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Αλέξανδρος Γ. Σφακιανάκης

Tuesday, September 14, 2021

Ex Utero Intrapartum Treatment (EXIT) Into the World: A Multidisciplinary Approach and Outcomes in a Malaysia Tertiary Centre

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Abstract

Fetal airway obstruction that present during birth are challenging to manage. Cervical and thoracic mass may cause significant airway compression that leads to irreversible fetal morbidity and mortality. With the current advancement in prenatal diagnosis and assessment for surgical planning, EXIT has become an accepted, recognized and preferred option for safe delivery in complex head and neck masses. Ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) is a life-saving procedure that provides time to establish an airway while maintaining uteroplacental circulation. It requires flawless coordination amongst multidisciplinary team to ensure immediate and safe baby deliveries. Retrospective review of EXIT procedures performed from the initial establishment of pediatric otolaryngology service in this centre starting from January 2019 to December 2020. Based on the prenatal diagnosis, five EXIT cases were performed in this centre within 2 years. 4 cases were diagnosed as lymph atic malformation and 1 immature teratoma with cervical and thoracic compression. 4 babies successfully delivered to airway without any complications with 1 death resulting from disseminated intravascular coagulopathy after EXIT. This review of five EXIT procedures aims to bring forth the different outcomes, preoperative planning and sharing our experience as a tertiary and newly established centre. Early prenatal diagnosis, good collaboration and experience among multidisciplinary team ensures good long term outcomes.

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Objective Analysis Of Voice Quality In Patients With Thyroid Pathology

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Abstract

Background

One of the symptoms reported by patients with thyroid pathology are the changes in voice. The percentages of vocal alterations found in the literature vary between 16.7% and 68%. Such variability can be explained by different assessment methods used and their reliability.

Objective

The goal of this study is to analyze the voice in patients with thyroid pathology through two objective indexes with great diagnostic accuracy. Overall vocal quality was evaluated with the Acoustic Voice Quality Index (AVQI v.03.01) and the breathy voice with the Acoustic Breathiness Index (ABI).

Method

Observational case-control study of fifty-eight subjects, 29 controls and 29 thyroidectomy candidates. All participants with thyroid pathology completed the Spanish version of Voice Handicap Index-10. Also, patient complaints relating to possible laryngeal dysfunction were assessed through closed questions. A sustained vowel and three phonetically balanced sentences were recorded for each subject (118 samples). AVQI v.03.01 and ABI were assessed using the Praat program. Two raters perceptually evaluated each voice sample by using the Grade parameter of GRABS scale.

Results

Acoustic analysis shows that 55.17% of subjects present values above the pathological threshold of the AVQI, and 58.62% above that of the ABI. Results of the Student's test comparisons of the AVQI and ABI values between the control group and the thyroid group show significantly higher values of AVQI (t[56]=-3.85, p<0.001) and ABI (t[54.39]=-4.82, p<0.001) in thyroidectomy candidates.

Conclusion

A mild decrease in vocal quality is part of the symptomatology presented by thyroidectomy candidates.

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Surgical Experience in Prevention of Postoperative CSF Leaks Using Abdominal Fat Grafts in Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Adenomas

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J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2021 Oct;82(5):522-527. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1712179. Epub 2020 Aug 20.

ABSTRACT

Objective Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are the most common complication during endonasal endoscopic transsphenoidal approach (EETSA) and prevention of postoperative CSF leaks is critical. In this study, we report a single surgeon's experience of sellar floor reconstruction using abdominal fat grafts for prevention of postoperative CSF leaks in EETSA for pituitary adenomas. Study Design This study is presented as case series with retrospective chart review. Setting Present study was conducted at tertiary referral center. Participants A total of 216 patients who underwent surgery via EETSA for pituitary adenomas between 2008 and 2018 at our institution were evaluated. When an intraoperative CSF leak occurred, sellar floor reconstruction was performed using a fat graft harvested from the abdomen via a 2-cm sk in incision. Main Outcome Measures Primary outcome and measures of this study was postoperative CSF leaks. Results A total of 53 patients showed intraoperative CSF leaks (24.5%) and 2 patients showed postoperative CSF leaks (0.93%). There were no postoperative CSF leaks in any patients who showed intraoperative CSF leaks and received sellar floor reconstruction using fat grafts. There were also no postoperative CSF leaks in 12 patients who received preventative sellar floor reconstruction using fat grafts due to extensive arachnoid herniation without intraoperative CSF leaks. However, there were two postoperative CSF leaks in patients who did not show intraoperative CSF leaks and did not receive sellar floor reconstruction. Conclusion The effectiveness of sellar floor reconstruction using abdominal fat grafts in patients receiving EETSA for pituitary adenoma was reported. We suggest that identification of intraoperative CSF leaks is important and preventive sell ar floor reconstruction without evidence of intraoperative CSF leaks can also be beneficial.

