The GlideScope video laryngoscope is equally suitable to facilitate orotracheal intubation in pediatric patients compared to the Macintosh laryngoscope with respect to intubation time and laryngeal trauma.

Objective: MRI observation is part of the regular follow-up after vestibular schwannoma (VS) or intralabyrinthine schwannoma (ILS) resection. Because cochlear implantation (CI) after resection is part of the audiological rehabilitation process, the magnet resonance imaging (MRI) behavior of CI systems needs to be considered. In light of recent developments in MRI artifact positioning and pain prevention, this study evaluates reproducible MRI observations after tumor resection and CI surgery as part of follow-up. Methods: In a retrospective study, we evaluated 9 patients with a T1 KM, T2 sequence MRI observation, and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) after ILS/VS resection and CI. In all but one case, a CI with a diametrically bipolar magnet and a receiver positioned 8-9 cm behind the external auditory canal was performed. Results: In all but one case, MRI observation allowed for a pain-free visual assessment of the intralabyrinthine and internal auditory canal (IAC) regions. In one case, a painful dislodgement of the receiver magnet occurred. Conclusion: MRI follow-up after ILS and VS resection and CI is reproducibly possible. Implant choice and positioning should be considered before implantation to allow for a pain-free visual assessment afterward. This finding allows for the first time a widening of the indication into this patient group.

Summary Optical laryngoscopes have been developed to facilitate difficult airway management. The Airtraq® is a single‐use device and the GlideScope® is reusable. In this study, the Airtraq and the Glidescope were compared in 60 ASA I‐III patients with tumours of the upper airway undergoing direct endoscopic microlaryngoscopy. Patients were randomly assigned to the Airtraq or the Glidescope group and the Cormack and Lehane grade was assessed by Macintosh laryngoscopy prior to tracheal intubation. There were no differences in tracheal intubation success rates or duration of intubation attempts between both devices. The Cormack and Lehane grade was improved in 77% and 82% of cases in the Airtraq and Glidescope group, respectively. Blood traces on the device and traumatic pharyngeal lesions were found more frequently in the Airtraq group. The Airtraq and Glidescope laryngoscopes are valuable tools for the management of patients with potentially difficult airways with the Glidescope appearing to be less traumatic.

ObjectivesRecurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) is a rare disease, but one with severe morbidity and occasional mortality. The aetiological agent is human papillomavirus (HPV), and HPV types 6 and 11 account for over 90% of all cases. In the active phase of the disease, patients require multiple hospital admissions for surgical removal or ablation of these benign tumors, which are likely to obstruct the airways if left unchecked. Long‐term sequelae include scarring of the vocal cords, change in voice timbre, or even muteness if a tracheostomy is required. The aim of this study was to determine if adjuvant vaccination with the quadrivalent HPV L1 vaccine (Gardasil™) would decrease numbers of surgical treatments post‐vaccination.MethodsA prospective pilot study following a cohort of 12 RRP patients, all of whom gave fully informed consent to participate. All patients had their papillomas typed and if they were found to have types 6 or 11, were vaccinated at the time of first surgical treatment in the hospital, according to the manufacturer's protocols. Patients were followed up closely with 3 or 6 month follow‐up visits. Standard surgical treatments were given and were not affected by whether they participated in the study.ResultsWe found a >7‐fold decrease in the incidence rates of papillomatosis requiring surgical intervention from the pre‐vaccination period (47.44/1000 patient‐months) compared to the post‐vaccination period (6.71/1000 patient‐months).DiscussionSurgical treatments for RRP are robust markers for papillomata which require treatment because of the dangers of obstruction of the airway. Despite the small size of this cohort (due to the rarity of this disease), the data suggests that adjuvant use of quadrivalent HPV L1 vaccine imparts significant benefit to this group of patients. A large multi‐center randomized placebo controlled trial is required to definitively establish whether this hypothesis is true and can become the new standard of therapy.Level of Evidence3b