Randomized controlled trial: hybrid technique using balloon dilation of the frontal sinus drainage pathway.

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this study were as follows: (1) to evaluate frontal sinus ostial patency following balloon dilation with the Ventera Sinus Dilation System, compared with frontal sinusotomy (Draf 2a); and (2) to compare mean blood loss and mean surgical time for frontal sinusotomy using balloon dilation compared with traditional surgical methods. METHODS: A single blinded, randomized, controlled, prospective study was performed at St. Paul's Sinus Center, Vancouver, a tertiary referral rhinology center. Thirty patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) were randomized to a hybrid approach with exposure of the frontal recess using standard instrumentation and then balloon dilation of 1 frontal sinus drainage pathway and traditional frontal sinusotomy for the opposite side. Blood loss and surgical time for opening the frontal sinus drainage pathway was recorded for each side. Patients acted as their own controls. Ostial patency and size were assessed 5 weeks and 3 months postoperatively using endoscopy. Ostial patency was also recorded at 1 year following surgery. RESULTS: All frontal sinus ostia in both groups (n = 30) were successfully opened and were patent with both techniques 3 months postoperatively. All frontal sinus ostia assessed at 1 year (73%) remained patent and none required revision frontal surgery. Balloon dilation showed a mean surgical time of 655 seconds compared to 898 seconds for traditional FESS (p = 0.03). Mean blood loss was less with balloon dilation (58 mL vs 91 mL; p = 0.008). CONCLUSION: A hybrid balloon technique successfully dilates the frontal sinus drainage pathway with reduced blood loss. Also, short-term patency appears to be comparable to traditional frontal sinusotomy.

Comparing the reverse Trendelenburg and horizontal position for endoscopic sinus surgery: a randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the 15-degree reverse Trendelenburg position (RTP) during functional endoscopic sinus surgery improves endoscopic field of view and reduces intraoperative blood loss when compared with the horizontal position (HP). STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, randomized controlled trial. SETTING: St Paul's Sinus Centre, Vancouver, Canada. SUBJECTS: Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), with or without nasal polyposis, receiving functional endoscopic sinus surgery were included. Patients were excluded if they had severe or uncontrolled hypertension and cardiovascular disease, continued use of anticoagulants, impaired coagulation, or a sinonasal tumor. METHODS: Sixty-four patients with CRS undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) were randomized to either 15-degree RTP (experimental arm) or HP (control arm) from October 2011 to February 2012. Boezaart endoscopic field-of-view grading system was the primary outcome measure. Lund-Mackay computed tomography (CT) score, total blood loss, blood loss per minute, mean arterial pressure, heart rate, anesthetic technique, and surgery time were also recorded. RESULTS: There was a significant difference in mean Boezaart scoring between RTP and HP: 1.66 vs 2.33 (P < .001), with RTP producing a better endoscopic field of view. There was also a lower total blood loss and blood loss per minute with RTP (P = .01, P = .03). There was no significant difference in disease severity (P > .05), time of surgery (P > .05), or mean arterial pressure (P > .05) between the 2 surgical positions. CONCLUSION: The 15-degree RTP improves the endoscopic field of view and reduces blood loss during FESS. We would therefore recommend its use.

Total neopharyngeal stenosis following pharyngolaryngo-oesophagectomy with gastric interposition: Successful recanalisation using a transcervical radiologically guided technique.

INTRODUCTION: Pharyngo-oesophageal stricturing is common following treatment of head and neck cancers. Absolute dysphagia secondary to total stenosis, although rare, is particularly debilitating and presents a significant therapeutic challenge. We present a strategy for managing total neopharyngeal stenosis following pharyngolaryngo-oesophagectomy (PLOG). PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 71-year-old female developed total neopharyngeal stenosis following PLOG with gastric interposition for squamous cell carcinoma of the proximal cervical oesophagus/post-cricoid. A transcervical, percutaneous, radiologically guided procedure was performed to restore lumenal patency, which enabled resumption of oral feeding. DISCUSSION: Established treatments for pharyngo-oesophageal strictures are frequently limited by complications in patients with complex strictures or total stenoses. Whilst several interventions have been described, recent interest has focussed on combined antegrade/retrograde endoscopic procedures dilating a pre-existing gastrostomy site for access. This was not possible in our patient due to the surgically altered anatomy which posed a unique therapeutic challenge. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported percutaneous, transcervical, radiologically guided technique to treat neopharyngeal stenosis following PLOG. It demonstrates a novel and efficacious approach which may be considered in the management of this rare but significant complication.