Inferior meatal antrostomy in chronic maxillary sinusitis

Summary 32 patients with 44 inferior antrostomies for chronic maxillary sinusitis have been followed over a period of 2 years. Critical analysis of the data revealed three major facts: Inferior meatal antrostomy is providing mucociliary drainage, fenestration is not facilitating sinus reinfection, reversion of mucosal changes is noticeable even after closure of the inferior meatal window.     

A comparison between middle and inferior meatal antrostomy in the treatment of chronic maxillary sinus infection

Intranasal antrostomy has been performed in a series of 38 adult patients with either bilateral chronic or recurrent acute maxillary sinusitis which had failed to respond to medical treatment. In each patient, the antrostomy opening was made in the middle meatus of one side and in the inferior meatus of the opposite nasal cavity, laterality being randomised. A points' system was employed for comparing the pre- and post-operative symptoms, clinical and roentgenological findings. Symptoms and clinical findings were significantly improved following both types of antrostomy, while the roentgenological findings were essentially unchanged. Comparison of middle and inferior meatal antrostomies revealed no significant difference.     

Transnasal endoscopic marsupialization of postoperative maxillary mucoceles: middle meatal antrostomy versus inferior meatal antrostomy

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of transnasal endoscopic marsupialization as a treatment modality in patients with postoperative maxillary mucoceles and to compare the efficacy of marsupialization via middle meatal antrostomy with that of marsupialization via inferior meatal antrostomy. The study design was a retrospective clinical series and the setting was a tertiary referral center. After obtaining approval from the local ethics committee, we reviewed the medical records of 39 consecutive patients with postoperative maxillary mucoceles who were diagnosed and treated at the Department of Otolaryngology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taiwan, from 2004 to 2009. Transnasal endoscopic marsupialization was performed on 32 patients (34 sides) with postoperative maxillary mucoceles. All patients were followed for more than 12 months after surgery, and recurrence was noted in five patients (14.9%). Recurrence was experienced by five patients who underwent inferior meatal antrostomy and zero patients who underwent middle meatal antrostomy; thus, a statistically significant difference (p = 0.04) was observed. Transnasal endoscopic marsupialization is an effective modality for postoperative maxillary mucoceles and results in reduced morbidity. The use of middle meatal antrostomy in particular is preferred.     

Middle meatal antrostomy: long-term patency and results in chronic maxillary sinusitis. A prospective study

This prospective study included 51 patients with chronic maxillary sinusitis who had 90 middle meatal antrostomy procedures. The aim of the study was to examine the long-term patency of the antrostomy 18-30 months post-operatively (average 26 months) and the relationship between the degree of patency and the degree of improvement in each of the symptoms of chronic maxillary sinusitis. Our results showed patency as follows: 80% widely patent (more than 8 mm), 9% patent (5–8 mm), 4.5% stenosed (less than 5mm), 6.5% blocked by mucosal disease and none were closed by bone. For all symptoms, there was a significant relationship between the degree of patency and the degree of improvement (P < 0.01 for headache, nasal obstruction and pain, P < 0.05 for post-nasal discharge). We conclude from this study that middle meatal antrostomy has a long-term high patency rate and there is a significant relationship between the degree of patency and the degree of improvement in1each of the symptoms of chronic maxillary sinusitis.     

Results of Caldwell-Luc after failed endoscopic middle meatus antrostomy in patients with chronic sinusitis

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The Caldwell-Luc operation for treatment of medically refractory chronic maxillary sinusitis has largely been replaced by functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Despite this change, the Caldwell-Luc procedure still has well documented indications including treatment of both failed endoscopic middle meatus antrostomy and irreversible mucosal changes. The purpose of the study was to review the authors' experience and results of Caldwell-Luc procedure after failed endoscopic middle meatus antrostomy in patients clinically deemed to have irreversible mucosal changes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of preoperative and postoperative results of patients who underwent Caldwell-Luc procedure for refractory chronic maxillary sinusitis after failed endoscopic middle meatus antrostomy. METHODS: The preoperative and postoperative clinical course of patients treated with Caldwell-Luc procedure performed by a single surgeon between 1996 and 2001 were reviewed. Only patients with a history of chronic sinusitis after failed maximal medical therapy, no prior Caldwell-Luc procedure, prior endoscopic middle meatus antrostomy, and at least 6 months of follow-up were included. Outcome measurements including documented endoscopic examinations and the need for repeat surgery, and postoperative computed tomography scan results were evaluated to assess treatment success. RESULTS: The study involved 11 men and 26 women who underwent 50 Caldwell-Luc procedures. Caldwell-Luc procedure was performed bilaterally in 13 patients. The average number of prior endoscopic middle meatus antrostomies before Caldwell-Luc procedure was 2. Of all patients, 92% responded to surgical treatment as demonstrated by an endoscopic examination or computed tomography scan revealing a disease-free maxillary sinus. Repeat Caldwell-Luc procedure was required in 8.0% (n = 3) because of continued sinusitis. Two of the three cases with repeat Caldwell-Luc procedures demonstrated clinical improvement during follow-up. Average follow-up was 23.5 months. CONCLUSION: Caldwell-Luc procedure seems to be highly effective in the management of medically refractory chronic sinusitis after failed endoscopic middle meatus antrostomy. Caldwell-Luc procedure should remain in the otolaryngologist's surgical repertoire for these selected cases.     

