Effect of a Chitosan Gel on Hemostasis and Prevention of Adhesion After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Postoperative bleeding and adhesion formation are the two most common complications after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). The former sometimes can be life threatening and the latter is the most common reason requiring revision surgery. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of newly developed chitosan gel (8% carboxymethyl chitosan, Surgi shield) on hemostasis and wound healing after ESS. METHODS: A prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled trial was conducted in 33 patients undergoing symmetric ESS. At the conclusion of the operation, Surgi shield was randomly applied on one side of the nasal cavity, with the opposite side acting as control and the bleeding quantity of the surgical field was evaluated every 2 minutes. And then, Merocel was placed in the ethmoidectomized areas of the both sides. Five milliliters of Surgi shield was applied to the Merocel of intervention side and saline was applied to the other side. Merocel in both nasal cavities was removed and 5 mL of Surgi shield was applied again to the intervention side on the second day after surgery. The nasal cavity was examined using a nasal endoscope and the degree of adhesion, crusting, mucosal edema, infection, and granulations were graded at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: Complete hemostasis was rapidly achieved in the Surgi shield applied side compared with the control side at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 minutes after application of Surgi shield (P=0.007, P=0.004, P<0.001, P=0.001, and P<0.001, respectively). There were significantly less adhesions on the Surgi shield applied side at postoperative 1, 2, and 4 weeks (P=0.001, P<0.001, and P<0.001, respectively). The degree of mucosal edema, infection, crusting, or granulation formation assessed by the endoscopic features in the Surgi shield applied side was not significantly different from that of the control side (P>0.05). No adverse effects were noted in the patient series. CONCLUSION: Surgi shield containing chitosan can be used safely to achieve rapid hemostasis immediately after ESS and to prevent adhesion formation.

Clinical characteristics of labyrinthine concussion.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Inner ear symptoms like hearing loss, dizziness or tinnitus are often developed after head trauma, even in cases without inner ear destruction. This is also known as labyrinthine concussion. The purpose of this study is to determine the clinical manifestations, characteristics of audiometry and prognostic factors of these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of the 40 patients that had been diagnosed as labyrinthine concussion from 1996 to 2007. We studied the hearing levels in each frequency and classified them according to type and degree of hearing loss. Rates of hearing improvement were evaluated according to age, sex, hearing loss type, degree and presence of dizziness or tinnitus. To find out any correlation between hearing improvement and these factors, we used χ(2) test or Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: Bilateral hearing loss was observed in 22 patients, and unilateral hearing loss in 18 patients. There were 4 (6.5%) ascending, 34 (54.8%) descending, 24 (38.7%) flat type hearing loss, which indicated hearing loss was greater in high frequencies than low frequencies. Among 62 affected ears, 20 (32.3%) gained improvement, and it was achieved mainly in low frequencies. There were only 2 ears with dizziness in 20 improved ears and among 20 dizziness accompanied ears, also only 2 ears were improved. CONCLUSIONS: High frequencies are more vulnerable to trauma than low frequencies. The hearing gain is obtained mainly in low frequencies, and association with dizziness serves poor prognosis.

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy without silicone stent.

CONCLUSION: In nasolacrimal duct (NLD) obstruction patients that undergo endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR), creation of a patent rhinostomy with adequate epithelialization can be accomplished without a stent. However, in common canalicular obstruction patients, a silicone stent seems to have a beneficial role and to bear more favorable results. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of endoscopic DCR without the use of a silicone stent. METHODS: In all, 36 patients (41 eyes) who underwent endoscopic DCR were enrolled in this study. The patients were classified into a DCR with silicone stent group and a DCR without silicone stent group. Then each of the groups was subdivided into common canalicular obstruction group and NLD obstruction group. Surgical outcomes were evaluated by postoperative symptom improvement and patency of the rhinostomy under nasal endoscopic exam. RESULTS: The epiphora was improved in 84.2% of the silicone stent group and 81.8% of the non-silicone stent group. Categorized by the level of obstruction, in common canalicular obstruction, the success rate was 84.5% (11/13) in the silicone stent group and 57.1% (4/7) in the no stent group. In NLD obstruction, the success rate was 83.0% (5/6) in the silicone stent group and 93.3% (14/15) in the no stent group.

