Eric Tran

Background: Management of recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) invasion by thyroid cancer remains controversial between shaving the tumor and resecting it. We compared oncological and functional outcomes of the two techniques. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, three reviewers searched seven databases for studies from 1995 to 2024 comparing shaving and resection of the RLN. Outcomes explored were overall survival, recurrence, preservation of vocal cord function, maximum phonation time, and other treatment‐related morbidities if provided. Results: A total of 13 retrospective cohorts (532 patients) met inclusion criteria. Overall survival and tracheotomy requirements did not differ between groups. Shaving was associated with lower recurrence ( p = 0.007), better vocal fold mobility ( p < 0.0001), and longer maximum phonation time ( p = 0.04). Conclusion: This analysis showed that shaving was associated with better functional outcomes and lower recurrence than resection, without a survival difference. Because shaved patients had less advanced disease, these associations may reflect selection bias; prospective studies are needed.

Background/Objectives: Catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) are one of the most common healthcare-related morbidities. Also, severe clinical outcomes derived from CAUTIs demand an urgent need for the development of novel antimicrobial catheter materials. Since CAUTIs are primarily driven by a wide range of microorganisms causing biofilm formation on the surfaces of catheters, evaluating the effectiveness of innovative antimicrobial materials against a broad spectrum of known uropathogens is warranted. We aim (1) to demonstrate the ability of incorporated organo-selenium versus that of an FDA-cleared antimicrobial catheter and (2) to show that the results of the study are consistent against the most common microorganisms causing urinary tract infections in humans. Methods: Based on encouraging preliminary studies, three percent of organo-selenium (weight-based), as a novel antimicrobial catheter material, was incorporated into thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). This was compared in vitro with plain polyurethane catheters and the SILQ ClearTract catheter with a zwitterionic coating (FDA-cleared for its antimicrobial properties in December 2022). The antimicrobial activity was studied against Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, MRSA, and Staphylococcus epidermidis by assessment of colony-forming unit counts along with visual confirmation using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Results: Plain polyurethane catheters (control group) showed 7- to 8-log of in vitro growth for all tested microbes, whereas the antimicrobial zwitterionic SILQ ClearTract catheters still showed 6- to 7-log of microbial growth. In contrast, organo-selenium-incorporated catheters demonstrated no detectable in vitro growth for all tested microbes (C. albicans, E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, MRSA, and S. epidermidis). SEM analysis also validated the findings. Conclusions: Potentially non-leaching organo-selenium, as a novel urinary catheter material, significantly inhibited microbial attachment, growth, and biofilm formation across a wide spectrum of common uropathogenic organisms compared to a zwitterionic catheter, providing a strong foundation for further detailed in vivo and clinical studies.

Synechiae are abnormal adhesions or scar tissue that develop between two normally separate anatomical surfaces. Here, we present a rare case in which oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal synechiae resulted in partial stenosis and functional impairments in speech, swallowing, and airway patency. The patient underwent surgical lysis of the scar bands, in which the bilateral bands connecting the tongue base to the posterior palate and pharyngeal wall were released using needle‐tip Bovie cautery. Follow‐up demonstrated significant improvement in breathing and swallowing. This case highlights the importance of understanding the healing process following traumatic injury to the oral and nasopharyngeal mucosa to better recognize and manage postoperative complications arising from abnormal adhesions. Further studies should investigate predisposing factors that increase susceptibility to such formations, as well as techniques and practices to prevent complications similar to the one presented here.