Small and large middle meatus antrostomies in the treatment of chronic maxillary sinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: The study goal was to compare the postoperative endoscopic appearance of the middle meatus antrostomy with symptomatic relief in patients undergoing endoscopic endonasal sinus surgery for chronic maxillary sinusitis. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a prospective randomized study encompassing 133 patients with chronic rhinogenic maxillary sinusitis who underwent endoscopic ethmoid surgery and middle meatal antrostomies. One of the tasks was to compare small-sized (less than 6 mm) antrostomies with large-sized (more than 16 mm) antrostomies in relieving the symptoms of chronic maxillary sinusitis. During follow-up an attempt was made to correlate endoscopic findings with symptomatic failure. RESULTS: We could not demonstrate a statistically significant correlation between the degree of improvement of the main sinusitis symptoms (obstruction, headache, and nasal discharge) and the postoperative size of the antrostomy. Nevertheless, persistent accessory maxillary ostia, scarring within the ethmoid were statistically significant predictors of poor surgical outcome. CONCLUSION: We conclude from this study that the size of the middle meatal antrostomy has no influence on the outcome of endonasal surgery for chronic rhinogenic maxillary sinusitis.     

Frontal Sinus Surgery Anterior to the Ethmoid Bulla

The frontal sinus surgery is difficult to perform but the ethmoid bulla is a relative, constant landmark in the middle turbinate that can improve the surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity, security, and predominance of approaches to the frontal sinus via the route anterior to the ethmoid bulla. The data from 370 endoscopic frontal sinus surgery cases from our center were integrated and retrospectively analyzed. Three hundred twenty-nine patients underwent frontal sinus surgery via the route anterior to the ethmoid bulla. An additional 27 patients underwent frontal sinus surgery with mini-trephination, 13 patients with the Draf II procedure, and 1 patient had applied MELP (modified endoscopic Lothrop procedure). No serious complications occurred; however, there were 3 cases of eyelid ecchymosis and 1 case of anterior ethmoid artery bleeding. In all, 319 patients (86.2%) were cured, an improvement was noted in 36 of the patients (9.7%), and there was no improvement in 15 patients (4.1%). Frontal sinus surgery via the route anterior to the ethmoid bulla is valid, relatively safe, and can be applied in most cases involving frontal disease.     

Single-stage strategy for management of anterior table frontal sinus fractures involving the frontal sinus outflow tract

Treatment of frontal sinus fractures has been controversial for years. The aim of treatment, besides cosmetic restoration, is to create a “safe” sinus especially in those with evidence of injury to the frontal sinus outflow tract. Early and late complications include acute and chronic sinusitis, mucocoele and mucopyocoele formation, brain abscess and osteomyelitis. Osteoplastic flap with frontal sinus obliteration or cranialisation is most commonly performed. With the advent of modern endoscopic and advanced imaging techniques, endoscopic sinus surgery for treatment of diseases of the frontal sinus is ever increasing. In this paper, we describe our successful experience using a single-stage, combined open and transnasal endoscopic technique in management of patients with anterior table frontal sinus fractures involving the frontal sinus outflow tract.     

The endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure for salvage of chronic frontal sinusitis after osteoplastic flap failure

OBJECTIVE: While reported results utilizing the osteoplastic flap procedure are very good, some patients fail the surgery due to recurrent or persistent frontal sinus disease. This study was performed to evaluate the utility of the endoscopic modified Lothrop sinus surgery for osteoplastic flap failure. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A retrospective chart analysis and telephone survey of 10 patients from outside our institution for whom an osteoplastic flap with fat obliteration failed were salvaged using a computerized endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure. RESULTS: The main complaints were headache/pressure and recurrent infection. The usual pathology was chronic sinusitis and/or mucocele. The frontal recess and floor of the frontal sinus were the most common areas of persistent disease. Symptomatic clinical improvement was noted in more than 90% of patients. CONCLUSION: Salvage endoscopic modified Lothrop sinus surgery is recommended for a limited number of traditional osteoplastic flap failures. Computerized surgical navigation may help avoid complications in situations with abnormal anatomy and previous dissection. SIGNIFICANCE: The endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure should be considered to salvage failed osteoplastic flap sinus obliteration.     

