Lobular Capillary Hemangioma Originating From the Posterior End of the Inferior Turbinate: A Very Rare Occurrence.

Lobular capillary hemangioma mostly occurs in the anterior portion of the nasal cavity, rarely occurring in the posterior end of the inferior turbinate, as in this case. We report a case of lobular capillary hemangioma originating from the posterior end of the right inferior turbinate, which was successfully removed via an endoscopic endonasal approach.

A Non-inferiority Trial: Safety and Efficacy of Topical 1:1000 versus 1:10 000 Epinephrine in Sino-nasal Surgeries.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to test the non-inferiority of topical 1:1000 epinephrine compared to topical 1:10 000 with regard to intraoperative hemodynamic stability, and to determine whether it produced superior visibility conditions. METHODS: A single-blinded, prospective, cross-over non-inferiority trial was performed. Topical 1:1000 or topical 1:10 000 was placed in 1 nasal passage. Hemodynamic parameters (heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, and mean arterial pressure) were measured prior to insertion then every minute for 10 minutes. This was repeated in the contralateral nasal passage of the same patient with the alternate concentration. The surgeon graded the visualization of each passage using the Boezaart Scale. The medians of the greatest absolute change in parameters were compared using a Wilcoxon Rank-Signed test and confidence intervals were calculated using a Hodges-Lehman test. The non-inferiority margin was pre-determined at 10 bpm for heart rate and 10 mmHg for blood pressures. A Wilcoxon Rank-Signed test was used to assess superiority in visualization. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were enrolled and after exclusions, nineteen were assessed (mean age = 35.63 ± 12.49). Differences in means of greatest absolute change between the 2 concentrations were calculated (heart rate = 2.49 ± 1.20; systolic = -1.51 ± 2.16; diastolic = 2.47 ± 1.47; mean arterial pressure = 0.07 ± 1.83). In analyses of medians, 1:1000 was non-inferior to the 1:10 000. There was a significant difference (-0.58 ± 0.84; P = .012) in visualization in favor of topical 1:1000. CONCLUSION: Topical 1:1000 epinephrine provides no worse intraoperative hemodynamic stability compared to topical 1:10 000 but affords superior visualization and should be used to optimize surgical conditions.

Hemodynamic Changes with 1:1000 Epinephrine on Wrung-Out Pledgets Before and During Sinus Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Intranasal topical 1:1000 epinephrine has been used safely and effectively for hemostasis during endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Prior studies assessing hemodynamic changes after intranasal topical epinephrine application have only used soaking wet cottonoid pledgets, and have only assessed for hemodynamic changes before any surgery being performed. OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to determine whether intranasal application of topical 1:1000 epinephrine with wrung-out cottonoid pledgets caused significant hemodynamic changes both before and during ESS, and whether it allowed for adequate hemostasis. METHODS: A prospective evaluation of 30 patients with eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) undergoing complete bilateral ESS was conducted. Heart rate, blood pressure (systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressure), and electrocardiography changes were recorded at 0, 1, 2, and 5-minute intervals after placing wrung-out epinephrine-saturated pledgets, both before and at the end of ESS. No submucosal epinephrine injections were performed. Estimated blood loss (EBL) and major intraoperative complications were recorded for all cases. RESULTS: There were no significant hemodynamic changes or electrocardiographic abnormalities after placement of wrung-out epinephrine-soaked pledgets both before and after ESS. After bilateral ESS, there were actually mean decreases in heart rate and blood pressure parameters. Mean EBL was 75.8 ± 32.2 mL, and no major intraoperative complications occurred. CONCLUSION: Intranasal application of topical 1:1000 epinephrine via wrung-out cottonoid pledgets was effective for intraoperative hemostasis, and did not cause clinically significant alterations in hemodynamic parameters or cardiovascular events, either before or during ESS in patients with CRSwNP.Level of Evidence: 4.

Endoscopic sphenopalatine artery electrocoagulation for refractory epistaxis: a clinical study.

