Effectiveness of endoscopic sinus surgery and aspirin therapy in the management of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

Background: Aspirin therapy and/or type 2 (T2) biologics are used in the management of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). Objective: To identify the number of patients with AERD who tolerated aspirin therapy, yet due to persistent symptoms, incorporated T2 biologic management. Methods: A retrospective review was performed between July 2016 and June 2019. Patients with AERD and who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), aspirin desensitization (AD), and at least 6 months of aspirin therapy (ATAD) after AD, and who remained biologic-naive up through this timepoint were included in the study. Introduction of a T2 biologic while on ATAD was the primary outcome. The secondary outcome was a change in a validated patient-reported outcome measure for chronic rhinosinusitis score between the postoperative predesensitization timepoint, and the 6-month postdesensitization timepoint, presented as means and compared by using the Student's t-test. Results: A total of 103 patients met inclusion criteria. Two patients (1.9%) ultimately supplemented ATAD with a T2 biologic. The mean outcomes measure test score after 6 months of ATAD for patients who received biologics was 40.5 versus 15 in those who did not receive biologics (p = 0.02). The mean differences between the postoperative predesensitization test score and the 6-month postdesensitization test score for patients who went on to receive biologics was an increase of 13 versus a decrease of 10 for those patients who did not receive biologics (p = 0.12). Conclusion: ESS, coupled with AD and ATAD, was successful in the long-term management of the majority of the patients with AERD, which rarely required the incorporation of T2 biologics. Patient questionnaires, such as outcomes measure test score, may identify aspirin therapy failures and help guide the practitioner in deciding when to introduce T2 biologics into the patient's treatment regimen.

Subtotal Middle Turbinate Resection in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps is Unlikely to Cause Empty Nose Syndrome: A Multi-Institutional Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: Empty nose syndrome (ENS) is a poorly understood, debilitating condition affecting a minority of patients who underwent nasal airway surgery, most commonly following inferior turbinate surgery. Few publications have demonstrated middle turbinate resection (MTR) causing ENS, but MTR is still considered a potential cause of ENS. The Empty Nose Syndrome 6-item Questionnaire (ENS6Q) is validated for ENS diagnosis, with ENS6Q ≥ 11 considered highly suggestive of ENS. The purpose of this multicenter study was to determine the incidence of patients with ENS6Q ≥ 11 following subtotal MTR during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) by comparing preoperative and postoperative ENS6Q scores. METHODS: A multi-institutional prospective cohort study (8 US institutions) was conducted on patients who underwent bilateral subtotal MTR during ESS for CRSwNP. Preoperative and postoperative ENS6Q scores were compared after at least 12 months of postoperative follow-up. RESULTS: Of 110 patients, mean age was 51.6 years and 59.1% were male. Mean follow-up was 14.5 ± 2.5 months (range 12.1-22.3 months). Mean preoperative and postoperative ENS6Q were 7.7 and 2.2, respectively, demonstrating a mean 5.5 point decrease postoperatively (p < 0.0001). At final follow-up, no patient had an ENS6Q ≥ 11. Of note, 20% of patients had preoperative ENS6Q scores ≥11, but all decreased to <11 postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Based on prospective multicenter data over 1-2 years postoperatively, subtotal MTR for CRSwNP never led to ENS6Q scores ≥11, and patients experienced significant decreases in ENS6Q postoperatively. Subtotal MTR during ESS for CRSwNP was, therefore, unlikely to cause ENS even with long-term follow-up. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Postoperative mometasone irrigations improve quality of life in skull base tumor patients.