Management of acute complicated sinusitis: a 5-year review.

Acute sinusitis is a relatively common problem; however, sinusitis associated with a complication is less frequent. Currently there is debate as to whether acute complicated sinusitis should be managed by frontal sinus trephine and sinus washout or by immediate frontoethmoidectomy/functional endoscopic sinus surgery. To assess the effectiveness of frontal sinus trephine in the management of acute complicated frontal sinusitis, we reviewed all patients admitted to Groote Schuur Hospital with acute pansinusitis (includes frontal, maxillary, and ethmoid) from 1989 to 1993. Eighty-seven patients were admitted, of whom 43 were treated medically and 44 were treated surgically. Of the surgical patients 38 had frontal trephines and management of associated complications. Thirty (80%) of the patients who received frontal trephines recovered without further surgery, and 8 required further sinus surgery for persistent disease. Frontal trephine with management of associated complications is an acceptable management option for patients with acute complicated pansinusitis. Frontoethmoidectomy or functional endoscopic sinus surgery can be held in reserve for those patients with persistent disease that does not resolve after the initial frontal trephine.     

Endoscopic frontal sinus obliteration: a new technique for the treatment of chronic frontal sinusitis.

OBJECTIVES: Patients who fail endoscopic drainage procedures for chronic frontal sinusitis often require obliteration of the frontal sinus with abdominal fat. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an endoscopic technique for frontal sinus obliteration. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective case-control. Thirty-five patients underwent frontal sinus obliteration using either an endoscopic (n=10) or conventional osteoplastic flap (n=25) technique from 1994 to 2004 at an academic medical center. RESULTS: Patients undergoing endoscopic obliteration had less blood loss (P = 0.006), decreased operative time (P = 0.016), and a shorter hospital stay (P = 0.003) compared to osteoplastic control subjects. All 3 surgical complications occurred in the control group. No patients required additional surgery for frontal sinusitis. CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic approach to frontal sinus obliteration appears to reduce patient morbidity and should be considered in the surgical management of advanced frontal sinus disease. SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first report of a minimally-invasive technique for frontal sinus obliteration.     

Modified Cranialization and Secondary Cranioplasty for Frontal Sinus Infection after Craniotomy: Technical Note

Frontal sinus infection after incorrect treatment of an opened frontal sinus may require extended approaches. This article aims to introduce modified cranialization technique and secondary cranioplasty for frontal sinus infection involving the frontal sinus outflow tract after craniotomy. Eight patients with delayed onset frontal sinus infection involving frontal outflow tract after craniotomy were treated from 2008 to 2012. Debridement and cranialization involving the elimination of the frontal outflow tract was performed. Unilateral sinus cranialization combined with reduction of the non-affected contralateral sinus was carried out for the patients with unilateral sinusitis. A pericranial-frontalis muscle flap was used to separate the intracranial and extracranial spaces. Secondary cranioplasty with hydroxyapatite was performed approximately 3 months after the cranialization. The patients’ original conditions included brain tumors (n = 3), frontal sinus fractures (n = 2), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (n = 3). The mean interval between the initial treatment and the onset of sinus infection was 23 years. The frontal sinus infection was bilateral in six cases and unilateral in two cases. Frontal sinus outflow tract was involved in sinus infection in every case. None of the patients suffered recurrent rhinogenic infections within the follow-up period (mean = 35 months) after the secondary cranioplasty. Aesthetic results were satisfactory in every case. Modified cranialization involving elimination of the frontal outflow tract is an alternative method for the patients with pathology in the frontal outflow tract after frontal craniotomy. Secondary cranioplasty provides an esthetically pleasing appearance in such cases.     

Bacteriology of chronic sinusitis after amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium therapy

The bacteriology of chronic sinusitis was studied after amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium therapy. Patients with chronic sinusitis were randomly divided into 2 groups. In the study group, 90 patients were given a 2-week course of amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium before functional endoscopic sinus surgery. In the control group, 113 patients did not take any antibiotics within 2 weeks before the surgery. Swab specimens were taken from the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses during surgery and sent for aerobic and anaerobic culture. In the study group, the culture rates of maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were 45.6% and 28.9%, respectively. In the control group, the culture rates of maxillary and ethmoid sinuses were 53.1% and 34.5%, respectively. The culture rates between the control group and the study group were not significantly different, either for the maxillary sinus or the ethmoid sinus. This showed that treatment with amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium did not change the bacteriology of chronic sinusitis.     