Residual diplopia after repair of pure orbital blowout fracture: the importance of extraocular muscle injury.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of and possible risk factors for residual diplopia after surgical repair of pure blowout fracture (BOF) of the orbit. METHODS: Sixty-three patients with pure orbital BOFs who had preoperative symptomatic diplopia were investigated. In each patient, the relationship of residual diplopia and the following factors were analyzed: (1) timing of surgery, (2) presence of enophthalmos, (3) site of fracture, (4) type of fracture, (5) extraocular muscle swelling, and (6) surgical method. RESULTS: Fifty-five (87.3%) of 63 patients experienced improvement in diplopia and 8 (12.7%) patients had residual symptomatic diplopia after surgery. Of the six factors, only swelling of extraocular muscle on computed tomography (CT) scan was significant for the development of residual diplopia after surgery (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In pure BOF of the orbit, patients who have swelling of the extraocular muscles on CT scan are more likely to have residual postoperative diplopia.

Endoscopic versus external repair of orbital blowout fractures.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the usefulness of endoscopic repair compared to external repair in the treatment of blowout fracture (BOF) of the orbit. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: This retrospective study comprised 100 patients who had had surgical repair of orbital BOF since 1992. Forty-eight of the 100 had undergone endoscopic repair, 48 patients had had external repair, and four patients underwent surgery that combined the two approaches. The two basic approaches were evaluated and compared with respect to technique, results and complications. RESULTS: Endoscopically, transnasal and transantral approaches had been used for reduction and support of fractured medial and inferior walls, respectively. In the external approach, various transorbital incisions were made and the fractured wall was repaired with alloplastic or autologous materials. Complete or partial resolution of preoperative diplopia was achieved in 94% of the endoscopic group and 83% of the external group (NS). Enophthalmos was improved in 89% of the endoscopic group and 76% of the external group (NS). Though the endoscopic group had no significant complications, the external group had ectropions, significant facial scars, extrusion of inserted Medpor, and intra-orbital hematoma. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic repair appears to be a safe and effective technique for the treatment of BOF of the orbit.

A multicenter evaluation of the safety of Gore-Tex as an implant in Asian rhinoplasty.

BACKGROUND: A retrospective multicenter study examined the safety of Gore-Tex as a nasal implant in rhinoplasty. METHODS: This study involved 853 patients (656 primary surgeries and 197 secondary surgeries) who had undergone rhinoplasty and used Gore-Tex either at the dorsum or at the nasal tip. Data were extracted from the medical records by surgeons and entered on a standard form. Data included the information about the demographics and history of the patient, method and results of surgery, complications, follow-up, and various factors believed to predispose to complications. RESULTS: The average follow-up period was 18 months. Overall complication rate associated with Gore-Tex was 2.5% (21 cases). Infection was the most common complication (18 cases; 2.1%) followed by two cases of seroma and one case of persistent nasal swelling. Among the 21 suffering complications, 19 patients (91%) needed graft removal. Nine cases of infection developed in primary surgeries (1.4%) and nine cases developed in secondary surgeries (4.6%), which represented a statistically higher complication rate in those undergoing secondary surgery (p = 0.0062). Infections developed within 1 month in five cases and nine cases developed infection >6 months postoperatively. Other complications including esthetic problems were identified in 16 cases (1.9%). CONCLUSION: Gore-Tex should be used judiciously in rhinoplasty because of a 2.1% infection rate, a risk that is higher still after secondary surgery; moreover, once infected, Gore-Tex implants usually require removal.

Endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy: creation of a large marsupialized lacrimal sac.

This retrospective study describes and evaluates the effectiveness of a modified technique of conventional endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR) that minimizes the obstruction of a neo-ostium by creating an enlarged marsupialized lacrimal sac using mucosal flaps. Forty-two patients who had undergone 46 endoscopic DCR at a tertiary medical center, from 2002 to 2004, for correction of lacrimal system obstruction were investigated. The surgical technique involves elevation of a nasal mucosal flap, full sac exposure using a power drill, and shaping of the mucosal flap to cover denuded bone and juxtapose exposed sac mucosa. Postoperative symptoms and endoscopic findings of the neo-ostium were evaluated. Mean duration of follow-up was 5.9 months. An eighty-three percent primary success rate was observed, without any serious complications. Obstruction of the neo-ostium with granulation tissue was observed in eight cases, among which six underwent revision with success in all cases. Overall, 44 (96%) of 46 cases experienced surgical successes. Endoscopic DCR, a procedure in which a large marsupialized lacrimal sac is created from mucosal flaps, yields a very satisfactory success rate with straightforward and highly successful revision available for those in whom the primary procedure yields a substandard result.