Efficacy of preincisional levobupivacaine for adult tonsillectomy patients.

PROBLEM/OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects of preincisional peritonsillar infiltration of 5 ml levobupivacaine hydrochloride (50 mg/10 ml) on bleeding during surgery and pain after tonsillectomy in patients aged 16 years or older. METHODOLOGY: The study was conducted in 44 adult patients who underwent tonsillectomy. These patients were randomized to either the study group (SG) who received levobupivacaine infiltration to the peritonsillary fossae prior to surgery, or a control group (CG) treated with 0.9% sodium chloride infiltration to the peritonsillary fossae prior to incision. The volume of intraoperative bleeding was recorded. Pain was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS). The first pain score was assessed immediately after arriving in the postoperative care unit. VAS scores were subsequently re-assessed 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively. The first analgesic requirement was assessed 24 hours postoperatively. RESULTS: The pain relieving effect in the levobupivacaine group was statistically significant 2, 4, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively (p ≤ 0.05), but there was no difference in VAS scores between groups at the first and 8-hour postoperative assessments. There were no differences between the two groups regarding analgesic requirements. The difference between the mean intraoperative blood loss in the SG and CG was statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). No serious complications were observed in either group. CONCLUSION: Preincisional levobupivacaine infiltration seems to be a safe and easily applied medication for postoperative pain control, and decreased the volume of intraoperative blood loss in adult patients after tonsillectomy.

Assessing quality of life in septorhinoplasty patients with two different instruments.

OBJECTIVE: Quality of life (QOL) assessment in patients with nasal obstruction has not been well studied. The main objectives of this study were to determine the QOL of patients after septorhinoplasty, to measure the efficacy of septorhinoplasty with a validated quality-of-life instrument--the Nasal Obstructive Symptoms Evaluation (NOSE) scale--and with the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI) QOL scores comprising patient assessments of nasal function. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patient population consisted of a consecutive series of 50 patients who underwent septorhinoplasty at the ages of 18 to 48 years between 2009 and 2011. Quality of life was assessed with the NOSE scale (pre- and postoperatively) and with GBI scores (postoperatively). Demographic data, along with patient assessments of nasal obstruction with a linear analogue scale, were recorded. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 28.3 +/- 14.6 years (age range, 18-48 years). Twenty-eight patients were male (56%) and 22 (44%) were women. Evaluation of each of the 5 items on the NOSE scale individually revealed that patients experienced improvement in all areas. In this study, there was a statistically significant fall in all five parameters (p = 0.000 < 0.05). The mean total GBI score was 34.89 +/- 22.53 and the mean general subscale score was 38.25 +/- 24.31. The mean social support score was 19.67 +/- 33.79 and the mean physical health score was 36.67 +/- 27.97. Each patient had improved QOL scores on the GBI and NOSE scales (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study found improved QOL after rhinoplasty in Turkish adult patients. With proper pre-operative assessment and selection, excellent functional and psychosocial outcomes can be expected. NOSE and GBI are valuable tools for the assessment of benefit from nasal septal surgery for nasal obstruction and may be applicable in clinical practice.

Our experience with carotid body paragangliomas.

Carotid body paragangliomas (CBP) are rare neoplasms arising from the small chemoreceptor organ in the adventitia of the common carotid bifurcation. The aim of this study is to present the diagnostic process, performed treatment and obtained results in patients with carotid body paragangliomas of the Department of Otolaryngology of Istanbul Education and Research Hospital between March 1997 and November 2008. Retrospective analysis was carried out, based on the medical documentation of 5 patients with carotid body paragangliomas (3 women and 2 men), age range 44 to 68 years with a mean of 59.6 years. Four of the patients were diagnosed and treated with Shamblin type II tumor, one of the patients with type I. Physical examination, radiological evaluation, method of the treatment and post-treatment complications were studied. The most common and single symptom was nonspecific neck mass. Preoperative diagnostic evaluation consisted of a color duplex ultrasonography, computerized tomography with contrast enhancement, magnetic resonance imaging and digital subtraction angiography. In all patients with Shamblin type I and II, blunt dissection of the tumor was conducted smoothly in the subadventitial plane. Postoperative vagus nerve and hypoglossal nerve deficit were reported in one case. Carotid body paraganglioma excision has higher risk of cranial nerve paresis and carotid artery injury, so it requires careful handling and good surgical skills to ensure complete removal.