Minimally invasive wire-guided balloon catheter puncture for voice prosthesis insertion.

Background: Tracheoesophageal puncture is an effective and reliable method for voice restoration after total laryngectomy that may be performed as a primary or secondary procedure.

Methods: We describe our technique for secondary tracheoesophageal puncture using a wire-guided balloon catheter in an office setting. A 72-year-old patient with a total laryngectomy performed 2 years ago was selected for wire-guided balloon catheter puncture and voice prosthesis insertion.

[Efficacy and safety of dotarizine vs. cinnarizine in the symptomatic treatment of acute balance disorders (common vertigo)].

One hundred and ten adult patients suffering from peripheral vertigo were treated in a multifactorial double-blind randomized clinical trial with dotarizine (50 mg b.i.d.

Endoscopic sinus surgery in sinusitis.

In terms of functional treatment of sinonasal pathologies, endoscopic surgery represents a spectacular advance, offering excellent illumination, views of areas previously impossible to monitor, and the ability to view the main reference points in the surgical field. Over a five-year period (1988-1993), the authors have performed 278 paranasal sinus operations, using endoscopic techniques. The results obtained in 250 patients, with a minimum follow-up period of one year, have been analyzed.

[The middle turbinate as the cause of sinusal pathology].

The middle turbinate and its anatomical variations (concha bullosa and paradoxically bent middle turbinate) may be the site of different pathologies due to the alteration of the sinus function at the key area of the osteomeatal complex. In the present work we study 4 cases of concha bullosa and 4 cases of paradoxically bent middle turbinates, associated to recurrent sinusitis and/or headaches, which underwent endoscopic surgery. Improvement was achieved in all recurrent circumscribed sinusitis.