Comparison of spinal accessory dysfunction following neck dissection with harmonic scalpel and electrocautery - A randomized study

Lymph Node Dissection Is a Risk Factor for Short-Term Cough after Pulmonary Resection

Cough is a common complication after pulmonary resection. However, the factors associated with cough that develop after pulmonary resection are still controversial. In this study, we used the Simplified Cough Score (SCS) and the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (LCQ) score to investigate potential risk factors for postoperative cough. Between January 2017 and June 2021, we collected the clinical data of 517 patients, the SCS at three days after surgery and the LCQ at two weeks and six weeks after surgery. Then, univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify the independent risk factors for postoperative cough. The clinical baseline data of the cough group and the non-cough group were similar. However, the cough group had longer operation time and more blood loss. The patients who underwent lobectomy were more likely to develop postoperative cough than the patients who underwent segmentectomy and wedge resection, while the patients who underwent systematic lymph node dissection were more likely to develop postoperative cough than the patients who underwent lymph node sampling and those who did not undergo lymph node resection. When the same lymph node management method was applied, there was no difference in the LCQ scores between the patients who underwent wedge resection, lobectomy and segmentectomy. The lymph node resection method was an independent risk factor for postoperative cough (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Lymph node resection is an independent risk factor for short-term cough after pulmonary resection with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery, and damage to the vagus nerve and its branches (particularly the pulmonary branches) is a possible cause of short-term cough. The mechanism of postoperative cough remains to be further studied.

Neck dissection with harmonic instruments and electrocautery: a prospective comparative study

BACKGROUND

Harmonic instruments are becoming popular in head and neck surgeries. In this prospective, randomized study, the efficacy of the harmonic instruments and electrosurgical technique is compared.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 48 patients undergoing unilateral neck dissection were divided into two groups. In one group, surgery was performed using conventional hemostatic instruments while in the other, only harmonic instruments were used. The two techniques were then compared with regard to intra- and post-operative blood loss, complications in operating time, drain, tracheotomy and nasogastric tube duration, and post-operative hospital stay.

RESULTS

Differences in operative time (P = 0.647), total suction drainage (P = 0.362) and time that drains (P = 0.404), nasogastric tube (P = 0.378), and tracheotomy (P = 0.052) were kept in place and proved not significant. The average blood loss during surgery was significantly greater in the CH group (P = 0.003) as the number of hemoclips and resorbable ligature used (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to what has been reported up to now, our study did not reveal a net advantage in the use of harmonic instruments with respect to classical instruments in terms of surgical outcome. On the contrary, harmonic tools had a higher complication rate (i.e., salivary fistula and lymphatic leak) probably due to the decreased ability of this instruments to permanently close glandular structures and lymphatic ducts. In these cases, a closure technique such as electrocautery or classic knot-tying should be used.

The harmonic scalpel versus electrocautery for parotidectomy: A meta - analysis

OBJECTIVE

Parotidectomy is the most classic and unequivocal intervention for parotid neoplasm. The operative outcomes and postoperative complications of parotidectomy between harmonic scalpel and electrocautery gained more prominence in physician. In spite of much research work within the past years, there was an obvious lack of randomized controlled trial to resolve this question. Hence, a quantitative and qualitative meta-analysis was essential to evaluate the differences in these two types of hemostasis method.

METHOD

The major electronic databases, including Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane library, Google Scholar, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Chinese Scientific and Technological Journal databases were using the key words "electrocautery", "electrocoagulation", "harmonic scalpel", "ultrasonic scalpel", "ultrasonic dissector", "parotidectomy" and "parotid surgery". 9 articles were included in our systematic review and meta-analysis. The operative time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, salivary fistula and transient facial nerve paralysis were the outcome measures. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were employed to evaluate the effect size for categorical outcomes and mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for continuous outcomes.

RESULTS

In our meta-analysis, there was a significant reduction in operation time [mean difference: -20.97; 95%CI=(-24.02,-17.92); P < 0.00001], intraoperative blood loss [mean difference: -20.75, 95%CI=(-22.32,-19.18); P < 0.00001], hospital stay [mean difference: -0.83; 95%CI=(-1.10,-0.57); P < 0.00001], salivary fistula [ORs: 0.30, 95%CI=(0.08,1.14)] and transient facial nerve paralysis [OR:0.33, 95%CI=(0.19,0.58),P = 0.0001] in harmonic scalpel group compared with electrocautery group.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis indicated that compared with electrocautery, harmonic scalpel (HS)was transcendent in the aspects of operative time, intraoperative blood loss, hospital stay, salivary fistula and transient facial nerve paralysis. The harmonic scalpel, as an efficient and useful instrument, was advocated in parotidectomy.

[Dissection and observation of a large unnamed nerve in the posterior cervical triangle]

OBJECTIVE

To characterize the anatomical features of a large unnamed nerve in the posterior cervical triangle and clarify its relationship with the lesser occipital nerve.

METHODS

We dissected 31 adult formalin-fixed cadaver head and neck specimens (62 sides). The lateral cervical region, the anterior cervical region, the sternocleidomastoid region, and the occipital region were dissected to define the anatomical features of the unnamed nerve.

RESULTS

This unnamed nerve was identified in the posterior cervical triangle in 96.8% of the specimens. The main trunk of the nerve had a diameter of about 3 mm with a length of around 10 cm. The nerve arose from the anterior branch of the second cervical nerve (C2, C2-3), entered the posterior cervical triangle at 1-3 cm above the accessory nerve, and continued to ascend along or in parallel with the posterior border of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. It passed between the attachments of the sternocleidomastoid and the trapezius to the occiput and divided into 3-5 branches, which innervated the skin area between the lesser and greater occipital nerves.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified a large unnamed nerve in the posterior cervical triangle, for which we coined the name "long occipital nerve" based on its unique anatomical features. The discovery of this nerve can be important for local surgery and for diagnosis and treatment of related diseases.

Spinal Accessory Nerve Duplication: A Case Report and Literature Review

Aim of the present study is to expand our knowledge of the anatomy of the 11th cranial nerve and discuss the clinical importance and literature pertaining to accessory nerve duplication. We present one case of duplicated spinal accessory nerve in a patient undergoing neck dissection for oral cavity cancer. The literature review confirms the extremely rare diagnosis of a duplicated accessory nerve. Its clinical implication is of great importance. From this finding, a further extension to our knowledge of the existing anatomy is proposed.