Prevalence and risk factors for developing oral allergy syndrome in adult patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis.

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of oral allergy syndrome (OAS) in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) and the possible risk factors for its development. This cross-sectional study was conducted in primary care offices in the Split-Dalmatia County during the period from March 1 to September 30, 2012. Data sources were medical history with confirmation of SAR (positive skin-prick test to seasonal inhalant allergens: grass, tree and weed pollens), anthropometric patient data (age, sex, weight and height), and a questionnaire in which patients evaluated their nasal and ocular symptoms, comorbidities and lifestyle.

[Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of hereditary angioedema].

Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare but potentially fatal genetic disorder with nonpitting, nonerythematous, and not pruritic swelling which can affect the hands, feet, face, genitals and visceral mucosa. The type, frequency, and severity of the attacks vary between patients, and over the lifetime of an individual patient. Efforts in Croatian counties have identified approximately 100 patients (but there must be more undiagnosed patients).

Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx.

Aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) expression with histopathologic and clinical characteristics of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and to assess the role of MMP-9 expression in patient survival. Study included 196 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx treated at ENT Department, Split University Hospital Centre, from January 1, 2000 till December 31, 2009. The level of MMP-9 expression showed a statistically significant correlation (p < 0.

A battery in the stenotic esophagus of a child with a congenital tracheoesophageal fistula.

A case of a three-year-old male child who was admitted to our hospital with the suspicion that he had swallowed a battery approximately one hour before admittance. The parents believed that it was a button-shaped lithium battery approximately 12 mm in diameter. A chest X-ray was taken immediately, and a battery was identified in the esophagus at the fifth thoracic vertebra.

Is the systemic inflammatory reaction to surgery responsible for post-operative pain after tonsillectomy, and is it "technique-related"?

Aims: Investigate the influence of operative technique on post-operative morbidity and the systemic inflammatory response after tonsillectomy. In addition, our aim was to compare the systemic inflammatory reaction, post-operative pain severity, and required time before the resumption of normal physical activity between two groups of tonsillectomized children and to correlate characteristics of the systemic inflammatory reaction to post-operative morbidity.

Participants And Methods: This prospective, randomized, and single-blind study included 100 children between the ages of 3-16 years and who were scheduled for a tonsillectomy at our department for chronic tonsillitis and/or respiratory obstruction.

Efficacy and safety of inferior turbinate coblation-channeling in the treatment of nasal obstructions.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of coblation-channeling in the treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophy. The study was conducted in the Department of ENT Head and Neck Surgery, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia. Fifty-two patients with inferior turbinate hypertrophy who were refractory to medical therapy were evaluated for coblation.

Succinylcholine use in adult anesthesia - A multinational questionnaire survey.

There are no definitive evidence based standards regarding use of succinylcholine (SCh) for anesthesia induction. However, there is a global trend toward eliminating SCh not only in elective, but also in emergency surgery in adults. The aim of the study was to survey the use of SCh in adult elective and emergency anesthesia practice in several European countries and the United States by questionnaire.

[Succinylcholine use by anesthesiologists in Croatia--is it really abandoned?].

The aim was to establish the prevalence of succinylcholine use among Croatian anesthesiologists in adult elective and emergency surgery, as well as in pediatric surgery, regarding gender, position, working place, and working experience of physicians. The anesthesiologists were expected to express their personal opinions regarding the drug, as well as experienced side effects in their own clinical practice. A total of 125 anesthesiologists (out of 590 in Croatia) from both university and county hospitals in Croatia anonymously filled out the questionnaire regarding the use of succinylcholine (Appendix 1).

Postoperative morbidity and histopathologic characteristics of tonsillar tissue following coblation tonsillectomy in children: a prospective randomized single-blind study.

The aim of this prospective randomized single blind study was to determine the depth of thermal damage to tonsillar tissue due to coblation, and to compare it with thermal damage to tonsillar tissue following conventional tonsillectomy; to correlate the depth of thermal damage to tonsillar tissue with the parameters of postoperative morbidity, to compare intraoperative blood loss, postoperative pain severity, time to resuming normal physical activity, and incidence of postoperative bleeding between two groups of tonsillectomized children aged up to 16 years. 72 children aged 3-16 years scheduled for tonsillectomy randomly assigned into two groups submitted either to conventional tonsillectomy with bipolar diathermy coagulation or to coblation tonsillectomy, with a 14-day follow up. Statistically significant differences were observed in the depth of thermal damage to tonsillar tissue (p < 0.

[Adenotonsillectomy as a treatment modality for sleep disordered breathing in children: case report].

Children with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) can present with a range of symptoms, from simple snoring to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with secondary growth impairment, neurocognitive defects and sometimes cardiovascular sequelae that rearely lead to death. The most common cause of SDB in children is adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy. The most common treatment for children with SDB not caused by malformations or illness is surgery, in the first place--adenotonsillectomy.

[Surgery as a treatment modality for sleep disordered breathing].

The main characteristic of all types of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is partial or complete obstruction in the upper airway. Patency of the pharyngeal airway is maintained by two opposing forces: negative intraluminal pressure and the activity of the upper airway musculature. Different anatomical abnormalities can disrupt this delicate balance with resultant compromise of the upper airway.

[Sleep disordered breathing].

Sleep apnea is a breathing disorder characterized by cessation of breathing during sleep, oxygen desaturation and awakenings during night. There are several types of breathing disorders during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is also characterized by snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness.

Progression of optic neuritis to multiple sclerosis in the County of Split-Dalmatia, Croatia.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of monosymptomatic optic neuritis (MON) and progression of MON to multiple sclerosis (MS) from the Mediterranean region of southern Europe in the County of Split-Dalmatia, Croatia during the 11 years period from 1991 to 2001. This study was made retrospectively on the 87 cases (59 female, aged 25.9 +/- 11.

Hyperbaric oxygen in the treatment of sudden hearing loss.

Treatment of idiopathic sudden hearing loss (SHL) is still a great problem for the physicians, due to the still unexplained etiopathogenesis of the disease. This retrospective study includes 115 patients with idiopathic SHL and compares two therapy regimens. Of the total number of patients, 51 had been primarily treated by hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) at 2.

Primary mucosal melanoma of the eustachian tube.

Melanomas of the upper airway tract constitute around 1% of the total melanomas of the head and neck. They are usually more advanced in depth of invasion or size at the time of diagnosis than melanomas of the skin. The case of a 74-year-old Caucasian female with primary malignant melanoma of the left eustachian tube and bilateral neck metastasis is presented.

[Gas gangrene and hyperbaric oxygenation--a lesson forgotten or never learned?].

Gas gangrene develops in devitalized hypoxic tissue. It spreads rapidly under strong influence of enzymes produced by the causing bacteria and often results in fatal outcome. It is of utmost importance to stop toxin production as soon as possible, which is most effectively achieved by early application of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBO2), as the first measure in a "trident" (HBO2, antibiotics, surgical measures).