Patient perspectives on endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Through shared decision-making, physicians and patients can elect endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) when maximal medical therapy fails in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). In this study, we aim to explore the most important themes with regards to patients' perspectives on ESS. Our objective was to define the patient experience and ensure that we have congruent physician and patient goals for obtaining success. METHODS: Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 22 patients at a tertiary-care institution in Montreal. Three themes were established a priori: living with CRS, objectives and expectations and criteria for success. This thematic approach allowed the identification, analysis and reporting of patterns found across the data set. A phenomenological methodological orientation was used. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim for continuous analysis. These were coded by hand by a single coder who read the transcripts multiple times and relistened to the recordings. RESULTS: Exploration of themes on patients' perspectives on ESS for CRS yielded multiple anecdotal findings, and some recurring patterns. There is a tendency for patients to focus on one principal symptom that drives their decrease in QoL. Headaches and nasal congestion seemed to impact patients' QoL the most amongst rhinologic symptoms. Hyposmia was rarely spontaneously by patients but was often a significant source of distress when prompted during interviews. Objectives and expectations seemed to be inversely proportional to number of previous surgeries and severity of symptoms preoperatively. There was a clear association between preoperative expectations and postoperative satisfaction. There was no clear pattern in the improvement magnitude or time improved postoperatively for patients to consider the surgery a success. CONCLUSIONS: Patients' level of satisfaction postoperatively and with their care in general is multifactorial. We believe the topic of goals and expectations regarding ESS should be discussed preoperatively for every patient with CRS. This includes patients with seemingly minor disease and patients naive to surgery, as can sometimes have exceedingly high expectations. Preoperative counselling must also include an assessment of what symptom is the most cumbersome to that particular patient, as patients tend to focus a lot on one or two symptoms. Postoperatively, we encourage clinicians to be attentive to the change in each patient's principal complaints within the context of a personalized approach and to refer back to patients' preoperative goals in their assessment of operative success.

Facial artery musculomucosal flap for reconstruction of skull base defects: a cadaveric study.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Failure in skull base defects reconstruction following tumor resection can have serious consequences such as ascending meningitis and pneumocephaly. The nasoseptal flap showed a very low incidence of cerebrospinal fluid leak but is not always available. The superiorly pedicled facial artery musculomucosal (FAMM) flap has been successfully used for reconstruction of head and neck defects. Our objective is to show that the FAMM flap can be used as a new alternative in skull base reconstruction. STUDY DESIGN: Cadaveric study. Feasibility. METHODS: Thirteen specimens underwent bilateral FAMM flap dissection. Two new modifications of the traditional FAMM flap have been developed. Feasibility in FAMM flap transfer to the skull base was investigated through endoscopic skull base dissection and maxillectomy in four specimens. Measurements were recorded for each harvested flap. RESULTS: The mean surface area of the modified FAMM flap efficient for reconstruction was 15.90 cm(2) . The flaps easily covered the simulated defects of the frontal sinus and the fovea ethmoidalis areas. Modifications of the traditional FAMM flap were necessary for a tension-free coverage of the planum sphenoidale and sella turcica. CONCLUSION: The FAMM flap holds high potential as a new alternative vascular flap in skull base reconstruction. However, it has not been used in patients yet and should be considered only when other options are not available. New modifications developed in this article can elongate the traditional FAMM flap, potentially contributing to a tighter seal of the skull base defect than FAMM flap alone.

Periorbital cellulitis in the pediatric population: clinical features and management of 117 cases.

OBJECTIVE: Since the advent of the Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine, no North American case series has described periorbital cellulitis extensively as the main focus in the otolaryngology literature has been the management of orbital abscesses. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology, underlying causes, clinical presentation, and medical management of periorbital cellulitis. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective observational case series. SETTING: Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre, a tertiary pediatric referral center in Montreal, Quebec. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The medical charts of all pediatric patients hospitalized from January 2000 to August 2006 with a discharge ICD-9 code indicating a diagnosis of periorbital cellulitis without abscess were reviewed. One hundred seventeen cases were identified. RESULTS: Periorbital cellulitis in the pediatric population affects mainly preschool-aged patients (mean age 4.1 ± 4.2 years [SD]) and is more frequent among males than females (1.3:1). The most common predisposing conditions are sinusitis (24.8%), trauma (23.1%), and ocular conditions (13.7%). All patients were successfully managed with intravenous antibiotics for a mean period of 3.4 ± 2.6 days and oral antibiotics for 8.1 ± 4.4 days and recovered fully without complications. CONCLUSION: Our results are consistent with the literature on the subject and show that timely identification of periorbital cellulitis cases and appropriate medical management result in resolution of the condition without complications.

Recurrent anterior uveitis after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C.

OBJECTIVE: To report 4 cases of recurrent anterior uveitis occurring 1-11 months after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C. DESIGN: Observational case series. PARTICIPANTS: Four patients in whom recurrent uveitis developed after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C, followed at Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital in Montreal, Quebec. METHODS: Retrospective review of the medical records. RESULTS: One to 11 months after trabeculectomy with mitomycin C, noninfectious, recurrent anterior uveitis developed in 4 patients with no prior history of uveitis. Topical and intravitreal corticosteroids were effective in reducing acute inflammation, yet 2 patients went on to have chronic anterior uveitis. CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent anterior uveitis presenting later than 3 weeks postoperatively may be associated with trabeculectomy with mitomycin C. It should be included in the differential diagnosis of a nonresolving blebitis.

Vertebrobasilar insufficiency presenting as isolated positional vertigo or dizziness: a double-blind retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Vertebral artery (VA) stenosis caused mainly by atherosclerosis accounts for up to 20% of posterior circulation strokes. Isolated positional vertigo or dizziness can be the initial presentation symptom. The objective is to compare the presence of isolated positional vertigo or dizziness in patients with evaluation of VA morphology, thrombotic stroke risk factors, and evolution of symptoms with time. STUDY DESIGN: Double-blind retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Magnetic resonance angiography reports describing the VAs of 258 patients were reviewed, and 133 were questioned and their hospital charts reviewed for positional vertigo or dizziness. Neurotologic examination was performed on 75 patients. Vestibular testing using electronystagmography was performed on 46 patients. The prevalence of thrombotic stroke factors was evaluated in all patients. Groups were compared using chi-square statistical analysis. RESULTS: A total of 72 patients with normal VAs (group A) were compared with a group of 61 patients with stenotic or hypoplastic VAs (group B). When stratifying patients for stroke risk factors, 85.7% of group B patients complaining of isolated positional vertigo on the questionnaire with at least three stroke risk factors had a vertebral artery abnormality (P = .026). A hypothesized mechanism is transient ischemic attack of the semicircular canals or vestibular nucleus during rotation and extension of the neck, which compresses a contralateral stenotic VA in patients with bilateral VA abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS: In patients complaining of isolated positional vertigo or dizziness of unexplained etiology and having at least three thrombotic stroke risk factors, we recommend a vertebrobasilar radiological evaluation for timely treatment accordingly to the results.