Factors Affecting the Complication Rate of Septoplasty: Analysis of 1,506 Consecutive Cases of Single Surgeon.

Based on the analysis of a single surgeon's consecutive cases, we present the incidence of septoplasty complications and factors that contribute to the increased risk of complications. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records from 1,506 patients diagnosed with deviated nasal septum who underwent septoplasty by a single surgeon from January 2003 until May 2020. The incidence of different complications was investigated. Predisposing factors for specific complications were examined with univariate analysis. The average age of patients was 35 (11-76) years. Out of 1,506 patients, 1,252 were male, and 254 were female. The most frequent complication was insufficient correction (78 cases, 5.2%), and revision septoplasty was performed in 21 cases. We also reported 59 (3.9%), 55 (3.7%), 33 (2.2%), 20 (1.3%), and 18 (1.2%) cases of olfactory dysfunction, hematoma, synechia, abscess, and septal mucosal defect, respectively. Additionally, there were nine (0.6%), six (0.4%), five (0.3%), four (0.3%), and four (0.3%) cases of septal perforation, postoperative bleeding, saddle nose, chondritis, empty nose syndrome, respectively. The proportion of insufficient correction was higher in revision cases than in primary cases. Hematoma formation, abscess formation, and septal mucosal defect occurred more frequently in the bilateral flap elevation group. Olfactory dysfunction was significantly more frequent when the bony batten was inserted, while hematoma, abscess formation, and septal mucosal defect were more frequent when the cartilage batten was used. Septoplasty was associated with the risk of several complications, while complication rates were influenced by choice of surgical techniques and approaches.

Postoperative results of ventilation tube insertion: a retrospective multicenter study for suggestion of grading system of otitis media with effusion.

BACKGROUND: In otitis media with effusion (OME), it is important to know when to surgically intervene and when careful monitoring is more appropriate. This study aimed to visualize and classify the clinical manifestations of OME and the correlation between the new grading system and postoperative results after ventilation tube insertion (VTI). METHODS: We classified the collective 1,012 ears from 506 patients into six groups: grade 0 (no effusion), grade I (scant effusion, but abnormal), grade II (effusion less than half of the tympanic cavity), grade III (effusion over half of the tympanic cavity, with air bubbles), grade IV (complete effusion), and grade V (retracted tympanic membrane or hemotympanum without air bubbles). RESULTS: The mean age at VTI was 5.2 (±2.9) years and mean duration between diagnosis and operation was 4.1 (±1.8) months. Between the grades, the nature of the middle ear effusion was also significantly different (p < 0.001). The duration of ventilation tube retention after VTI was significantly different when compared between two groups: grade I-IV and grade V (p = 0.019). Our results showed that the recurrence rate, as well as rate of revision VTI, increased as the grade increased (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The new grading system of OME using endoscopic otoscope evaluation had a significant correlation with the age at VTI, the nature of middle ear effusion, the recurrence rate of OME, and the rate of revision VTI.

Comparison of allergens and symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis between 1990s and 2010s.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of allergic rhinitis (AR), an environment- and lifestyle-dependent condition, has been constantly increasing in Korea. Although the environment and lifestyle of the Korean people have recently undergone rapid changes, corresponding changes in the characteristics of AR patients have not been well documented. Therefore, we aimed to outline the changes in allergens and clinical manifestations of AR in Korean patients from the 1990s and 2010s. METHODS: We reviewed 1447 and 3388 AR patients who visited the same tertiary hospital in the 1990s and 2010s, respectively. All patients were diagnosed with AR based on the presence of characteristic symptoms, positive skin prick test results, and answered a symptom questionnaire at the time of visit. We compared differences in the allergens and results of the symptom questionnaire between the two sets of patients. RESULTS: When compared with the 1990s, the rate of sensitization to house dust mites, cockroaches, Aspergillus, Alternaria, and tree pollen significantly increased and that to cat fur significantly decreased in patients from the 2010s (all P < 0.05). Male predominance was observed with two peaks in the age distribution of patients from the 2010s. The proportion of patients with moderate-to-severe nasal obstruction and itching of the nose/eye increased (each P < 0.05) and that of patients with minor symptoms such as olfactory disturbances, cough, sore throat, and fatigue also increased (all P < 0.01) in the 2010s. CONCLUSIONS: Allergen reactivity and type and symptom severity in Korean AR patients significantly varied between the 1990s and 2010s. Our results may therefore be helpful for patient counseling and management.

Prognostic value of tumor size and minimal extrathyroidal extension in papillary thyroid carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Tumour size and extrathyroidal extension (ETE) may impact papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) outcomes. We therefore examined the prognostic value of tumour size and ETE for predicting posttreatment recurrence in PTC patients. METHODS: A total of 2,902 patients who underwent thyroidectomy for previously untreated T1-T3 PTC (7th edition American Joint Committee on Cancer) at our tertiary referral center were included. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were used to determine significant factors predictive of posttreatment recurrence-free survival (RFS). RESULTS: In univariate analysis, tumour factors (including tumour size, multifocality, ETE, and lymphovascular invasion), nodal factors (including positive lymph node number, lymph node ratio, and extranodal extension), and MACIS (metastases, age, completeness of resection, invasion, and size) scores were significantly associated with RFS outcomes (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, tumour size >4 cm (P < 0.001) and multifocality (P = 0.038) were the independent factors of RFS. Nodal factors and MACIS scores were also independent factors of RFS. CONCLUSION: Tumour size impacts RFS after thyroidectomy in T1-T3 PTC patients.

Cardiac Vulnerability to Cerebrogenic Stress as a Possible Cause of Troponin Elevation in Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Troponin elevation with electrocardiography changes is not uncommon in patients with acute ischemic stroke; however, it is still unclear whether the mechanism of these changes is due to cardiac problems or neurally mediated myocytic damage. Thus, we investigated cardiac and neurological predictors of troponin elevation in those patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed medical data of the prospectively registered ischemic stroke patients on stroke registry who were admitted and underwent a serum cardiac troponin I and 12-lead electrocardiography within 24 hours of symptom onset. However, patients with well-known troponin-elevating comorbidities were excluded from the analysis. Among 1404 ischemic stroke patients, 121 (8.7%) had elevated troponin, which was defined as more than 0.04 mg/mL. Multivariable analysis identified electrocardiography abnormalities such as QTc-prolongation (odds ratio [OR]: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.02-2.28), left ventricular hypertrophy (OR: 2.14, 95% CI 1.43-3.19), Q-wave (OR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.48-4.32), and ST elevation (OR: 2.74, 95% CI: 1.12-6.72) as cardiac variables associated with troponin elevation, and higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (OR: 1.04, 95% CI: 1.01-1.07) and insular cortical lesions (OR: 2.78, 95% CI: 1.85-4.19) as neurological variables associated with troponin elevation. Incidence of troponin elevation as well as QTc-prolongation was increased further in combination with cardiac and neurological factors. CONCLUSIONS: Certain cardiac and neurological conditions in acute ischemic stroke may contribute to troponin elevation. The proposed concept of cardiac vulnerability to cerebrogenic stress can be a practical interpretation of troponin elevation and electrocardiography abnormalities in stroke patients.