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Laryngoscope 2019 Mar 18. Epub 2019 Mar 18.

Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.

Objectives: Bilateral vocal fold immobility (BVFI) is a rare and life-threatening condition in which both vocal folds are fixed, resulting in airway obstruction associated with life-threatening respiratory compromise. Treatment of BVFI is largely surgical and remains an unsatisfactory compromise between voice, breathing, and swallowing. No comparisons between currently employed techniques currently exist. Read More

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2019 Mar;128(3_suppl):82S-93S

1 Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Background:: Anterior-commissure (AC) cicatrization and web formation is a difficult problem that can result from a variety of clinical scenarios. An advancement-rotation flap utilizing papillomatous epithelium and subepithelial fibrous tissue has been previously described. For patients in whom there was not excessive redundant papillomatosis covering the AC web, including other clinical scenarios, a microlaryngoscopic procedure was designed to lengthen the glottal/subglottal aperture using substantial local fibro-mucosal tissue. Read More

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2019 Mar;128(3_suppl):94S-105S

1 Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

Introduction:: Endotracheal (ET) intubation is a common cause of acquired glottic stenosis. Severe cases often require an irreversible arytenoidectomy/cordectomy, which typically results in poor voice quality. Adult human cadaver larynges were studied to gain insights about ET tube-induced posterior glottic injuries, hoping to create a less invasive remedy. Read More

Laryngoscope 2019 Mar 5. Epub 2019 Mar 5.

Department of Otolaryngology, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, U.S.A.

Objectives/hypothesis: Laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) is a collection of procedures used to treat pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis. Arytenoid prolapse is a potential postoperative complication that may lead to upper airway obstruction. This study investigates the incidence, risk factors, and need for surgical intervention for post-LTR arytenoid prolapse. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2019 Mar 22;276(3):785-792. Epub 2019 Feb 22.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Katharinenhospital, Kriegsbergstrasse 60, 70174, Stuttgart, Germany.

Purpose: The European Laryngological Society (ELS) has published a revised classification for benign laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS), based on their degree, longitudinal extension, and associated comorbidities. We retrospectively applied this classification to pediatric patients treated in four referral centers to assess its reliability in predicting surgical outcomes.

Methods: We included 191 pediatric LTS patients treated by segmental resection, restaged according to the degree of stenosis (I-IV according to Myer-Cotton grading system), number of subsites involved ("a" to "d" for 1-4 subsites among supraglottis, glottis, subglottis and trachea), and presence of systemic comorbidity ("+" sign). Read More

Laryngoscope 2019 Feb 18. Epub 2019 Feb 18.

Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Objective: Posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) often requires a destructive surgical treatment. Early PGS treatment involves glottic dilation to reduce airway constriction associated with chronic PGS. Round laryngeal dilation may not optimize posterior glottic dilation due to the teardrop shape of the glottis and may injure vocal fold tissue. Read More

Onco Targets Ther 2019 23;12:753-757. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Radiation Oncology Unit, San Giuseppe Moscati Hospital, Taranto, Italy,

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by necrotizing granulomas involving mainly the upper-lower respiratory and renal tracts, albeit a potentially life-threatening involvement of other body parts is not rare. Furthermore, there are several reports accounting for an increased risk of solid malignancies due to the autoimmune disease per se, or the immunosuppressive therapies. Among treatments, radiotherapy could be a therapeutic option as proven by its use in typical WG lesions such as solitary granulomas or subglottic stenosis, successfully treated with low radiation dose. Read More

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2019 Jan 10. Epub 2019 Jan 10.

Surgical Outcomes Center for Kids, Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Nashville, Tennessee.

Importance: Airway reconstruction for adults with laryngotracheal stenosis (LTS) is directed toward improving airway caliber to mitigate the patient's dyspnea and achieve prosthesis-free breathing (ie, without tracheostomy, intraluminal stent, or T-tube). Despite the importance of preoperative risk stratification to minimize postoperative complications, consensus on an objective predictive algorithm for open airway reconstruction is lacking.

Objective: To determine whether the ability to achieve a prosthesis-free airway in adults after open airway reconstruction is associated with red blood cell distribution width (RDW) at the time of surgery. Read More

Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2019 Jan 5. Epub 2019 Jan 5.

Division of Thoracic Surgery, Università degli Studi della Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy. Electronic address:

Sub-glottic stenosis may be complex in shape, making challenging its treatment with standard commercially available stents. Personalized stents can lead to successful treatment; however they are not readily available due to the customization waiting time. We report the use of on-site customized temporary silicone stents for difficult benign sub-glottic stenosis in five patients unfit for surgery. Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 Dec 27. Epub 2018 Dec 27.

