Pathogenesis of Nasal Polyposis: Current Trends.

Chronic Rhinosinusitis (CRS) is characterized by edema of the sub-epithelial layers, but, only specific types of CRS are developing polyps. Nasal polyposis may develop under different pathogenetic mechanisms rendering the typical macroscopic classification of CRS, with or without nasal polyps, rather deficient. Currently, we approach nasal polyposis, in terms of diagnosis and treatment, according to its endotype, which means that we focus on the specific cells and cytokines that are participating in its pathogenesis. It appears that the molecular procedures that contribute to polyp formation, initiating with a Th-2 response of the adaptive immune system, are local phenomena occurring in the sub-epithelial layers of the mucosa. Several hypotheses are trying to approach the etiology that drives the immune response towards Th-2 type. Extrinsic factors, like fungi, Staphylococcus superantigens, biofilms, and altered microbiome can contribute to a modified and intense local reaction of the immune system. Some hypotheses based on intrinsic factors like the elimination of Treg lymphocytes, low local vitamin-D levels, high levels of leukotrienes, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by hypoxia, and altered levels of NO, add pieces to the puzzle of the pathogenesis of nasal polyposis. Currently, the most complete theory is that of epithelial immune barrier dysfunction. Intrinsic and extrinsic conditions can damage the epithelial barrier rendering sub-epithelial layers more vulnerable to invasion by pathogens that trigger a Th-2 response of the adaptive immune system. Th2 cytokines, subsequently, induce the accumulation of eosinophils and IgE together with the remodeling of the stroma in the sub-epithelial layers leading, eventually, to the formation of nasal polyps.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection inducing non-congenital sensorineural hearing loss during childhood; a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is one of the most important risk factors for delayed onset and progressive hearing loss in children. However, the relevant literature is limited, heterogeneous and currently insufficient to provide guidance toward the effective monitoring of hearing acuity in these children. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to provide a systematic review focused on types of hearing loss that may escape diagnosis through universal neonatal hearing screening and/or present significant changes during childhood, such as progressive, fluctuating and late-onset hearing loss. DATA SOURCES: A review of the present literature was conducted via the PubMed database of the US National Library of Medicine (www.pubmed.org) and Scopus database (www.scopus.com) with the search terms "late-onset hearing loss cytomegalovirus", "progressive hearing loss cytomegalovirus" and "fluctuating hearing loss cytomegalovirus". STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: Prospective or retrospective clinical studies were included if they presented a detailed audiological assessment, for a follow-up period of >2years. METHODS: The prevalence and time of diagnosis of progressive, fluctuating and late-onset hearing loss were considered as primary outcomes. Results were recorded separately for symptomatic and asymptomatic children, when possible. RESULTS: This analysis refers to a population of 181 children with CMV-induced hearing loss, who were diagnosed among 1089 with congenital CMV infection. The prevalence of CMV-induced hearing loss was significantly higher among symptomatic children (p < 0.0001), who were also significantly more likely to develop bilateral hearing loss (p = 0.001). There was not sufficient information on the prevalence, laterality, degree and time of diagnosis of progressive, fluctuating and late-onset hearing loss that could constitute the basis toward the report of specific follow-up guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed in order to understand and quantify the potential effects of congenital CMV infection in the inner ear and hearing acuity. The results presented in the relative studies should be very carefully evaluated and compared to each other, since they correspond to substantially different cohorts, study designs, and result elaboration. Infants with congenital CMV infection should be closely monitored, regarding their hearing acuity at least during their preschool years, although substantial changes in hearing thresholds have been reported as late as the 16th year of age. Parental counseling is of outmost importance in order to minimize the numbers of children lost to follow-up.

Comparison of click auditory brainstem response and chirp auditory steady-state response thresholds in children.