Concordance of middle meatal swab and maxillary sinus aspirate in acute and chronic sinusitis: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: The medical management of acute and chronic sinusitis is a therapeutic challenge. The use of endoscopic middle meatal cultures as a noninvasive method to determine the bacteriology of the maxillary sinus has not accurately been established. The aim of this study was to review the literature that compares cultures obtained by endoscopic middle meatal swabs with those obtained from maxillary sinus aspirates (MSAs). METHODS: We reviewed studies published between January 1966 and October 2003 that were identified from searches of multiple databases, bibliographies, and original articles. Studies were included for analysis if they compared the results of endoscopic middle meatal cultures to aspirate cultures. All clinical variables and test performances were independently extracted by two reviewers. RESULTS: Middle meatal culture had a per isolate accuracy of 82% (95% confidence interval, 0.64, 0.92) compared with MSA (excluding coagulase negative staphylococcus and fungal cultures). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic middle meatal cultures have a high concordance with MSAs.     

Long-term efficacy of inferior meatal antrostomy for treatment of postoperative maxillary mucoceles

PurposeTransnasal endoscopic marsupialization has replaced the conventional Caldwell-Luc operation for managing postoperative maxillary mucoceles. Inferior meatal antrostomy (IMA) may be an easier and more effective method than middle meatal antrostomy (MMA) because of anatomical and structural changes of the maxillary sinus. We evaluated the long-term efficacy and technical simplicity of both methods.MethodsThis study included 21 and 32 patients who underwent MMA and IMA, respectively. They were diagnosed with a unilateral postoperative maxillary mucocele, and medical records were reviewed for history, clinical presentation, radiographic findings, surgical intervention, complications, and outcomes. During follow-up, the size of the opening and stenosis or obstruction of the antrostomy site were evaluated.ResultsPreoperative symptoms and mean follow-up period were similar in both groups. All patients in the IMA group received the operation as planned, whereas in four MMA patients, the attempt to create an opening failed because of thick bones and anatomical changes from the previous operation; in these patients, IMA was performed. The opening remained large enough for ventilation and drainage between the mucocele and the nasal cavity in both groups. There were no major complications, such as profuse bleeding, wound infection, or orbital or nasolacrimal duct injury.ConclusionsAlthough both surgical procedures seem to be effective for managing postoperative maxillary mucoceles, IMA is easier to perform, and no instances of failure to create antrostomy openings occurred. We recommend IMA as the surgical technique of choice, but providing an opening of sufficient size is necessary to ensure long-term efficacy.     

Bacteriology of chronic sinusitis in relation to middle meatal secretion

BACKGROUND: The bacteriology of chronic sinusitis has been studied widely, but some factors may affect the results, such as sample sources and sampling techniques. However, whether the presence of secretion in the middle meatus affects the culture result has been studied rarely. METHODS: When patients with chronic sinusitis underwent functional endoscopic sinus surgery, swab specimens were taken from the ipsilateral middle meatuses and ethmoid sinuses under endoscopic guidance. While taking specimens from the middle meatuses, we observed the presence of secretions in the middle meatuses. The severity of chronic sinusitis was evaluated by preoperative computed tomography, which was scored by the Lund-Mackay system. The scores of the frontal, anterior ethmoid, maxillary sinus, and ostiomeatal complex were cumulated. RESULTS: Between March 2001 and February 2004, 210 pairs of specimens were collected. The secretion was present in 82 middle meatuses and was absent in the other 128 middle meatuses. The culture rates of middle meatus and ethmoid sinus specimens were 70.7 and 51.2%, respectively, for patients with secretions in the middle meatuses and 53.1 and 44.5%, respectively, for patients without secretions in the middle meatuses. The culture rate was significantly different for middle meatus specimens (p = 0.011) and the mean cumulated computed tomography score also was significantly higher in patients with secretions in the middle meatuses than in patients without secretions in the middle meatuses (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the presence of secretion in the middle meatus indicates more severe disease in the anterior group of paranasal sinuses.     

