Endoscopic transnasal repair of two cases of spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid fistula in the foramen rotundum.

We report two female patients aged 16 and 33 who presented with spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhoea. Beta-2 transferrin was positive in both cases. Initial high-resolution CT showed fluid in the maxillary sinus but no obvious bony defect. MR imaging revealed maxillary sinus cysts with high signal on T2 sequences. Endoscopic transnasal surgery with intrathecal fluorescein was undertaken and in both cases a leak was identified from foramen rotundum and repaired. Both patients are symptom free at 6 months. These cases highlight the rare occurrence of spontaneous CSF leak from the foramen rotundum, and how they can be effectively repaired using the endoscopic transnasal approach.

The fate of chronic rhinosinusitis sufferers after maximal medical therapy.

BACKGROUND: Many chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) treatment regimes revolve around "one-off" maximal medical therapy (MMT) protocols, and although many patients initially respond, long-term control is unpredictable. The value of imaging, endoscopy, and patient progress after MMT for CRS is assessed. METHODS: Symptomatic CRS patients with computed tomography (CT)-confirmed disease were recruited at a tertiary rhinology clinic. All patients received at least a 3-week oral prednisone course as part of their MMT. Pretreatment and posttreatment nasal symptoms scores (NSS), quality of life (22-item SinoNasal Outcomes Test [SNOT-22]), and CT (Lund-Mackay [LM]) scores were recorded along with post-MMT endoscopy status. RESULTS: A total of 86 patients (38% female, age 46 ± 13 years) met inclusion criteria. Pre-MMT and post-MMT LM scores were 10.9 ± 5.3 and 8.3 ± 5.5 (change 2.6 ± 3.8, p < 0.001). Median follow-up after their initial post-MMT assessment was 6.3 (interquartile range [IQR] 17) months. At initial post-MMT review, 43 (50%) were symptomatic with persistent radiologic disease ("symptomatic CRS"), 12 (14%) were asymptomatic with no radiologic disease ("resolved CRS"), 21 (24%) were asymptomatic with persistent radiologic disease ("asymptomatic CRS"), and 10 (12%) were symptomatic with no radiologic disease ("alternate diagnosis"). Pre-MMT NSS and SNOT-22 were similar among groups. The "asymptomatic CRS" group had the highest age (52 ± 11 years, p = 0.07). The "alternate diagnosis" group had the lowest initial LM scores (5.2 ± 2.9, p = 0.001). Of the "asymptomatic CRS" patients, 43% relapsed between 3 and 23 months (median 6; IQR 4.4 months) post-MMT and 29% eventually underwent surgery. CONCLUSION: Although MMT for CRS achieved symptomatic relief in 38% patients, objective evidence of disease was associated with clinical relapse. The concepts of "response" to medical therapy and the need to "control" long-term inflammatory burden need to be balanced.

Silastic splints reduce middle meatal adhesions after endoscopic sinus surgery.

BACKGROUND: Adhesions frequently form between the middle turbinate and lateral nasal wall after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and are a possible cause for surgical failure. Many absorbable and nonabsorbable spacers have been tried to improve healing. This study was designed to ascertain whether placement of a thin silastic splint into the middle meatus after sinus surgery for 2 weeks reduces adhesion formation and whether a reduction in the adhesion rate improves patient outcomes in the early postoperative phase. METHODS: Forty-two patients who were scheduled to undergo ESS for chronic rhinosinusitis were randomized to have a silastic splint placed into the middle meatus on one side of the nose but not the other at the completion of surgery. Splints were removed 2 weeks postoperatively. Symptom scores were recorded for each side of the nose up to 12 weeks after surgery and ethmoid cavities were graded at the 6- and 12-week visits along with assessment of adhesions. Patients were blinded to which side was splinted as was the surgeon assessing ethmoid cavities at 6 and 12 weeks. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients completed 12 weeks of follow-up. Nasal obstruction and facial pain/discomfort were significantly higher on splinted sides for the first 2 weeks. More interventions were performed to debride adhesions in nonsplinted sides. Endoscopy revealed no adhesions at 12 weeks for sides treated with a splint whereas 9 of 33 nonsplinted sides had persistent adhesions. There were no significant differences in symptom or ethmoid cavity scores at 6 or 12 weeks between sides treated with splints versus sides treated without splints or between sides with adhesions versus without adhesions. CONCLUSION: Middle meatal silastic splints reduce adhesions after ESS but increase early nasal obstruction and discomfort. Their use did not significantly change symptom or ethmoid cavity scores at 12 weeks.

15-year audit of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage at Dunedin Hospital.

Post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage is a significant complication because of its frequency and consequences. Increases in post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage prevalence have been reported. There is a controversy about whether increasing the use of diathermy techniques or anti-platelet aggregation effects of analgesia could have caused this increase. We carried out an audit of post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage and examined the rates of readmission for bleeding during the period 1990-2004. We also recorded the surgical technique used and the use of perioperative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids. During this period there has been a significant increase in post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage with an average annual increase of 15.3% (P<0.0001, 95% confidence interval 8.5-22.5%). The increase is coincidental with the change-over to predominant diathermy technique and a routine use of postoperative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids.

Repair of injuries to the thoracic aorta and great vessels: Auckland, New Zealand 1995-2004.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic injury to the aorta and great vessels is a surgical emergency with survivors who reach hospital typically having suffered multiple injuries. There are several diagnostic and treatment options available, with new modalities emerging to challenge the gold standards. A review of recent trends in management of these injuries in Auckland, New Zealand was carried out and patient outcomes assessed. METHODS: The charts of patients admitted to Auckland and Green Lane Hospital's cardiothoracic intensive care unit, with a diagnosis of injury to the thoracic aorta or great vessels since 1995 were retrospectively reviewed. Imaging techniques, injury types and treatment methods were analysed along with survival and neurological morbidity. RESULTS: In the study period our unit operated on 29 cases of traumatic rupture of the thoracic aorta or great vessels. Digital subtraction angiography and more recently, multidetector computed tomography scanning have been used to diagnose the injury. Twenty-seven injuries were to the aorta and two to the innominate artery. The 30-day survival rate of those reaching the operating theatre was 90%. There was one case of postoperative hemiparesis and five cases of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, but none of spinal cord ischaemic injury. Endoluminal stent grafting was carried out for one patient, without complication. CONCLUSIONS: Good survival rates exist for those who reach surgery for traumatic rupture of the aorta or great vessels. Multidetector computed tomography scanning is an alternative to digital subtraction angiography, potentially reducing treatment delay. In addition endoluminal grafting as opposed to open repair has been reported as a safe technique. The injury remains a surgical emergency requiring urgent diagnosis and transfer to an equipped cardiothoracic unit for definitive treatment.

Consumptive coagulopathy complicating juvenile angiofibroma.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and clinical significance of deranged clotting results among patients with juvenile (nasopharyngeal) angiofibroma. METHODS: Twenty consecutive patients treated for juvenile angiofibroma between March 1998 and July 2002 in whom preoperative coagulation tests were performed were selected. Results were compared with normal laboratory values, and clinical and histological records were retrospectively analysed. RESULTS: Four out of 20 patients were found to have abnormal tests, consistent with concurrent consumptive coagulopathies. One patient was found to have a raised D-dimer level. This resolved following removal of the lesion. CONCLUSIONS: The association between larger arterio-venous malformations and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy is well described (Kasabach-Merritt syndrome). Our findings suggest that low-grade consumptive coagulopathies may also complicate smaller juvenile angiofibromas, implying that preoperative coagulation screening tests may have a role in ensuring optimal perioperative haemostasis.