OBJECTIVES: During the last twenty years, auditory steady-state responses (ASSRs) are being used as an alternative and adjunct to the auditory brainstem response (ABR) for threshold estimation. This study aims at comparing and finding correlations between air-conduction thresholds using the traditional click ABR and the relatively recently used chirp ASSR test methods, for a large pediatric population. METHODS: One hundred and thirty children referred to our Clinic from Hospitals and Clinics of Western Greece ranging in age from 5 to 79 months (mean age = 32.7 ±â€¯14.0 months) participated prospectively. RESULTS: Strong and statistically significant correlations were found between the average of the 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz chirp ASSR thresholds and click ABR thresholds (rs = .826, p < .001), and the average of the 2000 and 4000 Hz chirp ASSR and click ABR thresholds (rs = .824, p < .001). Additionally, there have been measurements for some children with hearing loss in the severe-to-profound range during the ASSR test, but no ABR at the upper limits of the equipment. Click ABR and chirp ASSR thresholds averaged at 2000 and 4000 Hz were within 20 dB in 90% of the ears tested. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study support the inclusion of chirp ASSRs into the pediatric test battery and indicate that they may provide an essential adjunct to the click ABR, especially in the management of very young children with severe-to-profound hearing loss.

Differences in the suppression of distortion product otoacoustic emissions by contralateral white noise between patients with acute or chronic tinnitus.

OBJECTIVE: The mechanisms underlying the shift from acute tinnitus to chronic remain obscure. An association between tinnitus and medial olivocochlear bundle (MOCB) reflex dysfunction has been hypothesised by several studies. The differences between participants with acute and chronic tinnitus have not yet been investigated. DESIGN: Participants were examined with distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs) suppression elicited by contralateral white noise. They were compared in terms of frequency regions with non-recordable DPOAEs, suppression amplitudes and the presence of DPOAE enhancement. STUDY SAMPLE: Eighteen participants with acute tinnitus, 40 age-matched adults with chronic tinnitus and 17 controls were included. All participants (aged 34.7 ± 9.6years; mean ± Standard deviation) had normal hearing. Tinnitus was bilateral in 22 participants and unilateral in 36. RESULTS: Ears with chronic tinnitus presented significantly lower DPOAE suppression amplitudes than ears with acute tinnitus (p < 0.0001). Both acute and chronic tinnitus ears present a high prevalence of enhancement, significantly different from controls (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0002, respectively). Non-recordable DPOAEs were significantly more frequent in the chronic than in the acute tinnitus and control groups (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The differences between study groups indicate that when tinnitus becomes chronic, DPOAEs suppression presents changes that might reveal corresponding steps in tinnitus pathophysiology. Treatment implications are discussed.

Hyposmia: an underestimated and frequent adverse effect of chemotherapy.

OBJECTIVES: Optimal function of both the olfactory sensory neurons and the olfactory mucosa is a prerequisite for normal olfactory perception. Both the olfactory neurons and mucosa might be subjects to the neurotoxic and mucotoxic effects of chemotherapy. Despite the recognized importance of olfaction in nutrition and quality of life, the potential olfactory toxicity of chemotherapy regimens has not been adequately assessed. The aim of this study is to investigate whether mucotoxic and/or neurotoxic drugs compromise olfactory performance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Forty-four consecutive patients completed the "Sniffin' Sticks" test, an objective quantitative/qualitative method to assess olfactory function, at diagnosis and immediately before the infusion of the last session of three to four chemotherapy cycles, according to the therapeutic protocol. The patients underwent therapy containing oxaliplatin and antimetabolites (5-FU or capecitabine; O+A group), taxanes and platinum analogues (cisplatin and carboplatin; T+P group), or taxanes and anthracyclines (doxorubicin or liposomal doxorubicin; T+A group). RESULTS: A significant decrease was noted for olfactory threshold (OT), olfactory discrimination (OD), olfactory identification (OI), and the composite threshold-discrimination-identification (TDI) score. A significant deterioration of all olfactory indices was found for each chemotherapy group. Pairwise comparisons revealed significant differences between the O+A and the T+P group regarding OT and TDI. TDI scores were significantly lower after chemotherapy in all age groups. Patients older than 50 years were found to be more susceptible to olfactory toxicity than younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who undergo chemotherapy experience significant compromise in their olfactory function. A grading system for olfactory toxicity is proposed.

The potential role of the medial olivocochlear bundle in the generation of tinnitus: controversies and weaknesses in the existing clinical studies.

