Jiannis Hajiioannou | UNIVERSITY OF THESSALY, GREECE (original) (raw)

Papers by Jiannis Hajiioannou

Clinical Otolaryngology, 2015

Even though more than half of patients undergoing thyroidectomy complain of non-specific swallowi... more Even though more than half of patients undergoing thyroidectomy complain of non-specific swallowing symptoms, when no laryngeal nerve injury is involved the importance of these complications is often overlooked. The impact of steroids on swallowing symptoms after thyroidectomy has never been evaluated so far. In our study swallowing impairment score 48-hours after total thyroidectomy was significant higher than preoperative, but no significant difference was noticed between preoperative and 1-month after surgery scores. Our results showed that swallowing impairment score 48 hours after total thyroidectomy was significant lower in patients who received perioperative dexamethasone. Patients may benefit from the use of a single perioperative dose of dexamethasone, since it may significantly reduce early post-thyroidectomy swallowing symptoms. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

B-ENT

To compare the efficacy of lidocaine spray 10% to tetracaine 2% solution, as a local anaesthetic ... more To compare the efficacy of lidocaine spray 10% to tetracaine 2% solution, as a local anaesthetic for patients undergoing monopolar submucosal diathermy of the inferior turbinate. A prospective study was conducted on 48 patients undergoing submucosal diathermy of the inferior turbinate. Patients were randomly assigned to receive tetracaine 2% solution (24 patients) or to receive lidocaine spray 10% (24 patients). Patients were asked to evaluate the severity of pain during the procedure using a visual analogue scale. Patient data, pain scores, and potential complications were assessed statistically. The tetracaine group had significantly lower mean pain scores compared to the lidocaine group: 2.29 vs. 3.04 (p < 0.001). There were no complications or side effects from tetracaine. Tetracaine 2% solution applied locally is an easy, safe, inexpensive, and effective analgesia for submucosal diathermy for inferior turbinate hypertrophy.

Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery

Objectives: To evaluate the use of botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of autonomic nervous s... more Objectives: To evaluate the use of botulinum toxin type A in the treatment of autonomic nervous system dysfunctions in head and neck (Frey and crocodile tears syndromes), salivary cutaneous fistulae, and atypical headaches. Methods: We used botulinum toxin type A for the treatment of 19 patients with gustatory sweating, three patients with crocodile tears syndrome, four patients with salivary cutaneous fistulae, and five patients with severe atypical headaches. Results: The long-term follow-up (6 to 24 months) of patients with gustatory sweating syndrome showed complete absence of sweating in the affected areas. One patient had recurrence after 16 months and was retreated successfully. At 1 and 24 weeks after treatment of the patients with the crocodile tears syndrome, the Schirmer test showed a reduction of stimulated lacrimation on the impaired side approaching the normal values of the unaffected side. All patients with salivary cutaneous fistulae were cured, while the five patien...

Objective: Foreign bodies (FB) aspiration in the tracheobronchial tree is a common medical emerge... more Objective: Foreign bodies (FB) aspiration in the tracheobronchial tree is a common medical emergency in childhood, with serious and potentially lethal consequences. The suspicion for FB aspiration should be raised in children with a suggestive history, even though the clinical symptoms or radiographic findings are not pathognomonic for foreign body aspiration. We reviewed our experience in children with suspected airway FB in the Department of Otolaryngology from 1993 to 2003 and report the incidence of FB aspiration in the tracheobronchial tree by bronchoscopy in children, during a 10-year period of time. Methods: We reviewed the records of 264 paediatric patients who were admitted to our hospital during a 10-year period for the treatment of aspirated foreign body into the tracheobronchial tree by bronchoscopy. In all cases bronchoscopy was performed under general anesthesia using a Stortz ventilation bronchoscope with distal cold light illumination. Results: In 166 patients (62.8%...

Journal of otolaryngology - head & neck surgery = Le Journal d'oto-rhino-laryngologie et de chirurgie cervico-faciale

The objective was to evaluate the treatment of hypertrophy of inferior turbinates with the combin... more The objective was to evaluate the treatment of hypertrophy of inferior turbinates with the combined use of endoscopic bipolar radiofrequencies with lateralization. Preliminary non randomized prospective uncontrolled clinical trial conducted in a secondary ENT clinic. We present the management of 35 patients with hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates using bipolar radiofrequencies submucosally under endoscopic control, in combination with lateralization of the inferior turbinates bilaterally. All the procedures were performed under local anesthesia. The complications were pain during the procedure in two patients (5.7%) and synechiae in three patients (9.6%). Thirty patients (93.75%) reported a significant improvement of their nasal patency at the end of the fourth month of the follow up based on five point scale. The 12-month follow-up revealed also good results in 26 patients (81.3%). Preliminary results indicate that endoscopic bipolar radiofrequencies and lateralization of infer...