Objectives: The use of topical corticosteroids to manage postoperative sinonasal symptoms after endoscopic skull base surgery (ESBS) has not been well studied. We quantified long-term impact of postoperative steroid irrigations (SIs) on quality of life of patients after ESBS. Methods: Retrospective review of patients at the University of Pennsylvania undergoing ESBS from 2010 to 2019. Data on patient demographics and postoperative treatment with nasal saline irrigation twice daily with and without dissolved steroids (mometasone or budesonide) was collected. Preoperative, and 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month postoperative Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) scores were assessed. Results: A total of 727 patients were assessed (53.4% males), with 479 patients in the no SI group and 248 patients in the SI group. Preoperative SNOT-22 scores did not differ significantly (P = 0.19). 1-, 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, and 24-month post-op SNOT-22 scores did not significantly differ between groups. However, mometasone irrigations resulted in significantly lower postoperative 2-year SNOT-22 scores compared to budesonide (P < 0.01) and saline (P = 0.03). Conclusions: Though corticosteroid irrigations are routine in managing inflammatory sinus disease, their role in postoperative management after ESBS for tumors is unclear. Our findings suggest that mometasone irrigation may be effective at improving postoperative quality of life in patients after ESBS.

Predictors of academic career placement and scholarly impact in fellowship-trained rhinologists.

BACKGROUND: As rhinology fellowship positions outpace the availability of academic rhinology jobs, it is increasingly important to identify characteristics that are associated with academic placement after fellowship completion. In this study, we evaluated the association of academic characteristics during training with current job placement and posttraining scholarly impact. METHODS: Previous rhinology fellows were identified using publicly available data. Bibliometric indices, training institutions, graduate degrees, and job placement data were used in bivariate and multivariable regression analyses to assess for association with predictors and academic trajectory. RESULTS: Data from 265 rhinologists, all graduating between 1991 and 2020, were included. Most surgeons (n = 185, 70%) held an academic position and 80 (30%) surgeons worked in a nonacademic setting; 93.2% had a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree and 80.3% were male. Multivariable logistic regression indicated that a designation of MD, compared with Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO; odds ratio [OR], 5.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.97-21.9), number of publications during fellowship (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.02-1.41), and h-index during training (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.07-1.49]) were independently predictive of academic job placement. Meanwhile, number of primary authorships during fellowship (ß = 1.47; 95% CI, 1.07-1.88]), h-index during training (ß = 0.48; 95% CI, 0.25-0.71), and PhD (ß = 4.16; 95% CI, 1.57-6.76) were associated with posttraining h-index. Medical school ranking; graduate degrees, including Master of Science (MS), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Public Health (MPH); and research metrics before residency were not associated with either academic placement or posttraining h-index. CONCLUSION: The predictors of academic job placement in rhinology are unclear, but h-index during training, and research productivity during fellowship may serve as indicators of an academic career.

Reconstruction with Mucosal Graft Reduces Recurrence After Endoscopic Surgery of Rathke Cleft Cyst.

OBJECTIVES: Rathke cleft cysts (RCCs) arise from the development of the Rathke pouch. Recurrence is common after either drainage or cyst removal. The endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) is increasingly utilized for the management of RCC. Various techniques have been described to try to reduce the rates of recurrence. We studied the effect of fenestration with a nasoseptal flap (NSF) on recurrence rates by comparing a cohort of patients undergoing this technique to a cohort of patients undergoing conventional drainage. METHODS: Patients who underwent EEA for RCC between 2011 and 2020 were identified and divided into 2 cohorts: conventional fenestration versus fenestration with NSF. Surgical approach, reconstructive method, and recurrences were recorded. Primary end point was symptomatic or radiographic recurrence. RESULTS: 21 patients were identified undergoing EEA. An NSF was used to line the cyst cavity in 11 cases. Conventional fenestration without mucosal reconstruction was performed in the remaining 10 cases. In the cases without NSF, 5 (50%) developed recurrence requiring revision surgery, while there was only one recurrence in the NSF group (P < 0.05). In patients requiring revision, all had an NSF placed and none had a second recurrence of their RCC. CONCLUSIONS: NSF placement into a fenestrated RCC is useful to prevent cyst reaccumulation and reoperation. Typical fenestration carries an unacceptably high rate of recurrence.

Retrospective Review of Surgical Site Infections after Endoscopic Endonasal Sellar and Parasellar Surgery: Multicenter Quality Data from the North American Skull Base Society.

