No abstract

Substance abuse and poor orodental hygiene are important predisposing factors to deep neck abscesses. Appropriate management continues to favor a combination of early surgical drainage and systemic antibiotics.

One hundred eighty‐one patients with unilateral or bilateral vocal cord paralysis unrelated to laryngeal carcinoma or its therapy were studied. The orderly diagnostic profile used to delineate cause of the paralysis includes CBC, VDRL blood sugar profile, latex fixation and serum sampling for toxic heavy metals. The radiologic and endoscopic evaluation is done to completion unless contraindicated, to assess aspiration as well as to observe laryngopharyngeal structures which may cause the paralysis. This evaluative profile defined the etiology of cord paralysis in 80 percent of patients, despite exclusion of viral disease as a cause subsequent to upper respiratory infection. Blunt trauma and previous neck surgery each were responsible for 23 percent of the cases. Fifty‐four patients had bilateral paralysis of which 22 were post thyroidectomy. Surgical repair for cord paralysis was symptomatic, and included 28 successful teflon injected cords. Recurrent laryngeal nerve decompression was successful in four of five operations and arytenoidectomy was performed in 39 patients.

Since their discovery 30 years ago, angiogenic growth factors have been demonstrated to stimulate neovascularization in vitro and in animal studies. Over the last decade, knowledge gained in the field of angiogenic growth factors has grown immensely. These angiogenic growth factors exist in four major families: fibroblast growth factor (FGF), transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF). Each has the ability to induce soft tissue vascularization in microgram quantities. In animal models, FGF, TGF-beta, PDGF, and EGF have been shown to enhance soft tissue wound healing. In human clinical trials, EGF, and a mixture of PDGFs have been demonstrated to accelerate epidermal regeneration in cutaneous wounds. These factors have considerable therapeutic potential in the areas of soft tissue wound healing and otolaryngology. This article reviews important aspects of angiogenic growth factors and discusses their future potential in soft tissue wound healing.