OBJECTIVE: The physiology of the efferent cochlear innervation and the pathophysiology of tinnitus are 2 important but rather obscure chapters of neuro-otology. The possible interference of the medial olivocochlear bundle (MOCB) in the pathophysiology of tinnitus is not only a matter of strong controversy but also a field with possible important clinical and therapeutic implications. The aim of this study was to reveal the differences in study population, design, and methodology that may have attributed the conflicting results in the existing clinical trials. DATA SOURCES: A review of the relevant literature published between January 1990 and June 2013 was conducted via the PubMed database (www.pubmed.org) with the search terms "tinnitus" and "otoacoustic emissions and suppression or efferent." STUDY SELECTION: Clinical studies on patients with additional pathologic abnormalities that may implicate the MOCB, such as hyperacousis or auditory neuropathy, were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: The 15 relevant studies were reviewed for critical differences in the recruitment of their study population and control group, as well as their methods of testing and evaluating the results. DATA SYNTHESIS: The different methods and study parameters are compared to each other. Factors known to attribute different MOCB responses, possibly responsible for the controversial results, are highlighted. CONCLUSION: The remarkable heterogeneity of the existing studies does not allow for safe conclusions. Insufficient knowledge on the physiology of the MOCB reflex seems to preclude the formation of a consensus on the optimal protocol for the evaluation of its function. Further research is definitely needed.

Apogeotropic variant of lateral semicircular canal benign paroxysmal positional vertigo: is there a correlation between clinical findings, underlying pathophysiologic mechanisms and the effectiveness of repositioning maneuvers?

OBJECTIVE: The apogeotropic variant of horizontal semicircular canal (h-SCC) benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is attributed to canalithiasis of the anterior arm or cupulolithiasis. This study is an attempt to distinguish the most effective maneuvers for each case, by investigating any correlation, between the clinical findings or the treatment options and the possible location of the displaced debris. DATA SOURCES: A review of the literature (1990-2012) was conducted via the PubMed database with the search terms "apogeotropic nystagmus and benign paroxysmal positional vertigo." STUDY SELECTION: Articles on central nervous system lesions were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: The studies included in the analysis provided detailed diagnostic and therapeutic protocols, supported by the resolution of the signs and symptoms through repositioning maneuvers. DATA SYNTHESIS: Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the findings. Intergroup and intragroup comparisons were performed through Pearson's χ or Fischer's exact test. CONCLUSION: Protocols vary considerably among studies. Nystagmus from seated to supine position is the best studied secondary clinical sign and possibly a clinical indication of cupulolithiasis. In patients with symmetrical responses in the head yaw test, no significant differences can be detected in the occurrence of secondary signs of lateralization compared to patients with asymmetrical responses. The Gufoni maneuver seems to be effective in all pathophysiologic types of apogeotropic h-SCC BPPV. The Barbeque and Vannucchi-Asprella maneuvers mainly target at lithiasis of the anterior ampullary arm. The results of this analysis may imply that different clinical subgroups of h-SCC BPPV may regard to different pathophysiologic and therapeutical mechanisms.

Transtympanic injections of N-acetylcysteine for the prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity: a feasible method with promising efficacy.

OBJECTIVES: Ototoxicity is a common and irreversible adverse effect of cisplatin treatment with great impact on the patients' quality of life. N-acetylcysteine is a low-molecular-weight agent which has shown substantial otoprotective activity. The role of transtympanic infusions of N-acetylcysteine was examined in a cohort of patients treated with cisplatin-based regimens. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty cisplatin-treated patients were subjected, under local anesthesia, to transtympanic N-acetylcysteine (10%) infusions in 1 ear, during the hydration procedure preceding intravenous effusion of cisplatin. The contralateral ear was used as control. The number of transtympanic infusions was respective to the number of administered cycles. Hearing acuity was evaluated before each cycle with pure tone audiometry by an audiologist blinded to the treated ear. RESULTS: A total of 84 transtympanic infusions were performed. In treated ears, no significant changes in auditory thresholds were recorded. In the control ears cisplatin induced a significant decrease of auditory thresholds at the 8000 Hz frequency band (P=0.008). At the same frequency (8000 Hz), the changes in auditory thresholds were significantly larger for the control ears than the treated ones (P=0.005). An acute pain starting shortly after the injection and lasting for a few minutes seemed to be the only significant adverse effect. CONCLUSIONS: Transtympanic injections of N-acetylcysteine seem to be a feasible and effective otoprotective strategy for the prevention of cisplatin-induced ototoxicity. Additional studies are required to further clarify the efficiency of this treatment and determine the optimal dosage and protocol.

