TY - JOUR A1 - Hackenberg, Stephan A1 - Meyer, Till Jasper A1 - Häfner, Johannes A1 - Scheich, Matthias A1 - Stöth, Manuel A1 - Al-Tinawi, Fadi A1 - Neun, Tilmann A1 - Mlynski, Robert A1 - Hagen, Rudolf A1 - Scherzad, Agmal T1 - Surgical management of tympanojugular paragangliomas using the flexible CO\(_2\) laser JF - European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology N2 - Purpose Surgery is a standard therapy for tympanojugular paragangliomas (TJP). Maintaining the quality of life (QoL) requires functional preservation. The flexible CO\(_2\) laser allows contact-free tumor removal. This retrospective study compares the postoperative functional outcomes of TJP surgery with and without the flexible CO\(_2\) laser. Methods Between 2005 and 2019, 51 patients with TJP were surgically treated at a tertiary hospital. Until 2012, 17 patients received conventional surgery. Thereafter, the flexible laser was used in 34 patients. Tumor extend, pre- and postoperative cranial nerve function, and complications were compared between the groups. Results The cohort consisted of 33 class A and B tumors and 18 class C and D tumors. Preoperative embolization was performed in 17 cases. Class C/D TJP were usually removed via an infratemporal fossa type A approach. Gross total tumor removal was achieved in 14/18 class C/D tumors. 3/51 patients suffered from long-term partial or complete facial palsy. No differences in post-therapeutic cranial nerve function or complications were noted between the conventional and laser group. One recurrence was observed after complete tumor resection. Conclusion The flexible CO\(_2\) laser was shown to be a safe and effective alternative to conventional bipolar cauterization, which is appreciated by the surgeon in these highly vascularized tumors. Both techniques allowed a high tumor control rate and good long-term results also from a functional point of view. KW - tympanojugular paraganglioma KW - tympanic paraganglioma KW - jugular paraganglioma KW - surgical management of paraganglioma KW - laser surgery KW - flexible CO2 laser Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-324164 VL - 279 IS - 12 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Gehrke, Thomas A1 - Scherzad, Agmal A1 - Hagen, Rudolf A1 - Hackenberg, Stephan T1 - Deep neck infections with and without mediastinal involvement: treatment and outcome in 218 patients JF - European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology N2 - Purpose Infections of the deep neck, although becoming scarcer due to the widespread use of antibiotics, still represent a dangerous and possibly deadly disease, especially when descending into the mediastinum. Due to the different specialities involved in the treatment and the heterogenous presentation of the disease, therapeutic standard is still controversial. This study analyzes treatment and outcome in these patients based on a large retrospective review and proposes a therapeutic algorithm. Methods The cases of 218 adult patients treated with deep neck abscesses over a 10-year period at a tertiary university hospital were analyzed retrospectively. Clinical, radiological, microbiological and laboratory findings were compared between patients with and without mediastinal involvement. Results Forty-five patients (20.64%) presented with abscess formation descending into the mediastinum. Those patients had significantly (all items p < 0.0001) higher rates of surgical interventions (4.27 vs. 1.11) and tracheotomies (82% vs. 3.4%), higher markers of inflammation (CRP 26.09 vs. 10.41 mg/dl), required more CT-scans (3.58 vs. 0.85), longer hospitalization (39.78 vs 9.79 days) and more frequently needed a change in antibiotic therapy (44.44% vs. 6.40%). Multi-resistant pathogens were found in 6.67% vs. 1.16%. Overall mortality rate was low with 1.83%. Conclusion Despite of the high percentage of mediastinal involvement in the present patient collective, the proposed therapeutic algorithm resulted in a low mortality rate. Frequent CT-scans, regular planned surgical revisions with local drainage and lavage, as well as an early tracheotomy seem to be most beneficial regarding the outcome. KW - tracheotomy KW - deep neck infection KW - mediastinitis KW - surgical drainage KW - microbiology Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-266814 SN - 1434-4726 VL - 279 IS - 3 ER -