Thermal Effects of CO, KTP, and Blue Lasers with a Flexible Fiber Delivery System on Vocal Folds.

Objective: To determine the differences in thermal effects on vocal folds between four fiber-routed lasers.

Methods: In this experimental laboratory study the thermal effects of an AcuPulse Duo CO (CO AP), UltraPulse Duo CO (CO UP), KTP, and Blue laser were analyzed using a Schlieren technique on a human tissue mimicking gel model. Power, laser duration, laser fiber distance to tissue and mode (continuous wave [CW] vs pulsed [P] modes) were evaluated in varying combinations in order to compare the effects of the tested lasers and to explore the individual effect on thermal expansion and incision depth of each setting.

Feasibility and Safety of Office-Based Transnasal Balloon Dilation for Neopharyngeal and Proximal Esophageal Strictures in Patients with a History of Head and Neck Carcinoma.

The aim of this study was to assess feasibility and safety of office-based transnasal balloon dilation of neopharyngeal and proximal esophageal strictures in patients with a history of head and neck carcinoma. The secondary objective was to explore its effectiveness. This prospective case series included patients previously treated for head and neck carcinoma with neopharyngeal or proximal esophageal strictures who underwent transnasal balloon dilation under topical anesthesia.

Flexible Endoscopic Biopsy: Identifying Factors to Increase Accuracy in Diagnosing Benign and Malignant Laryngopharyngeal Pathology.

Objectives: To assess the influence that several factors, such as the amount of obtained biopsies, difficult procedures, biopsy site and the experience of the attending physician, have on accuracy of flexible endoscopic biopsy (FEB).

Materials And Methods: 203 FEB procedures for benign or malignant laryngopharyngeal lesions were prospectively included. During the procedure, three representative biopsies (macroscopically containing vital tumor tissue and not only necrosis or healthy tissue) were obtained.

Optimizing Settings for Office-Based Endoscopic CO Laser Surgery Using an Experimental Vocal Cord Model.

Objectives/hypothesis: To provide insight in the thermal effects of individual laser settings in target tissues to optimize flexible endoscopic CO laser surgery treatment.

Study Design: Experimental laboratory study.

Methods: Thermal effects of the CO laser using a fiber delivery system were visualized using the color Schlieren technique in combination with a polyacrylamide gel tissue model.

Office-based CO laser surgery for benign and premalignant laryngeal lesions.

Objective: Patients with laryngeal pathology are often treated with CO laser surgery, usually in the operating room under general anesthesia. Although office-based laser surgery using several other laser types has been investigated, prospective studies on office-based CO laser surgery are scarce. Our goal was to investigate the feasibility of office-based CO laser surgery for benign and premalignant laryngeal pathology by analyzing completion rate, safety, effect on voice quality, and success rate (i.

Office-based vs. operating room-performed laryngopharyngeal surgery: a review of cost differences.

Purpose: Office-based transnasal flexible endoscopic surgery under topical anesthesia has recently been developed as an alternative for transoral laryngopharyngeal surgery under general anesthesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate differences in health care costs between the two surgical settings.

Methods: PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were searched for studies reporting on costs of laryngopharyngeal procedures that could either be performed in the office or operating room (i.

Geriatric assessment and 1-year mortality in older patients with cancer in the head and neck region: A cohort study.

Background: The aim is to describe the association of functional capacity and cognitive functioning with 1-year mortality in older patients with cancer in the head and neck region.

Methods: We performed a cohort study in which all patients aged 70 years and older received a geriatric screening before treatment. Main outcome was 1-year mortality.

Functional and cognitive impairment, social environment, frailty and adverse health outcomes in older patients with head and neck cancer, a systematic review.

Objectives: Older head and neck cancer patients are at increased risk for adverse health outcomes, but little is known about which geriatric assessment associates with poor outcome. The aim is to study the association of functional or cognitive impairment, social environment and frailty with adverse health outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods: Four libraries were searched for studies reporting on an association of functional or cognitive impairment, social environment and frailty with adverse outcomes in head and neck cancer patients.

Arts and ageing; life expectancy of historical artists in the Low Countries.

Practising arts has been linked to lowering stress, anxiety and blood pressure. These mechanisms are all known to affect the ageing process. Therefore, we examine the relation between long-term involvement in arts and life expectancy at age 50 (LE50), in a cohort of 12,159 male acoustic, literary and visual artists, who were born between 1700 and 1899 in the Low Countries.