Department of Otolaryngology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

Objectives: Posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) results in severe derangement of laryngeal configuration and function with significant morbidity as a sequalae. Presently, there is no treatment for patients with "early" PGS. Dilation is often used for stenotic disease, but present dilation methods are limited to a round shape and the glottis is a sector (teardrop-shaped). Read More

Clin Surg 2018 Jan 10;3. Epub 2018 Jan 10.

Department of Otolaryngology, Johns Hopkins University, USA.

Objectives: Montgomery T-tubes enable patients with laryngotracheal stenosis to maintain airway patency. They also restore the ability to phonate in many patients. The primary objective is to compare voice quality of life outcomes in patients before and after Montgomery T-tube placement. Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 Dec 13. Epub 2018 Dec 13.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.

Objectives/hypothesis: The aim of this study was to analyze the phoniatric and respiratory outcomes of a subset of bilateral vocal cord paralysis (BVCP) patients who were all treated with unilateral endoscopic arytenoid abduction lateropexy (EAAL). EAAL is a nondestructive, minimally invasive glottis widening operation, which does not damage either the surgically treated or the contralateral vocal cord. Therefore, it does not impair the regeneration potential of the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Read More

Clin Perinatol 2018 12 11;45(4):597-607. Epub 2018 Sep 11.

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, University of Cincinnati, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.

This article reviews congenital anomalies involving the larynx and trachea, including congenital subglottic stenosis, laryngeal webs, laryngeal cleft, and tracheal stenosis. Presenting signs and symptoms, prevailing surgical repair techniques, and postoperative care are discussed. Read More

JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018 Nov 1. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville.

Importance: Because of the recurrent nature of idiopathic subglottic stenosis, routine follow-up is necessary for monitoring progression of stenosis. However, no easily accessible, standardized objective measure exists to monitor disease progression.

Objective: To determine whether peak expiratory flow (PEF) can be used as a reliable and easily accessible biometric indicator of disease progression relative to other validated spirometry measures in patients with idiopathic subglottic stenosis. Read More

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2019 Jan 20;128(1):44-49. Epub 2018 Oct 20.

1 Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Center for Laryngeal Surgery and Voice Rehabilitation, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Objectives:: Prognostic information about the return of vocal fold mobility in patients with iatrogenic unilateral vocal fold immobility (UVFI) can help with informed decisions about temporary and permanent treatment options. Although many variables can influence the likelihood of recovery, clinical experience suggests that cervical versus thoracic injury is a determining factor. The purpose of this study was to compare recovery rates from UVFI between cervical and thoracic injuries. Read More

Rev Mal Respir 2019 Jan 16;36(1):49-56. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Service d'oncologie thoracique, maladies de la Plèvre, pneumologie interventionnelle, hôpital Nord Aix-Marseille université, 13000 Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille université, 13000 Marseille, France.

Introduction: Benign laryngotracheal stenosis is a rare pathology with multiple etiologies, the management of which is complex. This is because of the configuration and proximity of the larynx and the difficulty with surgical approaches, which are potentially mutilating, especially for the management of a benign disease. When surgery is challenging, iterative dilatations of the stricture or the fashioning of a definitive tracheotomy are therapeutic alternatives. Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 12 16;128(12):2811-2814. Epub 2018 Oct 16.

Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Nashville, Tennessee.

Objectives/hypothesis: Intubation is an essential component of intensive care, yet it does have potential complications. Posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) is among the most severe sequela. Risk factors are poorly understood. Read More

Front Med (Lausanne) 2018 19;5:264. Epub 2018 Sep 19.

Department of Anesthesiology, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Surgery for laryngeal cancer and the following recurrent tumor growth may further change the anatomy of the airway. Airway management during anesthesia induction is challenging for the patients undergoing secondary surgery due to recurrence of laryngeal cancer or its postoperative complication, but it has never been reported. In this report, we described three cases of anesthetic induction which had different process of airway events. Read More

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2018 Dec 29;127(12):946-952. Epub 2018 Sep 29.

1 Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.

Objectives:: The aim of this study was to describe common iatrogenic causes of anterior glottic stenosis and to investigate the surgical treatment outcomes of 3 different techniques aimed at repairing stenoses and preventing web reformation.

