Efficacy of Normal Saline Nasal Spray Added to Standard Treatment Regimen of Chronic Rhinosinusitis: A Randomised Controlled Trial.

Chronic Rhinosinusitis is characterized by inflammation of lining of nose and paranasal sinuses leading to nasal blockage/discharge, facial pressure/pain and loss of smell sensation, generally treated with medical therapy initially. Nasal saline irrigation is one of the treatment modalities commonly used to improve symptoms. The aim was to evaluate efficacy of adding normal saline nasal spray to standard treatment regimen of chronic rhinosinusitis. A randomized, controlled, single blinded study with 40 chronic rhinosinusitis patients. Study group was prescribed Normal Saline nasal spray (1 puff in each nostril, thrice daily) along with topical corticosteroids (Mometasone furoate nasal spray, 1 puff in each nostril, twice daily; 1 puff = 50 µg), and oral antibiotics (Amoxicillin + Clavulanic acid, 30 mg/kg, twice daily), and the control group was only prescribed topical corticosteroids and oral antibiotics. Patients were evaluated using Lund-Kennedy endoscopic scores and Sino-Nasal Outcome Test before and after treatment. There was a significant improvement in LKES, with pre-treatment and post-treatment scores for control group being 5.35 ± 2.43 vs 3.70 ± 1.95 respectively (p = 0.0116), whereas for test group, pre-treatment and post-treatment scores were 8.15 ± 2.62 vs 6.05 ± 2.04 respectively (p = 0.0037). Improvement in SNOT-22 scores were observed as well, with pre-treatment and post-treatment scores for control group being 38.90 ± 12.01 vs 25.70 ± 9.21 respectively (p = 0.0002), whereas for test group, pre-treatment and post-treatment scores were 49.85 ± 11.38 vs 31.55 ± 9.91 respectively (p < 0.0001). The study suggests that there is additional benefit in usage of normal saline in form of symptomatic relief as well as clinical improvement.

Importance of an Ent Surgeon in Maggot Removal, Improper Attempt Leads to Deadly Complications: A Case Report.

Myiasis is caused by the larvae of Diptera. Infestation of maggots in ears and nose is extremely dangerous because of their anatomical proximity to brain. Treatment is primarily medical but requires surgical expertise when progressed further. We report a rare case of a two and a half year old girl child with aural myiasis leading to tympanic membrane perforation and required surgical removal of the maggots.

A Cadaveric Study of Anatomical and Radiological Correlation of Mastoid Air Cells System in Relation to its Morphology.

A cadaveric study to know the anatomical and radiological correlation between the mastoid air cell system in relation to its volume and morphology. This is a rare and one of its kind of cadaveric study on temporal bone in which comparison of pre dissection and post cortical mastoidectomy dissection on x-ray mastoid in relation to their dimensions. To study the anatomical and radiological correlation of mastoid air cell system in relation to its morphology using pre and post dissection x-ray measurements and dissection method. 30 adult cadaveric, temporal bone cortical mastoidectomy dissections were performed and X-ray mastoid with a pre and post mastoid dissection measurements using vernier caliper was done. Further 3-D analysis of volume of mastoid cavity compared with a post dissection digital radiographic measurements was carried out. On statistical analysis, mean surface area of MACS, shortest length between sigmoidsinus and posterior wall of EAC, also shortest distance between dural plate and mastoid tip, in pre and post dissection x-ray mastoid and in direct mastoid cavity measurements were not found to be significant. Mastoidectomy being the treatment of choice in day to day practise in many cases this study hopes to add up to the present understanding for the MACS dynamics and assesses the possible anatomical variations that can exist. This study helps us to find the approximate time required for surgery to perform cortical mastoidectomy.

Outcome of Septorhinoplasty in Deviated Nose Deformity: One Year Cross-Sectional Study.

To evaluate outcome of Septorhinoplasty in Deviated nose deformity using Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale and Rhinoplasty outcome evaluation score (ROE). This observational study was conducted in the department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery of KLE University's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Center, Belagavi from January 2015 to December 2015. Forty patients were evaluated and comparisons were made for NOSE score preoperatively and postoperatively. Comparison of decrease in NOSE score with age distribution, sex distribution, type of septorhinoplasty, ROE score of patients and ROE score of surgeons were also made. ROE score of patients and ROE score of surgeons were correlated. Their statistical significance (p value) and Cohen's kappa (k) were calculated. Out of 40 patients, there were total of 16 Open Septorhinoplasty cases and 24 Close septorhinoplasty cases. NOSE score preoperatively and postoperatively showed statistically significant i.e., total score (p = 0.001). ROE score of patients and surgeons had poor correlation (k = 0.1; p = 0.2). Decrease in NOSE score postoperatively with ROE score of patients showed statistically significant (p = 0.01). There was no significance on comparison of decrease in NOSE score postoperatively with ROE score of surgeons (p = 0.09), age distribution (p = 0.1), sex distribution (p = 0.2) and septorhinoplasty (open/close) (p = 0.2). The outcome of septorhinoplasty has been validated with NOSE scale and ROE score and has been proven that there is improvement in nasal obstruction and quality of life after septorhinoplasty. The quality of life scoring is essential for patients subjected to septorhinoplasty for assessing success of the surgery.

Management of the neck in early oral cancers: Is the verdict out?

The management of patients with the clinically negative neck (N0) in early oral cancers awaits a clear mandate despite growing evidence favoring elective neck dissection. Having a general policy of operating all N0 neck may indeed increase the number of unnecessary neck dissection in the true pathological N0 necks, a more commonly encountered scenario. This controversy needs to be looked beyond statistical evidence to address a larger question to "does the neck truly harbor disease," thus, refining the early age old debate. This article highlights the feasibility of wait and watch policy, while elaborating a stringent algorithm to judiciously select patients in whom the neck may be safely observed.