Pediatric functional endoscopic sinus surgery: frequently asked questions

Comprehensive review on endonasal endoscopic sinus surgery

Endonasal endoscopic sinus surgery is the standard procedure for surgery of most paranasal sinus diseases. Appropriate frame conditions provided, the respective procedures are safe and successful. These prerequisites encompass appropriate technical equipment, anatomical oriented surgical technique, proper patient selection, and individually adapted extent of surgery. The range of endonasal sinus operations has dramatically increased during the last 20 years and reaches from partial uncinectomy to pansinus surgery with extended surgery of the frontal (Draf type III), maxillary (grade 3-4, medial maxillectomy, prelacrimal approach) and sphenoid sinus. In addition there are operations outside and beyond the paranasal sinuses. The development of surgical technique is still constantly evolving. This article gives a comprehensive review on the most recent state of the art in endoscopic sinus surgery according to the literature with the following aspects: principles and fundamentals, surgical techniques, indications, outcome, postoperative care, nasal packing and stents, technical equipment.

Evidence-based medicine in rhinology

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Nose and sinus disease are prevalent medical findings, requiring significant expense and patient and physician time. In addition, the field of evidence-based medicine is growing in significance as many providers endeavor to provide evidence-based patient care. This contemporary review will address recent findings in evidence-based medicine and rhinology.

RECENT FINDINGS

We review treatment guidelines for allergic rhinitis, recent findings on nasal polyposis, pediatric sinus surgery, the use of image-guidance in sinus surgery, and treatment of epistaxis.

SUMMARY

There is high-quality evidence to guide medical and surgical treatment decisions in many rhinologic conditions.

Pediatric sinusitis

Although sinusitis is one of the most common problems encountered in clinical practice, it can be a challenge to diagnose and treat appropriately. Sinusitis refers to inflammation (infectious or noninfectious) in the paranasal sinuses. Infectious sinusitis can be bacterial or viral. This article focuses on bacterial sinusitis. Acute bacterial sinusitis usually follows a viral upper respiratory infection (URI) but can also present with severe symptoms 3 to 5 days after onset. Chronic sinusitis has less prominent symptoms and can be easily missed. When antibiotic therapy is warranted, the antibiotic should be chosen based on knowledge of antimicrobial resistance in specific geographic areas and populations. Adjunctive measures include saline irrigation, steam inhalation, nasal and systemic steroids, mucolytics, and decongestants. It is important to identify and treat predisposing factors, including viral URIs, allergic rhinitis, nasal structural abnormalities, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and immune deficiencies.

Skull base osteomyelitis leading to lateral medullary syndrome in a child

Skull base osteomyelitis (SBO) arising from the sphenoidal paranasal air sinus infection without associated external otitis is rare. Initially SBO may have headache as the only symptom with cranial neuropathies occurring later. We report a 10-year-old immunocompetent girl with headache and chronic sinusitis, who developed a lateral medullary syndrome following streptococcal milleri sphenoidal osteomyelitis.