Methods:: Clinical information regarding patient demographics, presentation, etiology, treatment, and follow-up outcomes was obtained retrospectively through a review of patients' records between April 2010 and April 2017. Voice quality was evaluated using grade, roughness, breathiness, asthenia, and strain scale and Voice Handicap Index scores. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2018 Nov 1;114:129-133. Epub 2018 Aug 1.

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology, United States.

Posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) describes a laryngeal disorder in which worsening degrees of scarring limit abduction of the vocal folds and/or arytenoids. It can be congenital or acquired. Generally, the acquired form is the result of chronic endotracheal tube trauma to the posterior larynx. Read More

Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2018 Sep 18:194599818800462. Epub 2018 Sep 18.

3 Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.

Objective To test the hypothesis that the etiologies of bilateral vocal fold mobility impairment (BLVFI), bilateral vocal fold paralysis (BVFP), and posterior glottis stenosis (PGS) have distinct clinical outcomes. To identify patient-specific and procedural factors that influence tracheostomy-free survival. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 12 12;128(12):2864-2866. Epub 2018 Sep 12.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey, U.S.A.

A 45-year-old man presented with bilateral vocal fold immobility (BVFI) following a remote history of assault. He was found to have a comminuted, telescoped, and ossified posterior cricoid fracture on imaging. Electromyography revealed normal cricothyroid and thyroarytenoid muscle function, but moderate chronic denervation of bilateral posterior cricoarytenoid muscles. Read More

Medicine (Baltimore) 2018 Sep;97(36):e12237

Rationale: One-lung ventilation (OLV) is required during most thoracic surgeries to facilitate surgical visualization by collapsing the lung. Double-lumen tubes and bronchial blockers are two commonly used devices for OLV; however, it may be difficult to place two devices in patients with narrow inlets, such as those that have tumor-induced airway stenosis.

Patient Concerns: We report the case of an adult patient with a lung tumor that was growing rapidly and hemorrhaging; thus, a thoracotomy for lung resection should have been performed as early as possible. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2018 Nov 1;275(11):2813-2816. Epub 2018 Sep 1.

Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Medical University of Warsaw, 19/25 Stepinska Street, 00-739, Warsaw, Poland.

Purpose: This is a feasibility study of functional identification of the abductor and adductor recurrent laryngeal nerve branches, which could be used in the donor's larynx for functional laryngeal transplantation.

Methods: The study was performed on swine (n = 3) and human (n = 4) models of a donor larynx. The recurrent laryngeal nerve and its branches were found. Read More

Laryngoscope 2019 Jan 27;129(1):244-255. Epub 2018 Aug 27.

Division of Pediatric Otolaryngology and Aerodigestive and Esophageal Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center and University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Objectives: Develop multidisciplinary and international consensus on patient, disease, procedural, and perioperative factors, as well as key outcome measures and complications, to be reported for pediatric airway reconstruction studies.

Methods: Standard Delphi methods were applied. Participants proposed items in three categories: 1) patient/disease characteristics, 2) procedural/intraoperative/perioperative factors, and 3) outcome measures and complications. Read More

Int J Surg Case Rep 2018 9;51:62-66. Epub 2018 Aug 9.

Department of Head and Neck, National Cancer Institute, Av. San Fernando No. 22, Col. Sección XVI, C.P. 14080, Mexico City, Mexico.

Introduction: Chondrosarcoma constitutes 0.2% of all malignant tumors of the larynx. Many surgeons treat it with total laryngectomy due to the limited experience with this neoplasm because its rarity, and although several conservative approaches have been proposed, the data of these techniques are limited and based on retrospective series. Read More

Am J Otolaryngol 2018 Nov - Dec;39(6):781-784. Epub 2018 Jul 25.

Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Ave, A-71, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States of America. Electronic address:

Outcome Objectives: METHODS: Case Report, April 2016.

Results: A 27-year-old female presented with a three-week history of flu-like symptoms including sore throat, myalgia and insidious nasal congestion. Her hospital course was complicated by pancytopenia, extensive GI bleed of unknown origin and fever. Read More

Am J Otolaryngol 2018 Nov - Dec;39(6):704-706. Epub 2018 Jul 26.

