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Biomedical subjects

M Hamoir

Publications and source records attributed to M Hamoir.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Transnasal repair of unilateral choanal atresia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the outcomes of the surgical correction of unilateral choanal atresia using a transnasal approach. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Over a 36-months period (from 1999 to 2001), seven children underwent endoscopic endonasal repair of an unilateral choanal atresia using the microdebrider (powered instrumentation). At the end of the procedure, topical application of Mitomycin-C was performed. No postoperative nasal stenting was inserted. Clinical characteristics of these patients, CT scan examination, complications of the procedure and outcomes were analysed and compared to historical cases treated in the same institution from 1990 to 1998. RESULTS: Seven patients (2 M/5F) (age 6 to 46 months) presented with primary unilateral choanal atresia and were operated during the period from 1999 to 2001. All the patients were symptomatic before surgical correction. No patients showed other facial anomaly. Of the 7 patients procedures, 6 (85.7%) remained patent (follow-up range 12 to 36 months). Mean surgical repair per patient before obtaining patent choana was 1.14. One patient required surgical transnasal revision nine months after the initial procedure with a patent choanal after this second procedure (follow-up 9 months). Minor turbinoseptal synechiae diagnosed 6 months after the surgical correction occurred in one patient and was the only postoperative complication. When compared to historical cases of unilateral choanal atresia (19 patients from 1990 to 1998) repaired without endoscopic control and without Mitomycin-C, it was shown that this current method provided better results; mean surgical repair per patient; 1.14 vs 1.89 and 85.7% of patent choanae at twelve months vs 47.3%. CONCLUSION: An endoscopic endonasal approach without postoperative stenting, using the microdebrider seems to us the treatment of choice for unilateral choanal atresia. The exact role of the topical application of Mitomycin-C needs to be further investigated.

Child, Preschool↗

Bacteriology of chronic sinusitis: the bulla ethmoidalis content.

OBJECTIVE: To study the microbiology of the bulla ethmoidalis of patients who suffered from chronic sinusitis. DESIGN: A prospective study performed at the Saint-Luc universitary clinic (University of Louvain) from June 1999 to December 2000. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy seven patients underwent functional endoscopic endonasal surgery during this period for chronic sinusitis refractory to standard medical treatment. All the patients presented symptoms for more than 3 months. After Povidone-Iodine disinfection, samples were taken into the bulla ethmoidalis after its opening with an endoscopic endonasal control. Samples were transferred to the microbiology laboratory using a thioglycolate medium for aerobic and anaerobic cultures. RESULTS: One hundred forty eight samples were studied. Culture rate was 73.6%. Thirty nine samples remained sterile. In the 109 culture positive specimens, 135 bacterial isolates were recovered. The main results are: Staphylococcus coagulase negative: 31, Staphylococcus aureus: 22, Streptococcus sp: 20, other Gram positive Cocci: 5, Haemophilus influenzae: 4, non-fermentative Gram negative bacilli: 6, Enterobacteriaceae: 45, anaerobic bacteria: 2. CONCLUSION: Enterobacteriaceae or enteric gram negative bacilli were frequently encountered in the bulla ethmoidalis of patients suffering from chronic sinusitis. This report suggests that endoscopically guided culture obtained from the ethmoid sinus may accurate our understanding of the microbiology of chronic ethmoidal sinusitis and underline the importance of Enterobacteriaceae in this disease.

Adult↗

Parapharyngeal causes of sleep apnea syndrome: two case reports and review of the literature.

Most patients with obstructive sleep apnea experience increased pharyngeal collapsibility which predisposes them to upper airway occlusion during sleep. Some patients with or without a higher-than-normal collapsibility may present other causes of sleep apnea syndrome. This article will focus on the parapharyngeal tumors leading to obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS). Two clinical cases will illustrate our review of the literature. The results of surgery will also be discussed.

Female↗

Surgical treatment of the sleep-disordered breathing patient; a consensus report.

Sleep disordered breathing patients may undergo surgical treatment after history, clinical examination and polysomnographic study if they demonstrate upper airway obstruction. This article focus on the surgical treatment designed for these patients. Sino-nasal surgery, rhinopharyngeal procedure, velopharyngeal procedures (Uvulopalato-pharyngoplasty, Laser assisted uvulopalatoplasty, Radiofrequency tissue volume reduction) as well as base of the tongue procedures were discussed among a panel of Belgian ENT specialists offering their experience in this field. Algorithm on corrective surgery as well as guidelines for postoperative management are proposed in the management of sleep disordered breathing patients.

