Chief Complaint: Nasal Congestion.

Nasal obstruction is the subjective perception and objective state of insufficient airflow through the nose. Nasal congestion, conversely, describes a state of not just inadequate airflow or obstructive phenomena but also pressure- and mucus-related states to the patient. Nasal receptors belonging to the transient receptor potential (TRP) protein family mediate the sense of nasal patency via the trigeminal nerve. The transient receptor potential melastatin-8 (TRPM8) responds to temperatures around 8°C to 22°C, and is stimulated by menthol and other cooling agents. The radiant effects of airflow create heat loss to activate these receptors and humans perceive this as nasal patency rather than the direct detection of airflow. The thermovascular state of the mucosa, in conditions such as rhinitis, influence TRPM8 activation. Nasal endoscopy can show signs of rhinitis and should be considered an essential part of the workup of nasal congestion. Efforts to relieve nasal congestion need to manage the mucosal state and surgery needs to ensures that the nasal cavity mucosa is exposed to the cooling effects of airflow rather than simply creating a passage to the nasopharynx.

Long-term treatment outcomes in refractory rhinitis medicamentosa managed with nasal surgery.

BACKGROUND: Limited treatment options exist for refractory Rhinitis Medicamentosa (RM). The role of surgery after failed medical management is not well defined. Mucosal contact points and restricted airflow often perpetuate decongestant use. This study assessed the long-term outcomes of nasal surgery in patients with refractory RM. METHODS: A prospective cohort study of refractory RM treated with nasal surgery was performed with ≥12 months follow-up. Refractory RM was defined as nasal decongestant use once per day continuously for ≥4 weeks despite medical therapy. Patients with concomitant sinus disease and nonrhinitis conditions were excluded. Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT22), Nasal Symptom Score (NSS), and nasal medication use were assessed. Patients who ceased decongestants were compared with ongoing users. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients (age 48.4 [5.0] years, 50% female) were assessed. Median follow-up was 3.4(1.6-6.2) years. Total cessation of decongestants was achieved in 91.1%, while 5.4% had intermittent use, and 3.6% reported daily use. Ongoing users had higher odds of concomitant asthma (40.0% vs. 3.9%; odds ratio [OR], 16.33 [1.7-159.75]; p = 0.036), reduced symptom improvement (ΔSNOT22, -4.6 [15.7] vs. 27.1 [17], p = 0.009 and ΔNSS, -1.0 [4.2] vs. -6.6 [5.1], p = 0.025), and greater ongoing use of nasal corticosteroid (60.0% vs. 5.9%; OR 24.0 [2.8-203.1]) and saline sprays (40% vs. 3.9%; OR 16.3 [1.7-159.8]) but showed no difference in allergy status (OR, 0.7[0.1-7.1]), previous surgery (OR, 1.0[0.1-10.2]), gastroesophageal reflux (OR 1.0[0.1-10.2], or underlying anxiety/depression (OR 6.1[0.8-45.9]) compared with those who ceased. CONCLUSION: Surgically re-establishing a nasal airway was associated with long-term decongestant cessation and symptom improvement in medically refractory RM.

Intracanalicular Vestibular Schwannoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Therapeutics Outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis summarizing the current evidence on the management of intracanalicular vestibular schwannoma. DATA SOURCES: Embase (1947-), Medline (1946-), Cochrane library (1947-), Scopus (2010-), and CINAHL (1961-) were searched from 1969 to October 5, 2019 (50 years). STUDY SELECTION: A search strategy was performed to identify patients with vestibular schwannoma confined to the internal auditory canal without extension to the cerebellopontine angle. Studies with patients aged less than 18, Neurofibromatosis type 2, revision cases, and non-English language were excluded. DATA EXTRACTION: A standardized collection sheet was used for the extracted data and a quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale with the comparability criterion omitted. DATA SYNTHESIS: Seventy-one studies were included with 24 on observation, 14 on radiotherapy, and 34 on surgery. The primary outcome was serviceable hearing preservation. Secondary outcomes were preservation of facial nerve function, growth, involution, and dizziness. Sub-analysis on the type of surgery and type of radiotherapy were performed. Excel 2016 with MIX 2.0 Pro add-on package was used to analyze the data and create forest plots. Data were presented in proportion with a 95% confidence interval. CONCLUSIONS: Serviceable hearing was observed in 31% of patients after observation, 56% after radiotherapy, and 51% after surgical treatment with mean follow-up time of 4.04 years, 4.92 years, and 2.23 years, respectively. Facial nerve function was found to be best preserved in both observation and radiotherapy groups. Vestibular schwannoma growth occurred in 33% of patients under observation. Involution occurred in 2% of patients under observation and in 38% after radiotherapy.

