The effects of the time of intranasal splinting on bacterial colonization, postoperative complications, and patient discomfort after septoplasty operations / Efeitos do tempo de permanência de splints intranasais sobre a colonização bacteriana, complicações no pós-operatório e desconforto do paciente após septoplastia

Abstract Introduction: The main reason for nasal tampon placement after septoplasty is to prevent postoperative hemorrhage, while the secondary purpose is internal stabilization after operations involving the cartilaginous-bony skeleton of the nose. Silicone intranasal splints are as successful as other materials in controlling postoperative hemorrhages of septal origin. The possibility of leaving the splints intranasally for extended periods helps stabilize the septum in the midline. However, there is nothing in the literature about how long these splints can be retained inside the nasal cavity without increasing the risk of infection, postoperative complications, and patient discomfort. Objective: The current study aimed to evaluate the association between the duration of intranasal splinting and bacterial colonization, postoperative complications, and patient discomfort. Methods: Patients who had undergone septoplasty were divided into three groups according to the day of removal of the silicone splints. The splints were removed on the fifth, seventh, and tenth postoperative days. The removed splints were microbiologically cultured. Early and late complications were assessed, including local and systemic infections, tissue necrosis, granuloma formation, mucosal crusting, synechia, and septal perforation. Postoperative patient discomfort was evaluated by scoring the levels of pain and nasal obstruction. Results: No significant difference was found in the rate of bacterial colonization among the different groups. Decreased mucosal crusting and synechia were detected with longer usage intervals of intranasal silicone splints. Postoperative pain and nasal obstruction were also diminished by the third postoperative day. Conclusions: Silicone splints were well tolerated by the patients and any negative effects on postoperative patient comfort were limited. In fact, prolonged splint usage intervals reduced late complications. Long-term silicone nasal splint usage is a reliable, effective, and comfortable method in patients with excessive mucosal damage and in whom long-term stabilization of the bony and cartilaginous septum is essential.

Resumo Introdução: A principal razão para a colocação de tampões nasais em septoplastias é a prevenção de hemorragia pós-operatória, enquanto o objetivo secundário é a estabilização interna após cirurgias que envolvam o esqueleto cartilaginoso do nariz. Os splints intranasais de silicone são tão eficazes como outros materiais para o controle de hemorragias do septo no pós-operatório. A possibilidade de manter os splints intranasais por longos períodos ajuda a estabilizar o septo na linha média. No entanto, não há nada na literatura sobre quanto tempo esses splints podem ser mantidos na cavidade nasal sem aumentar o risco de infecção, complicações no pós-operatório e causar desconforto ao paciente. Objetivos: O presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a associação entre o tempo de tamponamento com splints intranasais e colonização bacteriana, complicações no pós-operatório e desconforto do paciente. Método: Os pacientes submetidos a septoplastia foram divididos em três grupos, de acordo com o dia da remoção dos splints de silicone. Os splints foram removidos no 5°, 7° e 10° dias de pós-operatório, e a seguir, cultivados microbiologicamente. Complicações precoces e tardias foram avaliadas, incluindo infecções locais e sistêmicas, necrose do tecido, formação de granulomas, crostas na mucosa, sinéquias e perfuração do septo. O desconforto do paciente no pós-operatório foi avaliado com o uso de pontuação dos níveis de dor e de obstrução nasal. Resultados: Nenhuma diferença significante foi encontrada na taxa de colonização bacteriana entre os diferentes grupos. Diminuições da formação de crostas na mucosa e de sinéquias foram detectadas com tempos mais longos de uso de splints de silicone. A dor e a obstrução nasal também diminuíram no terceiro dia de pós-operatório. Conclusões: O uso de splints de silicone foi bem tolerado pelos pacientes, e seus efeitos negativos sobre o conforto do paciente no pós-operatório foram limitados. De fato, o tempo prolongado de uso teve um efeito redutor sobre as complicações tardias. O uso prolongado de splint nasal de silicone é um método confiável, eficaz e pouco desconfortável em pacientes com lesão excessiva da mucosa e naqueles cuja estabilização óssea e cartilaginosa do septo a longo prazo é essencial.

The effects of the time of intranasal splinting on bacterial colonization, postoperative complications, and patient discomfort after septoplasty operations.

