ABSTRACT
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) has become one of the most common surgical techniques performed by otolaryngologists with significant data demonstrating its efficacy in managing patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, despite this initial success, patients may continue to present with recurrent symptoms and approximately 10-15% of them will require revision surgery. Failure of FESS may have many different causes which include inappropriate patient selection and preparation, comorbidities like cystic fibrosis and Samter's triad, insufficient surgical skills or anatomical variations that have not been addressed adequately. Two inverse European techniques were introduced in the 1980s. The one promoted by Messer-klinger, who practiced the anterior-to-posterior approach, another one, developed by Wigand who performed posterior-to-anterior dissection, opens the sphenoid ostium or removes the anterior wall of the sphenoid sinus and ends with a total ethmoidectomy. Hereby in RESS we start dissection in posterior-to-anterior fashion by following a structured approach in the identification of the fixed landmarks to allow quick and easy orientation to the skull base and medial orbital wall to avoid the complications.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Nowadays the endoscopic approach represents a useful alternative to traditional surgical approaches in the treatment of cholesterol granulomas (CGs) of the petrous apex (PA). Recently the nasoseptal flap (NSF) has been employed to permit long-term patency of drainage site. The purpose of this study is to report our experience with the NSF in the endoscopic management of CG and to analyze the advantages, limitations, and outcomes of the technique. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was carried out on 10 patients affected by CG of the PA who had been treated endoscopically, using the NSF. RESULTS: An endoscopic transpterygoid approach was used for 6 patients and the remaining 4 were treated using the transclival approach. A NSF was used in all 10 cases. In 6 cases the flap was ipsilateral to the lesion whereas in 4 it was contralateral. In 90% of our patients no evidence of disease was observed after a mean follow-up period of 35.7 months, with resolution of their symptoms. One patient presented a recurrence because of a technical error (inadequate placement of the flap in the cavity), and has been retreated endoscopically. CONCLUSION: The pedicled NSF seems to be helpful in avoiding the concentric growth of the granulomatous cyst epithelium while assuring ventilation and drainage of the cyst. However, bigger studies with longer-term follow-up are needed to confirm these findings. Correct and meticulous placement of the flap inside the cystic cavity is the most critical issue for the success of the procedure.