Microbiology of sinus puncture versus middle meatal aspiration in acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis

BACKGROUND: Maxillary sinus puncture is considered the gold standard for diagnosing acute bacterial maxillary sinusitis (ABMS) and for identifying bacterial pathogens in antimicrobial trials of ABMS. However, sinus puncture and aspiration is all invasive, time-consuming procedure that is limited by discomfort to the patient and possible complications. Therefore, the diagnostic usefulness in clinical practice and patient enrollment in studies of ABMS is hindered and alternatives for maxillary sinus puncture are being investigated. METHODS: We designed a prospective clinical and microbiological outpatient study. Cultures obtained by endoscopically guided middle meatal aspiration were compared with those from sinus puncture and aspiration in 24 patients with ABMS. RESULTS: Considering puncture and aspiration as the gold standard, endoscopy cultures provided a sensitivity of 80%, specificity of 100%, positive predictive value of 100%, negative predictive value of 78.6%, and correlation of 88.5%. CONCLUSION: In our study, endoscopic sampling compared favorably with sinus puncture and aspiration.     

中鼻甲的形态学参数与慢性上颌窦炎的相关性

目的 探讨中鼻甲形态学参数与慢性上颌窦炎(CMS)的关系.方法 回顾90例双侧CMS患者和60例健康人的鼻窦CT,在上颌窦口层面测量中鼻甲长度及卷曲度,并比较两组的差异.采用Lund-Mackay评分评估CMS组的病情严重程度,将Lund-Mackay评分与测量参数进行相关性分析.通过多元线性回归探究影响病情严重程度的...     

鼻内镜下脑棉辅助上颌窦真菌球清除术

目的 探讨鼻内镜下中鼻道上颌窦开窗术治疗上颌窦真菌球的一种技术改良-脑棉辅助清除的方法及其在临床中的应用价值。方法 16例上颌窦真菌球患者均采用鼻内镜下中鼻道上颌窦开窗术,分成脑棉技术组和非脑棉技术组。比较两组病例的手术时间和术后并发症及复发情况。结果 脑棉技术组6例,手术时间40~ 60min,平均(51±9)min,术后定期鼻内镜随访12个月,无残留或复发,主诉无不适。非脑棉技术组10例,有5例同时采用下鼻道开窗辅助,手术时间30~100min,平均(74±25)min,术后鼻内镜随访6 ~20个月,无残留或复发,术后有2例发生鼻腔粘连,于门诊处理。结论 脑棉技术能够辅助鼻内镜下中鼻道上颌窦开窗术完全清除上颌窦真菌球,该法操作简单、器械易得、损伤小、术后效果好,值得在临床中推广。     

Comparison of maxillary sinus puncture with endoscopic middle meatal culture in pediatric rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND: Although maxillary sinus puncture is considered the gold standard for obtaining bacterial cultures, there is an increasing field of evidence indicating that results of endoscopic middle meatal culture correlate well with those of maxillary sinus punctures. However, the subjects of these studies were adults and there was no prior study comparing endoscopic middle meatal culture with maxillary sinus punctures in children with rhinosinusitis. The aims of this study were to compare the results obtained by endoscopic middle meatal culture and maxillary sinus punctures in children with rhinosinusitis. METHODS: A prospective study of children with community-acquired rhinosinusitis was conducted. Results obtained by endoscopic culture were compared with those of maxillary sinus puncture, and the correlation of these 2 techniques was investigated. RESULTS: There were 41 specimen sets sent for aerobic cultivation. Correlation obtained from the middle meatus with those from the maxillary sinus puncture was demonstrated in 32 of 41 specimens (78.0%). When looking at the diagnostic usefulness of endoscopic middle meatus sampling versus maxillary sinus puncture, endoscopic sampling provided a sensitivity of 75.0%, a specificity of 88.9%, a predictive value of a positive result of 96.0%, a predictive value of a negative result of 50.0%, and an accuracy of 78.0%. CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that, when performed in pediatric patients, the correlation between endoscopic middle meatal culture and maxillary sinus puncture was not as favorable as in the case of adult patients.     

