Effect of oxidized cellulose on human respiratory mucosa and submucosa and its implications for endoscopic skull-base approaches.

BACKGROUND: Regenerated oxidized cellulose (ROC) sheets have gained popularity as an adjunct to a vascularized nasoseptal flap for closure of dural defects after endoscopic endonasal skull-base approaches (EESBS). However, evidence supporting its impact on the healing process is uncertain. This study was performed to evaluate the impact of ROC on the nasal mucosa and assess its effects on tissue pH, structure, and cell viability. METHODS: In 5 patients, a 1-cm2 piece of ROC gauze was placed on the surface of the middle turbinate before it was resected as part of a standard EESBS. Mucosa treated with ROC was separated from untreated mucosa and a histologic examination of structural changes in the respiratory epithelium was performed. To assess the effect of ROC on pH, increasing amounts of ROC were added to culture medium. Nasal fibroblasts viability was assessed in the presence of ROC before and after the pH was neutralized. RESULTS: Compared with unexposed controls, treated mucosa exhibited a higher incidence of cell necrosis and epithelial cell detachment. When added to Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium, ROC caused a dose-dependent decrease in pH of the medium. Only 1 ± 0.8% of cultured fibroblasts exposed to the ROC-induced acidic medium were alive, whereas 98.25 ± 0.5% of the cells were viable when the pH was neutralized (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: ROC applied in vivo to nasal mucosa induced epithelial necrosis likely by diminishing the medium pH, because pH neutralization prevents its effect. The ultimate effect of this material on the healing process is yet to be determined.

Recovery period of sinonasal quality of life and its associated factors after endoscopic endonasal approach for anterior skull base tumors.

BACKGROUND: Although endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA) for skull base tumors showed a good prognosis in sinonasal quality of life (QOL), what factors have influence on QOL is still in question. Aim/Objectives: To investigate the recovery of sinonasal QOL after EEA for anterior skull base tumors and find its prognostic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study enrolled 250 patients undergoing EEA for anterior skull base tumors over 3 years. Sinonasal QOL was evaluated via sinonasal outcome test (SNOT-22) during 6 months. Age, gender, previous surgery, surgical extent, tumor pathology, combined surgical procedures, and surgical complications were analyzed. RESULTS: There were 101 male and 149 female with average 48.6 ± 16.1 years old. SNOT-22 increased from baseline (median 17.0; Q1-Q3 8.25-30.0) to postoperative 1 and 3 months (27.0; 15.0-36.0; p < .001 and 20.5; 11.0-32.0; p = .021, respectively) and it returned to the baseline within 6 months. Reconstruction with calcium hydroxyapatite and postoperative mucosal edema had a negative impact on the recovery (p = .016 and .010, respectively), after adjustment for the baseline scores and postoperative months. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: Sinonasal QOL was recovered within 6 months. Avoidance of calcium hydroxyapatite could prevent delayed recovery. Surgeons should carefully manipulate nasal mucosa to minimize postoperative mucosal edema.

Atresia bilateral de coanas en la adolescencia / Bilateral choanal atresia in adolescence / Atresia bilateral de choana na adolescência

Introducción: la atresia de coanas es una anomalía congénita nasal con una incidencia de 1/70.000 nacidos vivos en Argentina. Se presenta con dificultad respiratoria desde el nacimiento en el caso de las bilaterales. Presentaremos 2 casos de pacientes masculinos con atresia de coanas bilateral diagnosticados tardíamente. Para su tratamiento se utilizó técnica endoscópica transeptal con colgajos doblados sin tutores y azitromicina como antiinflamatorio de mucosa respiratoria en el postquirúrgico. Material y método: Se valoraron en forma descriptiva y retrospectiva 2 pacientes adolescentes diagnosticados e intervenidos quirúrgicamente en el Servicio de Otorrinolaringología del Hospital Posadas, mediante técnica endoscópica transeptal con colgajos doblados sin tutores. Se analizaron variables como tipo de placa atrésica, edad de diagnóstico, malformaciones asociadas y resultados quirúrgicos. Como tratamiento médico postquirúrgico, se utilizó azitromicina a dosis antiinflamatorias. Resultados: La técnica endoscópica transnasal con colgajos doblados sin tutor que hemos realizado en estos dos pacientes reduce el riesgo de reestenosis, no requiere reintervenciones posteriores para retirar el stent y genera una mejor tolerancia del paciente en el postoperatorio. El uso de azitromicina postoperatoria disminuyó el proceso inflamatorio favoreciendo la cicatrización, lográndose una correcta permeabilización de las coanas y una respiración nasal normal bilateral. Conclusiones: El diagnóstico temprano en este tipo de pacientes es fundamental, debido a la característica de respiradores nasales estrictos que presentan los neonatos. No se han encontrado reportes de pacientes diagnosticados en la adolescencia, por lo cual el diagnóstico y el tratamiento, en este caso, plantearon también un desafío.

