Endoscopy-Aided Combined Intraoral and Cervical Approach for a Huge Parapharyngeal Benign Tumor

Combined Use of Endoscopic Techniques and Virtual Surgical Planning for Intraoral Approach for Hemi-mandibular Resection and Reconstruction

Background

The study aimed to describe our experience in using endoscopic procedures to aid hemi-mandibular reconstruction with bone flaps through transoral approach.

Methods

Five patients with huge benign mandibular tumors underwent transoral mandibulectomy and hemi-mandibular reconstruction, using endoscopy. Facial symmetry, occlusion, bone healing, and mandibular similarity were all evaluated postoperatively. The paired-samples t test was used to compare quantitative data, and a P value less than 0.05 was considered a significant difference.

Results

All five patients who received transoral mandibular surgery recovered in terms of TMJ functionality, facial symmetry, and aesthetic results. Endoscopy monitored and ensured that bone flaps were correctly connected and fixed. The accuracy of endoscopy-guided mandibular reconstruction was confirmed by quantitative examination for four cases, which revealed no statistically significant variations between postoperative CT analysis and preoperative virtual surgical planning data.

Conclusions

Endoscopy-assisted virtual surgery may resolve concerns with transoral hemi-mandibular reconstruction and broaden indications for mini-invasive mandibular reconstruction. However, only patients with benign mandibular tumors were included in our study, so surgeons should be very cautious if applying this technique to malignant lesions or bony tumors invading soft tissues.

Transoral Approach to Parotid Tumors: A Review of the Literature

Different surgical techniques have been proposed for parapharyngeal space tumors, including transcervical, transparotid, trans-mandibular, infratemporal, and transoral. The choice of the correct approach depends on the size, localization and nature of the tumor. The transoral approach can be used for benign prestyloid masses, such as tumors of the deep lobe of the parotid gland. It guarantees a short hospitalization without skin scars. The narrowed access represents the main limitation of this technique. This review will summarize and analyze the current knowledge about the transoral approach to parotid lesions. Thirty-seven studies were included in a qualitative and quantitative synthesis. The novelty of this review is the quantitative analyses of the clinical data reported in the included studies.

Awake Intubation for a Case of Giant Parapharyngeal Space Tumor Using McGrath MAC® Video Laryngoscopeq

Purpose

Intubation and ventilation cannot be performed in cases of parapharyngeal space tumors as the enlargement of the upper airway leads to the obstruction and hindrance of the intubation procedure. However, there is limited literature on anesthetic management, including the airway, in this disease. Herein, we report a successful case of awake intubation in a patient with parapharyngeal space tumor.

Case Presentation

A 64-year-old man with a history of giant parapharyngeal space tumor was scheduled for bilateral endoscopic sinus surgery and nasal septoplasty. We performed awake intubation using the McGrath^® video laryngoscope, which resulted in excellent laryngeal deployment and a smooth procedure.

Conclusion

We report the anesthetic management of a giant parapharyngeal space tumor with the potential for difficult airway management to maintain spontaneous breathing. Awake intubation was useful in maintaining ventilation and intubation in this case. The preparation of a cricothyroid puncture is needed in cases of intubation failure.