Computed tomographic and endoscopic analysis of supraorbital ethmoid cells.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to look at the incidence of supraorbital ethmoid cells (SOEC) in normal Chinese subjects by using spiral computed tomography (CT) scanning. In addition, subjects with chronic rhinosinusitis with SOEC were reviewed for endoscopic analysis. METHODS: A total of 202 normal Chinese subjects underwent spiral CT. Meanwhile, a retrospective review of patients who had undergone endoscopic sinus surgery over a 1-year period was conducted. RESULTS: SOEC showed an incidence of 5.4% (22 sides), and all of them arose from the anterior ethmoid cells. On coronal CT, an SOEC might give the appearance of multiple frontal sinuses, type III frontal cells, suprabullar cells, frontal bullar cells, interfrontal septal cells, or that there was a septation present within the frontal sinus. Meanwhile, 11 chronic rhinosinusitis patients with 12 SOEC were identified. CONCLUSION: A thorough knowledge of endoscopic anatomy and CT of the frontal recess and various fronto-ethmoid cells were required for safe dissection of the SOEC and frontal ostium.     

Draf额窦鼻内引流术的疗效观察

目的探讨Draf额窦鼻内引流术的临床疗效。方法回顾性分析2009年12月～2012年6月因额窦良性病变行Draf额窦鼻内引流术49例（68侧）的临床资料,以鼻部主观症状评分及内窥镜复查为观察指标,参考慢性鼻窦炎内镜手术疗效评定标准评价疗效。结果全组随访12～37个月,平均17．5月,总有效率80．9％（55／68）,其中Draf I型有效率80．0％（36／45）,Draf IIa／b型81．0％（17／21）,DrafⅢ型100％（2／2）。术中及术后无严重及永久并发症。结论Draf额窦鼻内引流术对于额窦内的炎症及良性病变不失为一种好的选择,避免了不必要的鼻外径路手术,同时有较为确定的疗效。在术式的选择上要兼顾额窦的解剖、病变的性质、范围等。     

鼻内镜下经鼻丘径路治疗慢性额窦炎

目的探讨鼻内镜下鼻丘径路治疗慢性额窦炎的疗效。方法对慢性额窦炎27例在鼻内镜下通过切除鼻丘气房暴露额窦开口,开放额窦。结果27例全部开放成功。除3侧眶周青紫外,无并发症发生。鼻内镜检查额窦口引流良好。27例术后随访6个月,18例额窦炎症状全部消失,7例明显改善,2例无明显改善。结论鼻内镜下经鼻丘径路微创治疗慢性额窦炎手术安全有效,值得在临床推广。     

Frontal skull base surgery combined with endonasal endoscopic sinus surgery

BACKGROUND: Postoperative infection remains a serious complication after radical resection of anterior skull base lesions because intracranial, nasal, and paranasal cavities are opened during surgery. To prevent complications from postoperative infection, we combined endonasal endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) with the frontal transbasal approach in patients with skull base lesions. METHODS: Patients (n = 16) with anterior skull base lesions extending to the paranasal or nasal cavity underwent surgical resection via the frontal transbasal approach. After removal of the lesion via the transcranial approach, enlargement of the ostium or sinusotomy was performed bilaterally using our endonasal ESS procedure. The main purpose of ESS is the establishment of a wide drainage route to avoid dead space and postoperative infection. Furthermore, we confirmed the absence of residual lesion and leakage of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), endoscopically. RESULTS: The frontal transbasal approach combined with endonasal ESS was performed in 16 patients with frontal skull base lesions. There were 8 malignant tumors, 6 benign tumors, and 2 mucoceles. Although 11 patients had preoperative active paranasal sinusitis, most frequently at the ethmoid sinus, none experienced postoperative infection. There was no complication related to ESS procedure. Furthermore, leakage of CSF and extracranial residual tumor were not found. CONCLUSION: Endonasal ESS after frontal skull base surgery is a highly useful technique for preventing postoperative infection, especially for the cases with large skull base tumors extending into other regions involving the paranasal sinuses or nasal cavity and with active paranasal sinusitis.     

