Development of a novel self-assessment tool following endoscopic sinus surgery in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: To propose a novel quality metric tool for retrospectively examining ESS performed on chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients, ultimately to facilitate clinician self-assessment and optimize care provision within this population. DESIGN: Quality improvement study. SETTING: Multi-center. PARTICIPANTS: Observational, prospective research database of adult patients with medically recalcitrant CRS, presenting to seven North-American academic rhinology centers, who underwent ESS between 2011 and 2021. Participant characteristics, comorbidities, and preoperative study measures were collected. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: A simple ratio of preoperative Lund-Mackay (LM) score to the number of sinus regions operated on during the course of ESS was determined for each participant and dichotomized into ratios of >1.0 or <1.0. RESULTS: 828 study participants with medically recalcitrant CRS met final study inclusion, of which 47.8 % were male with an average age of 49.0 years. Approximately 50.9 % of participants had a history of previous ESS. Overall mean ratio between preoperative LM scores and numbers of surgically addressed sinuses for all patients with CRS (n = 828) was 1.61 (range: 0.00-6.00), with a minority of subjects (n = 108; 13.0 %) found to have ratios below 1.00. Mean ratios between patients who underwent primary ESS versus revision ESS were not statistically different (2.00 [±0.83] vs 1.98 [±0.88]; 0.02 %, 95 % CI -0.10, 0.14; P = 0.76), whereas differences in mean ratios between CRSsNP patients (without nasal polyposis) and CRSwNP patients (with nasal polyposis) were statistically significant (1.78 [±0.93] vs 2.26 [±0.67]; 0.48 %, 95 % CI 0.37, 0.59; P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This quality metric ratio represents a simple operational means for clinicians to integrate qualitative methodology into self-reflection when evaluating the extent of ESS performed on CRS patients. Its use as a clinical tool for retrospective self-reflection enables the surgeon to identify areas for improvement, assess situational specifics, and hone their craft.

Taste dysfunction after endoscopic endonasal resection of olfactory groove meningioma: Case series and review of the literature.

PURPOSE: The incidence of ageusia and dysgeusia after endoscopic endonasal (EEA) resection of olfactory groove meningioma (OGM) is not well established despite recognized impairment in olfactory function. METHODS: We retrospectively administered a validated taste and smell survey to patients undergoing EEA for resection of OGM at two institutions. Demographics and clinical characteristics were collected and survey responses were analyzed. RESULTS: Twelve patients completed the survey. The median time from surgery was 24 months. The average total complaint score was 5.5 out of 16 [0-13]. All patients reported a change in sense of smell while only 42 % reported a change in sense of taste. Taste changes did not consistently associate with laterality or size of the neoplasm. Significant heterogeneity existed when rating severity of symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first case series examining taste changes after EEA resection of OGM. Despite universal olfactory dysfunction, only a minority of patients reported a change in their sense of taste. Our findings may improve patient counseling and expectations after surgery.

Endotyping chronic rhinosinusitis based on olfactory cleft mucus biomarkers.

BACKGROUND: Although chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is considered the most treatable form of olfactory dysfunction, there has been relatively little clinical attention focused on assessing endotypes as they pertain to olfactory loss. OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to explore inflammatory endotypes in CRS using an unsupervised cluster analysis of olfactory cleft (OC) biomarkers in a phenotype-free approach. METHODS: Patients with CRS were prospectively recruited and psychophysical olfactory testing, Questionnaire of Olfactory Dysfunction (QOD-NS), and bilateral OC endoscopy were obtained. Mucus was collected from the OC and evaluated for 26 biomarkers using principal component analysis. Cluster analysis was performed using only OC biomarkers and differences in olfactory measures were compared across clusters. RESULTS: A total of 198 subjects (128 with CRS and 70 controls) were evaluated. Evaluation of OC biomarkers indicated 6 principal components, explaining 69.50% of the variance, with type 2, mixed type 1/Th17-cell, growth factor, and neutrophil chemoattractant inflammatory signatures. A total of 10 clusters were identified that differed significantly in frequency of controls, and subjects with CRS with nasal polyps, and subjects with CRS without nasal polyps across the clusters (likelihood ratio test, χ182=178.64; P < .001). Olfactory measures differed significantly across clusters, including olfactory testing, QOD-NS, and OC endoscopy (P < .001 for all). CONCLUSIONS: Clustering based solely on OC biomarkers can organize patients into clinically meaningful endotypes that discriminate between subjects with CRS and controls. Validation studies are necessary to confirm these findings and further refine olfactory endotypes.