BACKGROUND: The electrical coagulation of sphenopalatine artery(SPA) under nasal endoscopy has gradually become an important surgical intervention for epistaxis. AIM: To investigate the effectiveness and complications of SPA electrocoagulation for epistaxis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The clinical data of 47 patients undergoing SPA electrocoagulation were analyzed, retrospectively. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients were enrolled, with a male to female ratio of approximately 3:1. 11of 36 were under 45 years old, 25 of 36were 45 years old and above. Among female patients, one was under 45 years old, and the others were 45 years old and above, but there was no significant difference in gender composition between different age groups (χ 2 = 1.069, p = .301). All patients were unilateral epistaxis. The effective control rates of epistaxis within 24 h after surgery, early postoperative, and late postoperative were 100%, 100%, and 97.9%, respectively. There were 6 patients with complications, including 3 patients with nasal dryness and ecdysis on the affected side, 2 patients with numbness on upper lip, 1 patient with nasal adhesion and pus on affected side. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: Refractory epistaxis has no relationship with age and sex, SPA electrcoagulation can effectively control refractory epistaxis and is an effective surgical method.

Prevention of Nasal Ala Pressure Injuries With Use of Hydroactive Dressings in Patients With Nasotracheal Intubation of Orthognathic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

PURPOSE: To compare a hydroactive dressing to an adhesive tape standard of care in the prevention of nasal ala pressure injuries associated with nasotracheal intubation during orthognathic surgery. DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SUBJECTS AND SETTING: The study took place in a tertiary hospital of stomatology in China. Patients undergoing general anesthesia with nasotracheal intubation during orthognathic surgical procedures were invited to participate. METHODS: Participants were divided into 2 groups: in the experimental group, a hydroactive dressing was applied to the nasal ala before the surgical procedures; the control group received standard prevention with a type of tape. Skin assessments were performed on the wards up to 72 hours after the procedures. Demographic information and potential contributing factors associated the development of nasal ala pressure injuries were collected from patients' electronic medical records. Pressure injury development was staged using National Pressure Injury Advisory staging guidelines. Pressure injury incidence was compared between groups using the χ test and odds ratio. RESULTS: The sample comprised 450 participants, 225 in each group. The incidence of nasal ala pressure injuries development was 14.222% and 4.444% in the 2 groups, respectively (P = .000). The odds ratio was 3.565 (95% confidence interval, 1.707-7.443). CONCLUSIONS: The study findings indicate that the incidence of pressure injuries of nasal ala skin protected by hydroactive dressings was lower than the standard preventive method. Hydroactive dressings should be considered as a prevention method to reduce device-related skin injuries associated with nasotracheal intubation.

Lateral nasal wall flap for endoscopic reconstruction of the skull base: anatomical study and clinical series.

BACKGROUND: The lateral nasal wall (LNW) flap provides vascularized endonasal reconstruction primarily in revision surgery. Although the harvesting technique and reconstructive surface have been reported, the arterial supply to the LNW flap and its clinical implications is not well defined. This study presents anatomical dissections to clarify the vascular supply to this flap, and the associated clinical outcomes from this reconstructive technique. METHODS: The course and branching pattern of the sphenopalatine artery (SPA) to the LNW were studied in 6 vascular latex-injected heads (11 LNW flaps total). Patients undergoing an LNW flap since 2008 were identified and the underlying pathology, indication, flap viability, and clinical outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: The inferior turbinate artery arises from the LNW artery and divides into 2 branches at the most posterior aspect of the inferior turbinate bone. A smaller-caliber superficial branch travels anteriorly and branches to the LNW. A larger dominant branch travels into the inferior meatus and tangentially supplies the nasal floor. Twenty-four patients with sellar or posterior cranial fossa (PCF) defects were reconstructed with an LNW flap. Postoperative contrast enhancement of the LWN flap was identified in 95.5% of cases. Postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks were identified in 6 cases. CONCLUSION: Blood supply to the nasal floor by the dominant inferior meatus branch is more robust than the supply to the anterior LNW by the superficial arterial branch. The LNW flap is the preferred vascularized reconstructive option to the PCF and sella in the absence of a nasoseptal flap (NSF).

