Nasoantral windows: an experimental study in rabbits.

An experimental study was designed to compare the effects of enlargement of the maxillary ostium to inferior meatal antrostomy. In 10 rabbits, the sinus ostium was enlarged (osteoplasty group), and in 10 other animals, a window of the same size was created far from the ostium (antrostomy group). The control groups were 7 rabbits in which no surgery was performed and 6 rabbits in which only the surgical approach was performed. At reexploration 14 and 84 days after surgery, it was observed that rabbits in the osteoplasty group had significantly more infections of the sinuses than the antrostomy group and both control groups (P less than .05). Possible reasons for the difference in infection rate are discussed. These data indicate that, in normal maxillary sinuses of rabbits, disruption of the ostium results in an increased incidence of infection.

Glottographic measures of vocal fold vibration: an examination of laryngeal paralysis.

Photoglottography and electroglottography were applied to groups of patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis, superior laryngeal nerve paralysis, and combined recurrent and superior laryngeal nerve paralyses of idiopathic causes. Individual patients with resection of the vagal nerve above the origin of the superior laryngeal nerve were also studied. Open Quotient and Speed Quotient were calculated from the photoglottography signals. Speed Quotient values significantly differentiated recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis from idiopathic paralysis and superior laryngeal nerve paralysis, as well as from normal function. Data from patients with vagal resection clearly differentiated them from patients with recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis. The measure of Open Quotient distinguished pathological phonation from normal, but was not as useful for separation of differing lesions. Electroglottography appeared to be less useful than photoglottography. The pathophysiology underlying the observed glottographic signals is discussed.