The role of diabetes mellitus in the clinical presentation and prognosis of Bell palsy.

BACKGROUND: Bell palsy is considered to be an entrapment neuropathy resulting from inflammation, edema, and strangulation. Diabetes, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia have all been related to microangiopathies. However, the relationship between the frequency, severity, and recovery course of Bell palsy in patients with these pathologies is a matter of controversy. METHODS: Fifty-six patients with Bell palsy were evaluated according to the House-Brackmann grading system a few days after the onset of the disease and 6 months later and correlated to their hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes records. Diabetes was evaluated by the use of serum glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). RESULTS: The 20 patients with abnormal HbA1c values were more frequently diagnosed with Bell palsy of grade V/VI (P = .008; odds ratio, 4.7; 95% CI, 1.4-15.2). However, their House-Brackmann scores were not found to be worse at the 6-month follow-up visit (P = .9). No correlations were found for hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. CONCLUSIONS: A relationship between the severity of Bell palsy and abnormal HbA1c values seems to be demonstrated. However, the prognosis of these patients does not seem to be worse because at the 6-month follow-up visit they present similar scores to nondiabetic patients.

Treatment of the horizontal semicircular canal canalithiasis: pros and cons of the repositioning maneuvers in a clinical study and critical review of the literature.

OBJECTIVE: Several repositioning maneuvers have been proposed for the treatment of benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) due to canalithiasis of the horizontal semicircular canal (HSC). However, comparisons between these canalith repositioning procedures as well as a generally accepted algorithm for the management of HSC canalithiasis are currently lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 3 different treatment proposals and review the relevant literature. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. SETTING: Tertiary neurotology department. PATIENTS: Sixty patients diagnosed with HSC canalithiasis. INTERVENTIONS: A single application of Baloh's maneuver (n = 13), Vannucchi's forced prolonged position (n = 29), or Asprella-Gufoni maneuver (n = 18). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Bilateral geotropic nystagmus. RESULTS: The first application of the Baloh's maneuver seemed to be significantly less effective than both Vannucchi's forced prolonged position (p = 0.035) and the Asprella-Gufoni maneuver (p = 0.006). No significant difference was detected in the efficiency of Vannucchi's forced prolonged position and the Asprella-Gufoni maneuver for this population (p = 0.4). CONCLUSION: The Asprella-Gufoni maneuver and Vannucchi's forced prolonged position both seem to be significantly more effective than the Baloh's maneuver in the treatment of HSC canalithiasis. The important pros of the Asprella-Gufoni maneuver versus Vannucchi's forced prolonged position are patient's convenience and maximal use of gravitational and angular acceleration forces. Controlled clinical studies are needed to conclude to an evidence-based proposal for the therapeutical steps that should be followed after the diagnosis of HSC canalithiasis.

Immunohistological study of wound healing after submucosal radiofrequency tissue ablation of inferior nasal turbinate in a sheep model.

