Surgery of the external nasal valve: the correlation between subjective and objective measurements.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Minimum cross-sectional area of the nasal passage on CT (CT-MCA) is an objective computerised determination of the minimum cross-sectional area of the nasal passage on CT. CT-MCA was evaluated before and after surgery on the external nasal valve using the 'lateral crus pull-up' procedure (LCPU). The outcomes of CT-MCA were compared with other currently available objective tests for nasal valve patency. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. METHODS: This study included 34 patients undergoing surgery on the external nasal valve with the use of the LCPU technique. CT-MCA was performed before and after surgery and compared with the subjective perception of nasal passage using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale and with objective tests such as acoustic rhinometry (A-MCA), rhinomanometry (NAR) and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF). RESULTS: This study showed a significant correlation between CT-MCA and the NOSE scale, PNIF and NAR. Paired-samples t-tests showed significant improvement after surgery on CT-MCA, PNIF and the NOSE scale. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that PNIF, CT-MCA and NAR were significantly associated with the NOSE scale. CONCLUSION: CT-MCA and PNIF were both significantly correlated and associated with the patient's subjective perception of nasal passage. The surgical procedure, the 'lateral crus pull-up', showed a significant improvement in the postoperative result both subjectively and objectively.

Improvement of nasal breathing and patient satisfaction by the endonasal dilator Airmax®.

BACKGROUND: Patients suffering from nasal obstruction due to external nasal valve dysfunction may benefit from either corrective surgery or a conservative approach with a nasal dilator. At present, devices for widening the external nasal valve region can be applied externally or endonasally. It remains unknown to what extent the en dona sal dilator Airmax® objectively improves the nasal flow and can be offered as an alternative for surgery. METHODOLOGY: Thirty patients suffering from nasal obstruction due to external nasal valve problems were proposed to use the nasal dilator for 4 weeks as an alternative for corrective surgery. The improvement of nasal flow by the dilator was evaluated by measuring the peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF). Then, patients were asked for their willingness to continue to use the nasal dilator or to undergo nasal valve surgery. RESULTS: The endonasal dilator improved the mean PNIF from baseline values with a mean increase of 176.1 o/o. After a 4 week trial period, 19 of 30 patients expressed the intention to continue the use of the nasal dilator. Inappropriate size, local irritation and/or aesthetic nasal complaints were mentioned by the other patients as reasons for discontinuation of using the nasal dilator. CONCLUSION: The endonasal dilator Airmax® represents a powerful device to improve nasal breathing in the target patients and therefore represents a good alternative for corrective surgery.

Correlation between subjective and objective evaluation of the nasal airway. A systematic review of the highest level of evidence.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus about the value of objective measurements of nasal patency. OBJECTIVE: To assess the correlation between the subjective sense of nasal patency and the outcomes found with rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry. TYPE OF REVIEW: Structured literature search. SEARCH STRATEGY AND EVALUATION METHOD: Review of English-language articles in which correlations were sought between subjective nasal patency symptoms and objective scores as found with rhinomanometry [nasal airway resistance (NAR)] and acoustic rhinometry [minimal cross-sectional area (MCA)]. Correlations were related to unilateral or combined assessment of nasal passages and to symptomatic nasal obstruction or unobstructed nasal breathing. RESULTS: Sixteen studies with a level of evidence II-a or II-b fit the inclusion criteria and were further analysed. Almost every possible combination of correlations or lack thereof in relation to the variables included was found. However, when obstructive symptoms were present, a correlation between the patency symptoms with nasal airway resistance and minimal cross-sectional area was found more often than in the absence of symptoms. In cases of bilateral assessment a correlation was found almost as often as it was not between patency symptoms and total nasal airway resistance or combined minimal cross-sectional areas, while in the limited amount of studies in which unilateral assessment was done a correlation was found each time between patency symptoms and nasal airway resistance. CONCLUSIONS: The correlation between the outcomes found with rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry and an individual's subjective sensation of nasal patency remains uncertain. Based on this review, it seems that the chance of a correlation is greater when each nasal passage is assessed individually and when obstructive symptoms are present. There still seems to be only a limited argument for the use of rhinomanometry or acoustic rhinometry in routine rhinologic practice or for quantifying surgical results.

