High-riding brachiocephalic (innominate) artery during surgical tracheostomy.

Two cases of a high-riding innominate artery, which were found during routine surgical tracheostomy. A cartilage flap was applied to cover the significant vessel to prevent the life-threatening complications. These two cases were followed up for 2 months without any adverse events.

Endoscopic cochlear implantation: Call for caution.

Objectives/hypothesis: To assess whether transcanal endoscopic access to the basal turn of the cochlea for cochlear implantation is appropriate.

Study Design: Case series study.

Methods: We reviewed 100 consecutive computed tomographic studies of the sinuses and temporal bone in our institution.

Common cavity and custom-made electrodes: speech perception and audiological performance of children with common cavity implanted with a custom-made MED-EL electrode.

Objective: Few studies exist on children with common cavity, fewer still on their long-term audiological development after having received a cochlear implant. Our goal was to observe and report the long-term audiological progress of children with common cavity who were implanted with a custom-made electrode.

Methods: In this longitudinal, multi-center study, 19 children were implanted with a MED-EL custom-made electrode via either single slit cochleostomy or double posterior labyrinthotomy.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy or nodal observation in melanoma: a prospective study of patient choices.

Background: There is no consensus regarding the therapeutic utility of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) versus that of nodal observation (NO) in melanoma.

Objective: To prospectively evaluate a standardized counseling procedure and its effect on patient choices to undergo SLNB or NO.

Methods: In four centers, patients with melanoma eligible for SLNB or NO received a complete counseling procedure that included verbal information from dermatologists and surgeons, a detailed information sheet, and a written consent form.