Introduction: choanal atresia is a nasal congenital anomaly with an incidence of 1 / 70,000 live births in Argentina. It presents with respiratory difficulty from birth in bilateral cases. We will present 2 cases of male patients with bilateral choanal atresia of late diagnose. We used a trans-septal endoscopic technique with folded flap without tutors and azithromycin as an anti-inflammatory of the respiratory mucosa in the postoperative time. Material and method: A descriptive and retrospective study was carried out on 2 adolescent patients diagnosed and surgically treated in the Otorhinolaryngology Service of the Posadas Hospital, using transeptal endoscopy with a folded flap technique without tutors. Variables such as atresia plaque type, age of diagnosis, associated malformations, complications and surgical results were analyzed. Azithromycin was used at anti-inflammatory doses as a post-surgical medical treatment. Results: The transnasal endoscopic technique with folded flaps that we performed in these two patients reduces the risk of restenosis, does not require subsequent reinterventions to remove the stent and generates a better patient tolerance in the postoperative period. As for the use of postoperative azithromycin, the inflammatory process decreased, favoring cicatrization, being able to achieve a correct permeabilization of the choanas and a normal bilateral nasal breathing. Conclusions: We believe that early diagnosis in this type of patients is essential, due to the characteristic of strict nasal breathers presented by the neonates. There were no reports of patients diagnosed in adolescence, so the diagnosis and treatment, in this case, also posed a challenge.

Introdução: a atresia de choana é uma anomalia congênita nasal com incidência de 1 / 70.000 nascidos vivos na Argentina. Esse transtorno/a mesma apresenta dificuldade respiratória desde o nascimento no caso seja bilateral. (Em este estudo) apresentaremos dois casos de pacientes do sexo masculino com atresia de choana bilateral diagnosticada tardiamente. Uma técnica endoscópica trans-septal com aba curvada sem tutores e azitromicina como anti-inflamatório da mucosa respiratória foi utilizada como tratamento pós-cirurgico. Material e método: Foram avaliados de forma descritiva e retrospetiva dois pacientes adolescentes diagnosticados e tratados cirúrgicamente no serviço de Otorrinolaringologia do Hospital Posadas pela técnica transeptal endoscopica sem tutores aba dobrada. São analisados valores como tipo de placa de atresia, idade do diagnóstico, malformações associadas, complicações e resultados cirúrgicos. Como tratamento médico pós-cirúrgico, a azitromicina foi utilizada em dosagens anti-inflamatórias. Resultados: A técnica endoscópica trans-nasal com abas dobradas sem tutor que foi realizada em estes dois pacientes, reduz o risco de re-estenose, não precisando de novas intervenções cirúrgicas para remover o stent e gerar uma melhor tolerância do paciente no pós-operatório. Quanto ao uso de azitromicina pós-operatória, o processo inflamatório diminuiu, favorecendo a cicatrização, conseguindo uma permeabilização correta da choana e uma respiração nasal bilateral normal. Conclusões: Acreditamos que o diagnóstico precoce neste tipo de pacientes é fundamental, devido à característica de respiradores nasais estritos apresentada pelos neonatos. Não houve relatos de pacientes diagnosticados na adolescência, pelo que o diagnóstico e o tratamento, neste caso, também representaram um desafio.

[The olfactory function in the patients suffering from polypous rhinosinusitis following endoscopic surgery on paranasal sinuses].

In this study, we examined and treated 50 patients presenting with polypous rhinosinusitis. In all of them, the endoscopic surgical intervention was preceded by estimation of the olfactory function. The examination was repeated within 1, 3, and 6 months after the operation. Endoscopic surgery had positive outcome; however, its beneficial effect was compromised in the patients suffering from polypous rhinosinusitis during a long period and having the history of surgical intervention in the nasal cavity in the past. The best results of the treatment were obtained in the patients having olfactory dysfunction for less than 10 years and in the previously untreated ones. It is concluded that endoscopic rhinosurgical treatment produced positive results in all the 50 patients.