Origen intraorbitario de las arterias etmoidales: estudio anatómico / Intraorbital origin of the ethmoidal arteries: anatomical study

RESUMEN Introducción: Ramas de la arteria oftálmica contribuyen a la irrigación de diversos territorios de la fosa nasal y de los senos paranasales. Objetivo: El objetivo de nuestro estudio es describir las arterias etmoidales desde su origen intraorbitario, y su relación con las estructuras musculares y nerviosas. Material y Método: Se realizó un estudio anatómico endoscópico en 20 fosas nasales y órbitas de diez cadáveres. Resultados: La disección del plano muscular permitió definir dos espacios de entrada a la órbita. Un primer espacio entre el músculo recto inferior y músculo recto medial (área 1) y otro entre el músculo recto medial y músculo oblicuo superior (área 2). En el área 1, la arteria oftálmica discurrió superior al nervio óptico en el 90%. La arteria etmoidal anterior se observó en todos los casos inferior al músculo oblicuo superior. En el área 2, la arteria etmoidal posterior, se localizó en todos los casos superior al músculo oblicuo superior. No se identificó la arteria etmoidal media en ningún caso. El origen de la arteria supraorbitaria se identificó entre las dos arterias etmoidales. Conclusión: La comprensión anatómica del origen intraorbitario de la arteria oftálmica permite el abordaje de determinada patología intraorbitaria compleja a través de la pared medial de la órbita.

ABSTRACT Introduction: Branches of the ophthalmic artery contribute to the irrigation of various territories of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses. Aim: The aim of our study is to describe the intraorbital course of the ethmoidal arteries and their relationship with the muscular and nervous structures. Material and method: We performed twenty nasal cavities and orbital dissections in ten adults cadaveric heads. Results: The dissection of the muscular orbital wall allowed defining two surgical orbital corridors, between the inferior rectus and the medial rectus muscles (area 1) and between the medial rectus and the superior oblique muscles (area 2). In area 1, the ophthalmic artery crosses over the optic nerve in 90% of the cases. The anterior ethmoidal artery was observed inferior to the superior oblique muscle. In area 2, the posterior ethmoidal artery was located superior to the superior oblique muscle in all cavities. No middle ethmoidal artery was identified. The origin of the supraorbital artery was found between the two ethmoidal arteries. Conclusions: The anatomical understanding of the intraorbital origin of the arteries of the ophthalmic artery allows perform two surgical approaches through the media orbital wall.

Endoscopic Transcaruncular Medial Orbitotomy as an Alternative Approach to Anterior Ethmoidal Artery Coagulation.

BACKGROUND: The authors present a series of 5 patients with anterior epistaxis in which a transcaruncular endoscopic approach was used for the anterior ethmoidal artery coagulation (AEA). METHODS: Six AEA coagulations (5 unilateral, 1 bilateral) using the transcaruncular endoscopic approach were performed in 5 patients with anterior epistaxis resistant to conservative measures. An incision was made between the plica semilunaris of conjunctiva and the lacrimal caruncle. Using a rigid endoscope, tissues were dissected lateral to the lacrimal sac, to the posterior lacrimal crest. The periorbit was incised and pulled aside. Hereafter, the technique was the same as that involving a frontoethmoidal incision. After bipolar coagulation of the AEA, the conjunctiva was sutured. RESULTS: Bleeding was resolved in all patients. One patient experienced early postoperative temporary diplopia. CONCLUSIONS: The transcaruncular endoscopic approach is a promising technique with no outer scarring. It is convenient in patients with difficult orientation in the nasal cavity, relatively safe, and faster than the transnasal endoscopic approach.

