Velopharyngeal anatomy in patients with obstructive sleep apnea versus normal subjects.

Purpose: Obesity can cause disturbed breathing and is one of the most significant risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). However, the anatomic basis of OSA and, specifically, the anatomic mechanisms leading from obesity to OSA are still unclear. We examined the anatomic features of the velopharynx in patients with OSA versus those without in correlation with the body mass index (BMI), age, history of snoring, and OSA severity and re-evaluated the contribution of adding a frontal view to the cephalometric analysis of patients with OSA.

Cricopharyngeal achalasia in children: surgical and medical treatment.

Background: Cricopharyngeal achalasia (CA) is a rare cause of dysphagia in children presenting with non-specific symptoms such as choking, food regurgitation, nasal reflux, coughing, recurrent pneumonia, cyanosis, and failure to thrive. It results from failure of relaxation of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) and may appea reither as an isolated lesion or in conjunction with other pathologies. Recognition and early diagnosis of this condition may minimize morbidity in children.

The prevalence of platybasia in patients with velopharyngeal incompetence.

Objectives : To estimate the prevalence of platybasia in patients with velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI) and its relation with palatal anomalies and syndromes. Design and Settings : Retrospective case analysis. Setting : A university-affiliated hospital.

Automatic cephalometric evaluation of patients suffering from sleep-disordered breathing.

We address the problem of automatically analyzing lateral cephalometric images as a diagnostic tool for patients suffering from Sleep Disordered Breathing (SDB). First, multiple landmarks and anatomical structures that were previously associated with SDB are localized. Then statistical regression is applied in order to estimate the Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI), which is the standard measure for the severity of obstructive sleep apnea.

Penetrating injury of the maxilla by needlefish jaws.

Introduction: Needlefish penetrating injuries have become a worldwide problem, inflicting critical morbidities and even mortalities. This is the first published case of needlefish injury in the Mediterranean basin.

Case Report: A 29 year old man was admitted to Meir Medical Centre in Israel with a penetrating facial wound caused by elongated needlefish jaws.

Old and new aspects of middle turbinate histopathology.

Objective: To study the histology of the normal and pathologic middle turbinate (MT).

Study Design: Nonrandomized, controlled study.

Subjects And Methods: Qualitative and quantitative assessment of soft tissue and bony elements of 14 normal and 10 chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) MT samples (patients' mean CT score, 6.

Laser cryptolysis for the treatment of halitosis.

Objective: To evaluate the tonsils as a source of halitosis and to assess the efficacy of laser CO(2) cryptolysis for the treatment of oral bad breath caused by chronic fetid tonsillitis.

Methods: Fifty-three patients with halitosis originating from chronic fetid tonsillitis, who completed laser cryptolysis were enrolled in the study. The origin of halitosis was demonstrated by Finkelstein's tonsil smelling test, which included massaging the tonsils and smelling the squeezed discharge.

Genetic, developmental, and physical factors associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in patients with velocardiofacial syndrome.

Velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) is a relatively common developmental neuropsychiatric syndrome caused by a 22q11 microdeletion. There is an extensive variability in the phenotypic expression of this disease. The most common psychiatric disorder in VCFS is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), affecting 35-55% of patients.

Obsessive-compulsive disorder in patients with velocardiofacial (22q11 deletion) syndrome.

The study of neurogenetic microdeletion syndromes provides an insight into the developmental psychopathology of psychiatric disorders. The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders, especially obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), in patients with velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS), a 22q11 microdeletion syndrome. Forty-three subjects with VCFS of mean age 18.

The rising incidence of adult acute epiglottitis and epiglottic abscess.

Objective: To examine preliminary observations that the incidence of adult acute epiglottitis has risen between 1986 and 2000.

Materials And Methods: Demographics, annual and seasonal occurrences, clinical presentation, diagnostic procedures, treatment, airway management, and complications of 116 consecutive adult patients with laryngoscopically confirmed acute epiglottitis are presented.

Results: The mean annual incidence of acute epiglottitis per 100,000 adults significantly increased from 0.

Rhinorrhea induced by loading of dental implants supporting an obturator prosthesis: a clinical report.

This clinical report describes an unusual situation of nasal discharge that was initially considered to be caused by a leaking obturator prosthesis in a partially repaired cleft palate patient. Ultimately, the diagnosis was rhinorrhea induced by the loading of dental implants that supported the obturator. The differential diagnoses of nasal irritation, blocking of nasal drainage posterior or anterior through a premaxillary defect, vasomotor rhinitis, and gustatory rhinorrhea are presented and discussed, as well as the measures taken to reach the final diagnosis.

Is there a better way to do laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty?

Objective: To assess the subjective and objective short- and medium- to long-term results of laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) for snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

Design: A nonrandomized, prospective, before-after trial.

Patients And Interventions: Twenty-five patients underwent a modified procedure of LAUP termed one-stage LAUP, and a matched control group of 24 patients underwent uvulopalatopharyngoplasty.

Is isolated palatal anomaly an indication to screen for 22q11 region deletion?

Objective: Velocardiofacial syndrome (VCFS) is the most common multiple anomaly disorder associated with palatal clefting. Cytogenetic hemizygous deletion of 22q11 region is found in 80% of patients. The frequency of 22q11 deletion in patients presenting with isolated palatal anomalies has not been fully assessed.

Endoscopic partial adenoidectomy for children with submucous cleft palate.

Objective: Children with submucous cleft palate who suffer from chronic nasal obstruction because of hypertrophic adenoids usually are not subjected to adenoidectomy because of the fear of postoperative velopharyngeal insufficiency. These patients present a therapeutic challenge because we are aware more than ever of the importance of normal nasal breathing and nocturnal respiration, especially during childhood. Our hypothesis was that transnasal endoscopic horizontal limited adenoidectomy may relieve nasal obstruction while preserving the function of the velopharyngeal valve.

Laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty for the management of obstructive sleep apnea: myths and facts.

Objective: To assess medium- to long-term subjective and objective results of laser-assisted uvulopalatoplasty (LAUP) for patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

Design: A nonrandomized prospective before-after trial.

Subjects And Interventions: Twenty-six patients underwent LAUP by means of vertical trenches along either side of the uvula and reduction of the uvula.

Anesthetic techniques for pharyngeal flap surgery: effects on postoperative complications.

Objective: To assess the effects of 2 different anesthetic techniques on early complications after superior pharyngeal flap surgery.

Design: Randomized, prospective, single-blind study.

Setting: Large referral hospital.