Belgium↗

Lymphatic malformations of the head and neck: a retrospective review and a support for staging.

BACKGROUND: Lymphatic malformations (LM) are rare benign congenital tumors appearing mainly in the head and neck with a considerably variable outcome. A need exists to validate a staging system, taking into account the prognosis of the malformation, including preoperative and postoperative complications, long-term sequelae, and persistence of the disease to improve parental counseling and evaluate the outcome of a surgical treatment of such tumors. METHODS: Twenty-two patients treated for LM were selected from a series of 129 patients operated on for congenital malformations of the head and neck between 1986 and 1997 at St-Luc University Hospital, Brussels, Belgium. Their charts were reviewed retrospectively, with a special focus on the anatomic location of the lesions and all the complications reported. According to de Serres et al, LM up to now have been divided into six possible categories according to their unilateral or bilateral infrahyoid and/or suprahyoid locations. RESULTS: Stage I (unilateral infrahyoid): nine patients, 11% of complications (without mediastinal extension: 0%, with mediastinal extension: 50%); stage II (unilateral suprahyoid): three patients, 33% of complications; stage III (unilateral suprahyoid and infrahyoid): eight patients, 75% of complications; stage V (bilateral suprahyoid and infrahyoid): two patients, 100% of complications. None of the children was initially seen with stage IV (bilateral suprahyoid) or stage VI (bilateral infrahyoid) LM. Overall complications, preoperative complications, postoperative com- plications, and long-term morbidity showed a significant in- crease from stage I to V (p <.01, p =.002, p =.02, and p =.03, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: A staging system of cervicofacial LM based on the anatomic location can be reliably used for prognostic purposes, allowing a more accurate assessment of the global risk of complications and determination of surgical outcome. Mediastinal extension in stage I patients seems to be associated with a higher rate of complications. Such information can be used to inform parents more appropriately regarding the management and long-term prognosis of their children's malformation.

Child↗

[Selection and delineation of lymph node target volumes in head and neck neoplasms].

This article reviews all clinical and pathological data available in the literature supporting the concept of selectivity in the neck nodes to be included in the Clinical Target Volume for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Using the terminology of neck node levels and the guidelines for the surgical delineation of these levels proposed by the Committee for Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology of the American Academy for Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, recommendations are proposed for both the selection and the delineation of lymph node target volumes.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

[Choanal atresia: a retrospective study of 39 cases].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and the surgical management in patients with choanal atresia. We performed a retrospective study at the Saint-Luc University hospital, Brussels, between January 1988 and June 2000. Surgical corrections were performed using different approach (transnasal endoscopic, transpalatal) and different instrumentations (urethral sounds, laser nd-YAG, laser CO2, microdebrider). Portex endotracheal tubes were inserted as nasal stents in the vast majority of the patients with bilateral choanal atresia. Thirty-nine children with choanal atresia (22 unilateral and 17 bilateral) (9: M, 30: F) were studied. 38 of them were surgically managed. Based on clinical inspection and On CT-Scan, choanal atresia was defined as membranous for 4 patients, osseous for 6 and mixte for 29. Associated congenital anomalies were found in 22.7% of unilateral and in 70.5% of bilateral choanal atresia (Total: 43.5%). Of those children with bilateral choanal atresia, 75% were asymptomatic after four surgical procedures. In children with unilateral choanal atresia, 45% were asymptomatic after one surgical correction and 100% after three surgical corrections. Four patients were managed using an endoscopic endonasal approach with the microdebrider and showed no evidence of recurrence. Outcome analyses of factors that may influence the results of surgery are difficult to establish since many different surgical options were taken during this period. However, it seems that bilateral choanal atresia is associated with more surgical corrections before achieving a normal nasal breathing than unilateral choanal atresia. After this review, our current strategy regarding the choanal atresia will be to begin with the endoscopic endonasal approach using the microdebrider (stents if bilateral) and to propose the transpalatal approach in case of recurrence.

