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Biomedical subjects

B Angelard

Publications and source records attributed to B Angelard.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

Postlaryngectomy voice restoration. A prospective study in 83 patients.

From July 1985 until May 1990, 83 patients underwent a total laryngectomy. We prospectively studied voice restoration in 81 of them (two died postoperatively). Esophageal voice was used by 19 patients; a tracheoesophageal procedure (myomucosal shunt, primary or secondary puncture with Blom-Singer prosthesis) by 41; and 21 patients had no voice restoration. Results were assessed according to voice quality and usage. Tracheoesophageal speech had a success rate of 73% (good voice, daily use) after 1 month, while esophageal voice proved to have only a 5% success rate. Thirty patients (37%), however, remained without a substitute voice. The reasons for their exclusion are presented; they include a high rate of refusal.

Adult

[Upper functional dysphagia. Apropos of 33 cases].

Upper functional dysphagia, occurring in the absence of tumoral obstruction, includes swallowing disorders caused by a disturbance of the reflex, velopharyngoesophageal time of deglutition. Thirty-three patients with such disorders have been studied. Fourteen suffered from a neurologic affection (including 4 brainstem tumors and 6 cerebrovascular neurologic disease), 10 from myopathy, 9 from a localized affection of the upper sphincter of the esophagus. Diverticula were excluded from this study. The exploration resorted to fiberendoscopy of esophageal follow-through, pharyngoesophageal manometry, radiocinema, and MRI for some of the latter patients. Cricopharyngeal myotomy was carried out in 16 of these patients, with good results in 10 and failures in 6. The role of the various additional examinations and of myotomy is discussed.

Adolescent

[Perilymphatic fistula].

Perilymphatic fistulae are the first cause of perceptive deafness that may be amenable to surgical treatment. After a complete study of the literature, we have made a retrospective analysis of 48 ear explorations in 37 children. These children presented with a variable degree of progressive or fluctuating perceptive deafness without any obvious etiology. Computed tomography, especially aimed at detecting an abnormality in the patency of the aqueduct of the cochlea, seems to be the most efficient criterion of selection to establish an indication for surgical exploration. The extent of the perilymphatic fistulae and their location, mainly at the level of the fissura ante fenestram, call to our mind the possibility of an arrest in the differentiation of the otic capsule, with a persistent anomalous patency of the aqueduct of the cochlea. The results of this study mainly demonstrate stabilizations of hearing, while spectacular improvements still are anecdotal. On the other hand, morbidity is very low and mainly results from insufficient surgery to fill in the fistula. Further studies are needed, especially to better understand the pathophysiology of the perilymphatic fistulae, and their results must certainly be appreciated in the longer term.

Adolescent

[Difficult intubations. A prospective study].

A prospective tubing of tracheal tubing in view of general anesthia was performed in 441 adults undergoing scheduled surgery. Before surgery, the anesthesists and ENT specialists tried to independently predict the cases of difficult tubing, according to different criteria. Tubing actually was difficult in 38 patients (8.6ù) instead of the 21 (55.2%) expected by the ENT specialists and/or the anesthesists. These difficulties were solved by bronchoscopy, which allowed tubing to be performed with a guide-probe (3 cas), by scheduled fiberendoscopy (6), tracheotomy (1), nasotracheal tubing (1), spontaneous ventilation (2), and orotracheal tubing in 25 cases. Current knowledge of the predictive criteria is incomplete: anesthesists must be aware of the assistance techniques required in case of difficult tubing in a non-ENT context.

Adult

[Vocal restoration by tracheo-esophageal fistula. Evaluation of a 5 years' experience].

Between december 1985 and august 1990, 70 patients with total laryngectomy had their voice restaured by creation of tracheo-esophageal fistula. The tracheo-esophageal fistula was created during laryngectomy in 33 cases (20 punctures with Blom Singer prostheses, 13 surgical shunts), a few weeks later after surgery of radiotherapy in 17 cases or when production of esophageal voice feld in 20 cases. No major complication was observed. Results following voice recovery were satisfactory in 78.5% of cases (normal voice), one month after the procedure. Results are better when tracheo-oesophageal fistula was used initially (88%), than performed secondary (55%). After one year, results were satisfactory in 75.5% of cases.

Esophagus

Low prevalence of cisplatin-induced neuropathy after 4-day continuous infusion in head and neck cancer.

The toxicity of cisplatin on peripheral nerves was studied using electrophysiologic recordings in 52 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Induction chemotherapy (cisplatin: 25 mg/m2/day, days 1-4; 5-fluorouracil: 1 g/m2/day, days 1-4) was administered by continuous infusion every 3 weeks. Electrophysiologic recordings were performed before and after the completion of three courses of chemotherapy (cisplatin total dose: 250-300 mg/m2). The comparison between the recordings showed 14% of the patients had an increase in the latency of the soleus muscle monosynaptic reflex as studied by the Hoffman reflex and 9% showed a decrease in the conduction velocity of the cutaneous sensory fibers of the median nerve. These results indicated a low prevalence of cisplatin-induced neuropathy. The respective roles played by the continuous infusion of the drug and by the potentiation of neurotoxic effects resulting from the association of cisplatin with other neurotoxins is discussed to explain this low toxicity.

Adult

[ORL manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux].

In the E.N.T. area, gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) is manifested as atypical pharyngitis or laryngitis. E.N.T. examination is frequently negative. The diagnosis rests on demonstration of the reflux which is clinically obvious in most cases. It must be confirmed by exploratory methods, the main one being oesophageal pH measurement. Fibroscopy is useful to exclude an associated oesophagitis. GOR is very frequent in children and indeed unavoidable during the first weeks of life. It may produce inflammatory E.N.T. symptoms, but also obstructive apnoea and nocturnal cough. Management essentially consists of hygienic and dietetic measures. It is highly effective as regards both GOR and its atypical E.N.T. manifestations.

Adult

[Malignant midline granuloma, diagnostic and therapeutic problems].

This is an analysis of 4 patients with suspicion of centro-facial granulomatosis. Diagnosis is difficult, mainly based upon clinical data, without precise histopathological presentation. The main differential diagnosis is Wegener's granulomatosis. The etiology of centrofacial granulomatosis is still unknown but multiple theories have been proposed: systemic disease, lymphoma. In one case, the initial histopathological diagnosis was undifferentiated carcinoma and the patient received chemotherapy (i.e., Adriamycin, Vincristine, Bleomycin and Steroids). A complete response was achieved. The interest of chemotherapy in the treatment of centro-facial granulomatosis is discussed.

Adult