Effect of endoscopic sinus surgery on clinical outcomes in DeltaF508 cystic fibrosis patients.

OBJECTIVES: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is prevalent in the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) population. CRS exacerbations in CF are thought to contribute to pulmonary exacerbations. Literature regarding the impact of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is inconclusive. This study examines rates of lung function decline and pulmonary exacerbation in CF patients who have undergone ESS. DESIGN: Retrospective review of medical records. SETTING: Academic Hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 40 adult CF patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rate of lung function decline (% predicted Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second [ppFEV1 ]), number of pulmonary exacerbations (IV/oral antibiotic therapy ± hospital admission) and total number days hospitalised 2-year postoperatively was collected. CRS patients undergoing ESS were matched to those without ESS by gender, age, and F508del genotype. RESULTS: Forty patients (mean age 37.4, 60% male) were reviewed. No significant difference was found between the surgical group and controls in baseline ppFEV1 (72.5% vs. 72.7%, P = .98), 2-year preoperative number of pulmonary exacerbations (3.05 vs. 1.65, P = .10), or Lund-Mackay scores (12.25 vs. 11.55, P = .71). No significant difference was found in 1-year (70.5% vs. 72.8%, P = .84) or 2-year (70.4% vs. 72.6% P = .80) postoperative ppFEV1 and 2-year postoperative pulmonary exacerbations (1.7 vs. 1.45, P = .87). A significant increase was identified in total number days hospitalised postoperatively (4.85, P = .02). In the surgical group, no significant difference was identified between preoperative and postoperative ppFEV1 , 1 year (-2.51%, P = .32) and 2 years after ESS (-3.10%, P = .51), postoperative rate of pulmonary exacerbations (-1.28, P = .11), or in total number days hospitalised (3.74, P = .14). CONCLUSIONS: In this study, ESS does not appear to significantly improve ppFEV1 or decrease the number of pulmonary exacerbations postoperatively.

Comparing the efficacy of Silastic and gloved-Merocel middle meatal spacers for functional endoscopic sinus surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Spacers are inserted into the middle meatal space (MMS) following functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) to prevent lateralization of the middle turbinate, scarring, and synechiae. Our objective was to determine if the incidence of postoperative synechiae, facial pain/discomfort, pain during spacer removal, scarring, and discharge differed between nasal cavities receiving Silastic or gloved-Merocel (GM) spacers following FESS. METHODS: A double-blind, randomized controlled trial (RCT) was conducted in adults requiring bilateral FESS for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) ± nasal polyposis. Participants served as their own controls, with each subject receiving both a Silastic and GM spacer. Spacers were inserted into the MMS during FESS and left in situ for 6 days. Participants were reviewed at 6 days, 5 weeks, and 12 weeks postoperatively. The presence of synechiae and scarring were evaluated endoscopically. Inflammation, discharge, and pain during spacer removal were assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS). RESULTS: Forty-eight participants (96 nasal cavities) were recruited. Preoperatively, Lund-Mackay computed tomography (CT) scores were similar between Silastic-treated and GM-treated cavities (6.38 ± 2.35 vs 6.18 ± 2.17). The incidence of synechiae and scarring did not differ significantly between spacers up to 12 weeks postoperatively. Pain during spacer removal was significantly greater for Silastic than GM spacers (2.13 ± 1.34 vs 1.51 ± 1.23, p = 0.020). Facial pain prior to removal and extent of discharge did not differ significantly between spacers. CONCLUSION: Following FESS, patients report less pain during removal of GM than Silastic spacers. However, the likelihood of synechiae and scarring did not differ between either of the spacers.

The application of a free nasal floor mucoperiosteal graft in endoscopic sinus surgery.

BACKGROUND: Numerous reconstructive techniques and materials have been reported for repair of skull base defects, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, and coverage of denuded bone, including pedicled vascularized flaps and free mucosal grafts. OBJECTIVE: This study described our technique of harvesting and transferring a free nasal floor mucoperiosteal graft and discussed our experience with the application of this technique. METHODS: A retrospective review of 19 patients (mean age, 53.7 years; 13 men, 6 women) treated with image-guided endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis or tumors. Intraoperative free mucosal graft repair was performed for large skull base defects after resection of skull base tumor (n = 7), CSF leak (n = 12), and iatrogenic CSF leak (n = 7). Repair was performed in an overlay or an underlay fashion, with a multilayer approach in cases of a large skull base defect. Patients underwent endoscopic assessment at 6 days, 5 weeks, and 12 weeks after surgery for assessment of healing and of CSF leak. The patients were followed up for a mean of 8.7 months. RESULTS: Minimal crusting was identified at the donor site in all the patients at 6 days, with no evidence of CSF leak. In cases of exposed bone and/or mucosal stripping, hyperostosis at the recipient graft site was avoided. All the patients had complete healing at the donor site and the recipient site, with minimal morbidity at 5 and 12 weeks, and no evidence of recurrent CSF leak. CONCLUSION: The use of nasal floor mucoperiosteal free grafts in endoscopic surgery offered the advantage of ease of harvest, coverage of large defects, and multiple applications of use, with minimal donor-site morbidity.

The use of polydioxanone plates for endoscopic skull base repair.