Cleveland Clinic Voice Center, Head and Neck Institute, 9500 Euclid Avenue/A71, Cleveland, OH 44195, United States of America. Electronic address:

Objectives: The utility of topical mitomycin C (MMC) as an adjuvant treatment in the management of laryngeal and tracheal stenosis has been studied; however, the ideal timing of MMC application has not been fully elucidated. There is a paucity of studies evaluating the timing of MMC application after surgical airway intervention for stenosis. The purpose of this study is to describe a novel technique for MMC application that allows for delayed application in the unsedated, office-based setting, approximately one week following endoscopic airway dilation. Read More

Pediatr Surg Int 2018 Oct 30;34(10):1047-1052. Epub 2018 Jul 30.

Department of Pediatric Surgery, Shizuoka Children's Hospital, 860 Urushiyama, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, 420-8660, Japan.

Purpose: Long-term intubation of premature infants sometimes induces acquired subglottic stenosis (SGS), causing glottic or supraglottic problems. These kinds of SGS often require tracheostomy and subsequently make decannulation difficult. The aim of our study was to clarify the efficacy of repeated intralesional steroid injections to the stenosis. Read More

J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol 2019 Apr;26(2):119-123

Clinic Basel.

Background: Our objective was to describe the prevalence and characteristics of tracheal lesions observed in flexile bronchoscopies of tracheostomized patients, and to determine those factors associated with severe injuries.

Methods: This is an analytical, observational, and transversal study. The flexible bronchoscopies of tracheostomized patients from our database were reviewed to assess their lesions. Read More

Am J Otolaryngol 2018 Sep - Oct;39(5):628-630. Epub 2018 Jul 6.

Pediatric Otolaryngology Unit, Dana-Dwek Children's Hospital, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel; Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel.

Background: Direct laryngoscopy and rigid bronchoscopy are currently performed using 2-dimensional endoscopic systems. Our objective was to determine whether a 3-dimensional endoscopic system can enhance visualization of the surgical field in pediatric direct laryngoscopy and rigid bronchoscopy.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted. Read More

Ear Nose Throat J 2018 Apr-May;97(4-5):E10-E12

Department of Otolaryngology, Naval Medical Center, 620 John Paul Jones Circle, Portsmouth, VA 23708, USA.

Subglottic stenosis is a narrowing of the airway distal to the glottis. Airway narrowing can be severe and, when coupled with pregnancy, can pose a significant threat to the mother and fetus. There is sparse literature describing treatment of these critical patients, posing a challenge for management. Read More

Lin Chung Er Bi Yan Hou Tou Jing Wai Ke Za Zhi 2018 Jun;32(12):953-955

A patient suffered from progressive dyspnea and even laryngeal obstruction visited our department in May, 2017 and received emergency tracheotomy for assistance in breathing. There was no dysphagia, sore throat, fever, cough, hemoptysis and hematuresis. The pathological signs including facies dolorosa, three depressions sign, perforation of nasal septum. Read More

Semin Arthritis Rheum 2019 Feb 16;48(4):714-719. Epub 2018 May 16.

Primary Systemic Vasculitides Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias, Calzada de Tlalpan 4502, Col. Sección XVI, C.P., 14080, Mexico City, Mexico. Electronic address:

Objectives: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis-a primary systemic vasculitis-most frequent manifestations are respiratory. Airway disease can present with stenosis, and although subglottic stenosis (SGS) is well described, narrowing distal to the glottis has been more recently the focus of reporting. Our objectives, therefore, are to describe the frequency, characteristics, and treatment of tracheobronchial stenoses (TBS) in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) at our institution, a national referral center for respiratory diseases. Read More

Pan Afr Med J 2017 21;28:247. Epub 2017 Nov 21.

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department, Sahloul Hospital, Sousse, Tunisia.

The rate of post-intubation tracheal stenosis (PITS) varies from 10 to 22% according to the studies. Only 1-2% of these stenoses are severe or symptomatic and manifest as inspiratory dyspnea that doesn't improve under corticosteroid treatment. STPI often occurs in patients with altered general status and this complicates their management. Read More

Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 2018 Aug 4;275(8):2061-2069. Epub 2018 Jun 4.

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), Bugnon 46, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.

Purpose: With adequate indication and meticulous execution, endoscopic procedures can efficiently treat a subset of adult and pediatric benign laryngotracheal stenosis and obstructions, but these procedures are precise and very demanding. The difference between a successful and a failed surgery, with potentially debilitating side effects, resides in small details. The learning curve is long and very few centers worldwide have a sufficient case load making adequate training difficult. Read More

Clin Otolaryngol 2018 10 21;43(5):1415-1418. Epub 2018 Jun 21.

Department of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery, Auckland City Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand.

