Safety of (rhino)septoplasty without nasal packing in routine ENT practice

PURPOSE

This retrospective study assesses the risks and benefits linked to the non-use of nasal packing after a (rhino)septoplasty, compared with post-operative care with anterior nasal packing such as Merocel®.

METHODS

Complication rates observed during the first week after surgery were compared between groups with and without use of classic nasal packing over a large sample of 534 patients, who had undergone either a closed or open procedure, with bilateral turbinoplasty, and with or without osteotomies. Complications listed include epistaxis, haematoma, impetiginization, septal perforation, hyperalgesia, and dyspnoea.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed between the group with and without packing regarding the immediate post-operative complications of epistaxis (4.4% of the cases with nasal packing versus 3% without, p = 0.918) and impetiginization (3% of the cases with nasal packing versus 4.2% without, p = 0.478). The technique used, as well as any osteotomies performed, had no impact on the results.

CONCLUSION

Non-use of nasal packing after a (rhino)septoplasty is a safe alternative to classic post-operative methods. Provided that there is a rigorous surgical technique and strict clinical control, it should be used as a principal technique in any routine practice due to its safety for patients immediately post-surgery.

Benign intracranial hypertension with recurrent spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhoea treated by laparoscopic gastric banding

We present the case of a 45-year-old woman presenting with a spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea. A CSF leak, arising from a posterior ethmoidal left cell, was closed using an underlay procedure with a turbinate composite graft with applied fibrin glue. Twenty-three months later the CSF rhinorrhoea recurred. Recurrence was imputed to morbid obesity (BMI 48) responsible for benign intracranial hypertension. The patient underwent a laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. CSF rhinorrhoea gradually decreased during the 12 months following surgery, in correlation with the weight loss, until total resolution was achieved. To our knowledge, this is the second reported case of a spontaneous CSF leak treated by bariatric surgery. This observation strengthens the theory that severe obesity can cause benign intracranial hypertension which can lead to CSF leak.

Smell disorders in ENT clinic

Olfactory disorders may have several causes. Nasal polyposis or chronic sinusitis can result in nasal obstructions that block the access of odorants to the olfactory epithelium, and this can explain the development of olfactory disorders. On the other hand, when nasal endoscopy has revealed that the nasal cleft is free of inflammatory or tumoural disease, olfactory disorders may be explained by neuroepithelial or central nervous system disturbances. This paper will provide information about current approaches to smell disorders in otorhinolaryngology. Major causes will be reviewed as outcomes after medical or surgical treatment. An algorithm will also be given to standardise clinical investigations, including psychophysical olfactory testing, imaging and electrophysiological examinations.

Prevalence of lymph nodes in the apex of level V: A plea against the necessity to dissect the apex of level V in mucosal head and neck cancer

BACKGROUND

We assessed the prevalence of histologically proven normal or invaded lymph nodes in the apex of level V.

METHODS

Seventy neck dissections were performed in 41 patients with mucosal head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Fifty-one neck dissections were performed in 30 previously untreated patients (group 1); 19 neck dissections were carried out in 11 patients previously irradiated (group 2).

RESULTS

Pathologic analysis was unable to identify any lymph node in 70% of the apex specimens. In group 1, no lymph nodes were detected in 63%, whereas one or more noninvaded lymph nodes were present in 37%; in group 2, no lymph nodes were identified in 89%, whereas one or more normal lymph nodes were found in 11% (p = .03). Metastatic lymph nodes were never identified.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of lymph nodes in the apex was 30%. No invaded lymph nodes were identified. In addition to anatomic evidence, these results suggest that dissection of the apex is not necessary in mucosal head and neck SCC.

Conservation laryngeal surgery for selected pyriform sinus cancer

AIMS

This study reports the treatment of a cohort of patients with pyriform sinus squamous cell carcinoma, using conservative surgery and radiotherapy.

METHODS

Thirty-four patients with pyriform sinus SCC were treated between 1986 and 2001, using partial laryngopharyngectomy with or without complementary radiotherapy. Seventy-six percent had stage III-IV lesions. Quality of life questionnaire and clinical examination were used for evaluation of laryngeal function.

RESULTS

Conservation surgery was undertaken. All patients underwent neck dissection. Two thirds of the patients received post-operative radiotherapy. Reconstruction was achieved by local muscular flap in 13 cases, radial forearm free flap in 18 and pectoralis major flap in three. Five-year overall and disease-specific survival rates were 50 and 65%, respectively. Successful laryngeal function preservation with local control was achieved in 80% of the patients.

CONCLUSION

Partial laryngopharyngectomy is a suitable treatment for early and selected advanced stage pyriform sinus carcinoma with a good functional and oncologic outcome.

