Kerry D. Olsen

Sleep and Breathing Disturbance Secondary to Nasal Obstruction

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of acute nasal obstruction on sleep and breathing in eight normal persons. The subjects were randomized into two groups. One night the subject was studied with the nose open and a second night with the nose obstructed. The electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, inspiratory effort, nasal and oral airflow, and oxygen saturation were monitored. Sleep proved to be both subjectively and objectively disturbed. The subjects with the nose obstructed awoke more often, had a greater number of changes in sleep stage, had a prolongation of rapid-eye-movement (REM) latency, and spent a greater amount of time in stage I non-REM sleep (light sleep). Acute nasal obstruction caused a statistically significant increase in the number of partial and total obstructive respiratory events (obstructive hypopnea and obstructive apnea). Sleep apnea developed in one subject during this study merely on the basis of acute nasal obstruction.

Quality of Life after Surgical Treatment of Cancer of the Larynx

The purpose of the study was to assess the quality of life of patients after surgical treatment for cancer of the larynx. Three groups of patients were identified according to surgical treatment: total laryngectomy, 111 patients; near-total laryngectomy, 38 patients; and partial laryngectomy, 23 patients. The impact of successful surgical treatment on their life roles was analyzed in terms of work, activities, familial and spousal relationships, sexuality, and psychologic features such as stress and anxiety. Two questionnaires were used: the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale (PAIS) and the Mayo Clinic Postlaryngectomy Questionnaire. With the PAIS questionnaire, no difference was found in role adjustment between the total laryngectomy and near-total laryngectomy groups, with one exception. In the work domain, the total laryngectomy patients who were working had better adjustment than the near-total laryngectomy patients. The overall adjustment of both groups was less favorable than that of a comparison group of patients with nonlaryngeal cancer. The patients who had the classic conservation operations adjusted in all domains more favorably than the patients with permanent tracheostomas. The partial operation patients adjusted better than the nonlaryngeal cancer patients. We conclude that the stoma has a negative impact on adjustment postoperatively and that it may have a more serious impact on life adjustment than voice alteration. Further investigation and standardization of measurement tools are needed.

Recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland: report of 126 cases and a review of the literature

The records of 126 patients with recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland treated at our institution from 1965 to 1985 were retrospectively reviewed. Multiple variables were analyzed to determine tumor behavior and treatment results. Of the study patients, 61% were female and 39% male, with a mean age of 35.6 years at the time of treatment at our institution. The average follow-up period was 14.5 years. Tumor recurrence was 32.5% after one operation at our institution, 7.1% after two operations, and 1.6% after three. Malignant disease occurred in 9 (7.1%) patients. After all surgical procedures, partial facial nerve paralysis was noted in 13.5% and total paralysis in 5.5%. These results suggest low morbidity and good success in tumor eradication with an aggressive surgical approach.

Cartilaginous Tumors of the Larynx: Clinicopathologic Review of 47 Cases

We reviewed the clinical and pathologic features of 47 laryngeal cartilaginous tumors treated at the Mayo Clinic. This represents the largest reported series of these tumors. The patient group consisted of 36 men (77%) and 11 women (mean age, 63 years; range, 44 to 91 years). The tumors included 44 chondrosarcomas, all low-grade, and 3 chondromas. The overall 5-year survival was 90.1%, which did not differ significantly from the expected survival. Laryngectomy was performed as primary treatment for chondrosarcoma in 6 patients. Of the patients with chondrosarcoma, 40% had tumor recurrence or symptomatic tumor progression at an average of 4.5 years after diagnosis. Only 15 of the patients with chondrosarcoma (34%) required total laryngectomy. There were no metastases, and 4 patients died of local disease (all received treatment before 1960). At latest follow-up, 34 patients with chondrosarcoma (77%) were alive without disease or had died of other causes. We conclude that laryngeal chondrosarcoma can be treated with conservative surgery in most cases, both initially and for recurrent disease.