Case Rep Otolaryngol 2018 1;2018:4583726. Epub 2018 Apr 1.

E. N. T. Department, MGM Medical College and Hospital, Aurangabad, Maharashtra, India.

Introduction: Postintubation laryngotracheal stenosis requires a precise diagnosis and an experienced operator in both endoscopic and surgical treatment. This report presents surgically treated cases of laryngotracheal stenosis secondary to long-term intubation/tracheostomy with review of the literature.

Materials And Methods: In this retrospective study, we present 5 cases (a 23-year-old male, 13-year-old male, 22-year-old male, 19-year-old male, and 33-year-old female) of postintubation/tracheostomy laryngotracheal (glottic/subglottic) stenosis in the years 2016 and 2017. Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 10 14;128(10):2380-2382. Epub 2018 May 14.

Department of Otolaryngology, Division of Laryngology.

Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2018 Jun 7;127(6):384-389. Epub 2018 May 7.

2 Department of Otolaryngology, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

Objectives: To characterize the frequency of airway anomalies in patients with 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS).

Methods: Retrospective review of patients with 22q11DS who had undergone microlaryngoscopy/bronchoscopy (MLB) for aerodigestive symptoms at a tertiary care children's hospital from 2011 to 2016. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2018 Jun 13;109:17-20. Epub 2018 Mar 13.

ENT and Facial Plastic Surgery, Children's of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; University of Minnesota, Department of Otolaryngology, Minneapolis, MN, USA. Electronic address:

Background: Voice abnormalities often go unrecognized in patients with 22q11.2 deletion because speech abnormalities become the focus of evaluation.

Objective: To analyze voice and vocal fold abnormalities in patients with 22q11. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2018 06 14;109:164-167. Epub 2018 Apr 14.

Head and Neck Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Ave A71, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. Electronic address:

Thorac Surg Clin 2018 May;28(2):189-197

Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Health Network, University of Toronto, 200 Elizabeth Street, Room 8N-877, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canadá. Electronic address:

Optimal management of tracheal stenosis depends on identifying causative factors. Risk factors include high tracheostomy, cricothyroidotomy, prolonged intubation, and proximal migration of an endotracheal tube cuff. Management ranges from conservative observation to endoscopic procedures or open surgical resections. Read More

Thorac Surg Clin 2018 May;28(2):177-187

Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Department, University Hospital CHUV, Rue du Bugnon 46, Lausanne CH 1011, Switzerland. Electronic address:

The management of pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis remains a challenging problem for the surgeon. The complexity of the various preoperative situations implies that no single treatment modality can solve the problem. This article focuses on the yield of partial cricotracheal resection and extended cricotracheal resection for the most severe grades of stenosis. Read More

Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol 2018 May 15;108:46-48. Epub 2018 Feb 15.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address:

Objectives: For pediatric patients with laryngotracheal stenosis, the ultimate goal is creation of a safe, functional airway. Unfortunately, wound healing in a hollow structure can complicate repair attempts, leading to restenosis. Herein, we present our experience using skin-grafting techniques in two complex pediatric laryngotracheal stenosis cases, leading to successful decannulation or speech production. Read More

Ear Nose Throat J 2018 Mar;97(3):E49-E50

Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.

Can J Anaesth 2018 Jun 1;65(6):685-697. Epub 2018 Mar 1.

Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.

While extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is an effective method of oxygenation for patients with respiratory failure, further refinement of its incorporation into airway guidelines is needed. We present a case of severe glottic stenosis from advanced thyroid carcinoma in which gas exchange was facilitated by veno-arterial ECMO prior to achieving a definitive airway. We also conducted a systematic review of the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases, using the keywords "airway/ tracheal obstruction", "anesthesia", "extracorporeal", and "cardiopulmonary bypass" to identify reports where ECMO was initiated as the a priori method of oxygenation during difficult airway management. Read More

Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc 2018 Jan-Feb;56(1):38-44

Servicio de Broncoscopía, Departamento de Neumología, Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de la Península de Yucatán, Secretaría de Salud, Mérida, Yucatán, México.

Background: Based on international epidemiology, some laryngeal diseases could be more frequent at certain ages. The objective was to describe endoscopic findings in patients through distinct decades of age in a laryngoscopy facility.

Methods: retrospective and descriptive study; clinical and endoscopic records were collected from 1493 procedures performed between 2009 and 2015, and organized in five groups of age for analysis. Read More

Laryngoscope 2018 Jul 13;128(7):1639-1642. Epub 2018 Jan 13.

Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.