BACKGROUND: Data on the molecular processes involved in nasal mucosa wound healing after radiofrequency tissue ablation (RTA) of the inferior nasal turbinate (INT) are missing. This study was designed to examine tissue expression of fibronectin, collagen III, CD68, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 9 in the INT (ventral) after RTA in sheep. METHODS: An experimental randomized controlled study was performed. Seventeen INTs (ventral) of nine sheep were used. RTA was applied in 12 INTs. Turbinate samples were studied 1, 3, and 8 weeks postoperatively (4 samples/time point) and in five control INTs (without surgery). Besides hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunostaining was done for MMP-9, collagen III, fibronectin, and CD68. A quantitative grading ranging between 0 (no immunoreactivity at all) and 100% (profuse immunoreactivity) was performed by a blinded senior pathologist. Comparisons between groups were performed using Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis one-way ANOVA. Spearman's rho correlation coefficients were calculated between histological and/or immunohistological variables. RESULTS: At week 8, fibronectin (p = 0.025), collagen III (p = 0.004), and MMP-9 (p < 0.001) immunoreactivity was significantly higher than controls, while immunoreactivity for CD68 was higher, although not significantly (p = 0.114) compared with controls. Strong correlations have been found between mucosal vascularization and interstitial space volume (r = 0.776), interstitial space volume and epithelial cell necrosis (r = 0.730), and CD68 immunostaining and epithelial cell necrosis (r = 0.784). CONCLUSION: Given their high tissue concentrations after RTA application, fibronectin, collagen III, CD68, and MMP-9 deserve further study as candidate modulators of the INT wound-healing process.

Chronic pharyngitis is associated with severe acidic laryngopharyngeal reflux in patients with Reinke's edema.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the association between pathological acidic laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) events and chronic pharyngitis in patients with Reinke's edema. METHODS: We performed a prospective controlled study in 20 consecutive patients with Reinke's edema without pathological acidic LPR events (group A) and 40 consecutive patients with Reinke's edema with both clinical symptoms and 24-hour pH-metry suggesting acidic LPR (group B). The severity of acidic LPR was assessed by use of the Reflux Finding Score (RFS), the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI), and dual antimony probe 24-hour pH-metry. The patients were evaluated for the presence of chronic pharyngitis by clinical examination and biopsy specimens taken from the posterior pharyngeal wall. The Chi2 test was used to compare the groups for the presence of pharyngitis. In group B, the RSI, the RFS, and the total duration and number of acidic LPR events on 24-hour pH-metry were compared between patients with and without concomitant pharyngitis by use of the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: Five patients of group A and 20 patients of group B had chronic pharyngitis. Therefore, more patients with Reinke's edema and clinical signs of LPR tended to have chronic pharyngitis than did those with Reinke's edema and no clinical signs of LPR, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.064; odds ratio, 3.0; 95% confidence interval, 0.9 to 9.8). Among group B patients, those with pharyngitis had significantly more acidic LPR events (p < 0.001) and a greater exposure time to gastric fluid (p = 0.008) than did those without pharyngitis. Their RFS and RSI did not differ significantly (p = 0.692 and p = 0.914, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Only in the subgroup of patients with Reinke's edema and LPR was there a statistically significant correlation between the pH probe results and the incidence of clinical pharyngitis. Awareness should increase among physicians about addressing chronic pharyngitis in therapy for acidic LPR and/or Reinke's edema.

Is the width of the labyrinthine portion of the fallopian tube implicated in the pathophysiology of Bell's palsy?: a prospective clinical study using computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The pathogenetic mechanisms underlying Bell's palsy remain obscure, despite the extensive relevant research. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies have strongly indicated that facial nerve edema cannot be regarded as the sole etiologic factor, because it might persist long after full clinical recovery, or might be demonstrated in the clinically unaffected side or healthy controls. The aim of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that a narrow facial canal might be implicated in the pathophysiology of Bell's palsy. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. METHODS: A high-resolution computerized tomography of the temporal bone with 1-mm thick contiguous axial sections was performed in 25 patients with unilateral Bell's palsy. The width of the fallopian tube was measured at the meatal foramen and the middle part of its labyrinthine segment. RESULTS: When using paired Student t tests, the measured width of the affected ear was found significantly smaller than that of the unaffected side, both at the meatal foramen (P = .007) and at the middle part of the labyrinthine segment (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Bell's palsy seems to usually coincide with the narrower fallopian tube of the patient. This anatomical detail, supported by previous MRI studies, seems to indicate that an asymmetry between the right and left fallopian tube might be a necessary pathogenetic mechanism for the development of a facial nerve edema into Bell's palsy in the narrower fallopian canal. More studies on large healthy populations are needed before a notable facial canal asymmetry is linked to a higher risk for developing Bell's palsy.