INTRODUCTION: The main reason for nasal tampon placement after septoplasty is to prevent postoperative hemorrhage, while the secondary purpose is internal stabilization after operations involving the cartilaginous-bony skeleton of the nose. Silicone intranasal splints are as successful as other materials in controlling postoperative hemorrhages of septal origin. The possibility of leaving the splints intranasally for extended periods helps stabilize the septum in the midline. However, there is nothing in the literature about how long these splints can be retained inside the nasal cavity without increasing the risk of infection, postoperative complications, and patient discomfort. OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to evaluate the association between the duration of intranasal splinting and bacterial colonization, postoperative complications, and patient discomfort. METHODS: Patients who had undergone septoplasty were divided into three groups according to the day of removal of the silicone splints. The splints were removed on the fifth, seventh, and tenth postoperative days. The removed splints were microbiologically cultured. Early and late complications were assessed, including local and systemic infections, tissue necrosis, granuloma formation, mucosal crusting, synechia, and septal perforation. Postoperative patient discomfort was evaluated by scoring the levels of pain and nasal obstruction. RESULTS: No significant difference was found in the rate of bacterial colonization among the different groups. Decreased mucosal crusting and synechia were detected with longer usage intervals of intranasal silicone splints. Postoperative pain and nasal obstruction were also diminished by the third postoperative day. CONCLUSIONS: Silicone splints were well tolerated by the patients and any negative effects on postoperative patient comfort were limited. In fact, prolonged splint usage intervals reduced late complications. Long-term silicone nasal splint usage is a reliable, effective, and comfortable method in patients with excessive mucosal damage and in whom long-term stabilization of the bony and cartilaginous septum is essential.

Parathyroid scintigraphy and minimal invasive surgery in parathyroid adenomas.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify the diagnostic capacity of the technetium 99m sestamibi scintigraphy with single photon emission computed tomography for localizing parathyroid pathologies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data of 13 patients (4 males, 9 females; mean age 49.23 years; range 27 to 63 years) who had minimally invasive parathyroidectomy due to primary hyperparathyroidism at the Haseki Training and Research Hospital Ear-Nose-Throat clinic between January 2013 and December 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Two patients were excluded due to incomplete documentation. RESULTS: Mean preoperative parathyroid hormone and calcium levels were 284.36 (134-1,083 pg/mL) and 11.9 (10.7-13.5 mg/dL), respectively. The operation was deemed adequate if intraoperative parathyroid hormone dropped by 50% from the preoperative level or frozen section analysis showed hypercellular gland or adenoma. Only sestamibi scintigraphy results were consistent with focal exploration findings in all patients. Focal exploration and parathyroid adenoma excision via minimally invasive parathyroidectomy were successfully carried out in 10 patients with single adenoma confirmed by sestamibi. CONCLUSION: Technetium 99m sestamibi scintigraphy with single photon emission computed tomography and frozen section analysis may provide more meaningful information and be more advantageous compared to other preoperative localization techniques.

The effects of different radiofrequency energy magnitudes on mucociliary clearance in cases of turbinate hypertrophy.

BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) application is a commonly used technique for the treatment of inferior turbinate hypertrophies. As the number of RFA applications has increased, some problems have been reported regarding the patient discomfort. The most frequent problems among these are the extended turbinate crusting and nasal obstruction. METHODS: Patients who received RFA were divided into two groups based on the applied energy value during the employment of the technique. Each group was including 30 patients. The patients in the first group received 8 watts and those in the second received 12 watts of energy. Saccharin transport times (STT) were measured four times. First a baseline measurement was performed followed by measurements on the 15th, 30th, and 45th days after the initial procedure. Nasal obstruction was twice assessed by peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) measurements, which were taken both before the procedure and on the 45th day after the procedure. Turbinate surface crustings that were observed for more than 15 days were considered as an extended turbinate crusting. RESULTS: The STT and PNIF measurements taken before the procedure were not significantly different between the two groups. Postprocedure STT measurements were significantly higher than the preprocedure measurements taken in both groups, and were stable within the physiological range. The STT increase in Group II was significantly greater than in Group I. Postprocedure PNIF values in both groups were significantly higher than the preprocedure values. Group II had showed a significantly higher rate of crusting. CONCLUSION: Higher magnitudes of energy elongate the healing process of the turbinate tissue and they affect more extensively the mucociliary clearance. Elongation of the healing process of the turbinate tissue may increase the rate of postprocedural complications such as turbinate surface crusting.