Free nasal floor mucosal grafting after endoscopic total ethmoidectomy for severe nasal polyposis: a pilot study.

BACKGROUND: We report a novel surgical technique based on an endonasal free mucosal graft (mucoplasty) for improving clinical results and local healing in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). METHODS: Patients diagnosed with bilateral CRSwNP scheduled for endoscopic sinus surgery were included. They underwent complete removal of anterior and posterior ethmoid cells, in addition to bilateral type III frontal sinusotomy. An endoscopic mucoplasty was performed in the left nasal cavity, whereas the right nasal cavity served as control. Patients were evaluated before surgery and 6 months after operation, including Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for olfaction, endoscopic evaluation using the Modified und-Kennedy (MLK) scoring system and healing evaluation. RESULTS: Ten patients (mean age 53.6 years) were included. A significa t decrease of SNOT-22 score from 57.0 (21.1) to 20.3 (20.6) (P = 0.024) and a non-significa t decrease of VAS for olfaction score from 9.3 (0.5) to 4.6 (3.9) were found. Preoperative mean MLK score was 4.9 (0.7) in the right nostril and 4.8 (1.0) in the left one. After operation, there was a greater decrease of MLK score in the left nostril than in the right (1.9 [1.0] vs. 1.3 [0.8], P = 0.034). Better healing was proved in the nostril with the mucoplasty. CONCLUSION: Endonasal mucoplasty could be an effective, safe and feasible complementary surgical procedure in the treatment of CRSwNP. The reduced local edema associated with lower amount of secretions may confer a better control in the frontal recess, orbital wall and nasal roof.

[Inter-observer variability in the diagnosis and classification of diabetic retinopathy through biomicroscopy]. / Variabilidad interobservador en el diagnóstico y clasificación de la retinopatía diabética mediante biomicroscopía.

OBJECTIVE: Analysis of the inter-observer variability of biomicroscopy used for the diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy. METHODS: This was a descriptive study. Parallel observer-blind evaluations of the degree of retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients, as defined on biomicroscopic photographs, were performed by two ophthalmologists. The sample size required for the Kappa index among ophthalmologists with a disagreement ratio of 15%, precision ratio of 5% and confidence level of 95% is n=196 (<> being the number of eyes). The only variable measured was the degree of Diabetic Retinopathy, according to the modified Early Treatment Diabetic Research Study (ETDRS) classification. RESULTS: The average age of the 217 patients photographed was of 65.42 years (SE= 9.91). In 191 instances there was total agreement between the 2 ophthalmologists. In 24 instances the discrepancy was only of one degree of the classification of the ETDRS, and in 2 the discrepancy was of two degrees. In no case was it greater than this. (Quadratic weighed Kappa = 0.876, IC95%: 0.655-0.952 and linear weighed Kappa = 0.804, IC95%: 0.729-0.878). CONCLUSIONS: The Weighed Kappa index demonstrated a <> agreement of the degree of diabetic retinopathy. The discrepancies were slight, were of no clinical importance, and would not have affected treatment decisions. The results indicate that this examination, performed by a single ophthalmologist, can be utilised as a reference standard in Diabetic Retinopathy diagnosis.

Variabilidad interobservador en el diagnóstico y clasificación de la retinopatía diabética mediante biomicroscopía / Inter-observer variability in the diagnosis and classification of diabetic retinopathy through biomicroscopy

Objetivo: Análisis de la variabilidad interobservador de la biomicroscopía utilizada para el diagnóstico de retinopatía diabética. Métodos: Diseño: Observacional descriptivo. Valoración en paralelo, de forma ciega para los observadores, del grado de retinopatía diabética mediante biomicroscopía en pacientes diabéticos tipo 2. Muestra: Para la evaluación del índice Kappa, con una estimación de una proporción de desacuerdo del 15%, (precisión del 5% intervalo de confianza del 95%) muestra n=196, (siendo «n» el número de ojos). Variables a medir: grado de retinopatía diabética, según la clasificación del ETDRS modificada. Resultados: La edad media de los pacientes fotografiados fue de 65,42 años (DE= 9,91). De las 217 biomicroscopías realizadas, en 191 se encontró concordancia total. En 24 la discordancia fue tan sólo en un grado de la clasificación del ETDRS y en 2 la discordancia fue en dos grados. En ningún caso fue mayor. Kappa ponderado cuadrático = 0,876, IC95%: 0,655-0,952 y Kappa ponderado lineal =0,804, IC95%: 0,729-0,878. Conclusiones: El índice Kappa ponderado demuestra un grado de acuerdo «muy bueno». Las discrepancias producidas además de escasas no tienen trascendencia clínica, ya que no afectan a la decisión de tratamiento. La biomicroscopía leída por un solo oftalmólogo es un instrumento fiable como patrón de referencia para el diagnóstico de la retinopatía diabética

Objective: Analysis of the inter-observer variability of biomicroscopy used for the diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy. Methods: This was a descriptive study. Parallel observer-blind evaluations of the degree of retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients, as defined on biomicroscopic photographs, were performed by two ophthalmologists. The sample size required for the Kappa index among ophthalmologists with a disagreement ratio of 15%, precision ratio of 5% and confidence level of 95% is n=196 («n» being the number of eyes). The only variable measured was the degree of Diabetic Retinopathy, according to the modified Early Treatment Diabetic Research Study (ETDRS) classification. Results: The average age of the 217 patients photographed was of 65.42 years (SE= 9.91). In 191 instances there was total agreement between the 2 ophthalmologists. In 24 instances the discrepancy was only of one degree of the classification of the ETDRS, and in 2 the discrepancy was of two degrees. In no case was it greater than this. (Quadratic weighed Kappa = 0.876, IC95%: 0.655-0.952 and linear weighed Kappa = 0.804, IC95%: 0.729-0.878). Conclusions: The Weighed Kappa index demonstrated a «very good» agreement of the degree of diabetic retinopathy. The discrepancies were slight, were of no clinical importance, and would not have affected treatment decisions. The results indicate that this examination, performed by a single ophthalmologist, can be utilised as a reference standard in Diabetic Retinopathy diagnosis

[Evaluation of clinical competence of family medicine trainer]. / Evaluación de la competencia clínica de tutores de residentes de medicina familiar y comunitaria.

OBJECTIVES: We show the first experience of the application of an objective and structured clinical evaluation (OSCE) procedure to family medicine trainers, that has been carried out in Andalucia. The objective is to use a competence evaluation instrument that, in the short term, will be used not only for trainer accreditation but also for other public sanitary professionals. PARTICIPANTS: Tutors of family and community medicine residents. DESIGN: Observational descriptive. SETTING: Educational unity of family medicine. PRINCIPAL MEASUREMENTS: The competencial components to be assessed are the following: anamnesis, physical exploration, communication, technical skill, management, family attention y preventive activities. The clinical situations were selected using the following priority criteria: prevalence, clinical gravity, prevention and early diagnosis importance, case complexity, doctor's capacity of evaluation and simplicity. RESULTS: Thirteen family medicine trainers took part in the OSCE. Their average age was 42.8 +/- 3.6 years. The test had an overall reliability coefficient (Cronbach's alpha) of 0.73. The overall mean score of the participants was 73 +/- 6.2. The best results about the competencial components were family attention, communication and technical skill. CONCLUSIONS: The OSCE can be a convenient tool for family medical trainer evaluation, helping to orientate their education in the weak points and, in the near future, it can also be used as an instrument do accredit family medicine trainers.