Predicting olfactory loss in chronic rhinosinusitis using machine learning.

OBJECTIVE: Compare machine learning (ML)-based predictive analytics methods to traditional logistic regression in classification of olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS-OD) and identify predictors within a large multi-institutional cohort of refractory CRS patients. METHODS: Adult CRS patients enrolled in a prospective, multi-institutional, observational cohort study were assessed for baseline CRS-OD using a smell identification test (SIT) or brief SIT (bSIT). Four different ML methods were compared to traditional logistic regression for classification of CRS normosmics versus CRS-OD. RESULTS: Data were collected for 611 study participants who met inclusion criteria between 2011 April and 2015 July. Thirty-four percent of enrolled patients demonstrated olfactory loss on psychophysical testing. Differences between CRS normosmics and those with smell loss included objective disease measures (CT and endoscopy scores), age, sex, prior surgeries, socioeconomic status, steroid use, polyp presence, asthma, and aspirin sensitivity. Most ML methods performed favorably in terms of predictive ability. Top predictors include factors previously reported in the literature, as well as several socioeconomic factors. CONCLUSION: Olfactory dysfunction is a variable phenomenon in CRS patients. ML methods perform well compared to traditional logistic regression in classification of normosmia versus smell loss in CRS, and are able to include numerous risk factors into prediction models. Several actionable features were identified as risk factors for CRS-OD. These results suggest that ML methods may be useful for current understanding and future study of hyposmia secondary to sinonasal disease, the most common cause of persistent olfactory loss in the general population.

Minimally invasive endoscopic repair of refractory lateral skull base cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea: case report and review of the literature.

Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks occur in approximately 10% of patients undergoing a translabyrinthine, retrosigmoid, or middle fossa approach for vestibular schwannoma resection. Cerebrospinal fluid rhinorrhea also results from trauma, neoplasms, and congenital defects. A high degree of difficulty in repair sometimes requires repetitive microsurgical revisions-a rate of 10% of cases is often cited. This can not only lead to morbidity but is also costly and burdensome to the health care system. In this case-based theoretical analysis, the authors summarize the literature regarding endoscopic endonasal techniques to obliterate the eustachian tube (ET) as well as compare endoscopic endonasal versus open approaches for repair. Given the results of their analysis, they recommend endoscopic endonasal ET obliteration (EEETO) as a first- or second-line technique for the repair of CSF rhinorrhea from a lateral skull base source refractory to spontaneous healing and CSF diversion. They present a case in which EEETO resolved refractory CSF rhinorrhea over a 10-month follow-up after CSF diversions, wound reexploration, revised packing of the ET via a lateral microscopic translabyrinthine approach, and the use of a vascularized flap had failed. They further summarize the literature regarding studies that describe various iterations of EEETO. By its minimally invasive nature, EEETO imposes less morbidity as well as less risk to the patient. It can be readily implemented into algorithms once CSF diversion (for example, lumbar drain) has failed, prior to considering open surgery for repair. Additional studies are warranted to further demonstrate the outcome and cost-saving benefits of EEETO as the data until now have been largely empirical yet very hopeful. The summaries and technical notes described in this paper may serve as a resource for those skull base teams faced with similar challenging and otherwise refractory CSF leaks from a lateral skull base source.

Cluster analysis and prediction of treatment outcomes for chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Current clinical classifications of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) have weak prognostic utility regarding treatment outcomes. Simplified discriminant analysis based on unsupervised clustering has identified novel phenotypic subgroups of CRS, but prognostic utility is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether discriminant analysis allows prognostication in patients choosing surgery versus continued medical management. METHODS: A multi-institutional prospective study of patients with CRS in whom initial medical therapy failed who then self-selected continued medical management or surgical treatment was used to separate patients into 5 clusters based on a previously described discriminant analysis using total Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) score, age, and missed productivity. Patients completed the SNOT-22 at baseline and for 18 months of follow-up. Baseline demographic and objective measures included olfactory testing, computed tomography, and endoscopy scoring. SNOT-22 outcomes for surgical versus continued medical treatment were compared across clusters. RESULTS: Data were available on 690 patients. Baseline differences in demographics, comorbidities, objective disease measures, and patient-reported outcomes were similar to previous clustering reports. Three of 5 clusters identified by means of discriminant analysis had improved SNOT-22 outcomes with surgical intervention when compared with continued medical management (surgery was a mean of 21.2 points better across these 3 clusters at 6 months, P < .05). These differences were sustained at 18 months of follow-up. Two of 5 clusters had similar outcomes when comparing surgery with continued medical management. CONCLUSION: A simplified discriminant analysis based on 3 common clinical variables is able to cluster patients and provide prognostic information regarding surgical treatment versus continued medical management in patients with CRS.

