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Biomedical subjects

D M Fliss

Publications and source records attributed to D M Fliss.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

A simple, rapid, reproducible tie-over dressing.

A simple and quickly performed technique for the construction of tie-over dressings is described. After adjustment of the graft to the skin defect, skin staples are used to tack simultaneously the graft and looped silk threads circumferentially. Securing the threads is achieved by using a shortened disposable syringe cylinder through which the threads are passed and held in place by the adjusted piston. A stable fixation is easily achieved in all cases using one or more of these devices depending on the size of the defect. This technique enables the subsequent application of the dressing if needed.

Bandages↗

The 3849 + 10 kB C-->T mutation in a 21-year-old patient with cystic fibrosis.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is the most common lethal inherited disease in the white population. It is characterized by exocrine gland epithelia dysfunction, which leads to pulmonary and pancreatic insufficiency. Since the cloning of the CF gene in 1989 and the identification of the most common CF mutation (delta F508), more than 400 different mutations have been described. These mutations appear to contribute to the heterogeneity of the CF phenotype and several reports have speculated on the relationship between the most common CF mutations and the patient's clinical status. We report the case of a 21-year-old woman with longstanding chronic pansinusitis, nasal polyposis, chronic cough and severe nasal crusting. During a period of five years she had been followed by her otolaryngologist and pediatric pulmonologist. Sweat tests performed at the age of 17 and 18 were within normal limits and she underwent repeated conventional sinonasal procedures, with no improvement in her clinical status. On her present admission, sweat tests showed a 70 meq/l chloride concentration. The diagnosis of CF was then confirmed by DNA analysis and the patient was found to carry the 3849 + 10 kB C-->T mutation. The early detection of this newly recognized form of CF in adults as well as in children presenting with sinonasal symptoms is critical for life expectancy and quality.

Adult↗

Free forearm flap in oral reconstruction. Functional outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To examine functional outcome associated with free radical forearm flap reconstruction of oral cavity and oropharyngeal defects. DESIGN AND SETTING: Case series obtained from a head and neck clinic conducted at a regional cancer center. Patients underwent surgery at the associated tertiary care center. PATIENTS: Thirty consecutive patients treated for oral and oropharyngeal malignant neoplasms staged from T1 to T4 were studied. Subjects were assigned to five groups based on the site and extent of their surgical resections, as specified on a resection template. INTERVENTION: All patients had undergone free radial forearm flap reconstruction of their surgical defects. OUTCOME MEASURES: Ten factors reflecting functional properties and processes of the upper aerodigestive tract were evaluated clinically or with videofluoroscopy or both. RESULTS: Near-normal and fair oral and oropharyngeal function wholly characterized the sample. Patients who underwent reconstruction of unilateral tongue, floor of mouth-ventral tongue, and retromolar trigone-buccal defects functioned well on most measures; the function of patients with anterior tongue-jaw and tongue base-tonsil defects varied. CONCLUSIONS: Functional outcome with free radial forearm flap reconstruction was favorable for three of five subgroups of oral and oropharyngeal cancer patients. Qualitatively different functional profiles emerged for subgroups based on resection site. Methodologic issues for research on surgical reconstruction and functional outcome include the need for a meaningful, reliable system of classifying oral and oropharyngeal resections, and the development of standardized procedures for evaluating functional outcome.

Adult↗

Parotid and submandibular calculi in children.

Twelve pediatric patients with parotid or submandibular salivary gland calculi were successfully diagnosed following appropriately aimed imaging methods. The treatment modalities were: secretory stimulation of the gland to induce spontaneous passage, sialolithotomy or sialadenectomy. The treatment of choice was dependent on the size and location of the calculi, as well as on the affected gland and its functional secretory state.

Adolescent↗

Acute Salmonella mastoiditis in an infant.

During the last few decades antibiotics have played an extremely important role in the management of otitis media (OM). Nowadays there are only sporadic reports of its sequelae and complications in the developed countries. Nevertheless, complications of OM still arise and the potential seriousness of this problem emphasizes the need for a high degree of monitoring. We report herewith a case of acute mastoiditis in an 18-month-old infant with chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM). Repeated cultures from the middle ear and mastoid cavity yielded Salmonella type C. The treatment modality and the pathophysiologic aspects are discussed.

Acute Disease↗

Palatal pleomorphic adenoma in a child.

Benign salivary gland tumours in childhood are rare. We present a case of a pleomorphic adenoma arising in a minor salivary gland within the hard palate, review the literature and discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic features of the condition.

Adenoma, Pleomorphic↗

A severe form of Sjogren's syndrome.

Sjogren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by exocrine gland destruction and manifested by parotid, submandibular and lacrimal gland infection. We report a case with recurrent severe parotid gland infections. The sialographic and CT findings are presented.

Autoimmune Diseases↗

Laryngeal verrucous carcinoma: a clinicopathologic study and detection of human papillomavirus using polymerase chain reaction.

Laryngeal verrucous carcinoma (LVC) is a rare, well-differentiated variant of squamous carcinoma with a low malignant potential. Human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 DNA has been identified in a small number of LVC and an etiologic relationship has been suggested. A correlative clinical and molecular pathological study was performed in order to determine the prevalence and typing of HPV DNA in LVC. Possible associations between patient and tumor subsets, and the presence of HPV DNA were also investigated. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue samples from 29 patients with LVC were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using DNA primers specific for HPV types 6b/11, 16, and 18. Overall, HPV DNA was detected in 13 (45%) of the cases. Of these, HPV-16 DNA, HPV-18 DNA, and both HPV-16 DNA and HPV-18 DNA were detected in 4 (14% overall; 31% of positive cases), 4, and 5 (17% overall; 38% of positive cases), respectively. HPV-6b/11 DNA was not detected in any LVCs. In 16 cases, no HPV DNA was detected. There was a trend toward HPV DNA detection in higher stage tumors. HPV DNA detection was unrelated to patient age, tumor site, or radiotherapeutic responsiveness. The detection of HPV DNA in 45% of LVCs suggests an association between the presence of HPV-16 DNA and HPV-18 DNA, and some LVCs.