Angiosarcomas of the Head and Neck: Clinical and Pathologic Characteristics:

Between 1974 and 1992, 32 patients with pathologically diagnosed angiosarcoma of the head and neck were evaluated at our institution. The primary treatment group consisted of 24 patients who had the initial diagnosis made or confirmed at our institution, and the other 8 patients formed the salvage group. There were 23 men and 9 women. The median age in the primary treatment group was 63 years (range 18 to 91 years). The overall median survival among the primary group patients was 4.8 years, and the 3-year survival was estimated to be 57% (95% confidence interval 39% to 84%). The median follow-up was 2.1 years (range 83 days to 9.7 years). Patients who had tumors less than 7.0 cm in diameter and tumors with invasion only to the subcutaneous tissues had better overall survival and longer time to first adverse event. Diploid DNA content was a significant favorable prognostic factor for time to first adverse event. Mitotic activity was of borderline significance with both end points. Patients who had tumors of less than 1.5 cm were treated successfully with surgery alone. Patients treated with combined surgery and radiotherapy also tended to do better. Because most patients in whom regional recurrences developed had tumors larger than 7.0 cm, we conclude that patients with tumors of this size may benefit from regional neck node dissection at the time of primary excision or from elective neck irradiation.

Results of Near-Total Laryngectomy

The clinical records of 225 patients undergoing primary or salvage near-total laryngectomy (NTL) for laryngeal and pyriform cancer were analyzed for local control and morbidity. If the primary cancer was laryngeal in origin, patients underwent a simple NTL; if it was pyriform, a minor modification called near-total laryngopharyngectomy (NTLP) was used. When NTLP was extended to include necessary portions of the tongue base or posterior pharyngeal wall, pharyngeal reconstructions were added. The principal outcomes studied were 1) 5-year local control of the primary cancer, 2) achievement of lung-powered shunt speech, and 3) incidence of aspiration. The local control of cancer was similar to that expected with total laryngectomy or laryngopharyngectomy. Conversational voice was achieved in 85% of patients surviving beyond 1 year. Some patients required additional surgery for voice — Usually endoscopic dilation. Aspiration was absent if primary healing was achieved. It was troublesome in wound breakdown if the shunt was directly affected. Secondary anti-aspiration procedures were required in 9% of our patients — usually preserving shunt speech.

Upper Aerodigestive Tract Manifestations of Cicatricial Pemphigoid

Cicatricial pemphigoid is a chronic mucosal blistering disorder with a predilection for subsequent scar formation. Many physicians may be unaware of the various presentations and sequelae of this uncommon disease. This report of the largest series to date focuses on the upper aerodigestive tract manifestations of this disease. During the years 1975 to 1985, 142 patients with cicatricial pemphigoid were seen at the Mayo Clinic. There were 93 women and 49 men; the age range was 21 to 92 years. Mucosal lesions occurred most often in the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and conjunctiva. Involvement of the pharynx, larynx, and esophagus was less common. Stenosis of the nasopharynx or larynx necessitated surgical repair in several persons and caused obstructive sleep apnea in two. The otolaryngologist can make an important contribution to the early recognition, diagnosis, and management of the complications of cicatricial pemphigoid.

Utility of near-total laryngectomy for supraglottic, pharyngeal, base-of-tongue, and other cancers.

This report emphasizes the utility of the near-total laryngectomy for those patients in whom conventional conservation surgery is an option but may be oncologically or physiologically unsafe. The near-total operation can be offered for supraglottic cancer, pharyngeal cancer, and, more commonly, primary glottic cancer with cord fixation. Its application is described for patients who are candidates for conventional conservation surgery but are compromised physiologically by age or poor general health and for patients in whom tumor extent would not permit safe conventional conservation surgery.

Nasal Manifestations of Allergic Granulomatosis and Angiitis (Churg-Strauss Syndrome)

A postauricular mastoid cutaneous fistula may be a complication of chronic ear disease or ear surgery or both. Simple closure is often unsuccessful because of the necrotic skin edges, and it may result in a larger fistula. This paper illustrates a method of closing a large postauricular mastoid cutaneous fistula. The steps include excising the fistula, everting the mastoid epithelium toward the external auditory meatus, covering the undersurface of the everted skin edges with an anteriorly based periosteal flap, covering the flap with bone paté, placing a free graft of abdominal fat, and closing the defect with a rotational skin flap. This technique closes the fistula and obliterates the mastoid cavity.

Surgically correctable causes of sleep apnea syndrome.

This report presents six cases of obstructive sleep apnea associated with discrete anatomic abnormalities of the upper airway tract. All patients were relieved of their sleep apnea by surgical correction of the airway obstruction, and therefore permanent tracheotomy was avoided. The obstructive causative factors were nasal septal deformity, adenoidal hypertrophy, nasopharyngeal stenosis, lingual cyst, lingual tonsillar hypertrophy, and laryngeal cyst. The last-named four conditions have not previously been reported as correctable causes of sleep apnea.