External severe laryngeal trauma with multiple fractures and airway compromise

External laryngeal traumas are rare but clinically can cause important life-threatening injuries. We report the case of a 33 yeras old male who suffered a severe traffic accident: TCE, facial trauma with multiple fractures and laryngeal trauma with fracture of the thyroid cartilage and the hyoid bone. Because an important edema in the airway, it was not possible an orotracheal intubation and he required urgent coniotomy with later reconstruction surgery and tracheostomy. Actually our patient has been decanulated and the fibroscopic image of the larynx and its functionality is correct.     

Risk factors and clinical variables in patients hospitalized for epistaxis. Review of 200 patients

It is reported a review of 200 adult patients admitted for epistaxis in our Hospital during a 10 years period (1992-2002). This study evaluates several factors included in the clinical histories: HTA, infection of the upper airway, EPOC, cardiovascular pathology, use of anticoagulant medication or other drugs, tobacco, alcohol, diabetes, etc. Besides we collected variables like age, sex, bleeding location, type of nasal packing made and evolution. Less than 20% of the cases were classified as idiopatic and the hospitalized patients had one or more known risk factors.     

Simultaneous bilateral sudden deafness. Report of a clinical case

Bilateral sudden deafness is uncommon and characterized by an acute sensorineural hearing loss in both ears of 30 dB or more in 3 consecutive frequencies. We report the case of a 57 yeras old female with this diagnosis who presented a right anacusia and a severe audiometric loss on left ear without vestibular pathology associated. She was admitted and treated by the protocol of medical therapy that we have performed in our E.N.T. Department (4 days EV and then 10 ones oral medication) with improvement in her audition 25-30 dB average. If sudden bilateral sensorineural deafnes is founded, we must consider an immuno-mediated inner ear disease (IMIED).     

Recurrent and severe epistaxis secondary to nasal trauma. Report of an atypical case in a 22-year-old male

We report the case of a 22-year-old male who presented a diferred, recurrent and severe epistaxis after nasal trauma which required several admissions in our hospital and different treatments. Concretely by chronological order it has been practiced anterior tamponades, endoscopic ligature-cauterization of the sphenopalatine artery, classic posterior packing and finally a new FENS with cauterization of anterior ethmoidal artery. Besides it was necessary a transfusion to go up the anemia suffered by the patient whose global stay was 16 days. Recurrent postraumatic epistaxis are very rare but can be represent a difficult problem to solve.     

Internal jugular vein spontaneous thrombosis. Clinical case and review of the literature

Internal jugular vein thrombosis (IJT) represents a potentially serious pathology that can be spontaneous or secondary to head and neck infections, surgery, venous catheterization and intravenous drug abuse among others. We report the case of a male affected with IJT without clear cause after performing a complete exam which included ultrasonography, Doppler and contrast-enhanced CT scanning to confirm the diagnosis. Actually its treatment is mainly mediacl by antibiotic therapy and anticoagulants. Besides, it must be excluded an associated neoplasm.     

Auricular perichondritis in adults. An evaluation-study of 12 hospitalized patients

Perichondritis of the auricle in adults can be secondary to traumatic agents, external otitis or surgery being Pseudomona aeruginosa the bacteria more often isolated. We have performed a retrospective study of 12 hospitalized patients with that diagnosis and these following variables have been evaluated: Age, sex, personal antecedents, clinical symptoms, affected auricle, complementary explorations, treatment, evolution and stay.     

Mortality of multiple sclerosis in Spain: demonstration of a north-South gradient

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the geographical distribution of multiple sclerosis in Spain from 1975 to 1998. METHODS: Age-adjusted mortality rates by province were obtained by the indirect method using the whole Spanish population as the reference. Then, standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated. RESULTS: For both men and women, provinces with SMRs higher than the mean tended to be in the northern third of Spain, whilst those with SMRs lower than the mean were mostly located in the southern half. A linear regression analysis showed a significant positive association between mortality and latitude. CONCLUSION: A north-south gradient in age-adjusted multiple sclerosis mortality exists in Spain.     

Melanoma of sphenoid sinus. Case presentation and review of literature

The primary malignant melanomas of sphenoidal sinus are very uncommon tumours. We are reporting a clinical case of a 56 years-old male who was sent from the Neurology Department with ocular pain and headache of several months evolution and without personal history. Exploration revealed a VIth palsy, diplopia and ptosis. The complementary imaging tests (CT and MR) showed and expansive tumour of the sphenoidal sinus involving the right cavenous sinus. A F.E.S.S. with biopsy was performed to confirm the diagnosis. Our patient was treated by Radiotherapy and after a 4 year follow-up period he is still alive. We have carried to a bibliographic review of this pathology whose differential diagnosis must be done with epidermoid carcinomas, adenocarcinomas and lymphomas on that location.     

Risk factors for low birth weight: a review

Low birth weight (LBW) is one of the main predictors of infant mortality. The global incidence of LBW is around 17%, although estimates vary from 19% in the developing countries (countries where it is an important public health problem) to 5-7% in the developed countries. The incidence in Spain in the decade 1980-1989 was about 5.7%. LBW is generally associated with situations in which uterine malnutrition is produced due to alterations in placental circulation. There are many known risk factors, the most important of which are socio-economic factors, medical risks before or during gestation and maternal lifestyles. However, although interventions exist to prevent many of these factors before and during pregnancy, the incidence of LBW has not decreased.     

Patient satisfaction with anesthesia care: information alone does not lead to improvement

PURPOSE: To evaluate if information campaigns and introduction of information leaflets lead to an improvement in patient satisfaction with anesthesia care. METHODS: In 2000, we carried out an assessment of patient satisfaction with anesthesia care. "Information/involvement in decision making" was identified as the worst problem area. The three hospitals involved in this study introduced strategies to improve this dimension of patient satisfaction by launching information campaigns, producing or improving information brochures (particularly in hospitals A and C), and by expanding the preanesthetic care unit (hospital B). In 2002, a second survey was carried out. Each of the hospitals sent questionnaires to 600 elective surgery patients after discharge. We compared the total problem scores (the percentage of patients who responded that a problem was present) and the problem scores for the dimension 'information/involvement in decision making' between 2000 and 2002. RESULTS: The total problem score (mean in %, 95% confidence interval) for all three hospitals together remained unchanged [19% (1)], as well as the problem scores for each hospital [hospital A 16% (1), hospital B 21% (1), hospital C 20% (1)]. The problem score for 'information/involvement in decision making' remained unchanged also: 31% (29-33) in 2000 compared to 28% (26-30) in 2002. CONCLUSION: Information campaigns and the introduction of information leaflets alone do not improve patient satisfaction with anesthesia care.