Health Impairment From Nasal Airway Obstruction and Changes in Health Utility Values From Septorhinoplasty.

IMPORTANCE: The association of nasal airway obstruction with health is significant, and the health care resources utilized in open septorhinoplasty need to be included in health economic analyses. OBJECTIVES: To describe the association of nasal airway obstruction and subsequent open septorhinoplasty with patient health. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A prospective case series study was conducted from September 30, 2009, to October 29, 2015, at 2 tertiary rhinologic centers in Sydney, Australia, among 144 consecutive adult patients (age, ≥18 years) with nasal airway obstruction from septal and nasal valve disorders. INTERVENTIONS: Open septorhinoplasty. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Patients were assessed before undergoing open septorhinoplasty and then 6 months after the procedure. Health utility values (HUVs) were derived from the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. Nasal obstruction severity was also measured using the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire and the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 questionnaires. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients (85 women and 59 men; mean [SD] age, 38 [13] years) were assessed. The baseline mean (SD) HUV for patients in this study was 0.72 (0.09), which was below the weighted mean (SD) Australian norm of 0.81 (0.22). After open septorhinoplasty, the mean (SD) HUV improved to 0.78 (0.12) (P < .001). Improvements in HUV were associated with changes in disease-specific patient-reported outcome measures, including Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation scores (r = -0.48; P = .01) and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 scores (r = -0.68; P = .01). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Patients with nasal airway obstruction reported baseline HUVs that were lower than the Australian norm and similar to those in individuals with chronic diseases with significant health expenditure. There was a clinically and statistically significant improvement in HUVs after open septorhinoplasty that was associated with a reduction in Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 22 scores. Outcomes from this study may be used for health economic analyses of the benefit associated with open septorhinoplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Real-life treatment of rhinitis in Australia: a historical cohort study of prescription and over-the-counter therapies for patients with and without additional respiratory disease.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to explore rhinitis therapy purchases in different Australian regions for patients with and without additional respiratory disease, using both doctor's prescriptions and over-the-counter (OTC) medications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It was a historical cohort study of pharmacy-related claims that included prescription or OTC rhinitis therapy, with or without asthma/COPD therapy, from January 2013 to December 2014. RESULTS: Overall, 4,247,193 prescription and OTC rhinitis treatments were purchased from 909 pharmacies over a calendar year; the majority were single-therapy purchases for rhinitis only patients. More multiple-therapy was purchased for rhinitis and asthma/COPD patients (4.4%) than for rhinitis only patients (4.0%), with a greater proportion purchased in VIC, SA and TAS (4.7% of rhinitis only patients and 4.5% of rhinitis and asthma/COPD patients) than in other areas. Dual therapy of oral antihistamine (OAH) and intranasal corticosteroid (INS) were the most frequently purchased multiple-therapy, with higher purchasing rates for rhinitis and asthma/COPD patients (2.6%) than for rhinitis only patients (1.6%). The most frequently purchased single therapy was OAH (70.1% of rhinitis only patients and 57.3% of rhinitis and asthma/COPD patients). First-line INS therapy was more likely to be purchased for rhinitis and asthma/COPD patients (15.3% by prescription and 11.7% OTC) than for rhinitis only patients (5.0% by prescription and 9.2% OTC); however, geographical differences in the proportion of therapies purchased OTC were noted, with a lower proportion of OTC OAH and INS purchases in Queensland and the Northern Territory for patients with and without comorbid respiratory disease. CONCLUSION: Purchases of first-line INS therapy are more likely for patients with comorbid respiratory disease if they have received prescriptions and information/advice from their general practitioner. The study results indicate a need for patient information/education at the point-of-sale of OTC OAHs to enable patients to assess their nasal symptoms and receive treatment support from pharmacists. Greater availability to INSs in pharmacies as well as guidance from current guidelines and instruction in correct intranasal technique may also lead to greater uptake of INSs.