Secondary rhinoplasty in the cleft lip patient.

Secondary surgery of the cleft lip nose is very complex due to its specific pathological anatomical characteristics. In this article, the general and specific characteristics of the nose of the unilateral and the bilateral cleft patient are described, and careful preoperative assessment is emphasized. Considerations concerning the timing of the operation before or after the puberty growth spurt are discussed. Guidelines are given for a systematic correctional surgical approach, dividing the operative procedure into septal surgery, tip surgery, osseo-cartilaginous vault surgery, maxillary augmentation and alar base reallocation. A description is given of special postoperative care with a custom-made vestibular device to prevent stenosis of the vestibulum and deformation of the nasal tip caused by scar tissue retraction in the postoperative period.

[Fibrin glue for operative correction of septal deviations]. / Fibrinkleber bei Septumplastik.

The routine procedure after correction of septal deviations is the utilization of endonasal packing in order to avoid septal haematoma. However, the mechanical pressure of this packing damages the mucociliar activity of the mucosa and causes lymphoedema by blocking the lymphatic vessels. Besides it represents a foreign body within the nose causing pain and unpleasant feeling for the patient. In order to avoid these disadvantages, in 57 patients we used fibrin glue instead of nasal packing. After correction of the septal deviation the two mucoperichondrium blades where fixed together with Tissucol Duo Quick. This technique not only leads to haemostasis, but also provides fixation of the newly modeled septum. In only one patient we found a small unilateral septal haematoma, in all other cases the postoperative period showed no complications. Patients had a significant reduction of endonasal crusts and postoperative swelling. Patients comfort increased significant without the (standard) nasal packing.

Perichondrium-wrapped collagenous matrices to induce chondroneogenesis: an in vitro study.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a model for cartilage regeneration in vitro, to be used for cartilage reconstruction in vivo. METHODS: Collagenous matrices were wrapped in a perichondrium layer. The matrices served as carriers to allow migration of cells from the perichondrium into the matrix. Culture conditions stimulated cell growth and proliferation. RESULTS: After 4 weeks of culturing, microscopic examination showed an increase of cell layers around the matrices but also of cells migrated into porous matrices. Immunohistochemical staining of these cultured cells expressed type II collagen intracellularly. CONCLUSIONS: This model seems appropriate to culture mucoperichondrial explants in combination with collagenous matrices. Cells migrate into the pores of the matrix, survive, and synthesize matrix components. Actual formation of cartilage has not been shown to occur. Adding growth factors to this model may influence induction of this activity.

The intranasal ostium after external dacryocystorhinostomy and the internal opening of the lacrimal canaliculi.

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate the appearance and location of the healed intranasal ostium and the internal aperture of the common canaliculus after uncomplicated external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). In 21 patients who underwent uncomplicated external DCR, the distances between the lacrimal puncta and the internal aperture of the common canaliculus were measured during surgery. The measurements were taken with a 1 mm diameter Bowman probe graded in millimeters. These measurements were recorded and considered the landmarks for the spatial localization of the internal aperture of the canaliculus. After surgery, under endoscopic control, the same method was used to measure the distance between the lacrimal puncta and the internal ostium, which was defined as the aperture through which it was possible to visualize the very first protrusion of the probe into the nose. The intra- and post-operative measurements were compared. Endoscopic photos of the healed endonasal ostium were also taken. The photos showed that when DCR procedures were not complicated by scarring or mucosal adhesions, the lacrimal sac became a depression perfectly integrated within the nasal mucosa. The scar at the site of junction between the nasal and the lacrimal sac mucosa appeared as a large-diameter pearl-like colored frame that surrounded the depression. In the context of the depression a small aperture, which presented a diameter of around 2 mm, could be easily visualized. The spatial location of this aperture corresponded to the internal aperture of the common canaliculus (p < 0.05).

The nose in leprosy: immunohistology of the nasal mucosa.

