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Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular... Jul 2023This study aimed to review and appraise the evidence regarding airway ultrasound assessment in predicting difficult laryngoscopy in adult patients. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to review and appraise the evidence regarding airway ultrasound assessment in predicting difficult laryngoscopy in adult patients.
DESIGN
A systematic review of the literature was conducted according to the Cochrane collaboration guidelines and the recommendations for the systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic studies. Observational studies that evaluated the diagnostic performance of airway ultrasound for the prediction of difficult laryngoscopy were included for consideration.
SETTING
Literature searches were performed in 4 databases (PubMed [Medline], Embase, Clinical Trials, and Google Scholar) to identify all observational studies using any ultrasound technique to assess difficult laryngoscopy. The search terms included "sonography," "ultrasound," "airway," "difficult airway," "difficult laryngoscopy," "Cormack," "risk factors," "ultrasound at the point of care," "difficult ventilation," "difficult intubation" and others, combined with sensitive filters. The search was done for studies performed in the last 20 years in English or Spanish.
PARTICIPANTS
Adult patients older than 18 years old under general anesthesia for an elective procedure. Evident anatomic airway abnormalities, obstetric populations, those using an alternative imaging method besides ultrasound, and animal studies were excluded.
INTERVENTIONS
Preoperative bedside ultrasound measuring distances and ratios from the skin to different reference points, such as the ratio of the hyomental distance in a neutral position (HMDN) and hyomental distance in extension (HMDR), HMDN, and the skin-to-epiglottis distance (SED), the preepiglottic area, and tongue thickness, among others.
MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS
A total of 24 studies evaluated the prediction of a difficult laryngoscopy using airway ultrasound. The diagnostic performance and the number of ultrasound parameters reported in the studies were variable. Meta-analysis was performed for 3 measurements consistently included in most studies. The SED and the HMDR ratio presented a sensitivity of 75% and 61%, respectively, and a specificity of 86% and 88%, respectively. The ratio of the preepiglottic distance to the epiglottic distance at the midpoint of the vocal cords (pre-E/E-VC) presented the best performance for predicting a difficult laryngoscopy (sensitivity: 82%, specificity: 83%, diagnostic odds ratio: 22.2).
CONCLUSION
With the currently available evidence, the 3 commonly used point-of-care ultrasound measures used to identify difficult laryngoscopy, (SED, HMDR, and pre-E/E-VC), showed better sensitivity and similar specificity to clinical measures. Future studies and more data may change the authors' confidence in these conclusions, given the wide variability of measurements noted in studies.
Topics: Laryngoscopy; Intubation, Intratracheal; Ultrasonography
PubMed: 37012134
DOI: 10.1053/j.jvca.2023.02.036 -
Ear, Nose, & Throat Journal Mar 2023Myoepithelial carcinoma of the head and neck is a rare malignant tumor that usually arises from the salivary glands but rarely from the larynx. Here, we describe 11...
Myoepithelial carcinoma of the head and neck is a rare malignant tumor that usually arises from the salivary glands but rarely from the larynx. Here, we describe 11 cases (one treated by us and 10 previously published) of laryngeal myoepithelial carcinoma. Our patient was a 60-year-old male who initially presented with hoarseness and throat pain. The patient had suffered from continuing hoarseness and throat pain for one month before he consulted an otorhinolaryngologist. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a polypoid tumor involving the right vocal cords. Biopsy was performed, and the disease was pathologically diagnosed as myoepithelial carcinoma of the larynx by hematoxylin-eosin and immunohistochemical staining. The total follow-up period was 15 months. Repeated laryngoscopies or CT scans revealed no recurrence or residual lesion during the post-surgical course.
PubMed: 36931828
DOI: 10.1177/01455613231165156 -
Endocrinology and Metabolism (Seoul,... Feb 2023There have concerns related with the potential harms of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). We aimed to summarize the clinical complications and evaluate the safety of...
BACKGRUOUND
There have concerns related with the potential harms of fine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). We aimed to summarize the clinical complications and evaluate the safety of FNAB.
METHODS
Studies related with the harms of FNAB were searched on MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane library, and KoreaMed from 2012 to 2022. Also, studies reviewed in the previous systematic reviews were evaluated. Included clinical complications were postprocedural pain, bleeding events, neurological symptoms, tracheal puncture, infections, post-FNAB thyrotoxicosis, and needle tract implantation of thyroid cancers.
