Salvage of impending rhinostomy failure after dacryocystorhinostomy with office-based microdebrider treatment.

PURPOSE: This article is to introduce office-based salvage revision of impending rhinostomy failure after endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR), using a microdebrider. METHODS: The authors conducted retrospective medical chart review of 27 eyes of 26 patients who underwent microdebrider treatment for impending rhinostomy failure in an office setting. After local anesthesia, obstructive soft tissue, interfering with ostium function (granuloma, cicatrization, synechia), was treated with a microdebrider (Osseoduo s120, Bien-Air Surgery, Le Noirmont, Switzerland) within 6 months after primary EN-DCR. Anatomical improvement and functional relief of epiphora were evaluated after revision. RESULTS: The causes of impending rhinostomy failure were granuloma formation (17/27 eyes, 63.0%), cicatrization (8/27 eyes, 29.6%), and synechial formation (2/27 eyes, 7.4%). The surgery did not exceed 5 min in all cases, and partial damage to pre-placed silicone tubes occurred in the first two cases (7.4%). Salvage revision resulted in anatomical success in all eyes, based on patent syringing and a positive functional endoscopic dye test. All cases showed improvement of epiphora after revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Office-based salvage revision using a microdebrider provided effective management of impending rhinostomy failure during early follow-up period after primary EN-DCR. It enabled prompt management of excessive wound healing interfering with ostium function, while performing the routine postoperative nasal debridement.

Surgical Correction of Lower Lid Epiblepharon With Skin-Only Resection Using a Novel Design.

ABSTRACT: This study is to report the surgical outcome of lower lid epiblepharon repair with skin-only resection using a newly designed incision line. A retrospective, noncomparative, interventional case series analysis of 134 eyes of 67 patients, who underwent surgical correction of lower lid epiblepharon with skin-only resection using the new incision design, was performed. After marking the 4 vertical lines at the medial canthus, punctum, midpoint, and lateral canthus, the upper and lower incision lines were drawn from the medial canthus through punctum to the lateral canthus with novel design. After incising the skin along the marked line, gentle dissection of the skin flap from the underlying orbicularis muscle was performed. Only skin flap was excised and closed. The patients were followed up for more than 6months. The mean age of patients was 7.9 ± 3.7 years (range 4-13 years) and the mean follow-up period was 18.0 ± 5.7 months (range 13-31 months). During the follow-up period, recurrence of the epiblepharon was not observed. There was no occurrence of complications such as lower lid ectropion or retraction. Skin-only resection using a newly designed incision line is a simple and effective method to fully correct the medial portion of the lower lid epiblepharon and prevent dog-ear formation or overcorrection at the lateral portion, and prominent lid crease.

The Pre-Sac Reflux Test (PSRT): a new diagnostic test for presaccal stenosis/obstruction.

PURPOSE: To introduce a new procedure, the Pre-Sac Reflux Test (PSRT), to screen for epiphora caused by presaccal stenosis/obstruction, and to determine the reliability of this new test in the diagnosis of presaccal stenosis/obstruction. METHODS: A nonrandomized, prospective, comparative case series of 280 eyes of 140 patients with unilateral presaccal stenosis/obstruction was performed. The PSRT was performed by a masked examiner on both eyes of each patient. After fluorescein staining, the lower lid was everted and lower punctum was observed using a cobalt-blue filter under slit-lamp magnification. After blotting excess fluorescein on the punbtum, the area of lacrimal ampulla was massaged with mild pressure with an index finger. The reflux (billowing of the fluorescein-stained tear) from each lower punctum were compared, and the bilateral symmetry was measured. In the same way, reflux from each upper punctum were compared for bilateral symmetry. The PSRT was considered positive if reflux from punctum was absent, or reduced asymmetrically, compared with that from contralateral punctum. If the test of either upper or lower punctum showed positive, the eye was considered positive. The validity of PSRT was measured by sensitivity and specificity, as well as positive- and negative-predictive values. RESULTS: The PSRT used to diagnose presaccal stenosis/obstruction has a sensitivity of 92.9 % and a specificity of 97.1 %. It has a positive-predictive value of 97.0 % and a negative-predictive value of 93.2 %. CONCLUSIONS: The PSRT is a reliable screening test for diagnosis of presaccal stenosis/obstruction.