Introduction Transnasal access to the anterior skull base provides a minimally invasive approach for sellar and parasellar masses compared with its open counterparts. The unique microbiome of the sinonasal mucosa provides distinct challenges not encountered with other cranial approaches. The use of antibiotics in these cases has not been standardized, and data remain scarce regarding infectious outcomes. Methods We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis of shared quality data points for the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for pituitary adenomas, along with other sellar and parasellar region masses that were included by participating institutions. Patient and operative characteristics, perioperative and postoperative antibiotic regimens and their durations, intraoperative and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak, and onset of postoperative meningitis and sinusitis were compared. Results Fifteen institutions participated and provided 6 consecutive months' worth of case data. Five hundred ninety-three cases were included in the study, of which 564 were pituitary adenomectomies. The incidences of postoperative meningitis and sinusitis were low (0.67 and 2.87% for all pathologies, respectively; 0.35% meningitis for pituitary adenomas) and did not correlate with any specific antibiotic regimen. Immunocompromised status posed an increased odds of meningitis in pituitary adenomectomies (28.6, 95% confidence interval [1.72-474.4]). Conclusions The results show no clear benefit to postoperative antimicrobial use in EEA, with further larger studies needed.

Treatment Outcomes in Aspirin-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease Based on the 12-Item Short Form Survey.

BACKGROUND: Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is optimally managed by endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) followed by aspirin therapy after desensitization (ATAD). Most AERD quality of life (QOL) studies use the 22-item Sinonasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22), which focuses predominantly on sinonasal outcomes. OBJECTIVE: This study seeks to assess QOL outcomes in AERD patients after ESS and ATAD via the 12-item Short Form Survey (SF-12), a well-validated QOL measure for general health status of chronic conditions. METHODS: Retrospective review of 112 AERD patients who underwent ESS followed by ATAD at our institution between 2016 and 2019. SF-12 was collected preoperatively, postoperatively/pre-AD, and serially post-AD (1-3, 4-6, 7-12, and >12 months). Optum® PRO CoRE software was used to compare data to national norms. ANOVA was performed comparing physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS) and eight health domains (physical functioning, role physical, general health, bodily pain, vitality, social functioning, role emotional, and mental health). RESULTS: AERD patients showed improvement in PCS scores across all timepoints after ESS and ATAD (p = 0.004). When stratified by gender, women demonstrated an improvement in PCS scores (p = 0.004). Within the domains, there were significant improvements in social functioning (SF), role physical (RP), and bodily pain (BP) at all timepoints (SF: p = 0.006; RP: p = 0.005; BP: p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: AERD patients undergoing ESS and ATAD show improvement in physical QOL and 3 of the 8 health domains as measured by the SF-12. Future studies can use the SF-12 to study the impact of AERD treatment versus other chronic diseases and health demographics.

Major complications of aspirin desensitization and maintenance therapy in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) includes endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and aspirin desensitization (AD) with aspirin therapy after desensitization (ATAD). The objective of this study was to determine the rate of major complications associated with aspirin use that resulted in the discontinuation of aspirin therapy. METHODS: This study was a retrospective chart review of patients with AERD who underwent ESS, AD, and ATAD at a single AERD tertiary center between July 2016 and February 2019. Complications associated with aspirin that resulted in the discontinuation of aspirin therapy were analyzed via analysis of variance and logistic regression. RESULTS: In total, 109 AERD patients underwent ESS with subsequent AD. Ten patients (9.2%) discontinued therapy after AD, before starting ATAD. Eight patients (7.3%) discontinued therapy after starting ATAD. There were 91 patients (83.5%) with no complications throughout ATAD. Reasons for discontinuation included gastritis, upper gastrointestinal (GI) bleed, anaphylaxis, persistent sinonasal symptoms, recurrent epistaxis, asthma exacerbation, and a nummular rash. There was no significant correlation between complication rate and (1) aspirin doses (analysis of variance [ANOVA] F: 0.69; p = 0.51), (2) gender (odds ratio [OR] 0.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19 to 1.65; p = 0.30), (3) age (OR 1.04; 95% CI, 0.96 to 1.09; p = 0.06), or (4) race/ethnicity (OR 1.12; 95% CI, 0.88 to 1.44; p = 0.36). CONCLUSION: AD with ATAD was associated with only a 0.92% incidence of a clinically significant GI bleed, and only a 0.92% incidence of anaphylaxis. A remaining 16 patients (14.7%) discontinued aspirin therapy due to minor clinical sequelae. These findings demonstrate that the majority of AERD patients tolerate AD with ATAD without any major complications.

