Assessment of Palatal Mucosal Wound Healing Following Connective-Tissue Harvesting by Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging: An Observational Case Series Study.

Postoperative complications may occur during the healing of palatal donor sites due to disturbed blood circulation of palatal tissues. Therefore in this study, blood flow was measured by Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI) in seven patients after connective-tissue harvesting. The slope in blood-flow elevation within the first 3 days as well as time needed for maximum reperfusion were calculated. Each surgical site was assessed by clinical examination on day 3. In donor sites with secondary-intention wound healing, postoperative blood flow was elevated with significant delay compared to the surrounding tissues and to the primarily healed wound. Reperfusion time and healing score were strongly correlated (r = 0.87, P < .001), as were the slope and clinical rank (r = -0.85, P < .001). LSCI proved to be an objective method to assess individual wound-healing time and to predict the quality of wound healing.

Assessment of pterygomaxillary separation in Le Fort I Osteotomy in class III patients.

PURPOSE: To examine the separation of the pterygomaxillary region at the posterior nasal spine level after Le Fort I osteotomy in Class III patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study group consisted of 37 Japanese patients with mandibular prognathism and asymmetry, with maxillary retrognathism or asymmetry. A total of 74 sides were examined. Le Fort I osteotomy was performed without a pterygoid osteotome, with an ultrasonic curette used to remove interference at the pterygomaxillary region. Postoperative computed tomography (CT) was analyzed for all patients. The separation of the pterygomaxillary region and the location of the descending palatine artery were assessed. RESULTS: Although acceptable separation between the maxilla and pterygoid plates was achieved in all patients, an exact separation of the pterygomaxillary junction at the posterior nasal spine level was found in only 18 of 74 sides (24%). In 29 of 74 sides (39.2%), the separation occurred anterior to the descending palatine artery. In 29 of 74 sides (39.2%), complete separation between the maxilla and lateral and/or medial pterygoid plate was not achieved, but lower level separation of the maxilla and pterygoid plate was always complete. The maxillary segments could be moved to the postoperative ideal position in all cases. CONCLUSION: Le Fort I osteotomy without an osteotome does not always induce an exact separation at the pterygomaxillary junction at the posterior nasal spine level, but the ultrasonic bone curette can remove the interference between maxillary segment and pterygoid plates more safely.

Economic analysis of the treatment of posterior epistaxis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the economic impact of controlling posterior epistaxis by transnasal endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation (TESPAL) and endovascular embolization. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients undergoing treatment of posterior epistaxis by either TESPAL or embolization. International Classification of Diseases 9 code 784.7 (epistaxis) was the initial screen followed by common procedural terminology codes for TESPAL and angiography with embolization. The total charges and direct costs for TESPAL and endovascular embolization were determined. An unpaired Student's t-test was used to evaluate statistical significance. RESULTS: Analysis revealed 25 patients that met inclusion criteria. The mean total charge was $14,088 for embolization and $7561 for TESPAL. The differences were statistically significant (p < 0.00006). Costs, defined as reimbursement by third-party payers and direct payments, varied widely and their difference did not reach statistical significance in this sample. CONCLUSION: Our data established no economic advantage for angiography and, in fact, show a trend toward this treatment being more expensive than TESPAL. TESPAL is a procedure that can be performed quickly and on an outpatient basis without the need for angiography equipment or expertise. Additionally, the procedure provides the advantage of a comprehensive endoscopic nasal evaluation for ruling out tumors or other intranasal lesions. With equal efficacy, at least equal costs and equal risk, and additional diagnostic advantages, TESPAL is a more rational treatment for posterior epistaxis.

Early operative intervention versus conventional treatment in epistaxis: randomized prospective trial.