Canalithiasis of the anterior semicircular canal (ASC): treatment options based on the possible underlying pathogenetic mechanisms.

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) of the anterior semicircular canal (ASC) is an uncommon disorder currently diagnosed with the Dix-Hallpike (D-H) examination. According to the literature, nystagmus and vertigo may be more pronounced when the affected ear is either up or down. In some patients, both right and left D-H tests can trigger nystagmus with the same direction. The proposed treatment options with the addition of a different manoeuvre applied by the authors of the present study in cases of ASC lithiasis, seem to present a respective variety regarding the position of the affected ASC during the procedure of canalith repositioning. The aim of this study is to analyse the mechanisms underlying both the proposed treatment options and the clinical findings in the D-H examination. The results of this analysis stimulate further investigation, since they probably imply that repositioning manoeuvres might vary in their effectiveness when applied to different clinical subgroups of ASC BPPV.

Allergic rhinitis and aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease as predictors of the olfactory outcome after endoscopic sinus surgery.

BACKGROUND: Unlike the functional outcomes of endoscopic sinus surgery, which have been thoroughly studied, the effect of the surgery on olfactory performance and the relative predictive factors have not been adequately assessed by literature. Allergic rhinitis and aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) are examined as potential confounding factors of the olfactory outcome in patients with extensive nasal polyposis and rhinosinusitis treated with functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). METHODS: A population of 116 adults with severe nasal polyposis was subjected to FESS after failure of the appropriate medical treatment. The olfactory outcome was quantified by Sniffin' Sticks at the 1st, 3rd, and 6th postoperative month in relation to the concomitant presence of allergic rhinitis (n = 62) or AERD (n = 18). RESULTS: Allergic patients seemed to perform worse than nonallergic patients at all time frames. However, when patients with similar olfactory acuity, age, and medical history are compared, allergic rhinitis does not seem to affect the postoperative improvement of the composite threshold-discrimination-identification scores. The same seems to apply for the likelihood of acquiring normosmia after surgery. On the contrary, AERD significantly limits the recovery of olfactory function at all follow-up examinations and patients with AERD are unlikely to become normosmic. CONCLUSION: The olfactory recovery after FESS for nasal polyposis is significantly affected by the concomitant presence of AERD. Although allergy seems to have a general negative effect on olfactory acuity, it was not found to affect the extent of the olfactory improvement, when patients with comparable preoperative characteristics are addressed.

Prevention of nosocomial maxillary sinusitis in the ICU: the effects of topically applied alpha-adrenergic agonists and corticosteroids.

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the efficacy of locally applied nasal decongestant agents and corticosteroids for preventing nosocomial maxillary sinusitis in mechanically ventilated patients with multiple trauma. DESIGN AND SETTING: A prospective, open-label randomized study in two intensive care units (ICUs). PATIENTS: 79 consecutive multiple trauma patients admitted to the ICU who were expected to be mechanically ventilated for more than 3 days. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a combination of a locally applied nasal decongestant agents: 2 drops twice/day of xylometazoline nasal solution 0.1% and 100microg budesonide (NDCA group, n=39) or placebo (control group, n=40). MEASUREMENTS: For the diagnosis of radiological maxillary sinusitis patients underwent paranasal computed tomography within 48h of admission and thereafter every 4-7 days. Infectious maxillary sinusitis was diagnosed by microbiological analysis of fluid aspirated after transnasal puncture of maxillary sinuses. RESULTS: Radiological maxillary sinusitis was detected in 54% of patients in the NDCA group (n=21) but in 82% of controls (p<0.01), and infectious maxillary sinusitis in 8% of the NDCA group (n=3) but in 20% of controls (n=8; p=0.11). The most common pathogen micro-organisms identified from maxillary aspirates were Acinetobacter (32%) followed by anaerobes (21%). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that the combination of locally applied xylometazoline hydrochloride and budesonide reduces the incidence of radiological maxillary sinusitis and may reduce also that of nosocomial maxillary sinusitis in mechanically ventilated patients with multiple trauma.