Extracranial sinonasal tract meningioma: a case report

Extracranial meningioma is an unusual tumor, mainly found in the head and neck area. Before surgical removal and histopathological examination, this diagnosis is rarely considered. We report a case of an extracranial meningioma located in the frontal sinuses of a 65-year-old-woman. Symptomatology included trouble of vision due to bilateral exophtalmos and mild headaches. Bilateral exophtalmos was secondary to the development of huge frontal mucoceles. These mucoceles grew slowly due to the frontal recesses blockage by the extracranial meningioma. External approach was performed with removal of the mucocele walls and of the extracranial meningioma itself. The frontal recesses were blocked with synthetic cement, and orbital roofs were reconstructed with a polydioxanon-sheet (PDS). Frontal sinuses were excluded and filled with bone bank grafts. A review of the literature on extracranial meningioma and a discussion about the surgical management of this case are proposed in this paper.

Computer assisted surgery and endoscopic endonasal approach in 32 procedures

Computer aided surgery (CAS) is now routinely introduced in the ENT surgical field especially in endoscopic endonasal surgery.

OBJECTIVE

Using a frameless computer aided surgery for endoscopic endonasal approach (SurgiGATE ORL TM), we tried to evaluate the practical use of such a system, to calculate supplementary installation time of the procedure, to determine the number of matching attempt (referencing) before starting optonavigation and to determine its clinical accuracy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Thirty two patients underwent endoscopic endonasal surgery with the help of CAS; 13 revision cases (2 nasal polyposis, 7 paranasal sinus mucoceles, 4 frontal recess stenosis) and 19 primary cases (16 inflammatory diseases, 3 benign tumor removal). Paired points matching was used as referencing before optonavigation. Clinical accuracy of CAS was calculated at two confidence points during optonavigation and measured in multiples of the pixel size on CT Scan.

RESULTS

Number of matching attempts before starting optonavigation was; mean 1.8 (1-4). Supplementary installation time of the system was; mean 15 minutes (10-40). Clinical accuracy at two confidence points was always between 0.5 mm and 2 mm. (6 < 0.5 mm, 16 < 1 mm, 10 < 2 mm). There was no major complication during surgery neither no side effect due to the use of the CAS except for one case who presented a slight tongue edema due to a wrong position of the dynamic reference base (maxillary splint) during the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

CAS and optonavigation using the surgiGATE ORL TM is safe and efficient in endoscopic endonasal surgery. The accuracy of the system is sufficient and its use appropriate for primary either revision rhinologic procedures.

Office-based CO2 laser-assisted tympanic membrane fenestration addressing otitis media with effusion

OBJECTIVE

To use the CO2 laser-assisted tympanic membrane fenestration in office settings, under local anesthesia, as the sole treatment for patients with chronic otitis media with effusion (OME).

BACKGROUND DATA

This new treatment ensures artificial ventilation of the middle ear for several weeks, and provides an intermediate solution between ordinary lancet-made tympanocentesis and transtympanic ventilation tube insertion. The operative technique is already well codified, and preliminary studies have demonstrated that tympanic membrane fenestration does not expose patients to any major hazard.

METHODS

We treated 30 ears in 21 children and 29 ears in 24 adults. All patients had presented with OME persistent for more than 3 months. The laser tympanostomy was performed under local anesthesia, as an outpatient procedure, using a CO2 flash-scanning laser in conjunction with a handpiece (OTOLAM). Using a power of 12 W to 17 W, a single laser pulse usually sufficed to create a 2-mm-diameter circular perforation in the anteroinferior quadrant of the eardrum.

RESULTS

The tympanic membrane fenestration allows avoiding ventilation tube insertion in 63% of children and 75% of adults.

CONCLUSIONS

The CO2 laser-assisted tympanic membrane fenestration seems a valid therapeutic option addressing OME. This study should be pursued on a larger scale to define more precisely the indications of the laser tympanostomy.

Conservation surgery for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer

The charts of 173 patients treated by conservation laryngectomy and pharyngolaryngectomy were retrospectively reviewed. The patients treated by endoscopic laser resection were excluded of this study. Glottic carcinoma was diagnosed in 101 patients, supraglottic carcinoma in 44 patients, hypopharyngeal carcinoma in 24 patients and oropharyngeal carcinoma in 4 patients. The median follow-up period was 44 months, 84/101 glottic cancer, 34/44 supraglottic cancer, 23/24 hypopharyngeal cancer and 2/4 oropharyngeal cancer were staged as T1 and T2. A voice-sparing external approach was carried on in 20 patients with locally advanced tumor (T3-T4). At time of the last follow-up, 132 patients (77%) were alive when 41 patients (23%) died. Overall survival rates for patients treated for T1-T2 glottic cancer at 3, 5 and 10 years were 90, 90 and 78% respectively. Overall survival rates for patients treated for T1-T2 supralottic cancer at 3, 5 and 10 years were 73, 68 and 48% respectively. Overall survival rates for patients treated for T1-T2 hypopharyngeal cancer at 3 and 5 years were 74 and 37% respectively. The site of the primary tumor (glottic versus supraglottic or hypopharynx) showed significant impact on survival (P = 0.0025)). Regarding survival, T stage and N stage were not found statistically significant.