Objectives: We evaluated lymphosonography, or contrast-enhanced, ultrasonography (US)-guided sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection, as a technique for demonstrating the lymphatic drainage of the thyroid gland. Methods: In this prospective animal study, four 50-kg Yorkshire swine underwent transcutaneous injection of a US contrast agent and methylene blue dye into the thyroid gland. Contrast-enhanced US was used to identify draining lymphatic channels and SLNs. Sentinel node biopsy was conducted. Subsequently, bilateral neck and upper mediastinal dissection was carried out. Results: In 3 of 4 cases, a blue dye-positive and US contrast-positive SLN was identified. We identified SLNs in level IV in 2 cases. One case revealed 2 adjacent nodes in the superior mediastinum. In 1 case, a lymphatic channel was identified traveling into the mediastinum, but exposure of the SLN could not be obtained. No residual blue dye-positive or US contrast-positive nodes were identified on subsequent dissection. Conclusions: Lymphosonography of the thyroid gland in a porcine model correlates well with blue dye-guided sentinel node biopsy and is technically feasible, although in some cases access to the SLN may be difficult. This technique could potentially enable a detailed analysis of thyroidal lymphatic drainage if applied to humans.

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It has been demonstrated in the literature that with 20 years of experience, the percutaneous dilational tracheotomy procedure is more affordable, faster to perform, and a generally safe procedure when performed under appropriate conditions. Most case series of percutaneous dilational tracheotomy reveal an equal or lower risk of short-term complications than open tracheotomy. This series demonstrates that tracheal stenosis is a potential long-term complication. Longitudinal follow-up of patients undergoing percutaneous dilational tracheotomy is indicated.

Objectives 1) Describe a modification of the type I thyroplasty procedure of Isshiki, incorporating a pedicled muscle flap which is rotated through the thyroid cartilage window into a pocket lateral to the thyroarytenoid muscle. The muscle flap is used to replace or augment an alloplastic implant. 2) Be able to understand the applications and indications for this procedure. Methods Our series describes 6 patients undergoing primary or revision thyroplasty since January 2006. In primary cases, the muscle pedicle was utilized after initial dissection resulted in an injury to the endolaryngeal mucosa, or to augment an implant that did not produce adequate medialization. In the revision cases, the muscle pedicle was utilized to replace a Silastic implant at the time of removal. Pre-operative and postoperative videostroboscopy was performed on all patients. Results Postoperative videostroboscopy revealed satisfactory glottic closure in all 6 patients between 1 and 3 months after their operations. Conclusions The procedure of muscle pedicle thyroplasty provides adequate glottic closure in cases of revision thyroplasty and in cases where it was used to augment another implant. It represents an alternative medialization technique in difficult and unusual cases, or when an alloplastic implant is contraindicated. Long-term durability of the medialization is not assessed in this series.