Age Factors↗

[Sinus-nasal polyposis: one-year outcome after endoscopic sinus surgery followed by topical corticosteroid therapy in 72 patients].

Nasal polyposis (NP) is considered as an inflammatory disease for which first line therapy is topical and/or oral corticosteroid. In this paper we attempted to determine the efficacy of endoscopic endonasal surgery followed by topical corticoid in 72 adults suffering from bilateral NP refractory to corticosteroid therapy and to delineate the clinical characteristics of this cohort of patients. NP was confirmed endoscopically and with computed tomography. Visual analog scale for the subjective evaluation and endoscopic examination of the paranasal cavities for the objective evaluation were obtained 3 and 12 months postoperatively. Endoscopic endonasal surgery was based on a radical removal of the NP with wide opening of all the sinuses in the vast majority of the cases. Topical corticoid therapy was started 2 months after surgery. Clinical characteristics of the 72 patients revealed: 29.2% of coexisting allergy; 34.7% of coexisting asthma; 19.4% with food and/or aspirin intolerance. Anterior and posterior ethmoid sinus and maxillary sinus were the most affected sinuses. 53.5% of our patients presented a stage II. One year after surgery we observed that 59.1% of our patients revealed a marked decrease of their symptoms with no polyp on nasal endoscopic evaluation, that 28.8% revealed a marked decrease of their symptoms with recurrence of the NP on nasal endoscopic evaluation and that 12.1% presented moderate to severe symptoms with recurrence of NP on nasal endoscopic evaluation. Based on this experience, we think that endoscopic endonasal surgery will continue to play an important role in the management of NP when the patient becomes refractory to corticoid.

Administration, Topical↗

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome after reconstructive laryngectomy for glottic carcinoma.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is characterized by repetitive episodes of partial or complete obstruction of the upper airway during sleep. The obstruction predominantly occurs along the pharyngeal airway but other sites of obstruction have occasionally been described. We report our experience with three patients suffering from OSAS suspected to be of laryngeal origin. OSAS developed after reconstructive laryngectomy for glottic carcinoma and upper airway obstruction seemed to be located in the reconstructed laryngeal area. The three patients were given nCPAP (nasal-continuous positive airway pressure) treatment associated with peroral endoscopic CO2 laser vaporization of the laryngeal edema. After CO2 laser treatment, one patient was able to stop nCPAP treatment. The other two have remained on nCPAP therapy. OSAS may arise in the post-operative period of reconstructive laryngectomy for glottic carcinoma and can be managed by CO2 laser vaporization (laryngeal edema in the reconstructed area) in association with nCPAP treatment.

Aged↗

Selection and delineation of lymph node target volumes in head and neck conformal radiotherapy. Proposal for standardizing terminology and procedure based on the surgical experience.

The increasing use of 3D treatment planning in head and neck radiation oncology has created an urgent need for new guidelines for the selection and the delineation of the neck node areas to be included in the clinical target volume. Surgical literature has provided us with valuable information on the extent of pathological nodal involvement in the neck as a function of the primary tumor site. In addition, few clinical series have also reported information on radiological nodal involvement in those areas not commonly included in radical neck dissection. Taking all these data together, guidelines for the selection of the node levels to be irradiated for the major head and neck sites could be proposed. To fill the missing link between these guidelines and the 3D treatment planning, recommendations for the delineation of these node levels (levels I-VI and retropharyngeal) on CT (or MRI) slices have been proposed using the guidelines outlined by the Committee for Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology of the American Academy for Otolarynology-Head and Neck Surgery. These guidelines were adapted to take into account specific radiological landmarks more easily identified on CT or MRI slices than in the operating field.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis in newborn: report on three cases.

Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis (CNPAS) is recognized as a cause of nasal airway obstruction in the newborn. The nasal pyriform aperture is narrowed by a bony overgrowth of the nasal process of the maxilla. The CNPAS may occur as an isolated congenital defect or in combination with other abnormalities. Three cases of CNPAS are reported with special attention to the clinical presentation and to the management recommendation prior to surgery. Surgical repair was performed for all these three highly symptomatic patients using a sublabial approach for drilling the nasal process in order to obtain a wider nasal vestibular patency. All of them were equipped with bilateral nasal stenting.

Female↗

Cervical lymphadenitis and cat scratch disease (CSD): an overlooked disease?

