Flavanol-rich chocolate acutely improves vascular function in patients with CHF. A sustained effect was seen after daily consumption over a 4-week period, even after 12 h abstinence. These beneficial effects were paralleled by an inhibition of platelet function in the presence of FRC only.

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We describe the case of a 39-year-old female, 29 weeks pregnant who required urgent excision of a large laryngeal lesion. This was symptomatic, almost completely obstructing her glottis and creating a ball-valve effect. Rapid progression of the lesion made the patient increasingly dyspnoeic and stridulous over the course of 2 weeks from presentation until surgery. Due to pregnancy-related challenges and additional risks of complete airway obstruction, we conducted an awake videolaryngoscopic intubation supplemented with Transnasal Humidified Rapid-Insufflation Ventilatory Exchange (THRIVE) for oxygenation.We discuss the anaesthetic challenges and management of this case, in particular this patient's airway pathology in the context of pregnancy. An overview of laryngeal pathology under the influence of pregnancy hormones is also presented.

Background: Laryngeal cancer accounts for 1% of all cancers in men and 0.3% of all cancers in women. Pharyngolaryngectomy (TPL) and total laryngectomy (TL) are central surgical techniques in the management of advanced laryngeal malignancies but are associated with significant morbidity. In addition, optimal reconstruction following TPL remains an area of active research. Methods: Here, we compared speech and swallowing outcomes following circumferential and partial pharyngeal resection alongside total laryngectomy in patients with laryngeal and hypolaryngeal tumors. We performed a systemic analysis of patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment modality, and pharyngeal reconstruction technique following TPL and TL, leveraging data collected over a 20-year period at a large tertiary referral center. Results: Analyzing 155 patients the results show circumferential pharyngeal defects and prior radiotherapy have a significant impact on surgical complications. Conclusion: Pharyngeal resection carries a substantial risk of incurring impaired speech and swallowing in patients. Moreover, our results support poorer functional outcomes with more radical pharyngeal resections and show a clear trend toward worse swallowing outcomes in salvage surgery.