Biomedical subjects

Matthew Leaper

Publications and source records attributed to Matthew Leaper.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

A prospective randomised single blinded study comparing harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy with bipolar tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences in pain, analgesic use and bleeding in children after tonsillectomy using either a harmonic scalpel or a bipolar diathermy surgical technique. METHODS: Children 6-15 years presenting for tonsillectomy were randomised to either a harmonic scalpel or bipolar diathermy surgical technique. Post-operative pain scores (VAS, 0-10) were recorded within 30 min of surgery and again at the 4h hospital discharge. A subsequent telephone interview daily for 7 days and then every second day until day 13 was used to monitor pain scores, analgesic use and tonsil bed bleeding. RESULTS: There were 204 children studied. The response rate over the first 7 days was 93% for the children in the harmonic scalpel group and 87% for the bipolar group. Children experienced moderate post-operative pain for the first 6 days, after which pain declined from 4-7 to reach a score of 1-2 by day 11. Children undergoing harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy (n=103) reported higher mean pain scores than those who underwent bipolar diathermy (n=101) for current pain (4.7 versus 4.2, p=0.002), worst pain of the day (6.9 versus 6.2, p<0.001) and pain on swallowing (5.9 versus 5.2, p<0.001) over the first 6 post-operative days. Analgesic use (acetaminophen, ibuprofen) was similar in both groups. Hospital readmission for bleeding in children who underwent harmonic scalpel was similar to those who underwent bipolar diathermy tonsillectomy (9% versus 11%) as was bleeding requiring surgical re-exploration (4% versus 2%). CONCLUSIONS: Tonsillectomy was associated with considerable pain for the first 6 post-operative days. Children undergoing harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy had a slight increase in pain compared to the bipolar diathermy group during this time. Both methods of tonsillectomy are effective and safe.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2005

An anatomical protrusion exists on the posterior hypopharyngeal wall in some elderly cadavers.

Dysfunction of the cricopharyngeus is a common cause for dysphagia in the elderly and results in the appearance of the cricopharyngeal bar on a barium swallow radiological examination. However, manometrically normal relaxation of the cricopharyngeus has been observed in patients with a permanent cricopharyngeal bar, which implies that some structural changes may occur in the pharyngoesophageal wall. The aim of this study was to examine the macro-microscopic morphological features in the posterior hypopharyngeal wall of elderly human cadavers. Using dissection, histology, and E12 sheet plastination methods, we examined 31 human cadavers (15 females and 16 males; age 60-97 years with a mean of 77 years). We found that about one-third of the cadavers (29%, 9 out of 31) had an anatomical cricopharyngeal protrusion on the posterior hypopharyngeal wall. The protrusion presented two different appearances: a transverse ridge (2 females and 4 males, age 60-91 years) and a tongue-like fold (1 female and 2 males, age 71-86 years). The existence of the anatomical protrusion in the elderly cadaver suggests that such a structural change may become a physical barrier to affect the normal deglutition in the living elderly and should be carefully considered when interpreting radiological and manometrical examinations and with the management of dysphagia.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Paediatric small cavity mastoid surgery: second look tympanotomy.

OBJECTIVE: Following surgery for retraction pocket/cholesteatoma there is risk of residual disease, after canal wall up surgery a second look tympanotomy is routinely recommended. After canal wall down (CWDM) surgery this is not routine. In certain situations the senior author recommends second look tympanotomy. This report examines the outcome of this management paradigm applied to small cavity mastoid surgery for children. METHOD: A retrospective review of small cavity mastoid surgery for children with cholesteatoma or discharging retraction pocket disease. The primary procedure and surgical findings at second look tympanotomy are reported as well as the pre- and 1 year post-operative air and bone conduction thresholds and air-bone gap averaged across frequencies 0.5, 1, 2 and 4kHz and the mean pre- and post-operative bone conduction threshold at 4kHz. A Student t-test was used to compare hearing results. RESULTS: Forty five were children reviewed at 1 year. Twelve (27%) were recommended second look tympanotomy, of which 10 had surgery; all were free of residual disease. At second look two children had ossiculoplasty performed, four had adhesions divided. Six children had formed a myringostapediopexy after their first surgery. The mean pre-op bone conduction threshold was 6.3dB for those having single stage surgery and 5.6dB for those having a second look and the post-operative thresholds were 7.8 and 10.2dB, respectively. The mean preoperative air conduction threshold was 32.6dB for single stage surgery and 31.1dB for staged surgery and at 1 year 29.2 and 40.8dB. This was a significant difference. After second look, the air conduction threshold was 34.5dB, and not significantly different from those who had single stage surgery. The mean pre-treatment 4kHz bone conduction threshold was 6.3 and 5.6dB for single stage surgery and second look tympanotomy and after surgery, respectively, 9.8 and 14.5dB. These changes are not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The small cavity mastoidectomy approach allows meticulous removal of disease from the middle ear and for certain indications second look tympanotomy is recommended. Planned second look tympanotomy has demonstrated excellent early disease control as well as allowing timely management of any pathology affecting the middle ear sound transformation mechanism.

Adolescent↗