We evaluated the presence and microbio logy of fungi in nasal secretions of patients suffering of... more We evaluated the presence and microbio logy of fungi in nasal secretions of patients suffering of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps on the population of Crete island. We tried to detect a correlation between the long term use of corticosteroid nasal sprays and fungus existence in nasal secretions. Nasal lavage specimens were co llected and cultured for fungal growth. Twenty one different fungal species were isolated. Cu ltures were positive in 62.4% of chronic rhinosinusitis patients while they were positive in 18.8% of healthy controls (p<0.001). A co mparison between nasal corticosteroid users vs. non users revealed fungal g rowth in 62% vs. 62.9%. Fungal growth was mo re frequent in chronic rhinosinusitis patients with polyps compared to healthy controls. This finding does not necessarily signify a causative role of fungi in chronic rhinosinusitis and might suggest that geographic and climate variat ions possibly influence nasal fungal colonizat ion. Fungus species did not differ markedly to these reported by other investigators, however different prevalence rates of particular species may reflect the geographic and seasonal variations. The long term use of local nasal cort icosteroids does not seem to affect nasal fungal co lonization in sufferers of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Clinical otolaryngology : official journal of ENT-UK ; official journal of Netherlands Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology & Cervico-Facial Surgery, 2014

ABSTRACT The issue of routine histopathologic examination of tonsillectomy specimens is still con... more ABSTRACT The issue of routine histopathologic examination of tonsillectomy specimens is still controversial.Proponents order routinely histopathologic examinations for tonsillectomy specimens for fear of missing an occult neoplasm and the subsequent medicolegal implications.The very low rate of malignancy in tonsil specimens especially in patients without suspicious preoperative or perioperative findings and the added cost and resources are factors to be considered when arguing against this practice.Our data suggest that avoiding histologic evaluation of tonsils removed because of benign indications poses minimal risk of missing clinically significant pathologic conditions. In our country in times of financial restrictions and public health reformations, there is ongoing debate about conserving resources, creating efficiencies, and minimizing the cost of healthcare. Substantial costs may be avoided by eliminating histopathologic examination of routine tonsillectomy specimens.Histopathologic evaluation of tonsillectomies still remains mandatory as long as certain clinical findings and risk factors exist.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Ecancermedicalscience, 2012

Inflammatory pseudotumour (IPT) is a rare benign pseudoneoplastic proliferation of unknown etiolo... more Inflammatory pseudotumour (IPT) is a rare benign pseudoneoplastic proliferation of unknown etiology, often showing locally aggressive behaviour. Conflicting theories about exaggerated response to injury versus true neoplastic origin have been suggested. We report a case of laryngeal pseudotumour in a 73-year-old man presenting with hoarseness and slowly progressive dyspnea and a short review of the English language literature on the subject. Management consisted of midline vertical thyrotomy, excision of the tumour, and a temporary tracheotomy. No recurrence observed eight months postoperatively. Laryngeal IPT is extremely rare, and it may easily be misinterpreted as a malignant tumour. Conservative excision and anti-inflammatory therapy are advocated, since its general behaviour is benign.

B-ENT, 2011

We present a rare case of reversible sensorineural hearing loss caused by clarithromycin. We pres... more We present a rare case of reversible sensorineural hearing loss caused by clarithromycin. We present a case report of hearing loss following clarithromycin administration; we also review the current literature and case reports concerning macrolides and, in particular, clarithromycin induced hearing loss. A young pregnant woman presented with sensorineural hearing loss after clarithromycin intake. The subject's hearing returned to normal limits after drug discontinuation and short-term treatment with low dose steroids. Newer macrolides are considered to be safer regarding ototoxic effects, and a few cases have been previously described. The present case adds to the body of knowledge concerning clarithromycin ototoxicity. Clinicians should be aware of this rare complication and a thorough otologic history should be established prior to macrolide administration. A baseline audiogram and close observation for patients at higher risk is suggested to identify patients with prior heari...