RESULTS
Twenty-three cohort studies were included in this review. Nine studies which were related with FNAB-related pain showed that most of the subjects had no or mild discomfort. The 0% to 6.4% of the patients had hematoma or hemorrhage after FNAB, according to 15 studies. Vasovagal reaction, vocal cord palsy, and tracheal puncture have rarely described in the included studies. Needle tract implantation of thyroid malignancies was described in three studies reporting 0.02% to 0.19% of the incidence rate.
CONCLUSION
FNAB is considered to be a safe diagnostic procedure with rare complications, which are mainly minor events. Thorough assessement of the patients' medical condition when deciding to perform FNABs would be advisable to lower potential complications.
Topics: Humans; Thyroid Nodule; Biopsy, Fine-Needle; Thyroid Neoplasms; Cohort Studies; Pain
PubMed: 36891657
DOI: 10.3803/EnM.2023.1669 -
Endocrine Jul 2023The purpose of this study was to compare the intraoperative outcomes and postoperative complications of patients experiencing transoral thyroidectomy vestibular approach... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The purpose of this study was to compare the intraoperative outcomes and postoperative complications of patients experiencing transoral thyroidectomy vestibular approach (TOTVA) and conventional open thyroidectomy (COT). PUBMED, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials in the Cochrane Library, and Web of science expanded between January 2007 and November 2022 comparing TOTVA and COT was exhaustively searched. Fifteen non-randomized controlled studies involving 2955 patients were included. The results of meta-analyses indicated that TOTVA was associated with longer operative time (WMD, 66.86; 95%CI, 47.15-86.56; P < 0.00001), more blood loss (WMD, 2.83; 95%CI, 1.77-3.90; P < 0.00001), higher incidence of wound infection (OR, 5.62; 95%CI, 1.57-20.10, P = 0.008). There was no significant difference in terms of transient recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) palsy and other postoperative outcomes. In conclusion, TOTVA appears to be a feasible and safe approach for the treatment of patients with benign thyroid nodules and selected differential thyroid carcinomas just like the COT.
Topics: Humans; Thyroidectomy; Thyroid Neoplasms; Postoperative Complications; Vocal Cord Paralysis; Operative Time
PubMed: 36826685
DOI: 10.1007/s12020-023-03321-x -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Feb 2023Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury is a well and long-known complication of thyroid and parathyroid surgery that significantly affects the quality of life of... (Review)
Review
Recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) injury is a well and long-known complication of thyroid and parathyroid surgery that significantly affects the quality of life of patients. Despite the advances in surgical techniques and technology, it still occurs in clinical practice either as temporary paresis or as permanent paralysis of the corresponding vocal cord. The purpose of the current systematic review is to examine the value of intraoperative repair of the RLN in voice restoration. A systematic review of the existing literature was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases according to the PRISMA guidelines. The systematic review resulted in 18 studies, which met the inclusion criteria. An improvement in phonatory function and voice quality was observed in all these studies after immediate RLN reconstruction (not always statistically significant). This improvement appears to be comparable to or even higher than that achieved with other methods of repair, and in some cases, the improvement approaches levels found in normal subjects. Intraoperative RLN reconstruction is not widely used in clinical practice, but the evidence so far makes it a viable and safe alternative to traditional techniques with better long-term results, as it prevents the occurrence of atrophy of the vocal cord and should be considered in the operating room if possible.
PubMed: 36769864
DOI: 10.3390/jcm12031212 -
International Journal of Pediatric... Mar 2023This study aimed to systematically review the literature to determine outcomes following surgical treatment of pediatric vocal fold nodules. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to systematically review the literature to determine outcomes following surgical treatment of pediatric vocal fold nodules.
METHODS
Studies with patients ≤18 years with nodules who underwent surgery were reviewed for dysphonia improvement and recurrence in PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, searched from inception to November 1, 2022 using PRISMA guidelines. Non-English studies and case reports were excluded. Two evaluators independently reviewed each abstract and article. Heterogeneity and bias across studies were evaluated and meta-analysis was performed.