The impact of endoscopic sinus surgery and aspirin desensitization on psychological burden in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease.

BACKGROUND: Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is an aggressive inflammatory disorder of the upper and lower respiratory tract. Corticosteroids, leukotriene modifiers, endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), aspirin (ASA) desensitization, and biological immunomodulators are currently used to treat the disorder. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the psychosocial impact of ESS and ASA desensitization on AERD patients. METHODS: All AERD patients who underwent complete ESS were divided into two cohorts based on ASA desensitization status. The psychosocial metrics of the SNOT-22 were collected and analyzed at the following time points: pre-operative, 1-month, 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month after ESS. RESULTS: One hundred and eighty-four AERD patients underwent ESS from November 2009 to November 2018. From this group, 130 patients underwent ASA desensitization (AD cohort) and 54 patients remained non-desensitized (ND cohort). AD patients showed a significantly greater reduction in total SNOT-22 scores over the study period compared to ND patients (p = 0.0446). Analysis of SNOT-22 psychosocial metrics showed a significantly greater improvement in patient productivity in the AD cohort when compared to the ND cohort (p = 0.0214). Further, a sub-group analysis accounting for subject attrition showed a significantly greater improvement in both productivity and concentration in AD patients when compared to the ND cohort (productivity: p = 0.0068; concentration: p = 0.0428). CONCLUSIONS: ESS followed by ASA desensitization decreases the overall psychosocial burden in AERD patients with a significant improvement in perceived productivity and concentration. This has significant implications given the psychosocial impact of chronic diseases.

Complete endoscopic sinus surgery followed by aspirin desensitization is associated with decreased overall corticosteroid use.

BACKGROUND: Aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) is an aggressive respiratory tract inflammatory disorder manifesting as asthma, chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis, and a respiratory sensitivity to aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Corticosteroids, both systemic and topical/inhaled, are used to treat inflammation of the upper and lower airways. Our objective was to examine the potential impact of complete endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and aspirin desensitization (AD) on short-term and long-term corticosteroid use. METHODS: For this pilot study, a retrospective chart review of all patients with AERD who underwent ESS followed by AD was performed. Daily prednisone use, average daily prednisone dose, and inhaled corticosteroid use were analyzed at the following time points: preoperative, postoperative/pre-AD, and 2 to 3 months, 4 to 6 months, 7 to 12 months, and 13 to 24 months following AD. RESULTS: A total of 125 patients underwent ESS followed by AD. Compared to preoperatively, patients who underwent ESS and AD were less likely to be on daily prednisone at all time points and upon long-term follow-up (32% preoperatively vs 10% at 13 to 24 months, McNemar's test = 9.00, p = 0.009). Average daily prednisone dose decreased from 10.6 ± 7.9 mg preoperatively to 3.8 ± 2.6 mg at 13 to 24 months following AD (Mann-Whitney U; W = 122, p = 0.01). Similarly, high-dose and medium-dose inhaled corticosteroid use decreased from 18% to 7% and from 36% to 22% respectively (Pearson's chi-square = 8.06, p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: In our AERD cohort who underwent ESS followed by AD, there was an observed decrease in overall systemic and topical/inhaled corticosteroid use. These findings can have implications for treatment given the potentially hazardous side effects of corticosteroid use.