Cost-utility analysis for endoscopic sinus surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To undertake cost-utility analysis for endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in order to analyze the cost-effectiveness of different chronic sinusitis severity groups. METHODS: One hundred ninety-two patients with chronic sinusitis were evaluated with a Chronic Sinusitis Survey (CSS) before and 1-year after ESS. Direct health care cost data during the first year after operation were retrieved. The utility gain is defined as change in the CSS total score. The cost-utility ratio was defined as cost per utility gain. Patients are stratified by disease severity using the Harvard Staging System. RESULTS: The average total direct cost attributable to ESS is 40,829 NT dollars in the first postoperative year and the average cost-utility ratio is 2194.42 NT dollars. The high cost-utility ratio of 3246.45 NT dollars for pansinusitis cases is due to the higher cost and limited utility gain. CONCLUSIONS: Treating mild and moderate chronic sinusitis are most cost-effective because of their favorable utility gain and relatively reasonable cost. However, there is no proportional linear relationship between disease severity and cost-utility ratio.     

Use of anteriorly based pericranial flap in frontal sinus obliteration.

OBJECTIVE: In an era of endoscopic sinus surgery, frontal sinus obliteration continues to remain an important treatment option in chronic frontal sinus disease. Numerous avascular obliterative materials including fat, muscle, cancellous bone, and hydroxyapatite have been used in this procedure. In this article, we describe a vascularized anteriorly based pericranial flap to obliterate frontal sinus. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review of patients referred to tertiary care hospital between 1996 and 2003. METHODS: Records of the patients who underwent this procedure were reviewed. Demographics, indications, and immediate and late complications were recorded. A phone questionnaire was used to assess patient satisfaction with the outcome. RESULTS: A total of 12 patients underwent frontal sinus obliteration with this technique. Mean follow-up was 40 months. None of the patients developed recurrent frontal sinusitis. All of the patients were pleased with the outcome. CONCLUSION: Pericranial flap is a highly vascularized flap that is easily harvested and is an effective and viable modality for obliterating frontal sinus. EBM rating: C-4.     

Quality-of-life outcomes after osteoplastic frontal sinus obliteration.

Frontal sinusitis and its treatment remain controversial. Although several authors have evaluated the results of traditional endoscopic sinus surgery, few have assessed patient outcomes and quality of life after osteoplastic frontal sinus obliteration. This retrospective study evaluates these outcomes in a postoperative review and questionnaire of 39 patients treated at the University of Washington from 1991 to 1994. Most patients were satisfied with the results of this procedure, had significant improvements in their Chronic Sinusitis Survey scores, and reported decreased clinic visits and antibiotic use. However, approximately half thought nonsurgical treatments were more effective and continued to require other medical therapy; 30% required additional surgical intervention. Such outcomes may reflect the ineffectiveness of frontal sinus obliteration to treat the chronic symptoms of patients affected by the refractory underlying disease process of chronic sinusitis; however, despite these mixed results, we found a significant decrease in annual days of lost work or activity in this study group after osteoplastic obliteration.     

Effects of systemic steroid treatment in chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy of a combined (local and systemic) steroid therapy on the extent of chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis and patient symptoms. METHODS AND PATIENTS: Subjects of this study were 20 patients with severe chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis with total or subtotal narrowing of the all sinuses. A nasal budesonide spray (2 x 0.1 mg/day) and an oral fluocortolone medication with a daily reduction during a 12-day period (total dose: 560 mg = group 1) and a 20-day period (total dose: 715 mg = group 2), respectively, were administered. Before and after the steroid treatment we evaluated the extent of the sinusitis with MRI and patient symptoms with symptom-related questionnaires. RESULTS: A significant reduction (> 30%) of the chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis was observed in 50% of MRI findings. The steroid effect on polypoid masses was heterogeneous in different anatomic areas (maxillary sinus 40%, anterior ethmoid 19%, posterior ethmoid 33%, sphenoidal sinus 61%, frontal sinus 46%). Most sinusitis-related symptoms were distinctly diminished in most patients (80%). No major side effects were observed. CONCLUSIONS: A combined short-term steroid therapy is highly effective in chronic polypoid rhinosinusitis, reducing the mucosal inflammation mainly in the large sinuses and reducing the incidence of symptoms significantly. However, this therapy was insufficient in the anterior ethmoid and cannot replace the current surgical treatment concept of the osteomeatal complex in CPR. The indication for such a short-term steroid therapy is the preoperative treatment. It facilitates functional endoscopic sinus surgery by reducing the extent of surgical procedures, the time, and thereby the risks of sinus surgery.     