RESULTS
The literature search yielded 655 articles; 145 underwent full-text screening and eight were selected for systematic review and meta-analysis. There were 311 children with nodules, aged 2-18 years, with male-to-female ratio of 3.6:1. There were no surgical complications. Voice therapy was inconsistently reported. Follow-up time ranged from 1 month to 10 years. One study concluded that neither surgery nor voice therapy was effective, while five studies concluded that dysphonia improved with surgery. Voice grading by GRBAS, objective voice measures, and lesion size were improved following surgery, when reported. Meta-analysis of six studies demonstrated improvement in dysphonia in 90% of children post-operatively (95% CI: 74-99%). Meta-analysis of four studies showed that recurrence occurred in 19% of children (95% CI: 13-23%).
CONCLUSION
This systematic review suggests possible post-operative improvement in dysphonia for pediatric patients with vocal fold nodules; however, study measures, methods, and surgery utilized were heterogeneous and results should be interpreted cautiously. In order to better understand surgical outcomes, future studies should include standardized definition of nodules and objective measures of voice.
Topics: Humans; Child; Male; Female; Dysphonia; Vocal Cords; Voice Quality; Laryngeal Diseases; Voice; Polyps
PubMed: 36758441
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2023.111461 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of prophylactic central neck dissection (PCND) in patients with clinically node-negative (cN0)... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
OBJECTIVE
This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of prophylactic central neck dissection (PCND) in patients with clinically node-negative (cN0) papillary thyroid carcinoma.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A meta-analysis of the literature was performed using the key words "papillary thyroid carcinomas" and "lymph node ecisions" for searches of electronic databases. Complications such as transient hypocalcemia, permanent hypocalcemia, transient and permanent hypoparathyroidism, transient and permanent vocal cord paralysis, transient recurrent and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, and local recurrence were pooled by meta-analysis. Stata17.0 was used to carry out the meta-analysis.
RESULTS
Data were extracted from 15 studies. In the present review, the group of patients who had total thyroidectomy (TT) with PCND had a lower local recurrence than the group with TT alone (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.10-0.45, P = 0.000), whereas the incidence of permanent hypocalcemia (OR 4.24, 95% CI 1.05-17.22, P = 0.043) and transient hypoparathyroidism (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.34-3.42, P =0.001) were higher. No significant differences were recorded in the incidence of other complications: transient hypocalcemia (OR 2.24, 95% CI 0.77-6.51, P = 0.138), permanent hypoparathyroidism (OR 1.70, 95% CI 0.89-3.27, P = 0.111), transient vocal cord paralysis (OR 1.48, 95% CI 0.78-2.83, P = 0.231), permanent vocal cord paralysis (OR 1.44, 95% CI 0.53-3.94, P = 0.477), transient recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (OR 1.47, 95% CI 0.93-2.32, P = 0.102) and permanent recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (OR 1.24, 95% CI 0.56-2.74, P = 0.587) between the two groups.
CONCLUSION
Compared with TT alone, TT with PCND was more effective in reducing local recurrence without increasing the risk of recurrent laryngeal nerve, thyroid and vocal cord, except for hypocalcemia and transient hypoparathyroidism. Therefore, we believe that TT with PCND should be recommended for patients with cN0 PTC.
SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION
https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD4202 2355078.
Topics: Humans; Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; Neck Dissection; Thyroid Neoplasms; Vocal Cord Paralysis; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injuries; Hypocalcemia; Carcinoma, Papillary; Treatment Outcome; Hypoparathyroidism
PubMed: 36733809
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1094012 -
American Journal of Otolaryngology 2023Type I thyroplasty has been well-documented as a safe and effective treatment modality for vocal fold motion impairment, as well as other select cases of persistent... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Type I thyroplasty has been well-documented as a safe and effective treatment modality for vocal fold motion impairment, as well as other select cases of persistent glottic insufficiency. However, history of prior radiation to the neck has traditionally been viewed as a relative, if not formal contra-indication to this procedure. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze all available data in the literature on type I thyroplasty in previously irradiated patients and perform a meta-analysis assessing whether complications and revision rates are significantly different between radiated and non-irradiated patients. Secondary outcomes were to compare voice outcomes between these cohorts.
METHODS
Several databases were screened for relevant citations using the PICO process. The quality of studies and risk of bias were evaluated using the MINORS scoring system. Main endpoints for analysis in this study were complication rate and revision rate. Secondary endpoint was reported voice outcome.