Sphenopalatine artery surgery for refractory idiopathic epistaxis: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Epistaxis, especially posterior epistaxis, is occasionally refractory to treatment. In these cases, sphenopalatine artery surgeries, including cauterization and ligation, are required. Previous reports have demonstrated treatment results for these procedures but failed to provide high-level evidence. The aim of this study was to quantify the rates of failure and perioperative complications of these procedures by using a meta-analysis technique. METHODS: We systematically searched electronic databases and identified articles regarding epistaxis, sphenopalatine artery ligation, or cauterization. Pooled rebleeding and complication rates were calculated by using a random effects model. RESULTS: A total of 896 cases of sphenopalatine ligation or cauterization for epistaxis were analyzed. Pooled rebleeding rates for the entire cohort, cauterization group, and ligation group were 13.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.0-17.8, P < 0.001), 7.2% (95% CI 4.6-11.0, P < 0.001), and 15.1% (95% CI 9.8-22.5, P < 0.001), respectively. Pooled perioperative complication rates for the entire cohort, cauterization group, and ligation group were 8.7% (95% CI 4.9-15.1, P < 0.001), 10.2% (95% CI 3.8-24.5, P < 0.001), and 6.4% (95% CI 1.8-20.9, P < 0.001), respectively. CONCLUSION: Overall, sphenopalatine surgery for refractory epistaxis is an effective method because of its low rates of failure and complications. Cauterization is more effective than ligation, whereas complications are comparable between the two procedures. Laryngoscope, 129:1731-1736, 2019.

Anatomic Nuances of the Ophthalmic Artery Origin from a Ventral Viewpoint: Considerations and Implications for Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery.

BACKGROUND: The origin of the ophthalmic artery is within the surgical field of endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEAs) to the suprasellar and parasellar regions. However, its anatomy from the endoscopic point-of-view has not been adequately elucidated. OBJECTIVE: To highlight the anatomy of the ophthalmic artery origin from an endoscopic endonasal perspective. METHODS: The origin of the ophthalmic artery was studied bilaterally under endoscopic visualization, after performing transplanum/transtubercular EEAs in 17 cadaveric specimens (34 arteries). Anatomic relationships relevant to surgery were evaluated. To complement the cadaveric findings, the ophthalmic artery origin was reviewed in 200 "normal" angiographic studies. RESULTS: On the right side, 70.6% of ophthalmic arteries emerged from the superior aspect, while 17.6% and 11.8% emerged from the superomedial and superolateral aspects of the intradural internal carotid artery, respectively. On the left, 76.5%, 17.6%, and 5.9% of ophthalmic arteries emerged from the superior, superomedial, and superolateral aspects of the internal carotid, respectively. Similar findings were observed on angiography. All ophthalmic arteries emerged at the level of the medial opticocarotid recess. Overall, 47%, 26.5%, and 26.5% of ophthalmic arteries (right and left) were inferolateral, inferior, and inferomedial to the intracranial optic nerve segment, respectively. On both sides, the intracranial length of the ophthalmic artery ranged from 1.5 to 4.5 mm (mean: 2.90 ± standard deviation of 0.74 mm). CONCLUSION: Awareness of the endoscopic nuances of the ophthalmic artery origin is paramount to minimize the risk of sight-threatening neurovascular injury during EEAs to the suprasellar and parasellar regions.

Risk factors for nasal bleeding in patients undergoing transnasal gastrointestinal endoscopy.

Transnasal endoscopy is widely used in screening for upper gastrointestinal lesions because of less associated pain. Nasal bleeding is the most severe adverse effect, but specific risk factors have not been identified. The aim of this study is to identify risk factors for nasal bleeding during transnasal endoscopy. Nasal bleeding occurred in 160/3035 (5.3%) of patients undergoing transnasal endoscopy as part of health checkups. Patient data were retrospectively evaluated including anthropometric, medical, and life-style parameters with multiple logistic regression analysis. Multiple logistic regression revealed that nasal bleeding was significantly associated with age in decades [odds ratio/10 years 0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.63-0.97, p = 0.027], female gender (2.15, 95% CI 1.48-3.12, p < 0.001), a history of previous upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (0.55, 95% CI 0.36-0.82, p = 0.004), and chronic/allergic rhinitis (0.60, 95% CI 0.36-0.98, p = 0.043). Other factors including the use of antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant drugs were not significantly associated with nasal bleeding. Female and young patients are significantly associated with an increased risk of bleeding from transnasal endoscopy, but antiplatelet and/or anticoagulant medications and a history of chronic/allergic rhinitis may not be associated.

Anatomy of the sphenopalatine artery and its implications for transnasal neurosurgery.

