The Effect of Subcutaneous Dexamethasone to Reduce Edema and Ecchymosis in Rhinoplasty Patients.

BACKGROUND: Rhinoplasty is one of the most common types of cosmetic surgery undertaken. In most rhinoplasty patients, an osteotomy is used to reshape the nasal pyramid. The most common complications following osteotomy are edema and ecchymosis. Edema and ecchymosis have a significant effect on a patients' satisfaction with surgery and their return to social activities. For this purpose, various methods have been used to reduce edema and ecchymosis, including intravenous injection of corticosteroids, cold compresses, and tranexamic acid. OBJECTIVE: To reduce edema and ecchymosis in rhinoplasty patients by administering a subcutaneous injection of dexamethasone and thereby prevent unwanted systemic side effects of corticosteroid treatments. METHOD: We conduct a hospital-based nonrandomised study of rhinoplasty patients, with their informed consent treated over the course of one year. Dexamethasone was injected on one side of consenting patient's face immediately before surgery and the results were compared with the opposite side that was not injected. The face images of patients were taken on the front view on the first, third, seventh, and fourteenth days following the treatment. The grade of edema and ecchymosis encountered in each patient was determined by three ENT specialists. The degree of edema and ecchymosis was compared on the injected and noninjected sides and the findings were statistically analysed. The nonrandomised study considered 42 rhinoplasty patients. The mean age of patients was 27.9 years and their age ranged between 17 and 52 years. For 20 patients (47.6%), injection was performed on the right side, and for 22 patients (52.3%), injection was performed on the left side. Findings. The statistical analysis of patient outcomes reveals that a supraperiosteal injection of dexamethasone was not effective in reducing edema and ecchymosis after rhinoplasty.

Effect of Different Loading Doses of Dexmedetomidine on Controlled Hypotension and the Incidence of Bradycardia During Rhinoplasty: A Clinical Trial.

Controlled hypotension, with a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 60 mmHg - 70 mmHg, provides a bloodless and visible surgical field during rhinoplasty. It has been shown that dexmedetomidine, an α2-adrenoreceptor agonist, is a suitable choice in this regard. One of the disadvantages of this drug is the possibility of severe bradycardia during infusion. Therefore, we compared lower intravenous (IV) loading doses to determine whether the hypotensive effect of the drug was preserved and the bradycardia incidence decreased. In this randomized, double-blinded clinical trial, 81 patients aged 18 to 50 years with the American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status (ASA-PS) class I and II, scheduled for rhinoplasty randomly received 1.0, 0.9, and 0.8 µg/kg (named as groups 1.0, 0.9, and 0.8, respectively) of IV dexmedetomidine before the induction of anesthesia followed by infusion (0.3 - 0.7 µg/kg/h) during operation. The patients' heart rate (HR), MAP, the requirements for nitroglycerin (NTG) and extra fentanyl, as well as the incidence of bradycardia, were recorded. Bleeding and visibility of the surgical field were scored by the surgeon using a 6-point visual scale. MAPs, HRs, and consumption of NTG and extra fentanyl were similar in the studied groups. The surgical field was more visible and bloodless in group 1.0 compared to group 0.8 (P < 0.001); the differences were not significant between groups 1.0 and 0.9 (P = 0.605). The incidence (P = 0.027) and the severity of bradycardia (P = 0.017) were higher in the groups with higher loading doses. We concluded that dexmedetomidine is an acceptable agent to provide controlled hypotension. A loading dose of 0.9 µg/kg, but not 0.8 µg/kg, provides similar surgical field conditions as the dose of 1 µg/kg. Furthermore, despite the decrease in the incidence of bradycardia, the hypotensive effect of the drug is preserved.

Effect of Low-Pressure Drainage Suction on Pharyngocutaneous Fistula After Total Laryngectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Pharyngocutaneous fistula (PCF) is one of the most severe multifactorial complications following laryngectomy. The current study aimed at determining the effect of a low-pressure vacuum drain on the incidence of PCF after total laryngectomy. METHODS: The current randomized clinical trial was conducted on 35 patients undergoing total laryngectomy in Hazrat Rasoul Akram and Firoozgar hospitals in Tehran, Iran. The subjects were divided into the vacuum drain (n = 15) and control (without vacuum drain) (n = 20) groups. The incidence of PCF and the recovery time were recorded. RESULTS: The rate of PCF formation from the stoma and wound edges was significantly lower in the low-pressure vacuum drain group than in the control group (6.7% vs 40%) (P < .05). There was no significant difference between the groups in time to recovery from PCF. CONCLUSION: The low-pressure vacuum drain method is effective in reducing the incidence of PCF after total laryngectomy.

Assessing the Clinical Value of Performing CT Scan before Rhinoplasty Surgery.