Office-based endoscopic revision using a microdebrider for failed endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy.

This article is to introduce office-based endoscopic revision surgery using a microdebrider for failed endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EN-DCR). The authors conducted retrospective, non-comparative, interventional case series analysis of 27 eyes of 24 patients, treated by office-based revision EN-DCR using a microdebrider. After local anesthesia, anatomical failures (cicatrization, granuloma, synechia) after primary EN-DCR were treated with a microdebrider (Osseoduo 120, Bien-Air Surgery, Le Noirmont, Switzerland) in an office setting, and a bicanalicular silicone tube was placed. Anatomical improvement and functional relief of epiphora were evaluated at 6-months after revision. The causes of failed EN-DCR were rhinostomy site cicatrization (17/27, 63.0 %), granulomatous obstruction (7/27, 25.9 %) and synechial formation (3/27, 11.1 %). The anatomical success rate was 100 %, and 85.2 % cases achieved complete relief of epiphora. The surgery did not exceed 10 min in any case and no complications were observed. Office-based revision EN-DCR using a microdebrider provided prompt management of post-DCR epiphora. The portable nature and all-round ability of the microdebrider allowed office-based surgery, which offered advantage to work with the surgeon's own well-trained office staff. Office-based revision EN-DCR can be both time- and money-saving, and might be regarded the treatment of choice for failed EN-DCR.

Mucocele After Orbital Fracture Repair Masquerading as Optic Neuritis.

The authors report a patient of mucocele formation after orbital wall fracture repair masquerading as optic neuritis.A 38-year-old man with a history of medial orbital wall fracture repair with an alloplastic implant 10 years previously, presented with left visual disturbance and mild ocular pain with movement of the left eye of 3-day duration, and a relative afferent papillary defect in his left eye. He reported having cold symptoms 2 weeks before presentation. His symptoms were typical of retrobulbar optic neuritis. Under suspicion of optic neuritis, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging were performed and revealed a large cyst in the sphenoid sinus and ethmoid sinus, just behind the alloplastic implant, that was compressing the medial rectus muscle and optic nerve of the left eye. The patient underwent endoscopic marsupialization of the cyst. Subsequent histologic examinations revealed a cyst lined with ciliated pseudostratified columnar epithelium. The patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course and the visual disturbance resolved. For patients who present solely with optic neuropathy after orbital fracture repair, it is important to be vigilant of potentially rare cause, mucocele formation.

Utility estimation of hypothetical chronic obstructive pulmonary disease health states by the general population and health professionals.

PURPOSE: This study attempted to estimate the utility weights for hypothetical chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) health states, including the effect of exacerbation, and based on utilities elicited from a representative sample using the time trade-off (TTO). METHODS: A total of 200 study subjects were recruited using a quota sampling method in Seoul, Korea. Ten COPD health profiles were described reflecting the severity of COPD and the extent of exacerbation. Respondents evaluated each health state using a visual analogue scale and TTO during a personal interview. TTO values were estimated using a linear mixed model, and the model performance was evaluated in terms of its predictive ability and goodness of fit. RESULTS: The estimated TTO values were 0.824 in moderate, 0.646 in severe, and 0.305 in very severe COPD health states. The estimated utility decrements in TTO varied from 0.082 for a non-serious exacerbation to 0.228 for one non-serious plus one serious exacerbation per year. The mean absolute error of the TTO model was 0.008, and the generalized R(2) was 0.86. CONCLUSION: The social preference of various COPD health states and the utility decrement due to exacerbation can be useful for the economic evaluation of COPD intervention in Korea.

Sequential probing and dilatation in canalicular stenosis.

