Transeptal suturing - a cost-efficient alternative for nasal packing in septal surgery / Sutura transeptal - uma alternativa custo-benefício para tamponamento nasal em cirurgia do septo

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: Nasal packing is routinely used in septal surgery to prevent postoperative bleeding. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the possibility of transeptal suture as a safe and effective way to avoid nasal packing and to improve efficiency. METHODS: This is a prospective, descriptive, inferential cost study comprising 92 patients. Two randomized groups of patients were analyzed, one with nasal packing and the other with transeptal suture. RESULTS: In the group of transeptal suture no patient experienced postoperative bleeding, and a statistically significant reduction of pain and headache was demonstrated. At the same time, we improved efficiency by saving on material costs. CONCLUSIONS: Transeptal suture is an effective and safe alternative to classic nasal packing in septal surgery. Moreover, it improves the efficiency of the intervention by saving costs.

Resumo Introdução: O tamponamento nasal é usado rotineiramente na cirurgia septal para evitar sangramentos no pós-operatório. Objetivo: Demonstrar a possibilidade de se realizar uma sutura transeptal como alternativa eficaz e segura ao tamponamento nasal, com melhora na eficiência da intervenção. Método: Este é um estudo prospectivo, descritivo e de custo inferencial, compreendendo 92 pacientes. Dois grupos aleatórios foram estudados: um com tamponamento nasal e o outro com sutura transeptal. Resultado: No grupo de sutura transeptal, nenhum paciente experimentou sangramento no pós-operatório, tendo sido estatisticamente demonstrada uma significante redução de cefaléia e dor. Ao mesmo tempo, houve melhora na eficiência da intervenção, com economia no custo de material. Conclusões: A sutura transeptal é uma alternativa eficaz e segura ao tamponamento nasal clássico. Além do mais, melhora a eficiência da intervenção, economizando no custo de material.

Transeptal suturing - a cost-efficient alternative for nasal packing in septal surgery.

INTRODUCTION: Nasal packing is routinely used in septal surgery to prevent postoperative bleeding. OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the possibility of transeptal suture as a safe and effective way to avoid nasal packing and to improve efficiency. METHODS: This is a prospective, descriptive, inferential cost study comprising 92 patients. Two randomized groups of patients were analyzed, one with nasal packing and the other with transeptal suture. RESULTS: In the group of transeptal suture no patient experienced postoperative bleeding, and a statistically significant reduction of pain and headache was demonstrated. At the same time, we improved efficiency by saving on material costs. CONCLUSIONS: Transeptal suture is an effective and safe alternative to classic nasal packing in septal surgery. Moreover, it improves the efficiency of the intervention by saving costs.

Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw. A proposal for conservative treatment.

The use of bisphosphonates (BPs) has proven effective in the treatment of bone-related diseases, despite the potential risk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). So far, results for the treatment of ONJ have not been satisfactory. In our study, we have treated two patients diagnosed with ONJ. In addition to local treatments a hydrogel was applied, with promising results. The fistulae disappeared 2-3 weeks into the treatment. After a six-month follow-up period there has been no sign of recurrence. The extent of maxillary bone exposure has diminished notably, although not entirely disappeared. In all cases, the patients exhibit no other symptoms (they suffer from no pain or swelling or functional impotence). For this reason we believe this protocol might be useful in the case of patients who suffer from pain and fistulation secondary to BP-associated ONJ to improve the state of their lesions until definitive treatment can be undertaken. Although these findings are not conclusive, given that we are reporting data on two patients only, we believe that this might be an alternative treatment in refractory cases where other therapies are counter-indicated. A controlled randomized and prospective study would be required to confirm our findings.

Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw. A proposal for conservative treatment

The use of bisphosphonates (BPs) has proven effective in the treatment of bone-related diseases, despite the potentialrisk of developing osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ). So far, results for the treatment of ONJ have not been satisfactory.In our study, we have treated two patients diagnosed with ONJ. In addition to local treatments a hydrogel wasapplied, with promising results. The fistulae disappeared 2-3 weeks into the treatment. After a six-month follow-upperiod there has been no sign of recurrence. The extent of maxillary bone exposure has diminished notably, althoughnot entirely disappeared. In all cases, the patients exhibit no other symptoms (they suffer from no pain or swelling orfunctional impotence). For this reason we believe this protocol might be useful in the case of patients who suffer frompain and fistulation secondary to BP-associated ONJ to improve the state of their lesions until definitive treatmentcan be undertaken.Although these findings are not conclusive, given that we are reporting data on two patients only, we believe thatthis might be an alternative treatment in refractory cases where other therapies are counter-indicated. A controlledrandomized and prospective study would be required to confirm our findings (AU)

Enzimas salivales y enfermedad periodontal / Salivary enzymes and periodontal disease

Objetivos: Las enfermedades que producen daño tisular producen la liberación de diferentes enzimas relacionadas con la muerte y destrucción celular, como son la aspartato y alanino aminotransferasa (AST, ALT), lactato dehidrogenasa (LDH), creatinin kinasa (CK), alcalina y ácida (ALP, ACP) y gamma glutamil transferasa (GGT). Al tratarse la enfermedadperiodontal (EP) de un proceso inflamatorio con afectación de la encía y periodonto, parece lógico pensar que la actividad enzimática debe reflejar los cambios metabólicos secundarios a esta reacción inflamatoria.Diseño del estudio: En este artículo examinamos la actividad de CK, LDH, AST, ALT, GGT, ALP y ACP en la saliva de pacientes con EP, antes y después del tratamiento periodontal (grupo experimental–30 muestras) así como en la saliva de pacientes sin enfermedad periodontal (grupo control–20 muestras). La EP se diagnosticó en base a parámetros clínicos(índice gingival–GI, sangrado al sondaje-BOP y profundidad al sondaje-PD). Todos los pacientes con enfermedad periodontal recibieron tratamiento convencional de la misma. Se registró la actividad enzimática en todos los pacientes y se cuantificó por espectrofotometríaResultados: Se observó un aumento estadísticamente significativo en la actividad de CK, LDH, AST, ALT; GGT, ALP y ACP en la saliva de los pacientes con enfermedad periodontal en relación a los resultados obtenidos en el grupo control. Se detectó una correlación positiva entre la actividad de las enzimas salivales examinadas y el valor del GI. Después del tratamiento periodontal convencional la actividad de estas enzimas salivales disminuyó significativamente.Conclusiones: Basándonos en estos resultados. Podemos concluir que la actividad de estas enzimas puede ser útil en el diagnóstico y evaluación del tratamiento de la EP

Background: Host responses to periodontal disease include the production of different enzymes that are released by stromal, epithelial or inflammatory cells. There are important enzymes associated with cell injury and cell death like: aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (AST, ALT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine cinase (CK), alkaline and acidic phosphatase (ALP, ACP), gama glutamil transferase (GGT). Changes in enzymatic activity reflect metabolic changes in the gingiva and periodontium in inflammation.Design of Study: In this paper we have examined the activity of CK, LDH, AST, ALT, GGT, ALP and ACP in saliva from patients with periodontal disease before and after periodontal treatment (experimental group – 30 samples) and in saliva from healthy patients (control group – 20 samples). Periodontal disease was determined based on clinical parameters (gingival index (GI), bleeding on probing (BOP), probing depth (PD)). Patients with periodontal disease were under conventional periodontal treatment.Results: Obtained results were shown statistically significant increases of activity of CK, LDH, AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, ACP in saliva from patients with periodontal disease in relation to control group. There is positive correlation between the activity of examined salivary enzymes and value of the gingival index. After conventional periodontal therapy the activity of all salivary enzymes was significantly decreased.Conclusions: Based on these results, it can be assume that activity of these enzymes in saliva, as biochemical markers for periodontaltissue damage, may be useful in diagnosis, prognosis and evaluation of therapy effects in periodontal disease