BACKGROUND: The knowledge of sinonasal vasculature is inevitable in transnasal neurosurgery. We performed an anatomical study on the sphenopalatine artery from the perspective of skull base procedures. METHODOLOGY: To analyse the anatomical landmarks of the sphenopalatine artery, arterial skull corrosion casts (26 head halves) underwent endoscopic transnasal phantom surgery. Furthermore, we performed microsurgical dissection on formaldehyde-fixated cadavers with arterial perfusion (14 head halves) as well as studied Cone Beam CT-scans of anonymised patients and cadavers (115 head sides). RESULTS: In our cadaveric material, the sphenopalatine foramen is located at the transition of the superior and middle nasal meatus (95.0%) or in the superior nasal meatus (5.0%). It is the main entry point of the branches of the sphenopalatine artery into the nasal cavity. In most cadaveric cases (25.0%), at this level there are 2 branches superiorly and 1 vessel inferiorly to the ethmoid crest. An average of 2.4 vessels leave the sphenopalatine foramen superiorly to the ethmoid crest, 97.8% of them belong to the sphenopalatine arterys posterior septal branches. An average of 2.1 branches leave the sphenopalatine foramen inferiorly to the ethmoid crest; all of them belong to the posterior lateral nasal branches. There are no cases with a single artery at the plane of the sphenopalatine foramen. We describe a triangular bony structure bordering the sphenopalatine foramen anteriorly which is built up by the palatine and ethmoid bone as well as the maxilla. According to the radiographic studies, this triangular prominence is surrounded superiorly by a posterior ethmoid cell (57.4%), the sphenoid sinus (41.7%) or the orbit (0.9%) with a varying contribution of the superior nasal meatus; inferolaterally by the maxillary sinus (98.3%) or the pterygopalatine and infratemporal fossa (1.7%) and inferomedially by the middle nasal meatus. The medial vertex of the bony triangle corresponds to the ethmoid crest of the palatine bone. In transnasal endoscopic surgery, the posterior lateral nasal branches of the sphenopalatine artery appear at the triangle's inferomedial edge, the posterior septal branches emerge at its superior edge. CONCLUSIONS: The triangular bony structure is a landmark to find and differentiate the posterior lateral nasal and posterior septal branches of the sphenopalatine artery and to identify the sphenoid sinus.

The arterial supply of the nasal cavity.

With the development of endonasal flaps, an understanding of the arterial anatomy of the nasal cavity has become increasingly important for clinicians. Despite this, there is a lack of current, accurate overviews in the literature. We have used both endoscopic and gross dissection of six fresh frozen cadaveric heads, alongside a literature review, to produce a comprehensive description of the anatomy. Four heads had their arterial systems injected with red latex. Three injected and two uninjected heads were dissected endoscopically, to provide a total of seven sides. The fourth injected head was hemisected for gross examination. The arterial systems were dissected and examined. The posterior septal artery was found to enter the nasal cavity from the sphenopalatine foramen in five sides. It bifurcated on the sphenoid rostrum in seven sides with a bifurcation lateral to the sphenoid ostium occurring in five sides and a medial bifurcation in two sides. The posterior septal artery supplied Kiesselbach's plexus on the nasal septum along with the greater palatine artery and septal branches of the superior labial and anterior ethmoidal arteries. The posterior lateral nasal artery arose from the sphenopalatine foramen in five sides to supply the lateral wall. The lateral wall branch of the anterior ethmoidal and the anterior lateral nasal artery anastomosed at the head of the inferior turbinate. These findings were mostly consistent with the current literature. We have produced a detailed and up-to-date description and diagram of the arterial supply to the nasal cavity, which may be of use to clinicians, anatomists and students.

Nasal packing in sphenopalatine artery bleeding: therapeutic or harmful?