INTRODUCTION: The endonasal mucosal or anatomic pathologies could lead to poor functional results and dissatisfaction after rhinoplasty. Although computed tomography (CT) scan has become an integral part of the diagnostic paradigm for patients with pathologies of the paranasal sinuses, the use of CT scan for preoperative evaluation of patients seeking rhinoplasty is up for debate. Our aim in this study was to compare the efficacy of CT scan in diagnosing nasal pathologies with other evaluating tools in patients undergoing rhinoplasty. DESIGN: In this randomized controlled trial study, 74 consecutive patients seeking cosmetic rhinoplasty referred to otorhinolaryngology clinic were randomly assigned into three groups based on the perioperative evaluation method: the CT group, the nasal endoscopy group, and the control group (anterior rhinoscopy only). Surgical planning was made according to perioperative findings, and the identified endonasal pathologies were corrected during the surgery. The functional and aesthetic outcomes of the rhinoplasty were assessed by Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE), Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE), and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) tools before surgery and at 12-month follow-up. RESULTS: All outcome measures improved significantly in either group toward one year after rhinoplasty (all with p value <0.05). Subjects in the CT group demonstrated greater improvement in the NOSE, VAS, and ROE compared to other two groups (NOSE: p value = 0.17; VAS: p value = 0.024; ROE: p value = 0.042). CONCLUSIONS: According to our study, perioperative CT is associated with greater patients' satisfaction and quality of life after rhinoplasty compared to either nasal endoscopy or anterior rhinoscopy. A preoperative CT scan may improve the outcomes of rhinoplasty.

Meatoplasty in Canal wall down Surgery: Our Experience and Literature Review.

INTRODUCTION: Meatoplasty is the final and essential step in performing effective canal wall down surgery for chronic otitis media. In this article we review some previous techniques and discuss our preferred method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this observational case series study, we used this technique in 53 patients (28 male and 25 female) between January 2005 and January 2008. Our survey was completed in 31 patients. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients (83.9%) said their ear appeared normal after the procedure, but five patients (16.1%) complained of some minor change in the shape of their ear. Twenty-nine patients (93.5%) had a completely wide ear canal. The ear canal had some degree of stenosis in two patients (6.5%) post-operatively. CONCLUSION: This technique offers good functional and cosmetic results with minimal manipulation and minimal anatomic disruption.

Controlled Hypotension During Rhinoplasty: A Comparison of Dexmedetomidine with Magnesium Sulfate.

OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed at comparing the efficacy of dexmedetomidine and magnesium sulfate to control blood pressure (BP) during rhinoplasty and the resultant effects on the quality of surgical field in terms of bleeding and visibility. METHODS: The current randomized, prospective, double-blind study was conducted on 60 patients aged 18 to 50 years classified as ASA (American Society of Anesthesiologists) physical status I who were candidates for rhinoplasty. Patients were randomly divided into 2 groups: (1) group Dex, received 1 µg/kg dexmedetomidine in 10 minutes before induction of anesthesia, followed by 0.4 - 0.6 µg/kg/hour during the maintenance of anesthesia, and (2) group Mg, received 40 mg/kg in 10 minutes before anesthesia induction followed by 10 - 15 mg/kg/hour during anesthesia maintenance. In both groups, the goal was to achieve a mean arterial pressure (MAP) of 60 - 70 mmHg. Hemodynamic variables, anesthetic, opioid, muscle relaxant requirements, and surgical field condition were recorded. Sedation score, time to reach modified Aldrete score ≥ 9, and adverse effects including nausea and vomiting (N&V) and shivering were recorded. RESULTS: Controlled hypotension was achieved in both groups. There was no significant difference in MAP between the groups, but heart rate (HR) was significantly lower in the Dex group (P < 0.001), compared with that of the Mg group. Bleeding score was lower (P < 0.001) and surgeon's satisfaction score was higher (P < 0.001) in the Dex group. More patients required fentanyl (P < 0.001) or nitroglycerin (P < 0.001) and the mean fentanyl (P = 0.005) or nitroglycerin (P < 0.001) required doses were higher in the Mg group. Patients in the Dex group required more frequent administration of cisatracurium (P = 0.004). Five patients in the Dex group versus no patients in the Mg group received atropine (P = 0.023). Ramsay sedation score and time to reach modified Aldrete score ≥ 9 were significantly higher in the Dex group (P < 0.001 and P < 0.001, respectively). The incidence rate of N&V and shivering were similar in both groups. CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine was more effective than magnesium to achieve controlled hypotension, and provide a favorable surgical field condition. However, dexmedetomidine also heightened the risk of induced bradycardia and prolonged sedation. These are 2 important points to consider when applying this drug as a hypotensive agent during operation.

An Island Flap Technique for Laryngeal Intracordal Mucous Retention Cysts.

INTRODUCTION: Mucous retention cysts are a subtype of intracordal vocal cysts that may occur spontaneously or may be associated with poor vocal hygiene, and which require optimal treatment. The objective of this study was to present a new laser-assisted microsurgery technique for treating intracordal mucous retention cysts and to describe the final outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study, we assessed the pre-operative and post-operative acoustic analysis, maximum phonation time (MPT), and voice handicap index (VHI) of four patients with a diagnosis of mucous retention cyst. The island flap technique was applied to all patients without any complications. In this procedure, we favored the super-pulse mode using a 2-W power CO2 laser to remove the medial wall of the cyst, before clearing away the lateral wall margins of the cyst using repeat-pulse mode and a 2-W power CO2 laser. Indeed, we maintained the underlying epithelium and lamina propria, including the island flap attached to the vocal ligament. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in the MPT (pre-op,11.05 s; post-op,15.85 s; P=0.002) and the VHI (pre-operative, 72/120; post-operative,27/120; P=0.001) in all patients. Moreover, jitter and shimmer were refined after surgery, but there was no statistically significant relationship between pre-operative and post-operative data (P=0.071) (P=0.622). In the follow-up period (median, 150 days), there was no report of recurrence or mucosal stiffness. CONCLUSION: The island flap procedure in association with CO2 laser microsurgery appears to be a safe and effective treatment option for intracordal mucous retention cysts, but needs further investigation to allow comparison with other methods.