PMID:34513557 | PMC:PMC8421129 | DOI:10.1055/s-0040-1712179

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Bone Cement Cranioplasty Reduces Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak Rate after Microvascular Decompression: A Single-Institutional Experience

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J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2021 Oct;82(5):556-561. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1715607. Epub 2020 Aug 20.

ABSTRACT

Background Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a common surgical treatment for cranial nerve compression, though cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak is a known complication of this procedure. Bone cement cranioplasty may reduce rates of CSF leak. Objective To compare rates of CSF leak before and after implementation of bone cement cranioplasty for the reconstruction of cranial defects after MVD. Methods Retrospective chart review was performed of patients who underwent MVD through retrosigmoid craniectomy for cranial nerve compression at a single institution from 1998 to 2017. Study variables included patient demographics, medical history, type of closure, and postoperative complications such as CSF leak, meningitis, lumbar drain placement, and ventriculoperitoneal shunt insertion. Cement and noncement closure groups we re compared, and predictors of CSF leak were assessed using a multivariate logistic regression model. Results A total of 547 patients treated by 10 neurosurgeons were followed up for more than 20 years, of whom 288 (52.7%) received cement cranioplasty and 259 (47.3%) did not. Baseline comorbidities were not significantly different between groups. CSF leak rate was significantly lower in the cement group than in the noncement group (4.5 vs. 14.3%; p < 0.001). This was associated with significantly fewer patients developing postoperative meningitis (0.7 vs. 5.2%; p = 0.003). Multiple logistic regression model demonstrated noncement closure as the only independent predictor of CSF leak (odds ratio: 3.55; 95% CI: 1.78-7.06; p < 0.001). Conclusion CSF leak is a well-known complication after MVD. Bone cement cranioplasty significantly reduces the incidence of postoperative CSF leak and other complications. Modifiable risk factors such as body mass index were not associated with the development of CSF leak.

PMID:34513562 | PMC:PMC8421130 | DOI:10.1055/s-0040-1715607

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Sinonasal Quality of Life Outcomes after Endoscopic Endonasal Transsphenoidal Surgery with Posterior Septum Free Mucosal Graft Reconstruction

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J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2021 Oct;82(5):528-533. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1716678. Epub 2020 Sep 10.

ABSTRACT

Objective Quality of life (QoL) outcomes following endoscopic endonasal transphenoidal surgery (EETS) across a variety of reconstructive methods improve by 2 to 6 months. An option for sellar reconstruction, in the absence of a significant intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, is a free mucosal graft (FMG) from the posterior septum. We analyze sinonasal QoL outcomes in patients undergoing EETS with FMG reconstruction. Study Design This study was a retrospective review. Setting This study was conducted at tertiary care academic center. Participants This study group consisted of patients undergoing EETS for pituitary adenomas from 2013 to 2018. Main Outcome Measures Tumor and surgical factors were included, along with postoperative complications. Patients completed Sinonasal Outcome Test-22 (SNO T-22) questionnaires. Pre- and postoperative scores were compared among the entire cohort using linear multilevel regression. A subcohort analysis was performed among patients who completed questionnaires during the preoperative visit and two postoperative visits (within 1 month and between 2 and 3 months, respectively); pre- and postoperative total and individual domain SNOT-22 scores were compared using paired t -tests. Results A total of 243 patients underwent EETS with FMG reconstruction. Four patients (1.6%) developed a postoperative CSF leak requiring reoperation. Among the entire cohort, SNOT-22 scores increased at the first postoperative visit ( p < 0.01) but returned to baseline by the second, third, and fourth postoperative visits ( p = 0.27, p = 0.18, and p = 0.21). Among 48 patients who completed both preoperative and two postoperative questionnaires, scores increased within the first month ( p < 0.01) but returned t o baseline at 2 to 3 months ( p = 0.67). Conclusion Posterior septum FMG reconstruction of sellar defects is an effective option, demonstrating early recovery of baseline sinonasal QoL by 2 to 3 months.