European review for medical and pharmacological sciences, 2010

Tonsillectomy has been reported to have a positive effect on weight gain of children with tonsill... more Tonsillectomy has been reported to have a positive effect on weight gain of children with tonsillar hypertrophy. This effect may be related to better respiration or/and feeding, immunological or metabolic factors. In this study we analyse the effect of tonsillectomy on the dietary habits of children. Dietary habits of thirty 4-6 years old children were assessed before the operation and six months after it, using 24 hours dietary-recalls. In parallel, dietary habits of eighteen healthy children of the same age were assessed using the same method. Children with tonsillar hypertrophy were receiving greater amounts of daily calories overall from sugar products, soft drinks and edible fats (p = 0.01, t = 2.673). Post-operatively, they increased the calories they were consuming daily and consumed even greater amounts of these food (p < 0.001, t = 3.527) in relation to the control group, gaining weight significantly (p = 0.043). Parents should be aware of a possible weight increase afte...

Acta otorhinolaryngologica Italica : organo ufficiale della Società italiana di otorinolaringologia e chirurgia cervico-facciale, 2008

Cavernous haemangioma of the nose is a rare lesion but it has to be added to the differential dia... more Cavernous haemangioma of the nose is a rare lesion but it has to be added to the differential diagnosis of an intra-nasal bleeding mass. A high index of suspicion, upon computed tomography delineation of the extent of the mass, including the presence of bone remodelling plus histological evaluation can be usefully employed to define an accurate diagnosis. In the present case of an adult female with a huge cavernous haemangioma arising from the mucosa of the left middle nasal meatus, the two most interesting points were the rarity as a site of occurrence of this tumour and the successful extirpation of this lesion with the minimally invasive trans-nasal endoscopic technique. We recommend the minimal invasive trans-nasal endoscopic technique for adequate exposure, sufficient control of bleeding and for complete removal of a nasal haemangioma reaching the nasopharynx and paranasal sinuses.

B-ENT, 2008

Parotid gland Mycobacterial infection is a rare disease that causes parotid swelling without dise... more Parotid gland Mycobacterial infection is a rare disease that causes parotid swelling without disease-specific manifestations. We present a case of intraparotid lymph node tuberculosis that mimicked a tumour. Computed tomography of the head and neck indicated a left parotid enlargement involving two intraparotid lymph nodes. The cervical lymph nodes of the ipsilateral posterior triangle and the submandibular and jugulodigastric areas were also enlarged. Contrast enhancement indicated homogenous tissue with no necrotic areas. A biopsy revealed a caseating granuloma most likely due to tuberculosis. A purified protein derivative test gave strong positive results (35 mm). After one month of antituberculous treatment, the cervical lymphadenopathy and left parotid lumpiness disappeared. Tuberculous parotitis and neoplasms have similar clinical manifestations. In patients with a mass in the parotid gland, a high clinical suspicion of underlying tuberculosis is crucial for establishing an ac...

Rhinology, 2007

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and subjective discomfort of one-day int... more The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and subjective discomfort of one-day internal dressing compared to that of two-day in patients undergoing nasal septal surgery. Prospective, randomized, clinical trial conducted on 75 patients undergoing septoplasty in a tertiary ENT clinic. Discomfort caused by nasal dressings was evaluated by means of a visual analog scale. Postoperative complications were also compared. Mean discomfort score for group A (nasal packing for 48 hours) was 3.5 (SD 1.15) vs. 2.7 (SD 1.52) for group B (nasal packing for 24 hours). Significant lower discomfort is reported when the nasal packing is removed the first day instead of after two or more days. No increase in complication rate was noticed. Our results point out that one-day internal nasal dressing is preferable to that of two or more days, because of less patient discomfort and increased cost-effectiveness without increasing immediate complications.

Head & face medicine, 2006

Traumatic auricular amputation due to human bite is not a common event. Nonetheless, it constitut... more Traumatic auricular amputation due to human bite is not a common event. Nonetheless, it constitutes a difficult challenge for the reconstructive surgeon. Microsurgery can be performed in some cases, but most microsurgical techniques are complex and their use can only be advocated in specialized centers. Replantation of a severed ear without microsurgery can be a safe alternative as long as a proper technique is selected. We present two cases, one of a partial and one of a total traumatic auricular amputation, both caused by human bites, that were successfully managed in our Department. The technique of ear reattachment as a composite graft, with partial burial of the amputated part in the retroauricular region, as first described by Baudet, was followed in both cases. The prementioned technique is described in detail, along with the postoperative management and outcome of the patients. In addition, a brief review of the international literature regarding ear replantation is performe...