Osteoplastic flap for obliteration of the frontal sinus: Five years’ experience

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the osteoplastic flap (OPF) for the obliteration of the frontal sinus in this current era of endoscopic management of frontal sinus disease. A review of consecutive OPF procedures (n = 43) performed by the senior author (J.A.D.) from 1992 to 1997 was carried out. Data were gathered regarding chief symptom, medical history, previous sinus surgery, endoscopic findings in the office and at surgery, CT scan findings, and follow-up results (mean 19.4 months). Previous endoscopic management of frontal sinus disease had failed in 24% of patients; 97% had eventual resolution of frontal sinusitis with OPF. After OPF, 63% also had improvement or resolution of disease in other paranasal sinuses. Statistically significant, positive correlations (P < 0.05) were noted between the resolution of frontal sinusitis and improved or resolved pain, as well as the resolution of frontal sinusitis and improved or resolved infections in other paranasal sinuses. In 1998 OPF remains the standard for treating frontal sinus disease refractory to other methods. OPF can decrease the pain associated with frontal sinus infections and has a positive impact on inflammatory disease in other paranasal sinuses. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;121:731-5.)     

Revision endoscopic frontal sinus surgery with surgical navigation.

BACKGROUND: Revision surgery of the frontal sinus remains one of the most difficult operations for the endoscopic surgeon. Most agree that knowledge and recognition of its complex anatomy and sparing of frontal recess mucosa are keys to a successful operation. The use of surgical navigation systems may allow for more precise dissections and greater rates of frontal recess patency. METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients undergoing revision endoscopic frontal sinus surgery with surgical navigation was performed with a minimum 24-month follow-up. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients underwent revision endoscopic frontal sinus surgery with surgical navigation. The average follow-up was 32 months. Fifty-eight (86.6%) had a patent frontal recess and significant subjective improvement in symptoms. No patient underwent external frontal sinus obliteration, and there were no major complications. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic techniques with surgical navigation are effective in revision frontal sinus cases. The dissection of remnant agger nasi, obstructing frontal and supraorbital cells are necessary to widen the anterior-posterior as well as the medial-lateral dimensions of the recess. Computer navigational systems appear to serve as a valuable adjunct in preoperative planning and safe intraoperative dissection.     

Osteoplastic flap for obliteration of the frontal sinus: five years' experience.

The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the osteoplastic flap (OPF) for the obliteration of the frontal sinus in this current era of endoscopic management of frontal sinus disease. A review of consecutive OPF procedures (n = 43) performed by the senior author (J.A.D.) from 1992 to 1997 was carried out. Data were gathered regarding chief symptom, medical history, previous sinus surgery, endoscopic findings in the office and at surgery, CT scan findings, and follow-up results (mean 19.4 months). Previous endoscopic management of frontal sinus disease had failed in 24% of patients; 97% had eventual resolution of frontal sinusitis with OPF. After OPF, 63% also had improvement or resolution of disease in other paranasal sinuses. Statistically significant, positive correlations (P < 0.05) were noted between the resolution of frontal sinusitis and improved or resolved pain, as well as the resolution of frontal sinusitis and improved or resolved infections in other paranasal sinuses. In 1998 OPF remains the standard for treating frontal sinus disease refractory to other methods. OPF can decrease the pain associated with frontal sinus infections and has a positive impact on inflammatory disease in other paranasal sinuses.