The aim of this study is to present our management protocol of sphenopalatine artery bleeding, demonstrating that nasoendoscopic cautery (NC) was a more effective method than the nasal packing, in terms of shorter inpatient stay and reduced complications rate. We present ten posterior epistaxis not resolved by nasal packing. Tabotamp® was placed in the area of sphenopalatine foramen and/or in those parts of the posterior nasal cavity, where it was suspected that bleeding origins. In two cases, the bleeding was resolved in this way, instead eight cases needed of subperiosteal cauterization of sphenopalatine artery by Dessi bipolar forceps (MicroFrance®). 4 of these 8 patients evidenced a remarkable bleeding removing nasal packing (Hb before-nasal packing = 15 ± 0.69 versus Hb after-nasal packing = 13.3 ± 0.81; t student = 2.94; p value = 0.025). These four patients showed a deviation of the nasal septum ipsilateral to epistaxis, and according our experience, a traumatism of sphenopalatine area can be caused by Merocel® nasal packing in this condition. During follow-up, no recurrences of nasal bleeding have been observed in such patients. Nasal packing must be considered if posterior epistaxis is severe, but always taking into account the specific anatomy of patient and in particular septal spurs that can further compromise sphenopalatine artery. In our experience, the endoscopic endonasal cauterization of the sphenopalatine branches represented a safe and effective procedure.

Facing the Worst Risk: Confronting the Dorsal Nasal Artery, Implication for Non-surgical Procedures of Nasal Augmentation.

BACKGROUND: The nose is a dangerous site for filler injection. This study investigated the anatomy of the dorsal nasal artery at the upper part of the nose to clarify how ocular complications occur. METHODS: Dissections were performed in 50 noses of the embalmed cadavers. Either the soft embalming or formaldehyde embalming processes were used. RESULTS: The dorsal nasal artery is not a constant artery. The artery traveled in the subcutaneous tissue layer of the nasal dorsum on the transverse nasalis muscle and its midline nasal aponeurosis which connected the muscles on both sides. Bilateral dorsal nasal arteries existed only in 34%. In 28% of the specimens, a single and large dorsal nasal artery was presented. The diameter was 0.4 ± 0.2 mm when bilateral dorsal nasal arteries were present and 0.7 ± 0.3 mm in a single artery. The largest artery was 1.2 mm. The artery usually crossed the midline at the middle third part of the nose over the upper lateral cartilages to form an anastomosis with the contralateral lateral nasal artery as the oblique nasal artery in 14%. The artery might descend and communicate with the ipsilateral lateral nasal artery in 6% or descended as a midline artery and form the nasal tip plexus in 8%. In 38% of the specimens, the arteries became small, formed a subcutaneous plexus and randomly distributed on the superficial layer of the subcutaneous tissue in the upper two-thirds of the nose. CONCLUSION: During the injections at the upper (bony) and middle (cartilaginous) part of the nose for nasal dorsal augmentation, the injector has to make sure the cannula tip is in the preperiosteal plane by reinsertion of the cannula if needed, due to the chance of encountering the large single dorsal nasal artery at the midline. NO LEVEL ASSIGNED: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .

Endoscopic endonasal greater palatine artery cauterization at the incisive foramen for control of anterior epistaxis.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To describe the anatomy of the incisive foramen and the transnasal endoscopic approach to the greater palatine artery at this foramen, and to evaluate the importance of the greater palatine artery as a cause of recurrent anterior epistaxis. STUDY DESIGN: Anatomical dissection, radiographic study, and prospective case series. SETTING: Academic Medical Center. METHODS: Sixty-nine computed tomography scans were reviewed, and measurements were made of the incisive foramina's distance to the anterior nasal spine and subnasale. Twenty-two cadavers had sagittal split craniotomies performed prior to the measurements. The distance from the anterior nasal spine to the incisive foramen was documented. We also present an illustrative case series of patients who underwent endoscopic cautery of the greater palatine artery at the incisive foramen. RESULTS: Radiographic review of the incisive foramen revealed a mean anterior nasal spine to incisive foramen distance on the right and left of 7.9 and 8.1 mm, respectively. The mean distance from the subnasale to incisive foramen on the right and left were 24.7 and 24.9 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic cauterization of the greater palatine artery at the incisive foramen is a safe and effective method to control recurrent anterior epistaxis. The incisive foramen can be predictively found within 1 cm of the anterior nasal spine. Our case series corroborates the above. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 126:1033-1038, 2016.

The posterior pedicled inferior turbinate-nasoseptal flap: a potential combined flap for skull base reconstruction.