OBJECTIVE: This prospective randomized trial was designed to compare intranasal endoscopic sphenopalatine artery ligation (ESAL) with conventional nasal packing in the treatment of recurrent epistaxis. METHODS: Patients were registered in the study databank following referral for epistaxis control to the otolaryngology service at the University of Alberta. All patients were initially packed using Merocel (Xomed Surgical Products, Jacksonville, FL) nasal dressings bilaterally. Patients were enrolled in the study following failure of Merocel packings. Informed consent was obtained in accordance with the Health Research Ethics Board. The patients were then managed with Vaseline nasal packs or ESAL. Patient demographics, treatment characteristics, number of hospitalization days, and rates of recurrence were recorded prospectively. The total cost of treatment for each patient was calculated. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were enrolled in the study. There was a significant reduction in cost and length of hospitalization of the patients undergoing ESAL compared with the conventional nasal packings. ESAL was also 89% effective in controlling the bleeding and had minimal sequelae or complications. The overall calculated cost of patients undergoing ESAL was dollars 5133 compared with dollars 12213 in the conservative group, resulting in an average saving of dollars 7080 per patient. There was overwhelming patient satisfaction with ESAL compared with nasal packings. CONCLUSION: ESAL is an excellent, well-tolerated, and cost-effective method of treating recurrent epistaxis.

Limited value of preoperative cervical vascular imaging in patients with velocardiofacial syndrome.

The purpose of this two-part study was to evaluate the safety of surgical management of speech production disorders in patients with velocardiofacial syndrome without preoperative cervical vascular imaging studies. Anomalous internal carotid arteries have been shown to be a frequent feature of velocardiofacial syndrome. These vessels pose a potential risk for hemorrhage during velopharyngeal narrowing procedures. Magnetic resonance angiography, and other forms of cervical vascular imaging studies such as computerized tomography, have been advocated as aids to surgery by defining the preoperative vascular anatomy. However, it remains unclear whether these studies alter either the conduct or outcome of operations on the velopharynx. In the first part of this study, we reviewed the charts and videonasendoscopic evaluations of 39 consecutive patients with confirmed or suspected velocardiofacial syndrome who underwent sphincter pharyngoplasty or pharyngeal flap from 1978 to 1996. The charts were reviewed to determine (1) the frequency of identification of abnormal pharyngeal pulsations; (2) whether such pulsations affected the conduct of the operative procedure; and (3) whether the presence of pulsations affected surgical morbidity and/or surgical outcome. None of the patients underwent any type of cervical vascular imaging study. In the second part of this study, we surveyed plastic surgeons with numerous years of experience participating on cleft-craniofacial teams, to ascertain practice patterns relating to the management of patients with velocardiofacial syndrome. The questions related specifically to the surgeons' behavior in relation to angiography and their awareness of any cases of surgical morbidity related to the cervical vascular system in patients with velocardiofacial syndrome. We were interested in discerning both how commonly this situation arises clinically and the distribution of the various types of operative procedures in common use. Of our 39 patients, 10 patients (26 percent) had detectable pulsations on preoperative nasendoscopy. Of these, five patients underwent sphincter pharyngoplasty and five underwent pharyngeal flap procedures. Preoperative instrumental and intraoperative clinical assessment of pulsatile vessels allowed velopharyngeal reconstruction in all patients without surgical morbidity. Results of the questionnaire indicated that most cleft surgeons do not routinely order cervical vascular imaging studies for all of their patients with velocardiofacial syndrome. About half of the respondents indicated that their operative approach was influenced by information obtained from angiographic studies. None of the surgeons queried were aware of any cases of surgical morbidity related to the cervical vascular system in patients with velocardiofacial syndrome. Nearly 50 percent of surgeons use pharyngeal flap procedures most frequently, whereas 22 percent of surgeons use sphincter pharyngoplasty most frequently. Results of this study support the safety of sphincter pharyngoplasty or pharyngeal flap procedures in patients with velocardiofacial syndrome without preparatory angiography. These procedures can be performed safely, even in patients having aberrant velopharyngeal pulsations. Given the market cost of magnetic resonance angiography ($1600), one must question the cost-efficacy of magnetic resonance angiography for routine use in the velocardiofacial syndrome population.