Inferior turbinate composite graft for repair of nasal septal perforation

BACKGROUND

Repair of nasal septal perforations is one of the most challenging procedures in nasal surgery. The aim of this prospective clinical study was to determine the efficacy of using an inferior turbinate composite graft (ITCG) for the repair of nasal septal perforation.

METHODS

Between 2009 and 2011, 27 consecutive patients with nasal septal perforation underwent endoscopy-assisted, endonasal septal perforation repair by using an ITCG alone or in combination with bipedicled mucosal advancement flap.

RESULTS

Complete closure of the perforation was achieved in 24 of 27 (88.8%) patients, and incomplete closure was observed in 2 patients with medium-sized perforation and 1 patient with large perforation.

CONCLUSION

The ITCG technique provides three-layer repair of the defect under no tension in closure of small perforations located anteriorly, posterior perforations with mucosal atrophy, or previous unsuccessful surgical repair. In graft-depleted revision rhinoplasty cases with small-sized septal perforations, this technique provides a simple solution with autogenous grafts. In cases involving larger perforations, the ITCG technique can easily be combined with bipedicled flap and allows for more options to solve a challenging problem. Current data from this prospective study suggest that this surgical technique may be used in the repair of nasal septal perforation.

A rare case of asymptomatic bilateral submandibular gland sialolithiasis: a giant, fistulized calculus on the right and multiple calculi on the left

Sialolithiasis is the most common disease of the submandibular gland; sialoliths account for at least 80% of all salivary duct calculi. We present a rare case of asymptomatic bilateral submandibular gland sialoliths. On the right, the patient had a giant (35 × 35 mm) sialolith that had fistulized into the oral cavity. In the left submandibular gland, he had 30 differently sized sialoliths.

First-choice treatment in mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea: single-stage, multilevel, temperature-controlled radiofrequency tissue volume reduction or nasal continuous positive airway pressure

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy of single-stage, multilevel, temperature-controlled radiofrequency tissue volume reduction (TCRFTVR) for the soft palate and base of the tongue with that of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in primary treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

DESIGN

A prospective nonrandomized clinical study.

SETTING

Tertiary care referral center.

PATIENTS

Data from 47 patients with mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea treated between January 1, 2003, and October 31, 2006, were reviewed.

INTERVENTIONS

Twenty-six patients underwent TCRFTVR and 21 underwent nasal CPAP as a primary treatment modality.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Baseline and 12-month posttreatment measurements using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and polysomnography were compared.

RESULTS

The baseline characteristics of the groups were not significantly different. Both methods showed meaningful results for the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and polysomnography variables 12 months after treatment compared with baseline measurements. The results were not significantly different in the posttreatment intergroup comparisons. Treatment success rates were 52.4% for nasal CPAP and 53.8% for TCRFTVR (P = .92).

CONCLUSION

Similar comparison results with nasal CPAP in objective and subjective variables make single-stage, multilevel TCRFTVR a good alternative in primary treatment of mild to moderate obstructive sleep apnea.

Ossiculoplasty with intact stapes: analysis of hearing results according to the middle ear risk index

CONCLUSIONS

In ossiculoplasty with intact stapes, using autologous incus, cortex bone chips and plastipore partial ossicular reconstruction prostheses, improvement in hearing was nearly equal. In patients who had mild risk scores, the incus had better gain values compared with patients who had severe scores.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to prove the utility of the middle ear risk index score and its predictive value in hearing outcome. We also evaluated hearing results for different reconstruction materials.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective chart review of 189 patients who had ossiculoplasty with intact stapes using autologous incus, cortex bone chips and plastipore partial ossicular reconstruction prostheses. Hearing outcomes and the average improvement in hearing with different reconstruction materials were analysed by using middle ear risk index scores.

RESULTS

The average hearing improvements for incus, cortex and partial ossicular reconstruction prostheses were 12.77±14.58 (p<0.001), 12.34±15.98 (p=0.005) and 14.10±13.87 dB (p<0.001), respectively. The postoperative air-bone gap levels were 20.42±14.54 dB in incus, 17.33±16.86 dB in cortex and 17.59±11.66 dB in partial ossicular reconstruction prostheses. When the preoperative middle ear risk index scores and postoperative air-bone gap and gain values were compared, in the incus group, statistically significant associations were demonstrated between scores and hearing outcomes (p=0.009).

Ginkgo biloba, a free oxygen radical scavenger, affects inflammatory mediators to diminish the occurrence of experimental myringosclerosis

CONCLUSION

Systemic Ginkgo biloba extract treatment reduces the levels of nitrite/nitrate, malondialdehyde, and superoxide dismutase and increases the levels of glutathione peroxidase. By scavenging free oxygen radicals, ginkgo extract prevents the formation of myringosclerosis.

OBJECTIVE

Our objective was to evaluate inflammatory mediators to determine the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of Ginkgo biloba extract to diminish myringosclerosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty Wistar Albino rats, weighing 320-400 g were used. The upper posterior quadrants of both tympanic membranes were myringotomized and divided into four groups. Ginkgo biloba extract was given orally to groups 1 and 2 comprising eight rats with doses of 100 mg/kg/day and 200 mg/kg/day, respectively. Seven rats in group 3 received 1.5 ml/day saline and seven rats were left untreated. After 10 days of treatment, otomicroscopic evaluation of tympanic membranes and measurement of anti-inflammatory mediators such as superoxide dismutase, nitrite/nitrate, glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde were performed.

RESULTS

Myringosclerosis was significantly more severe in control and saline groups than in Ginkgo biloba groups. The levels of nitrite in ginkgo-treated groups were significantly lower than in untreated and saline-treated groups, while glutathione peroxidase levels were significantly higher. The levels of malondialdehyde and superoxide dismutase were lower in ginkgo groups but not significantly.

Success is a matter of experience: type 1 tympanoplasty : influencing factors on type 1 tympanoplasty

Our objective was to identify the factors that could influence the success rate of type 1 tympanoplasty in a tertiary care centre where both residents and senior surgeons perform this operation. Six hundred and seven patients who had been performed type 1 tympanoplasty as a primary otologic surgery between January 1997 and December 2004 were retrospectively chart reviewed. The patients had intact and mobile ossicular chain peroperatively. Patients with any other macroscopic otologic pathology like cholesteatoma, granulation in the middle ear and osteitis in mastoid cells were excluded from the study. Dry ear, intact and mobile tympanic membrane, improvement of the hearing by at least 10 dB and air-bone gap less than 25 dB were accepted as success criteria after 12 months of follow-up period. Chi-square test was used for statistical comparison of the different influencing factors. The male gender, younger age, smaller-sized perforations and experience of the surgeon were stated as good prognostic factors due to statistical evaluation. Afterwards the data of the study group was reanalysed in order to decide the cases for the residents. Finally, it was observed that seniors had better results in cases with perforations greater than 50%, dry ears and patients older than 16 years. In training and research clinics where both residents and senior surgeons perform type 1 tympanoplasty, the rate of success can be enhanced if patients with perforations greater than 50%, dry ears and patients older than 16 years are operated by the senior surgeons. The reason for this is that these groups have the overall worse results and should by argument be done by senior surgeons.