for persistent OSAS after bariatric surgery. OBJECTIVES To evaluate by subjective and objective assessment the impact of SG on upper respiratory physiology in the long-term. SETTING University Hospital, Division of Bariatric and ENT Surgery, in Italy. METHODS Thirty-six consecutive patients with OSAS who underwent laparoscopic SG were prospectively enrolled. The effect of SG on respiratory function and OSAS was followed for 5 years. RESULTS All patients completed the 5-year follow-up. A significant (P<.001) improvement in modified Epworth Sleepiness Scale questionnaire (ESS) was obtained in 91.6% (33/36) of patients. The Apnea/Hypopnea index (AHI) improved in 80.6% (29/36) of patients after surgery (from 32.8 ± 1.7 to 5.8 ± 1.2 (P<.001), 4.9 ± 1.7). The remaining 19.4% (7/36) of patients with a positive ESS and/or AHI all had an associated respiratory resistance due to nasal obstructive diseases. CONCLUSION SG improved OSAS overall, but patients who did not improve or only partially improved despite weight loss were found to have an associated nasal responsible pathology. How these patients will respond to nasal surgery and whether a 2-step procedure should be recommended for OSAS patients requires further study.

Changes in Serum Interferon-γ, Interleukin-4, and Interleukin-12 Cytokine Levels in Anti-Histamine Type 2–Treated Allergic Rhinitis Patients†

Objectives/Hypothesis Markedly elevated immunoglobulin E (IgE) synthesis characterizes allergic diseases. Interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) and interleukin‐4 (IL‐4) regulate IgE synthesis. It has been shown that immunotherapy and histamine type 2 (H2) receptor antagonists induce a clinical improvement, decrease IgE antibodies, and increase T‐cell subsets, which express a suppressor function. In addition, immunotherapy brings about a reduction in the amount of IL‐4 in T‐cell clones of allergic individuals. The purpose of this study was to investigate the profile of cytokines IFNγ and IL‐4 that occurs in vivo in anti‐H2–treated patients with allergic rhinitis (AR).

Glottic-SubGlottic adenoid cystic carcinoma. A case report and review of the literature

BackgroundMalignant tumours of minor salivary glands are uncommon, representing only 2-4% of all head and neck cancers. In the larynx, minor salivary gland tumours rarely occur and constitute less than 1% of laryngeal neoplasm. Most of the minor salivary gland tumours arise in the subglottis; however, they can also occur in the supraglottis, in the false vocal cords, aryepiglottic folds and caudal portion of the epiglottis. The most common type of malignant minor salivary gland tumour is adenoid cystic carcinoma.MethodsWe present a unusual case of adenoid cystic carcinoma of glottic-subglottic region in a 61-year-old woman. Follow-up endoscopy and laryngeal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at three years after treatment showed no recurrence of the tumour.ResultsThe diagnosis of glottic-subglottic adenoid cystic carcinoma should be considered in patients who are characterized by dyspnea, cough and stridor, but do not respond to pharmacologic approach.ConclusionsAdenoid cystic carcinoma is usually a very slow growing cancer, invested by an apparently normal laryngeal mucosa, so that it can show no clear symptoms for a long time. For these reasons the increasing number of diagnostic mistakes or late diagnosis that may be fatal in some cases.

Current therapeutic prospectives in the functional rehabilitation of vocal fold paralysis after thyroidectomy: CO2 laser aritenoidectomy

A frequent complication of thyroid surgery is laryngeal nerve palsy with transitory or permanent deficiency of cordal motility. Peripheral mono-or bilateral palsy in these cases may either occur, in adduction or abduction, and be complete or not complete. Bilateral vocal cords paralysis cause a persistent dyspnoic symptomatology with worsening during physical exercise or flogistic episodes of the upper airway: true vocal cords adduction, in median or paramedian position reduce the glottic space and increases respiratory resistances. Several surgical procedures have been proposed for the treatment of respiratory distress secondary to bilateral cord palsy. The aim of this study is to value the role of CO2 laser aritenoidectomy in 93 patients affected by bilateral paralysis in adduction of true vocal cords. Pre and postoperative evaluations included clinical results, spirometry, aerodynamics studies and evaluation of foniatric performance (MPT, H/N Ratio, Jitter and Shimmer) with a mean follow-up of 12 years. CO2 laser aritenoidectomy induces a complete resolution of respiratory failure, maintaining a good vocal quality, minimum surgical stress with low percentage of complications and a short hospitalization.

Nasotracheal Prolonged Safe Extubation Reduces the Need of Tracheotomy in Patients with Acute Respiratory Failure followingThyroidectomy

Objectives: Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is a complication following thyroid surgery; its incidence is reported as high as 0.9%. Through an illustrative case series, we present an alternative treatment of this peculiar ARF: the nasotracheal Prolonged Safe Extubation (PSE). Methods: Patients treated at our Intensive Care Unit for ARF following thyroid surgery from January 2004 to December 2009, were reviewed. Demographic data including gender, age, clinical presentation, laryngoscopic findings, management and outcome during a 24-months follow-up after treatment were collected and evaluated. The strategy for prolonged nasotracheal safe extubation is presented. Results: Twelve out of the 1713 patients scheduled for thyroid surgery (0.7%) at our university hospital, developed post-operative ARF. All of them were treated by nasotracheal prolonged safe extubation. The success rate in avoiding highly invasive treatment was of 83.3%, since only 2 patients needed tracheotomy (16.7%). Conclusions: The prolonged safe extubation reduced the amount of expected tracheotomies in patients with ARF following thyroid surgery. Thanks to its minimal invasiveness, and to the high degree of comfort, it was well tolerated.