Morphometric evaluation of the sphenopalatine foramen for endonasal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: Ligation of the sphenopalatine artery is used to treat severe nasal haemorrhage. Despite the high rates of success reported, errors and complications may occur in locating the sphenopalatine foramen (SPF) through which the vasculonervous structures penetrate the nasal cavity. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the numerical variation of the SPF, its relation to the ethmoid bone crista of the palatine bone in the lateral nasal wall, its distance from the anterior nasal spine and the angle between this distance and the anterior nasal floor. DESIGN: Anatomical study. SETTING: Regional tertiary reference center. MATERIAL AND INTERVENTIONS: Fifty-four hemiskulls were submitted to anatomical study and measurements were made on more than 12 dissected hemiskulls using the Image Tool 3.0 software. RESULTS: The SPF was single in 87% of the specimens, and more than one orifice was present in 13%. In most specimens it was possible to establish a relation with the ethmoid crista, which is a surgical reference for the SPF location. The mean values of the measurements were significantly higher in the hemifaces than in the hemiskulls, ranging from 54 to 63 mm, and angulation ranged from 20 to 32 degrees. CONCLUSIONS: The study demonstrated that in most specimens studied the SPF was single and located in the superior nasal meatus. The distances measured suggest that these values can be used as distance references for the use of the endoscope for ligation or endonasal cauterization of the branches of the sphenopalatine artery, preventing possible errors and complications.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease: its importance in ear, nose, and throat practice.

OBJECTIVE: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been implicated in various extra-gastroesophageal diseases, especially in the upper and lower airways (atypical GERD). The objective of the present study was to determine the frequency of gastroesophageal and extra-gastroesophageal symptoms in pediatric patients with GERD and their response to the general treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted on 45 children of both sexes aged 3 months-12 years with GERD diagnosed by clinical examination and 24h single-channel pHmetry. The gastroesophageal and extra-gastroesophageal symptoms, the treatment instituted and the response of the patients to the latter were determined. RESULTS: Five symptomatologic groups were identified: gastroesophageal (51.11%), pulmonary (recurrent pneumonia, 40%, and bronchial asthma, 46.67%), chronic cough (64.44%), rhinologic (chronic nasal obstruction, 68.88%, nasal secretion, 55.55%, and nose itching, 46.66%), and pharyngo-otologic (recurrent acute middle ear infection, 35.56%, and recurrent tonsillitis, 24.44%). The response to treatment (antireflux drugs, antiallergic drugs, and surgical procedures) resulted in cure in 24 patients (53.34%), while 21 continued to be symptomatic. The cure rate was 69.56% for the gastroesophageal group, 100% for the recurrent pneumonia group, 80.95% for the bronchial asthma group, 68.96% for the chronic cough group, 83.87% for the chronic nasal obstruction group, 80% for the nasal secretion group, 85.71% for the nose itching group, 100% for the recurrent acute middle ear infection group, and 90.90% for the recurrent tonsillitis group. Total treatment time was 1.8 times longer for the remission of extra-gastroesophageal symptoms. Exclusive antireflux treatment promoted full remission of the otorhinolaryngologic symptoms in 38.89% of patients (nasal-41.17%, recurrent acute middle ear infection-12.5%, and recurrent tonsillitis-18.18%). CONCLUSION: GERD can cause otorhinolaryngologic symptoms in children and remission of these symptoms can be obtained with antireflux therapy.