Javier Gavilán

Factors Related to Nerve Injury and Hypocalcemia in Thyroid Gland Surgery

To identify potential risk factors related to complications after thyroidectomy, a study was designed that included 675 patients. Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) paralysis, hypocalcemia, serohematoma, wound infection, and postoperative hemorrhage were evaluated. The rate of paralysis of the RLN was calculated on nerves at risk for hypocalcemia (n = 890) in patients undergoing bilateral procedures or unilateral procedures if they had previously undergone a contralateral operation (n = 321). Multivariate analysis was used to identify the relationships between the variables included in the study. All statistical tests received the same level of significance of 0.05. Permanent hypocalcemia occurred in 2.2% of the patients, whereas unilateral paralysis of the RLN developed in 0.9%. Mortality was 0.1% in this series. The RLN paralysis had a significant relationship with preoperative diagnosis of malignancy (P < 0.03). Likewise, hypocalcemia was related to sex and surgical procedure (P < 0.03). Serohematoma was linked with age (P < 0.001), and hemorrhage was associated with previous radiation of the neck (P < 0.03). (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001; 124:111-4.)

Supraglottic Laryngectomy: Functional and Oncologic Results

Between January 1980 and December 1989, 110 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the supraglottis were treated with supraglottic laryngectomy and neck dissection. The stage distribution was stage I 23%, II 34%, III 15%, and IV 28%. Adjuvant radiotherapy (5,000 to 6,500 cGy) was given to all pN+ cases. All patients were followed until death or for a minimum of 36 months, with an average of 65 months. Decannulation was achieved in 96% of the cases, with only 1 patient undergoing total laryngectomy because of aspiration. The average hospital stay was 22 days. Arytenoid edema was a frequent cause of delayed decannulation in patients undergoing radiotherapy. The overall 3-year survival was 78%, with 10 patients dying of unrelated causes. Local control was 94.6% and regional control was 83.6%. No significant difference was found in survival according to T stage, but survival rate was significantly influenced by N stage.

Facial nerve grading instruments: systematic review of the literature and suggestion for uniformity.

Background: A variety of facial nerve grading scales have been developed over the years with the intended goals of objectively documenting facial nerve function, tracking recovery, and facilitating communication between practitioners. Numerous scales have been proposed; however, all are subject to limitation because of varying degrees of subjectivity, reliability, or longitudinal applicability. At present, such scales remain the only widely accessible modalities for facial functional assessment. The authors’ objective was to ascertain which scales(s) best accomplish the goals of objective assessment. Methods: A systematic review of the English language literature was performed to identify facial nerve grading instruments. Each system was evaluated against the following criteria: convenience of clinical use, regional scoring, static and dynamic measures, features secondary to facial palsy (e.g., synkinesis), reproducibility with low interobserver and intraobserver variability, and sensitivity to changes over time and/or following interventions. Results: From 666 articles, 19 facial nerve grading scales were identified. Only the Sunnybrook Facial Grading Scale satisfied all criteria. The Facial Nerve Grading Scale 2.0 (or revised House-Brackmann Scale) fulfilled all criteria except intraobserver reliability, which has not been assessed. Conclusions: Facial nerve grading scales intend to provide objectivity and uniformity of reporting to otherwise subjective analysis. The Facial Nerve Grading Scale 2.0 requires further evaluation for intraobserver reliability. The Sunnybrook Facial Grading Scale has been robustly evaluated with respect to the criteria prescribed in this article. Although sophisticated technology-based methodologies are being developed for potential clinical application, the authors recommend widespread adoption of the Sunnybrook Facial Grading Scale as the current standard in reporting outcomes of facial nerve disorders.

Impact of Facial Dysfunction on Quality of Life after Vestibular Schwannoma Surgery

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the impact of facial dysfunction on quality of life in patients who underwent surgery for vestibular schwannoma. Other factors with a possible impact on quality of life were also assessed. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of 95 patients who underwent removal of a unilateral vestibular schwannoma. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory, an open-ended questionnaire, and a pain scale were sent to each patient. The questions were answered by 70 respondents (74%). After a minimum 1-year follow-up, the overall House-Brackmann postoperative facial function was grade I-II in 61% of patients, grade III-IV in 36%, and grade V-VI in 3%. Results: The open-ended questionnaire showed that 33% of patients stated a complaint related to facial dysfunction; it was the main complaint for 13% of patients. No significant difference was found in terms of Glasgow Benefit Inventory scores between patients with and without facial dysfunction, nor between those with different House-Brackmann grades. The most frequent complaint after surgery was hearing loss (46%). Postoperative pain was significantly associated with a worse postoperative quality of life. Conclusions: An overestimation of the effect of facial paralysis after vestibular schwannoma resection may exist on the surgeons part. Detailed information about the possibility of hearing loss, vestibular problems, and pain must be given to all patients.