Association of Mental Health Status With Perception of Nasal Function.

IMPORTANCE: Mental health issues are thought to be overrepresented among patients undergoing rhinoplasty and may be associated with patient presentation prior to surgery. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of poor mental health with perception of nasal function. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A cross-sectional study of patients presenting for airway assessment was performed from December 1, 2011, to October 31, 2015, at 2 tertiary rhinoplasty centers in Sydney, Australia. Mental health was independently defined preoperatively by the Mental Component Summary of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey version 2 (a score of <40 indicated poor mental well-being), the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (a score of <15 indicated low self-esteem), and the Dysmorphic Concerns Questionnaire (a score of >11 indicated above-average dysmorphic concerns). MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Nasal function was assessed with patient-reported outcome measures, including the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Scale, the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test, a visual analog scale to rate ease of breathing on the left and right sides, and Likert scales to assess overall function and nasal obstruction. Nasal airflow was assessed by nasal peak inspiratory flow, nasal airway resistance, and minimum cross-sectional area. RESULTS: Among 495 patients in the study (302 women and 193 men; mean [SD] age, 36.5 [13.6] years), compared with patients with good mental health, those with poor mental health had poorer scores in all patient-reported outcome measures, including the visual analog scale for the left side (mean [SD], 51 [25] vs 42 [25]; P = .001), visual analog scale for the right side (mean [SD], 54 [24] vs 45 [26]; P < .001), Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Scale (mean [SD], 2.64 [0.95] vs 1.96 [1.04]; P < .001), 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (mean [SD], 2.14 [0.84] vs 1.33 [0.83]; P < .001), nasal obstruction (58 of 145 [40.2%] vs 83 of 350 [23.7%] with severe or worse obstruction; P < .001), and nasal function (72 of 145 [49.7%] vs 111 of 350 [31.8%] with poor or worse function; P < .001). Subclinical differences in nasal peak inspiratory flow could be demonstrated, but all other nasal airflow measures were similar. Low self-esteem produced a similar pattern, but dysmorphia did not. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Poor mental health status is associated with a poorer self-perception of nasal function compared with those who are mentally healthy with clinically similar nasal airflow. Clinicians should be aware that patients with poor mental health reporting obstructed airflow may in part be representing an extension of their negative emotions rather than true obstruction and may require further assessment prior to surgery. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Endoscopic transnasal craniotomy and the resection of craniopharyngioma.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To describe the utility of a large transnasal craniotomy and its reconstruction in the surgical management of patients with craniopharyngioma. STUDY DESIGN: Observational retrospective cohort study. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients treated in an academic neurosurgery/rhinology practice between 2000 and 2007. Patient characteristics (age, sex, follow-up), tumor factors (size, position extension, previous surgery), type of repair (pedicled mucosal flaps, free mucosal grafts), and outcomes (visual, endocrine, and surgical morbidity) were defined and sought in patients who had an entirely endoscopic resection of extensive craniopharyngioma (defined as requiring removal of the planum sphenoidale in addition to sella exposure in the approach). RESULTS: Seven patients had an entirely endoscopic resection of extensive craniopharyngioma during the study period. Mean age was 23.4 years (standard deviation +/- 16.3). Mean tumor size was 3.2 cm (standard deviation +/- 2.0). The majority of these pathologies had extensive suprasellar disease, and two (28.6%) had ventricular disease. Cerebrospinal fluid leak rate was 29% (2 of 7). These leaks occurred only in reconstructions with free mucosal grafts. There were no cerebrospinal fluid leaks in patients who had vascularized pedicled septal flap repairs. CONCLUSIONS: The endoscopic management of large craniopharyngioma emphasizes recent advancements in endoscopic skull base surgery. The ability to provide exposure through a large (4 cm+) transnasal craniotomy, near-field assessment of neurovascular structures, and the successful reconstruction of a large skull defect have significantly advanced the field in the past decade. The use of a two-surgeon approach and bilateral pedicled septal mucosal flaps have greatly enhanced the reliability of this approach.