BACKGROUND: Many reconstructive techniques and materials have been reported for repair of skull base defects after sinonasal tumor excision, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks, and coverage of denuded bone. Synthetic materials have been developed for endoscopic skull base repair to avoid donor-site morbidity. Polydioxanone plate is a bioabsorbable implant designed for nasal septal reconstruction and has the ability to retain strength for at least 10 weeks and absorbs in 6 months. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to describe the use of polydioxanone plates in endoscopic skull base defect and CSF leak repair, and to describe our experience with the surgical technique and postoperative management. METHODS: This was a retrospective case series of patients who, between May 2013 and December 2015, underwent endoscopic sinus surgery and skull base repair for CSF leak or after excision of a skull base tumor by using polydioxanone plates. Patients who presented with sinonasal inflammatory disease or skull base tumors underwent endoscopic skull base repair by using polydioxanone plates in an underlay fashion and mucosal membrane grafts with or without adjuvant materials in an overlay fashion. The patients were reviewed at 6 days, 6 weeks, and 3 months after surgery. Postoperative adverse events, including CSF leak, infection, bleeding, headache, and graft failure, were recorded. RESULTS: The cases of seven patients (five women, two men; mean age, 53.9 years) were reviewed. Five patients underwent sinonasal tumor resection and two underwent repair for CSF leak. The mean (standard deviation) defect size was 16.4 ± 11.4 mm. There was no evidence of postoperative CSF leak, and lumbar drains were not used. One patient reported transient headache and facial pressure at the 6-week follow-up visit. The surgeons' experience with polydioxanone plate placement, postoperative healing, and follow-up was satisfactory. CONCLUSION: Polydioxanone could be used to achieve rigid repair of endoscopic skull base defects. These early results, although promising, require validation in clinical trials.

Does preoperative depression predict post-operative surgical pain: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: As surgical procedures have been developed and refined, determining which factors predict rapid and successful surgical outcomes has become a priority. Significant psychosocial influences on surgical outcomes have been found with numerous procedures. The objective of this study is to perform a systematic review of randomized-control trials and observational studies to examine the relationships between pre-operative depression and post-operative (<6 weeks) pain outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pubmed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Web of Science were searched for studies published from January 1, 2006 and August 31, 2016. Two independent reviewers assessed the eligibility of each report based on predefined inclusion criteria (study design, measure of pre-operative depression, and post-operative pain). Participants included adult patients undergoing surgical procedures diagnosed with depression pre-operatively. Patients were assessed for post-operative pain via pain scales and use of post-operative pain medications. Data was summarized qualitatively due to limitations of comparability and transformation. Significant clinical and statistical heterogeneity of the included studies was identified. RESULTS: Of 1091 abstracts reviewed, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria. Due to the significant clinical and statistical heterogeneity, a meta-analysis was not performed. 8 studies (comprising a total of 1314 patients) reported a statistically significant effect of pre-operative depression on post-operative pain. 10 studies encompassing a total 1226 patients failed to demonstrate a statistically significant effect of depression on postoperative pain. CONCLUSION: The analysis of results was limited to a systematic review and qualitative analysis of the eligible studies. Based on this systematic review we identified 8 studies reporting a statistically significant effect of pre-operative depression on post-operative pain and 10 studies reporting no statistically significant effect of pre-operative depression on post-operative pain. Therefore, the quality of presented data is poor and makes it challenging to answer further questions. Large epidemiologic studies in this field are needed to provide further evidence.

Safety of long-term intranasal budesonide delivered via the mucosal atomization device for chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Although short-term use (≤2 months) of atomized topical nasal steroids has been shown to be safe and effective, the long-term safety has yet to be demonstrated. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of long-term topical budesonide treatment via the mucosal atomization device (MAD) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPAA) and intraocular pressure (IOP). METHODS: A cross-sectional study of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), with or without nasal polyposis, managed with daily nasal budesonide via MAD was conducted at a tertiary rhinology center. Patients using systemic steroids within 3 months of assessment were excluded. HPAA impact was assessed using the cosyntropin stimulation test for adrenal function and a survey of relevant symptomatology. Patients also underwent tonometry to assess for elevated IOP potentially related to corticosteroid use. RESULTS: A total of 100 CRS patients were recruited with a mean budesonide treatment duration of 23.5 months (range, 6-37 months). Stimulated cortisol response was diminished in 3 patients (3%). No patients with adrenal suppression had relevant symptomatology. IOP was elevated in 6 patients (6%). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that there is a risk of adrenal suppression and raised IOP associated with the long-term use of topical nasal budesonide via MAD. Otolaryngologists should consider periodic surveillance for these adverse events in this patient cohort.

Sinonasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: updates on treatment.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Over the past two decades, the management of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in chronic rhinosinusitis has posed significant challenges. This document reviews current management techniques and novel treatment modalities for sinonasal MRSA infections. RECENT FINDINGS: Topical antibiotic therapy, that is, drops (ofloxacin) and ointments (mupirocin) as off-label use for the management of MRSA chronic sinusitis, has shown beneficial results. Other more recently trialed nonantibiotic modalities such as antimicrobial photodynamic therapy and colloidal silver irrigation are also showing promise. SUMMARY: Sinonasal MRSA is considered to be associated with recalcitrant chronic sinusitis. Advancements in systemic and local antibiotics in its management have been slow and unsatisfactory. Attention is shifting to the use of nonantibiotic antibacterial treatments. Knowledge of these options is critical to improve the overall management of these chronic patients.