PMID:34513558 | PMC:PMC8421119 | DOI:10.1055/s-0040-1716678

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Heterogeneity in Outcome Reporting in Endoscopic Endonasal Skull Base Reconstruction: A Systematic Review

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J Neurol Surg B Skull Base. 2021 Oct;82(5):506-521. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1714108. Epub 2020 Aug 7.

ABSTRACT

Objective Presently, there are no standards for reporting outcomes of endoscopic endonasal skull base reconstruction (ESBR). This is problematic as a lack of consistent reporting makes synthesizing findings in systematic reviews and meta-analysis challenging. Thus, the aim of this study was to systematically review and describe the patterns of reporting outcomes in ESBR as a foundation for developing reporting guidelines. Study Design Present study is a systematic review. Methods Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were searched for all publications with ≥25 patients and a focus on ESBR. The reporting patterns of each study's variables and outcomes were assessed. Results A total of 112 studies were included in the review. The most commonly reported demographic variables were the numb er of included patients ( n = 112, 100%) and types of pathologies treated ( n = 104, 92.9%). Meanwhile, the most routinely described preoperative variable was history of prior treatment ( n = 48, 42.9%). Type of reconstruction was a commonly reported intraoperative variable ( n = 110, 98.2%), though the rate of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak was noted in only 76 studies (67.9%). With regard to postoperative outcomes, postoperative CSF leak rate was routinely provided ( n = 101, 90.2%), but reporting of other surgical complications was more inconsistent. Ultimately, of the 43 variables and outcomes reviewed, a median of 12 (range: 4-22) was reported in each study. Conclusion There is significant heterogeneity in the outcomes reported in studies relating to ESBR. This highlights the need for the development of standard reporting guidelines to minimize bias and improve interstudy comparability.

PMID:34513556 | PMC:PMC8421125 | DOI:10.1055/s-0040-1714108

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Sunday, September 12, 2021

Combined endoscopic transsphenoidal and tubular retractor-assisted transventricular approach for giant pituitary adenomas

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World Neurosurg. 2021 Sep 6:S1878-8750(21)01323-1. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2021.08.135. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection remains the standard treatment for most giant pituitary adenomas (GPAs). The selected surgical approach for these complex lesions depends mainly on their extension. Single approaches may be limited in some cases presenting with invasion into multiple compartments, thereby limiting extent of resection.

METHODS: We report a series of patients with GPA operated on through a combined approach involving an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach and a tubular retractor-assisted transventricular approach, describing the technique, its indications, limitations, and outcomes. Baseline and postoperative clinical, functional, and morphological variables were documented up until each patient's last follow-up visit.

RESULTS: Five patients harbouring tumours extending into the third and latera l ventricles were included. Mean extent of resection was 94.6%. Mean follow-up was 39.4 months. One patient presented with a growth hormone-secreting GPA, who achieved remission after repeat resection during follow-up. There were no intraoperative complications, and one patient required reoperation for cerebrospinal fluid leak repair. One patient received adjuvant radiotherapy, and three patients remained stable requiring no additional treatment. All patients maintained an adequate postoperative functional status.

CONCLUSIONS: The combined approach herein described may be a safe and effective option for some patients with GPAs extending into the third and lateral ventricles. An adequate patient selection is mandatory to exploit the benefits of each individual approach.

PMID:34500097 | DOI:10.1016/j.wneu.2021.08.135

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