Impact of current smoking and alcohol consumption on gastrostomy duration in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing definitive chemoradiotherapy.

Importance: Prophylactic gastrostomy tube (GT) insertion prior to chemoradiotherapy is a valuable nutritional adjunct in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing nonsurgical treatment. However, concerns have been expressed regarding high rates of GT dependence. There is little information in the literature regarding the impact of modifiable risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption on duration of GT use and dependence rates.

Port site metastatic disease in ovarian carcinoma.

Introduction: Port-site metastases are a recognised complication of laparoscopy in the presence of malignancy. With the increased use of minimally invasive technology to surgically manage gynaecological malignancy, their incidence is likely to increase. We describe three cases where patients underwent laparoscopy prior to referral for definitive surgery.

Report on the creation of a diabetes register and retinopathy screening outcomes in the Mid-West of Ireland.

Background: With concerns that blind registration in Ireland due to diabetic retinopathy is continuing to rise, a structured retinopathy screening service is in the process of being rolled out nationally.

Aims: To report on the validation process for creating a register of diabetics in the Mid-West of Ireland, and findings following retinopathy screening of a representative sample.

Methods: National primary care databases were employed in generating provisional lists of diabetic patients in the Health Service Executive (HSE) Mid-West area.

Intraoperative asystole associated with fibroid uterus.

The authors present the case of a patient with a large retroperitoneal fibroid whose laparotomy was abandoned due to intraoperative asystole. Perioperative management and possible etiological factors are discussed in this paper.

Nasal endoscopy and paranasal sinus computerised tomography (CT) findings in an Irish cystic fibrosis adult patient group.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a common inherited disorder in Caucasians in Ireland having the highest reported incidence. CF has well-recognised clinical sequelae in several physiological systems. Its' impact on the sinonasal system is less well established.

Thyroid thyrothymic extension: An anatomic study in a surgical series.

Background: The thyrothymic extension (TTE) is a variable projection from the inferior thyroid pole along the course of the thyrothymic ligament. Awareness of the TTE is critical to ensure complete total thyroidectomy. However, there is little mention of the TTE in the literature.

Place of care: from referral to specialist palliative care until death.

Background: While there are many poorly standardised studies focusing on place of death, there are limited data on place(s) of care during the final stages of disease.

Aim: This study aims to identify where patients are cared for in the interval from referral to specialist palliative care until death.

Methods: All patients who died while under the care of a specialist palliative care service over a 6-month period were considered.

Impact of postoperative magnesium levels on early hypocalcemia and permanent hypoparathyroidism after thyroidectomy.

Background: Postoperative hypocalcemia is a common complication of thyroidectomy. Magnesium is known to modulate serum calcium levels and hypomagnesemia may impede correction of hypocalcemia. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether hypomagnesemia after thyroidectomy has any impact on early hypocalcemia and/or permanent hypoparathyroidism.

Symptomatic dermatographism treated with narrowband UVB phototherapy.

Dermatographism occurs when there is an exaggerated response to physical stimulus. There are both simple and symptomatic forms. Symptomatic dermatographsim can be exceedingly difficult to treat.

Oncological and functional outcomes of transoral surgery for the treatment of oropharyngeal cancer.

Background: Currently, most cases of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) are treated by chemoradiotherapy. However, serious concerns have arisen regarding toxicity and poor functional outcomes. Recently, transoral techniques for resection of selected OPSCC have been developed.

Assessment of the visual status of older adults on an orthopedic unit.

PURPOSE. To examine the visual status of a cohort of older adults on an orthopedic unit to determine their level of available vision to complete everyday activities in the hospital setting. METHOD.

Management of advanced laryngeal cancer.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx continues to be the commonest head and neck cancer in many Western countries. The larynx plays a key role for many essential functions, including breathing, voice production, airway protection, and swallowing. The goals of laryngeal cancer treatment are thus to provide best possible oncologic control, while optimizing functional outcomes.

Oncologic outcomes of total laryngectomy: impact of margins and preoperative tracheostomy.

Background: The purpose of this present study was to investigate risk factors for local recurrence and death after total laryngectomy, with particular emphasis on pattern of local recurrence (stomal vs pharyngeal/base of tongue) and impact of preceding tracheostomy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 75 consecutive total laryngectomies for cancer of the larynx.

Results: Nineteen patients underwent preoperative tracheostomy, which was a significant risk factor for local recurrence (p = .

Vitamin D and risk of postoperative hypocalcemia after total thyroidectomy.

Importance: Transient hypocalcemia is a well-recognized occurrence after total thyroidectomy. It has been hypothesized that underlying vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of this complication, although to date there are few data in the literature supporting this hypothesis.

Objective: To investigate whether perioperative vitamin D levels have any effect on postthyroidectomy hypocalcemia.

Chylous ascites as a consequence of idiopathic pancreatitis.

Chylous ascites (chyloperitoneum) is a rare clinical condition, characterized by an accumulation of lymph fluid in the peritoneal cavity. Most commonly it is associated with abdominal malignancy (usually lymphoma). We present an unusual case of a woman who developed a persistent pseudocyst and recurrent chylous ascites following acute necrotizing pancreatitis.

Unhealthy days and quality of life in Irish patients with diabetes.

Objectives: To study the determinants of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Irish patients with diabetes using the Centres for Disease Controls' (CDC's) 'Unhealthy Days' summary measure and to assesses the agreement between this generic HRQoL measure and the disease-specific Audit of Diabetes Dependant Quality of Life (ADDQoL) measure.

Research Design And Methods: Data were analysed from the Diabetes Quality of Life Study, a cross-sectional study of 1,456 people with diabetes in Ireland (71% response rate). Unhealthy days were assessed using the CDC's 'Unhealthy days' summary measure.

Impact of extent of parotid resection on postoperative wound complications: a prospective study.

Background: Sialocele and salivary fistula are common complications after parotidectomy. The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether extent of parotidectomy influences the incidence of these complications.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study of 66 consecutive parotidectomies.

Hypocalcemia after total laryngectomy: incidence and risk factors.

Objectives/hypothesis: Hypocalcemia is common in the initial period after total laryngectomy. The purpose of the present study was to study the incidence of and risk factors for postlaryngectomy hypocalcemia at our institution.

Study Design: Retrospective review of 65 consecutive total laryngectomies.

Elective neck dissection for no neck during salvage total laryngectomy: findings, complications, and oncological outcome.

Importance: Optimum management of the clinically negative neck in the presence of primary site recurrence of laryngeal or hypopharyngeal cancer remains unclear.

Objective: To examine the incidence of occult cervical nodal metastatic disease in patients undergoing salvage laryngectomy with necks clinically staged as N0 at the time of recurrence and to define the role of elective neck dissection in this population with regard to risk of complications and oncologic outcomes.

Design: Retrospective study of patients treated from 1996 through 2011.