Prevalence of rhinitis symptoms among 16 to 18 years old adolescents in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVE: The present study was designed to estimate the prevalence of rhinitis symptoms among secondary school students in Saudi Arabia METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children from secondary schools in the city of Riyadh. The study utilised the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the 3073 students (1504 boys and 1569 girls), the prevalence of life-time rhinitis, rhinitis in the past 12 months, and hay fever were 43.8%, 38.6% and 21.3%, respectively. There was a significant difference between boys and girls in the prevalence of life-time rhinitis (41% versus 46.5%, p = 0.02) and the prevalence of rhinitis in the past 12 months (35.1% versus 41.9%, p = 0.001). There was no significant difference between boys and girls in the prevalence of hay fever (22.5% versus 20.2%, p = 0.144). The prevalence of asthma symptoms among students with life-time rhinitis and hay fever were 35.4% and 39.9%, respectively. Asthma symptoms were strongly linked with life-time rhinitis (Odds Ratio [OR] = 2.5, p < 0.001) and hay fever (OR = 2.4, p value < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of rhinitis symptoms is high among 16 to 18 years old adolescents in Saudi Arabia, and symptoms are more common in girls compared to boys. Rhinitis symptoms are also associated with a high frequency of asthma symptoms.

An unusual case of dysphagia: retained Groningen valve.

A Groningen speaking valve was lodged in the oesophagus in a post-laryngectomy patient and was neglected for nine years. The patient presented with dysphagia. It was diagnosed and removed on rigid endoscopy. The procedure was complicated by a primary tear of the oesophagus, that was managed conservatively. The case has many interesting features, that are discussed below.

Endoscopic 532-nm KTP laser excision of inverted papilloma of the nose and paranasal sinuses: a series of 9 patients.

Over the past 2 decades, the surgical management of inverted papillomas has evolved from extensive radical excision to more conservative surgery. We conducted a study to evaluate the results of our endoscopic approach to tumor excision with the 532-nm potassium titanyl phosphate (KTP-532) laser. Our series included 9 patients with inverted papilloma of the nose and paranasal sinuses who were treated from January 1998 through December 2003 (72 mo). Only 1 patient (11.1%) experienced a recurrence. The recurrence was detected 12 months after initial treatment, and it was successfully managed via the same endoscopic approach; afterward, the patient was still tumor-free at 2.5 years of follow-up. The good results of this endoscopic approach for lesions limited to the nose and paranasal sinuses can be attributed to excellent visualization with the endoscope and to the bloodless dissection achieved with the KTP-532 laser. We emphasize the need for frequent and long-term follow-up of these patients; a thorough endoscopic examination at every visit is extremely important.

The efficacy of pharyngeal packing during routine nasal surgery--a prospective randomised controlled study.

The efficacy of pharyngeal packing in the prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in patients undergoing nasal surgery was evaluated in a prospective randomised controlled study. The effect of the presence of the pharyngeal pack on the incidence of postoperative sore throat was also assessed. One hundred patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups; the first had packing and the second received no packing. The placement of a pharyngeal pack was found to have no effect on the incidence of PONV but was associated with a significantly increased incidence of sore throat. The absence of a pharyngeal pack was not associated with an increase in postoperative aspiration or vomiting. We conclude that the routine placement of pharyngeal packs during uncomplicated nasal surgery has no effect on the incidence of PONV and will increase the incidence of postoperative sore throat.

Routine nasal packing follwoing nasal surgery-Is it necessary?

The practice of routine nasal packing after nasal surgery is usually customary and not evidence based. Post operative complications, while uncoumon, are sometimes pack related. A retrospective analysis of 110 patients who underwent a variety of nasal operations was performed to determine the incidence of complications when nasal packs were not routinely inserted 9 cases (8.2%) [6 out of these were revision surgeries] needed nasal packing for haemostasis at the end of surgery. 4 cases (3.6%) required to be packed in the immediate post operative period. One patient who required nasal packing developed a unilateral adhesion. No patient developed septal hematoma. The need for routine nasal packing is not supported. Packing should be indicated where there continuous bleeding at.