Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a relatively young technique principally devised for managing apneas in the tongue base area. This study summarizes and presents our personal experience with TORS for OSA treatment, with the aim to provide information regarding its safety, efficacy, and postoperative complications. A retrospective study was conducted on patients undergoing TORS with lingual tonsillectomy through the Da Vinci robot. The effectiveness of the surgical procedure was assessed employing the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and overnight polysomnography with the Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI). A total of 57 patients were included. Eighteen patients (31.6%) had undergone previous surgery. The mean time of TORS procedure was 30 min. Base of tongue (BOT) management was associated with other procedures in all patients: pharyngoplasty (94%), tonsillectomy (66%), and septoplasty (58%). At 6 months follow-up visit, there was a significant improvement in AHI values (from 38.62 ± 20.36 to 24.33 ± 19.68) and ESS values (from 14.25 ± 3.97 to 8.25 ± 3.3). The surgical success rate was achieved in 35.5% of patients. The most frequent major complication was bleeding, with the need for operative intervention in three cases (5.3%). The most common minor complications were mild dehydration and pain. TORS for OSA treatment appears to be an effective and safe procedure for adequately selected patients looking for an alternative therapy to CPAP.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is one of the most common disorders that causes dizziness. The incidence of horizontal semicircular canal (HSC) BPPV ranges from 5% to 40.5% of the total number of BPPV cases diagnosed. Several studies have focused on establishing methods to treat BPPV caused by the apogeotropic variant of the HSC, namely, the Appiani maneuver (App). In 2016, a new maneuver was proposed: the Zuma e Maia maneuver (ZeM), based on inertia and gravity. The aim of this study is to analyze the efficacy of App versus ZeM in the resolution of episodes of BPPV produced by an affectation of the horizontal semicircular canal with apogeotropic nystagmus (Apo-HSC). A retrospective, quasi-experimental study was conducted. Patients attended in office (November 2014–February 2019) at a third-level hospital and underwent a vestibular otoneurology assessment. Those who were diagnosed with Apo-HSC, treated with App or ZeM, were included. To consider the efficacy of the maneuvers, the presence of symptoms and/or nystagmus at the first follow up was studied. Patients classified as “A” were those with no symptoms, no nystagmus; “A/N+”: no symptoms, nystagmus present during supine roll test; “S”: symptoms present. Previous history of BPPV and/or otic pathology and calcium levels were also compiled. From the 54 patients included, 74% were women. The average age was 69. Mean follow-up: 52.51 days. In those patients without previous history of BPPV (n = 35), the probability of being group “A” was 63% and 56% (p = 0.687) when treated with App and ZeM, respectively, while being “A/N+” was 79% and 87% for App and ZeM (p = 0.508). Of the 19 patients who had previous history of BPPV, 13% and 64% were group “A” when treated with App and ZeM (p = 0.043), and 25% and 82% were “A/N+” after App and ZeM, respectively (p = 0.021). In conclusion, for HSC cupulolithiasis, ZeM is more effective than App in those cases in which there is a history of previous episodes of BPPV (“A”: 64% (p = 0.043); “A/N+”: 82% (p = 0.021)).

Different types of otic capsule dehiscence restricted to the cochlea have been described. Here we describe the case of a patient with a cochlear–internal auditory canal dehiscence associated with a cochlear–facial dehiscence not reported before. A 53-year-old patient with severe to profound sensorineural hearing loss due to bilateral Meniere’s disease underwent a cochlear implant surgery on the right ear. Preoperative brain magnetic resonance imaging findings were reported to be normal; during surgery, a cerebrospinal fluid gusher occurred at the time of round window opening. Postoperative computed tomography imaging showed a bony dehiscence at two levels of the otic capsule. Cite this article as: Garaycochea O, Domínguez P, Manrique M, Manrique-Huarte R. Cochlear-Internal Canal and Cochlear-Facial Dehiscence: A Novel Entity. J Int Adv Otol 2018; 14(2): 334-6.

Objective: The aims of this study were to test the hypothesis that greater supraglottic compression (anteroposterior or lateral) correlates with higher subglottic pressure (SGP) and to develop a classification of muscle tension dysphonia (MTD), based on the degree of supraglottic compression during speech. Method: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted in a series of 37 consecutive patients diagnosed with MTD with an altered aerodynamic profile characterized by high SGP (more than 90 mmH ₂ O). Supraglottic anteroposterior and lateral compression were categorized in three grades and assessed during the laryngoscopic examination. All patients completed the Spanish Voice Handicap Index (VHI) questionnaire and completed an acoustic and aerodynamic voice assessment. The relationship between compression grade and VHI with SGP was analyzed. Results: More than 90% of patients demonstrated some degree of anteroposterior compression, and 67% had some degree of lateral compression. The mean ( SD ) SGP was 111.03 (16.7) mmH ₂ O, and the mean VHI was 27.86 (12.5). The degree of SGP was statistically different in the different grades of anteroposterior compression, and also anteroposterior compression correlated with an SGP ( p < .05). The degree of lateral compression was not correlated with SGP. Neither the degree of anteroposterior or lateral compression nor the value of SGP was found to correlate with VHI. Conclusions: Because grade of anteroposterior compression correlates with SGP, these grades can be used for diagnosis and follow-up of MTD patients. To this end and on this basis, we propose a new classification for MTD. Unlike the established classification, our proposed one makes it possible to combine different laryngoscopic features, improving the description of the larynx during phonation.