Which one is favorable in the elderly? Transoral rigid laryngoscopy or transnasal flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy

PURPOSE

To determine whether transoral rigid laryngeal endoscopy (TORLE) or transnasal flexible fiberoptic laryngoscopy (TNFFL) is more favorable for laryngeal endoscopic examination in the elderly population.

METHODS

This randomized prospective study carried out in a tertiary reference center. TORLE or TNFFL were performed to patients who were over 65 years at their first visit according to randomization list. At their second visit, other method was performed. Patients' physiological parameters (Systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), and oxygen (O₂) saturation before and immediately after laryngeal examination were recorded. Patients' pain-irritation, gag reflex, and dyspnea status were evaluated using visual analog scale after first and second endoscopic examinations. Further patient preferences for TORLE and TNFFL were recorded.

RESULTS

Of 96 patients included in the study, 69.8% (n = 67) preferred TORLE while 30.2% (n = 29) preferred TNFFL. Major factor influencing patient preferences was pain-irritation in TNFFL. Pain-irritation scores were significantly higher in TNFFL than those in TORLE (p < 0.001). However, no significant difference was found between two methods with respect to gag reflex and dyspnea scores (p = 0.194, p = 0.327, respectively). In TORLE, there was no statistically significant difference between the values measured before and after examination in terms of SBP, DBP, HR, and O₂ saturation (p = 0.641, p = 0.134, p = 0.119, p = 0.414, respectively). However, in TNFFL, statistically significant decrease was observed after examination in HR and O₂ saturation (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

TORLE is more suitable for laryngeal examination in elderly patients since it is more comfortable for patient and does not change physiological parameters.

Comparison of transnasal and transoral routes of microdebrider combined curettage adenoidectomy and assessment of endoscopy for residue: a randomized prospective study

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency and locations of residual adenoid tissue in conventional curettage adenoidectomy (CA) via transnasal endoscopic examination at the end of the operation and to determine the most appropriate technique for residual adenoid tissue removal by transoral or transnasal microdebrider usage.

METHODS

Sixty-three patients aged 4-12 years who were scheduled for CA were included in this randomized prospective study in a tertiary reference center. Patients who underwent CA had the endoscopic residual tissue exploration at the end of surgery. The amount and locations of residual tissue were recorded. Patients with > 20% residual tissue were divided into two groups according to randomization list for removing the residual tissue, depending on the use of transoral microdebrider (TOMD) and transnasal microdebrider (TNMD). Two procedures were compared in terms of duration, bleeding, pain, post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) transfer time, and complications.

RESULTS

Residual tissue was detected in 38 patients (60.2%). The most common location of residual tissue was peritubal area (41.3%). The TOMD group had lower surgical duration, blood loss, pain scores and shorter PACU transfer time (p = 0.001, p = 0.002, p˂0.001, and p = 0.006, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Endoscopic exploration at the end of CA should be considered to avoid residual tissue retention. Furthermore, if residual tissue is present, the use of TOMD is easier, faster, and associated with lower morbidity than the use of TNMD.

The effect of tacrolimus on facial nerve injury: Histopathological findings in a rabbit model

HYPOTHESIS

Tacrolimus helps healing of facial nerve injury.

BACKGROUND

Positive effects of tacrolimus on axon regeneration and healing of injured peripheral nerves (eg. sciatic nerve) have been reported in the literature. Tacrolimus may be an additional treatment method that could improve the nerve healing after surgical treatment of cut injury of facial nerve.

METHODS

20 New Zealand rabbits were randomly separated into control and study groups of 10. In control group, no medical treatment was given after facial nerve anastomosis, and the animals were followed up for 2months. In the study group rabbits were given 1mg/kg/day tacrolimus subcutaneously for 2months after the facial nerve anastomosis. The histopathologic findings of axon regeneration like axon myelination were analyzed in both groups under electron and light microscopy. The data obtained in the groups were compared.

RESULTS

Greater axon diameters, thicker myelin sheaths, and higher total number of myelinated axons were found in the tacrolimus group, suggesting better regeneration in this group when compared to the control group. There was less vacuolar degeneration in the study group. All these findings suggest that tacrolimus positively affects healing after facial nerve anastomosis.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study indicate that tacrolimus has favorable effects on the healing process of the facial nerve after end-to-end anastomosis. Tacrolimus may be a promising agent in the future for nerve regeneration following traumatic facial paralysis surgery.