Results of a Tailored Approach to Zenker's Diverticulum: A Single VA Experience.

The transoral division of the esophageal-diverticula septum with a linear stapler, with CO laser, or with harmonic scalpel under rigid endoscopy has revolutionized the surgical management of Zenker's diverticula. Nevertheless, the open approach still plays a role in select cases. Our goals are to illustrate the techniques and the results of our tailored approach to the surgical management of Zenker's diverticula in U.

A Tailored Approach to the Surgical Treatment of Zenker's Diverticula.

The advent of endoscopic techniques has transformed the surgical therapy of Zenker's diverticula. Although the treatment paradigm has shifted to minimally invasive approaches with endoscopic stapling-assisted or laser-assisted repair, traditional transcervical procedures can still play a role in selected cases. The goal of this article is to illustrate our tailored approach to patients with Zenker's diverticula and illustrate our open surgical and endoscopic techniques.

Electromyographic control of a hands-free electrolarynx using neck strap muscles.

Unlabelled: Three individuals with total laryngectomy were studied for their ability to control a hands-free electrolarynx (EL) using neck surface electromyography (EMG) for on/off and pitch modulation. The laryngectomy surgery of participants was modified to preserve neck strap musculature for EMG-based EL control (EMG-EL), with muscles on one side maintaining natural innervation and those on the other side receiving a transferred recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN). EMG from each side of the neck controlled the EMG-EL across a day of unstructured practice followed by a day of formal training, including EMG biofeedback.

Surface electromyographic activity in total laryngectomy patients following laryngeal nerve transfer to neck strap muscles.

Hands-free triggering and pitch control would improve electrolarynx devices, which are inconvenient to use and sound unnatural. The present study tested the strategy of salvaging voice-related neural signals for hands-free electrolarynx control either by transferring cut recurrent laryngeal nerves (RLNs) to denervated neck strap muscles or by preserving strap muscles with their normal innervation. An RLN nerve transfer was performed at the time of total laryngectomy in 8 individuals, and in 5 of these subjects, strap muscles with intact ansa cervicalis innervation were also preserved for comparison.

Laser assisted topical 'biofilm' chemoprevention of oral cancer.

This study examines whether a combination of laser microvascular targeting, mucosal adhesive film (MAF) and retinoic acid (RA) techniques would improve the efficacy for oral cancer chemoprevention. The cheek pouches of 48 hamsters were painted with 7,12-dimethlbenz[a]nthrancene to produce premalignant lesions. There were four groups of 12 each: (1) control; (2) pulsed dye laser (PDL) treatment; (3) topical MAF/RA patch treatment; and (4) combined treatment of PDL and MAF/RA.