RESULTS
Three articles were included in the analysis. Zero major complications were reported, including no instances of implant extrusion or explantation. There was an 11.8 % rate of minor complications. There were similar rates of revision between radiation and control groups. There was no significant difference in voice outcomes between groups. The average MINORS score of the studies suggested a high risk of bias.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on limited quality evidence, this review suggests that type I thyroplasty is safe and feasible in carefully selected irradiated patients, with comparable complication and success rates as their non-irradiated cohorts. Further large-scale studies are warranted.
Topics: Humans; Laryngoplasty; Neck; Voice; Vocal Cords; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 36640533
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2022.103769 -
Journal of Voice : Official Journal of... Dec 2022While Autoimmune Associated Vocal Fold Lesions (AaVFLs) have been described in many reports, there is no consensus on best practices in management. The purpose of this... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
While Autoimmune Associated Vocal Fold Lesions (AaVFLs) have been described in many reports, there is no consensus on best practices in management. The purpose of this systematic review is to clarify the characteristics and treatment of dysphonia in the setting of AaVFLs.
STUDY DESIGN
Systematic review METHODS: Pubmed and OVIDMedline and Google Scholar were searched, including terms related to (1) Vocal fold/cord, rheumatoid node/nodule, bamboo nodes/nodules, laryngeal deposits/nodes/nodules and (2) Autoimmune diseases/syndromes, connective tissue disease.
RESULTS
Twenty-one studies with 83 patients diagnosed with AaVFLs were included. AaVFLs occurred predominantly in females in the 4th or 5th decade of life, with an overall mean age of 39.8 (SD = 12.8). Autoimmune or connective tissue disease was established prior to presentation to an otolaryngologist in 75.9% (44/58) of patients. Bilateral lesions were present in 83.8% (57/68) of patients. Treatment modalities included medical therapy alone (28.1%), voice therapy alone (17.5%), surgical treatment alone (7.0%), combination of medical and voice therapy (33.3%), and combination of surgical, medical and voice therapy (7.0%). All patients treated with voice therapy had voice improvement; lower rates were seen with solo medical (4/14 improved, 28.6%) or surgical therapy (3/6 improved, 50%).
CONCLUSION
AaVFLs occur predominantly in women in their 30's to 50's and are associated with a variety of autoimmune conditions. A significant number of patients (25%) present to the Otolaryngologist without an established autoimmune diagnosis. While treatment outcomes are not robustly reported, a significant number of patients with AAVFLs treated with voice therapy alone or voice therapy in combination with other treatment modalities (medical or surgical) experience subjective improvement in voice quality and function.
PubMed: 36543608
DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2022.12.002 -
Pediatric Cardiology Apr 2023Approximately 30-50% of infants undergoing neonatal surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) cannot meet oral feeding goals by discharge and require feeding tube... (Review)
Review
Approximately 30-50% of infants undergoing neonatal surgery for congenital heart disease (CHD) cannot meet oral feeding goals by discharge and require feeding tube support at home. Feeding tubes are associated with increased readmission rates and consequent hospital, payer, and family costs, and are a burden for family caregivers. Identification of modifiable risk factors for oral feeding problems could support targeted care for at-risk infants. Therefore, the aim of this systematic review is to determine risk factors for tube feeding at discharge in infants undergoing neonatal surgery for CHD. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a search was conducted using MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Studies published before 2010 were excluded. The search resulted in 607 records, of which 18 were included. Studies were primarily retrospective cohort designs and results were often inconsistent. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Critical Appraisal Tools. As a group, the studies exhibited substantial risk for bias. Based on the findings, infants who struggle with feeding preoperatively, experience increased nil per os duration and/or low oral feeding volume postoperatively, experience increased duration of mechanical ventilation, or have vocal cord dysfunction may be at risk for tube feeding at hospital discharge. Factors warranting further examination include cardiac physiology (e.g., aortic arch obstruction) and the relationship between neurodevelopment and oral feeding. Clinicians should use caution in assuming risk for an individual and prioritize early implementation of interventions that facilitate oral feeding development.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Humans; Infant; Enteral Nutrition; Patient Discharge; Retrospective Studies; Heart Defects, Congenital; Risk Factors
PubMed: 36404346
DOI: 10.1007/s00246-022-03049-x