PURPOSE: To assess the usefulness of sequential probing for diagnosing lacrimal canalicular stenosis, and the effectiveness of bicanalicular silicone intubation after sequential dilatation in treatment. METHODS: Canalicular stenosis was diagnosed by sequential probing in 22 patients (22 eyes) who were misdiagnosed as canalicular obstruction. The patients were treated by bicanalicular silicone intubation after sequential dilatation. Anatomical improvements and functional relief of epiphora were evaluated. In addition, complications were evaluated. RESULTS: The average age of the 22 patients was 57 years, and the average follow-up period was 13 months. The silicone tube was left in place for an average of 14 weeks. The anatomical success rate was 100 %. Fifty-four percent of patients achieved complete relief of epiphora, 32 % partial relief, and 14 % no relief. There were no complications. CONCLUSIONS: Sequential probing is an useful diagnostic method for canalicular stenosis. Bicanalicular silicone intubation after sequential dilatation is a simple and effective treatment, and could be performed as primary procedure for canalicular stenosis before invasive surgery.

Urgent bilateral endoscopic marsupialization for respiratory distress due to bilateral dacryocystitis in a newborn.

We describe an infant with respiratory distress due to bilateral dacryocystoceles and dacryocystitis who was successfully treated with urgent bilateral endoscopic marsupialization. A male infant was brought to our outpatient department 7 days after birth, with red, acutely inflamed swellings near the medial canthal area of both eyes. From birth, there had been bluish swelling near the medial canthal area, and redness and swellings developed within 3 days. On physical examination, the child was afebrile but showed respiratory distress with coarse breathing sound. That day, the infant was admitted and treated with intravenous cefotaxime 150 mg. After withholding oral intake for appropriate preoperative fasting, urgent bilateral probing with endoscopy was done. On endoscopy, huge bilateral congenital dacryocystoceles were found. Because of its huge size, the inferior surface of the cyst was touching the nasal floor, which made probe unable to perforate the wall of dacryocystocele. Therefore, an endoscopy-assisted marsupialization of dacryocystoceles and bicanalicular silicone intubation were performed. Both swellings and erythema subsided within 48 hours postoperatively, and the patient was discharged after 72 hours from treatment.

Acute lung injury in a worker after inhalation of ethylene phosphorodifluoridite.

Ethylene phosphorodifluoridite (C2H4F4O2P2) (CAS No. 3965-00-2) is a colorless corrosive fuming liquid that is used as a stabilizer in the electrolyte of rechargeable batteries. There are no previous reports of toxic effects following exposure to this compound. A 28-year-old male complained of respiratory distress after accidental inhalation of ethylene phosphorodifluoridite for 30 min. The patient developed acute lung injury with noncardiogenic pulmonary edema and was treated with supportive management. The patient fully recovered and was discharged after 7 days without any significant sequelae. The patient's symptoms were attributed to non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema caused by ethylene phosphorodifluoridite exposure. The case study showed that ethylene phosphorodifluoridite should be added to the list of chemicals that can cause acute lung injury. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2022;35(3):361-6.

Implication of AV node blockers in patients with end-stage renal disease undergoing head and neck surgery; BRASH syndrome: a case report.

BRASH (Bradycardia, Renal failure, Atrioventricular [AV]-node blocker medications, Shock, and Hyperkalemia), a novel syndrome, is a synergistic interaction between AV node blockers and hyperkalemia, resulting in bradycardia. We report a case of BRASH syndrome with marked bradycardia in a patient with End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) associated with synergistic interaction between mild hyperkalemia and AV node blockers. Anesthesiologists should be aware of these clinical features, in which ESRD patients with baseline mild hyperkalemia are particularly susceptible to bradycardia. This report will help in its early recognition as well as enable comprehensive and appropriate treatment strategies without further invasive therapy.

A case of central retinal artery occlusion after chiropractic manipulation of the neck.

Here we report a case of central retinal artery occlusion after chiropractic manipulation on the neck. A 49-year old man presented at the hospital because of sudden visual loss in his right eye after chiropractic neck manipulation. He had received chiropractic manipulation of the neck by a chiropractor eight days prior. When he first visited us, his best corrected visual acuity in his right eye was hand motion. A full ophthalmic examination was performed. There was cherry-red spot in the macula in his right eye. We performed a fluorescein angiogram and cervical color Doppler. The arterio-venous transit time in the fluorescein angiogram was delayed, and we detected stenosis of the right internal carotid artery with diffuse atherosclerotic plaques in the right common carotid artery. We prescribed ginko biloba extract (Tanamin). Three years after his first visit, the best corrected visual acuity of his right eye was 20 / 200.