Cat Scratch Disease (CSD) is a benign disease characterized by regional lymphadenopathy affecting most frequently the head and neck region in children and young adults. In the present paper, the authors describe four cases of CSD focusing on clinical history, diagnostic management and therapy. The main germ responsible for this lymph node disease is Bartonella henselae. Diagnosis is based on history, serology and histological findings. Clinical evolution is generally favorable despite the fact that complications occur in about 5% to 13% of patients including encephalitis, hepatitis and Parinaud's oculoglandular syndrome. Antibiotic treatment is only considered for highly symptomatic patients. Surgical excision of the lymphadenopathy is useful to establish the diagnosis when serology is not available and/or when the adenopathy become fluctuating. The authors emphasize the increasing incidence of patients with CSD in the ENT population and the algorithm for CSD disease affecting the cervical lymph nodes.

Adolescent↗

Cost-minimization analysis of treatment options for T1N0 glottic squamous cell carcinoma: comparison between external radiotherapy, laser microsurgery and partial laryngectomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A cost minimization analysis of radiotherapy (RT), laser microsurgery (L) or partial laryngectomy (PL), which are equally effective options for T1N0 glottic SCC was carried out from the perspective of the National Health Care System. METHODS: For each modality, the various events associated with the diagnostic procedure, the primary treatment, the complications, and the salvage treatment were individualized. The charges of each of these events weighted for the frequency of occurrence were then determined using the 'fee for service' policy established by the National Health Insurance of Belgium. RESULTS: A total cost of 5172, 5847 and 11563 EURO were calculated for RT, L and PL, respectively. For L, cost included post-operative RT applied in case of positive margins (30%). For PL, the cost of the primary treatment accounted for 68% of the total cost whereas it only accounted for 50 and 43% for L and RT, respectively. For RT, L or PL, complications accounted for less than 10% of the total cost. The cost of salvage treatment reached 19, 14 and 8% of the total cost for RT, L and PL, respectively. A sensitivity analysis indicated that reduction of the duration of hospitalization decreases the costs without affecting the ranking between the three options. Also, the cost of L could be reduced even slightly below the cost of RT by decreasing the need for post-operative RT. CONCLUSIONS: RT and L have almost the same expected average cost for the treatment of T1N0 glottic SCC, whereas PL is twice as expensive.

Belgium↗

Conservation surgery for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer.

The charts of 173 patients treated by conservation laryngectomy and pharyngolaryngectomy were retrospectively reviewed. The patients treated by endoscopic laser resection were excluded of this study. Glottic carcinoma was diagnosed in 101 patients, supraglottic carcinoma in 44 patients, hypopharyngeal carcinoma in 24 patients and oropharyngeal carcinoma in 4 patients. The median follow-up period was 44 months, 84/101 glottic cancer, 34/44 supraglottic cancer, 23/24 hypopharyngeal cancer and 2/4 oropharyngeal cancer were staged as T1 and T2. A voice-sparing external approach was carried on in 20 patients with locally advanced tumor (T3-T4). At time of the last follow-up, 132 patients (77%) were alive when 41 patients (23%) died. Overall survival rates for patients treated for T1-T2 glottic cancer at 3, 5 and 10 years were 90, 90 and 78% respectively. Overall survival rates for patients treated for T1-T2 supralottic cancer at 3, 5 and 10 years were 73, 68 and 48% respectively. Overall survival rates for patients treated for T1-T2 hypopharyngeal cancer at 3 and 5 years were 74 and 37% respectively. The site of the primary tumor (glottic versus supraglottic or hypopharynx) showed significant impact on survival (P = 0.0025)). Regarding survival, T stage and N stage were not found statistically significant.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

New challenges in head and neck bone and soft tissue reconstruction.

Emphasizing the major impact of reconstructive microsurgery on the treatment of head and neck tumors, the present paper makes a synthesis of the ideal transplants now commonly used to repair specific cephalic bone and soft tissue defects. It also explores and discusses the new perspectives actually developed to improve their present anatomical, functional and aesthetic results. By extending the use of chimaeric or prefabricated flaps, neurovascular allografts or dynamic transfers, all these new challenges combine the progresses made in surgical skill, conceptual inventivity and basic molecular biology.

Face↗