Endoscopic transnasal surgery in chronic maxillary sinusitis

The treatment of chronic maxillary sinusitis aims at the re-establishment of proper aeration and drainage of the antrum. Middle meatal antrostomy offers ventilation and clearance of the antrum and has anatomical, physiological, physical and pathological basis. This work included 66 cases of chronic maxillary sinusitis, for whom 94 operations of endoscopic middle meatal antrostomy were performed (38 unilateral and 28 bilateral procedures). Any associated anatomical variations and/or pathological abnormalities at the ostiomeatal area were dealt with. Follow-up of these cases for periods ranging from four to 12 months showed that 95.5 per cent of the cases experienced subjective improvement. Endoscopically 96.8 per cent of the antrostomies were patent and 94.7 per cent of the maxillary sinuses were clear and regained healthy mucosa. The author concluded that middle meatal antrostomy, when done endoscopically, is a safe procedure with good results.     

Normalization of maxillary sinus mucosa after functional endoscopic sinus surgery in pediatric chronic sinusitis

OBJECTIVES: To observe the recovery of maxillary sinus mucosa after endoscopic sinus surgery in children with chronic maxillary sinusitis. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) was used to perform a middle meatal antrostomy, leaving the antral mucosa intact for later observation. METHODS: Between January 1998 and December 2003, 43 children with chronic sinusitis were enrolled in the study. Pre-operative patient profiles, including a history of symptoms, signs and allergies, were collected. Phidiatap test was used to check allergy. Saccharine transit time tests were performed for each side of the nasal cavity. Under endoscopic observation, the antral mucosa was macroscopically divided into edematous and polypoid types. RESULTS: Sixty-four (76.2%) of the 84 antrums had edematous type mucosa in which 73.4% (48/64) of cases were found to have returned to normal within 8 weeks. The polypoid antral mucosa exhibited a slower recovery with 80% (16/20) returning to normal within 4 months. The preoperative saccharine transit time significantly correlated with recovery of the antral mucosa (p < 0.05), but allergy did not (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The antral mucosa in children with chronic maxillary sinusitis was predominantly of the edematous type. Most recovered within 2 months of having FESS. The prolonged saccharine transit time and polypoid type antral mucosa were associated with delayed mucosal recovery, warranting follow-up of more than 4 months.     

Pathophysiology of current odontogenic maxillary sinusitis and endoscopic sinus surgery preceding dental treatment

ObjectiveThe successful management of odontogenic maxillary sinusitis (OMS) involves a combination of medical treatment with dental surgery and/or endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). However, there is no consensus for the optimal timing of ESS. Although several studies have emphasized dental surgery as the primary treatment modality for OMS, there is recent evidence to suggest that ESS alone may be an effective treatment approach.The purpose of this study is to retrospectively investigate the pathophysiology of the current intractable OMS and the role ESS, especially ESS preceding dental treatment, plays in its pathophysiology.MethodsNinety-seven adults (60 males and 37 females, 48 ± 12 years) who underwent ESS for intractable OMS were retrospectively examined.ResultsIn a great deal of the cases (85 cases, 87.6%), causative teeth of OMS were periapical lesions after root canal treatment (endodontics). The root canal procedures were not sufficient; hence, the root-canal-treated teeth had periapical lesions causing OMS.In postoperative nasal endoscopy and cone-beam CT scans for all patients, the natural ostiums and the membranous portions of the maxillary sinuses were enlarged and the ostiomeatal complexes remained widely open. The ventilation and drainage of all patients’ maxillary sinuses seemed to be successfully restored.Temporary acute sinusitis recurrence after primary ESS for OMS was observed in 10 cases (11.8%) when the patients caught a cold. However, since the natural ostium and the membranous portion of the maxillary sinuses and the ostiomeatal complexes remained widely open, antibiotic administration alone without dental treatment cured the temporary acute sinusitis.Regarding the causative teeth (endodontic treated teeth), in 83 out of 85 cases (97.6%), causative teeth were able to be preserved with only antibiotic treatment and without dental retreatment. In two cases, extraction of the teeth was necessary because the teeth became mobile. Regarding the causative teeth after dental restoration, in 2 out of 2 cases (100%), causative teeth were able to be preserved with antibiotic treatment alone.ConclusionESS is highly indicated for OMS requiring surgery. The treatment results of intractable OMS are exceptionally good once the ventilation and drainage of the maxillary sinus is successfully restored after surgery. Consequently, ESS can be considered the first-line therapy for intractable OMS caused by root canal treatment (endodontics) and dental restoration, followed by close dental follow-up and dental treatment when necessary.