Complications after Total Laryngectomy in Nonradiated Laryngeal and Hypopharyngeal Carcinomas

To study the complications of total laryngectomy, we evaluated 471 previously untreated patients who underwent total laryngectomy between 1980 and 1997. This series consisted of 358 patients with primary carcinoma of the larynx and 113 with carcinoma of the hypopharynx. Concurrent neck dissection was performed in 85% of patients. Complications were studied in relation to age, T and N stage, previous tracheostomy, neck dissection, margins, reconstruction, tracheoesophageal puncture, and surgeon. Complication treatment and hospitalization were also evaluated. The overall complication rate was 30.7%, with 29.2% major and 6.5% minor complications. The mortality rate was 0.6% (3/471). Pharyngocutaneous fistula was the most frequent wound complication (21%), followed by wound infection (4.2%) and hemorrhage (2.3%). Pneumonia (1.4%) and embolism (0.4%) were the most frequent medical complications. Hypopharyngeal tumors, neck dissection, and extended procedures had a significantly higher rate of complications. Complication causes, prevention, and treatment are discussed.

Functional neck dissection: three decades of controversy.

Functional neck dissection (FND) is a neck-functional, tumor-radical approach for the management of the neck in patients with head and neck cancer. Based on the anatomic knowledge of the lymphatic compartments of the neck, FND is a different surgical technique rather than a modification of the classic procedure described by Crile. From an oncologic viewpoint, FND is a relatively safe operation to treat the cervical spread from head and neck cancer as long as the indications and technical details are carefully followed. In this report, based on our experience with more than 1,000 FNDs, we analyze the history and the philosophy of the operation.

Quality of life in postlingually deaf patients following cochlear implantation.

Most cochlear implant studies are focused on improvement of speech perception associated with implantation. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of cochlear implantation on quality of life changes in Spanish users. Thirty postlingually deaf patients fitted with a cochlear implant completed the Glasgow Benefit Inventory, a questionnaire dealing with communication abilities, and an open-ended questionnaire. The Glasgow Benefit Inventory revealed a positive effect in 93% of patients. The use of a cochlear implant significantly enhanced discrimination ability, telephone use and self-confidence. A high degree of satisfaction was achieved in all situations except with background noise. Ninety-six percent of patients would recommend the operation to a friend. A dramatic improvement in quality of life following cochlear implantation is revealed by a great majority of patients. The results cannot only be explained by enhancements to auditory perception.

Surgical Treatment of Laryngotracheal Stenosis: A Review of 60 Cases

Management of laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) remains one of the most challenging problems facing the otolaryngologist. The key to success is to obtain adequate rigid circular support with normal mucosal lining. Sixty patients with LTS were surgically treated in our institution over a 20-year period. Most patients were adults; the mean age was 29 years. There were 39 males and 21 females. The most frequent cause of stenosis was intubation, in 25 patients, and tracheostomy was the cause in 21. Forty-two patients (70%) were successfully decannulated following 117 procedures in this series. An average of 1.95 procedures per patient was performed. The median time between treatment and decannulation was 561 days. These results confirm the complexity of the management of LTS. Decannulation is not always possible, and to achieve this goal, more than one treatment is frequently required. It is better to prevent LTS rather than to treat it once it has occurred.

Hearing preservation with the retrosigmoid approach for vestibular schwannoma: myth or reality?

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study is to present our experience with the retrosigmoid approach for vestibular schwannoma resection, emphasizing our hearing results, discussing selection and reporting results criteria.Study design and setting The notes of 65 consecutive cases of vestibular schwannoma undergoing the retrosigmoid approach were reviewed. Hearing data were reported according to the recommendations of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (AAO-HNS). In addition, the terms normal, serviceable, useful, and measurable hearing were considered. RESULTS Tumor size ranged from 8 to 50 mm (mean, 24.1 mm). Of the 29 patients with preoperative serviceable hearing (AAO-HNS classes A and B), 5 patients (17%) had postoperative serviceable hearing, and 6 patients (20%) had postoperative useful hearing (AAO-HNS classes A, B, and C). CONCLUSION The retrosigmoid approach is a reliable surgical procedure for most vestibular schwannoma tumors. However, hearing preservation results show wide differences depending on selection and reporting results criteria. Hearing preservation, although possible, may not be the main reason to choose this approach.

Extracapsular Spread and Desmoplastic Pattern in Neck Lymph Nodes: Two Prognostic Factors of Laryngeal Cancer

The influence of extracapsular spread (ECS) and a desmoplastic pattern (DP) of metastatic cervical lymph nodes in patients with laryngeal cancer is presented. The study includes 128 patients surgically treated between 1984 and 1992 for squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx with pathologically proven lymph node metastasis. The results were studied from 2 major standpoints: survival and recurrence. The 3-year survival rates were as follows: patients without ECS 73.4%, and with ECS 28.9% (p < .001); patients without a DP 76.9%, and with a DP 43.3% (p < .03). Also, the 3-year recurrence rates in the neck showed significant differences: patients without ECS 10.7%, and with ECS 49.6% (p < .001); patients without a DP 10%, and with a DP 31.6% (p = .1142). Postoperative radiotherapy did not appear to improve the outcome.