Blotting, Southern↗

The nasal glabellar flap.

Reconstruction of nasal defects presents a challenging problem for the surgeon. This is due to the complexity of the nasal surface lines and the diversity of the colour, texture, and appearance of its lining skin. Furthermore, there is a limited availability of mobile, adjacent skin. Defects of nasal cover after cancer-ablative procedures have been rehabilitated with numerous reconstructive modalities including free skin grafting and local flaps. Each technique differs according to the depth and size of the defect, the quality of the donor site, and the skills of the surgeon. The nasal glabellar rotation flap, initially described by Gillies and later modified by Reiger, has evolved into a choice flap for nasal defects of cover since it provides local skin with an exact colour, thickness, and contour match for the nasal skin. It is a safe flap, the donor site morbidity being minimal and especially suited for dorsal and lateral nasal resurfacing. The technique of the flap development is presented.

Humans↗

Septic internal jugular vein thrombosis.

Septic Internal Jugular Vein Thrombosis (SIJVT) is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition which necessitates early clinical recognition and rapid administration of appropriate therapy. Although termed by some authors a "forgotten disease" in the antibiotic era, this entity is still present but frequently overlooked. Deep neck infections, Lemierre syndrome, central venous catheterization and mastoiditis are the etiologies in this series. The diagnosis of SIJVT utilized CT and Doppler ultrasound imaging. The treatment included aggressive abscesses, necrotizing fasciitis, mastoiditis). Anti-coagulant agents were used in order to reduce the risks of pulmonary embolism.

Adolescent↗

Otolaryngology and infectious disease team approach for outpatient management of serious pediatric infections requiring parenteral antibiotic therapy.

Children with community-acquired serious otolaryngologic infections are conventionally hospitalized for parenteral antibiotic therapy. However, effective and safe outpatient therapy is desirable since it is less traumatic and less costly. During a 24-month period outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy, usually once daily i.m. ceftriaxone, was evaluated in 41 children with serious otolaryngologic infections (acute mastoiditis, complicated otitis media, severe external otitis and severe sinusitis with orbital or periorbital involvement). Daily visits and compliant capable parents were considered essential for outpatient management. Diagnosis, plan for management and daily follow-up evaluations were carried out in cooperation by otolaryngology and infectious disease specialists. Nineteen children (45%) were treated initially in the hospital and 22 children (55%) were treated entirely as outpatients. The mean duration of outpatient treatment, using once daily i.m. ceftriaxone was 5.7 days (range 1-13). The overall clinical cure rate was 98% and no serious side effects were observed. One case of sinusitis-orbital cellulitis relapsed during therapy. Most patients and parents returned to normal life activities within 72 h from starting outpatient therapy. Our data suggest that many children with serious otolaryngologic infections can be managed successfully and safely as outpatients by a combined team of otolaryngology and infectious disease specialists.

Acute Disease↗

Medical treatment of chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma in children--a two-year follow-up.

A prospective long-term study was carried out in 48 infants and children with chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma treated initially with wide spectrum intravenous antibiotics and suction and debridement. Patients were followed for a period of two years. All children were cured after completion of therapy. At 3 and 6 months follow-up 75% of the children were still free of discharge and at 12, 18 and 24 months the proportion of dry ears dropped to 71%, 66% and 52%, respectively. Eighty percent of all recurrences developed already during the first 6 months of follow-up. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common pathogen isolated, both in the initial and recurrent bouts of the disease, and was commonly associated with other pathogens. Children with early reappearance of ear discharge were less likely to benefit from further antimicrobial or surgical treatment. The recurrence rate was not affected by the antibiotic regimen, age, duration of drainage before treatment or the presence of granulation tissue. No intracranial or intratemporal complications were observed during the follow-up period.

Ceftazidime↗

Outpatient management of chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma in children.

Prolonged antipseudomonal parenteral antibiotic therapy combined with daily aural toilet has been effective in resolving long standing ear discharge in children with chronic suppurative otitis media. However, such treatment suffered from the disadvantages of prolonged hospitalization. We conducted a prospective study to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of exclusive outpatient treatment of children with chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma who had failed ototopical/oral antimicrobial therapy. The treatment consisted of daily aural toilet (suction and debridement) and twice daily parenteral ceftazidime (50 mg/kg/dose). Thirty-seven children were included. The duration of discharge from the ear before treatment was 6 to 121 months (median, 30 months). Aerobic cultures yielded Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 97%, often with other organisms. The management and follow-up were performed jointly by otolaryngology and infectious diseases physicians using the hospital ambulatory services. The route of ceftazidime administration (intravenous or intramuscular) was chosen according to the parents' and patients' convenience. Discharge stopped within 3 to 20 days (median, 8 days) in all children but one. Seventy-six percent of the 29 children available for follow-up 12 months after treatment were still free of discharge. Our results demonstrate that a regiment combining daily aural toilet and twice daily parenteral ceftazidime is highly efficacious in resolving ear discharge in children with chronic suppurative otitis media without cholesteatoma and that such a regimen does not require hospitalization.

Adolescent↗