Elongated Uvula Causing Chronic Cough: Role of the Modified Uvulopalatoplasty Procedure.

Objective: A subset of patients previously diagnosed with idiopathic chronic cough were found to have an elongated uvula contacting the laryngeal surface of the epiglottis and inducing a cough reflex. These patients were successfully treated with an in-office modified uvulopalatoplasty procedure (mUPP) at our institution. We aim to further categorize this subset of patients and describe the mUPP that can potentially offer this group of patients cure for their chronic cough.

Electrodissection tracheotomy.

The acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic and other potentially fatal blood-borne infectious diseases have produced a heightened awareness for preventing accidental inoculation of surgeons and operating theatre staff. It is incumbent upon the head and neck surgeon to use safe and effective surgical technique in these patients to prevent such an event. We are seeing an increasing number of patients with AIDS and hepatitis undergoing tracheotomy.

Sternocleidomastoid myofascial flap for head and neck reconstruction.

Background: The use of the sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle in the repair of soft tissue defects arising after surgery for neoplasms of the head and neck has been a subject of controversy. We describe a variant of the SCM muscle flap called the "SCM myofascial flap" and report our experience with this flap in head and neck reconstruction.

Methods: Six patients underwent head and neck reconstruction with the SCM myofascial flap.