OBJECTIVES: To develop a combined pedicled flap comprising the mucoperiosteum and mucoperichondrium of the inferior turbinate, lateral nasal wall, nasal floor, and nasal septum based on the posterior lateral nasal artery, a branch of the sphenopalatine artery, for the reconstruction of skull base defects resulting from endoscopic expanded endonasal approaches. METHODS: Eleven fresh adult cadaver heads were dissected. Arterial distribution patterns of the inferior turbinate, lateral nasal wall, nasal floor, and nasal septum were investigated. The posterior pedicled inferior turbinate-nasoseptal flap was designed, measured, and harvested, and its ability to cover ventral skull base defects was examined. RESULTS: The inferior turbinate artery and/or posterior lateral nasal artery had 3.19 ± 1.47 (range 2-7) branches [mean outer diameter of largest branch, 0.40 ± 0.10 (range 0.24-0.60) mm] that anastomosed with the nasoseptal artery. These anastomosing arteries allowed the posterior lateral nasal artery to supply arterial blood to the nasoseptal mucoperichondrium and mucoperiosteum. Mean flap length was 100.65 ± 5.61 (range 91.43-109.44) mm, and minimum and maximum widths were 25.21 ± 2.29 (range 22.36-30.23) and 44.53 ± 5.02 (range 36.45-54.10) mm, respectively. Mean flap area was 3090.69 ± 288.08 (range 2612.97-3880.09) mm(2). The flap covered defects extending from the frontal sinus to the foramen magnum in all specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Harvesting of a posterior pedicled inferior turbinate-nasoseptal flap is feasible. It should be considered a useful option for the reconstruction of large defects involving the anterior skull base, planum sphenoidale, sella turcica, and/or clivus.

Evaluation of nasal patency by acoustic rhinometry after repair of complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.

PURPOSE: The aim of the current study was to evaluate nasal patency by acoustic rhinometry in children aged 4-8 years with repaired complete unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) compared with an age-matched control group without cleft lip and palate (CLP). METHODS: This comparative cross-sectional study was conducted at a tertiary care teaching hospital and a private ENT clinic in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil. The case group consisted of 38 children who had undergone surgery for complete UCLP (mean age, 6.44 years), and the control group of 21 children without CLP (mean age, 6.21 years) recruited among patients seeking medical care for ear diseases at the private clinic. Acoustic rhinometry was performed in all children after administration of oxymetazoline hydrochloride (2 × 0.25 mg/mL) for nasal vasoconstriction. RESULTS: The minimal cross-sectional area and nasal volume of the cleft side were smaller than those of the non-cleft side in the case group (p = 0.001). When the two groups were compared, the non-cleft side in the case group did not differ from the control group (p = 0.175), but the minimal cross-sectional area and volume of the cleft nasal cavity were smaller than the mean values of the two nostrils of controls (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, our findings show that nasal patency on the cleft side is impaired in children surgically treated for complete UCLP.

Wound healing of osteotomy defects prepared with piezo or conventional surgical instruments: a pilot study in rabbits.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to evaluate and compare the wound-healing process following osteotomies performed with either conventional rotary burs or piezoelectric surgery in a rabbit model. METHODS: Two types of osteotomy window defects of the nasal cavities were prepared on the nasal bone of 16 adult New Zealand white rabbits with either a conventional rotary bur or piezo surgery. The defects were covered with a resorbable membrane. Four animals were killed at 1, 2, 3, and 5 weeks after the surgical procedure, respectively. Histological and morphometric evaluations were performed to assess the volumetric density of various tissue components: the blood clot, vascularized structures, provisional matrix, osteoid, mineralized bone, bone debris, residual tissue, and old bone. RESULTS: Significantly more bone debris was found at 1 week in the conventionally-prepared defects compared to the piezo surgically-prepared defects. At 2 and 3 weeks, a newly-formed hard tissue bridge, mainly composed of woven bone, was seen; however, no statistically-significant differences were observed. At 5 weeks, the defects were completely filled with newly-formed bone. CONCLUSION: The defects prepared by piezo surgery showed a significantly decreased proportion of bone debris at 1 week, compared to conventional rotary bur defect.