A detailed study of the nose was undertaken in 40 leprosy patients with different classifications of leprosy and different durations of disease at two hospitals in Brazil. This manuscript describes the immunohistochemical data on cellular infiltrates in the nasal biopsies of those patients. It was surprising that the damage to the whole depth of the nasal mucosa, epithelium and lamina propria was considerable, as was the case in the nasal mucosa which looked relatively normal during clinical inspection. The epithelium showed large holes which looked like very extended goblet cells. Very obvious was the lack of vasoconstriction after cocaine application, and the vessels also showed a lack of staining with factor VIII, possibly indicating a disruption of the endothelium. The number of neurofilaments was extensively reduced in all leprosy groups compared to normal controls. As in the skin, an increased number of CD68+ cells was found in the lamina propria of the nasal mucosa of the lepromatous patients. Contrary to findings in the skin, in the nasal mucosa of the borderline/lepromatous patients the number of CD4+ cells was increased and the number of CD8+ cells was decreased compared to normal controls. The number of CD8+ cells tended to be more reduced when the history of leprosy was longer. It is not clear as yet whether the reduced numbers of CD8+ cells are acquired during infection or whether persons with a low number of CD8+ cells in the nose might have a higher risk of acquiring leprosy.

Rhinoplasty in the cleft lip patient.

Several important factors to consider in the surgical repair of the cleft lip nose are described: the importance of an adequate lip closure technique to ensure symmetry can prevent a more conspicuous deformity of the nose during growth, the consequences of secondary rhinoplasty in the growing nose in which the surgeon has to weigh the possible growth inhibition due to scar tissue against the possible functional and esthetic improvement, a systematic surgical approach in which the operative procedure is divided into different steps, and the use of autogenous graft material. In the evaluation of 52 cleft lip patients (5 bilateral clefts, 47 complete unilateral clefts) who had undergone a secondary rhinoplasty, two specific postoperative problems were encountered: slight to moderate recurrence of the caudal septal deviation (in unilateral clefts) and restenosis of the nasal vestibule at the cleft side. Adjustment of the surgical technique and the use of a custom-made vestibulum device diminished these sequellae considerably.

The nose in children with unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Surgeons and orthodontists are still challenged to achieve 'better' noses for children with a unilateral cleft or lip, alveoulus and palate (UCLP). Various aspects are discussed: infant anatomy and later changes, developmental mechanics, cleft syndrome in animals with surgically produced facial clefts, untreated patients with congenital clefts, the radical primary correction of the UCLP nose, the unsolved problems in secondary rhinoplasty and suggestions for scientific communication.

Trauma reduction in rhinoplastic surgery.

Operative procedures for bony pyramid surgery of the nose, using micro-osteotomes to reduce surgical trauma, are described. Over the last seven years experience with this refined technique has shown a considerable reduction in postoperative ecchymosis and oedema.

Reimplantation of autologous septal cartilage in the growing nasal septum. II. The influence of reimplantation of rotated or crushed autologous septal cartilage on nasal growth: an experimental study in growing rabbits.

A series of experiments were carried out on growing rabbits to investigate the effect of rotation (through 90 degrees and 180 degrees) or crushing of autologous cartilage implants on growth of the nose. Reconstruction of the nasal septum with rotated or crushed implants did not restore the normal growth of the nose. This is in accordance with the results of a previously described experiment in which the continuity was repaired with autologous cartilage in the same position (Nolst Trenité et al., 1987). The crushed cartilage implants were as effective as the noncrushed implants in preventing septal perforations. The implants rotated through 90 degrees, showed less intrinsic growth in dorso-ventral direction.

Reimplantation of autologous septal cartilage in the growing nasal septum. I. The influence of resection and reimplantation of septal cartilage upon nasal growth: an experimental study in rabbits.

The effects of restoration of the dorso-ventral continuity of the nasal septum on the growth of the nose was investigated in growing rabbits. Submucous resection of the middle third of the septal cartilage resulted in characteristic growth disturbances of nose and maxilla. Reimplantation of the resected strip of autologous cartilage did not restore the normal development of the nose. The implants however did prevent septal perforations as seen after resection of cartilage only and showed a considerable growth in dorso-ventral direction.