Defining appropriateness criteria for endoscopic sinus surgery during management of uncomplicated adult chronic rhinosinusitis: a RAND/UCLA appropriateness study.

INTRODUCTION: Appropriate indications for endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) are currently poorly defined. The lack of clear surgical indications for ESS likely contributes to the large geographic variation in surgical rates and contributes to reduced quality of care. The objective of this study was to define appropriateness criteria for ESS during management of adult patients with uncomplicated CRS. METHODS: The RAND/UCLA appropriateness methodology was performed. An international, multi-disciplinary panel of 10 experts in CRS was formed and completed two rounds of a modified Delphi ranking process along with a face-to-face meeting. RESULTS: A total of 624 clinical scenarios were ranked, 312 scenarios each for CRS with and CRS without nasal polyps. For adult patients with uncomplicated CRS with nasal polyps, ESS can be appropriately offered when the CT Lund-Mackay score is ≥ 1 and there has been a minimum trial of a topical intranasal corticosteroid plus a short-course of systemic corticosteroid with a post-treatment total SNOT-22 score ≥ 20. For adult patients with uncomplicated CRS without nasal polyps, ESS can be appropriately offered when the CT Lund-Mackay score is ≥ 1 and there has been a minimum trial of a topical intranasal corticosteroid plus either a short-course of a broad spectrum/culture-directed systemic antibiotic or the use of a prolonged course of systemic low-dose anti-inflammatory antibiotic with a post-treatment total SNOT-22 score ≥ 20. CONCLUSION: This study has developed and reported of list of appropriateness criteria to offer ESS as a treatment option during management of uncomplicated adult CRS. The extent or technique of ESS was not addressed in this study and will depend on surgeon and patient factors. Furthermore, these criteria are the minimal threshold to make ESS a treatment option and do not imply that all patients meeting these criteria require surgery. The decision to perform ESS should be made after an informed patient makes a preference-sensitive decision to proceed with surgery. Applying these appropriateness criteria for ESS may optimize patient selection, reduce the incidence of unwarranted surgery, and assist clinicians in providing high quality, patient-centered care to patients with CRS.

Patient-reported outcome measures for adult chronic rhinosinusitis: A systematic review and quality assessment.

BACKGROUND: With a focus on patient-centered care, there is increasing policy interest in patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to inform improvements in health care delivery. Given the importance of understanding patient-reported outcomes during the management of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), PROMs will play an essential role in informing and tailoring the right intervention to the right patient. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review was to identify and assess the quality of PROMs being used for adults with CRS. METHODS: A systematic review of Ovid MEDLINE (R) (1947-May 2015), Embase, and the Cochrane databases was performed using the following key terms: ["chronic" AND "*sinusitis"] AND [PROM OR patient reported outcome measure* OR quality of life OR questionnaire OR survey OR valid* OR develop*]. An unlimited truncation strategy (placement of *) was used to capture all variations of terms used. The quality of each PROM was assessed and reported using standardized criteria from the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health status Measurement INstruments checklist. RESULTS: A total of 15 PROMs validated for use in adult patients with CRS were identified. Fourteen instruments were specific to adults with CRS, and one was a generic quality-of-life instrument (EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire [EQ-5D]). There was significant variation in the quality of development and reporting of psychometric properties. Overall, the highest quality validated PROMs for adults with CRS were (1) the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (19 points), (2) the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders (14 points), (3) the Sinusitis Control Test (14 points), and (4) the EQ-5D (13 points). Most of the PROMs were developed for research purposes such as determining changes in health-related quality of life or symptoms after an intervention as opposed to improving clinical decision making. CONCLUSIONS: Based on quality assessment, the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test, the Questionnaire of Olfactory Disorders, and the Sinusitis Control Test provided the highest quality CRS-specific PROMs, whereas the EQ-5D provided the highest quality generic quality-of-life instrument. Future CRS PROMs will need to incorporate clinical domains that assess common comorbid diseases along with patient values and preferences to improve clinical decision making.

Can sinus anatomy predict quality of life outcomes and operative times of endoscopic frontal sinus surgery?

PURPOSE: Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) can manipulate sinus anatomy, but with limitations due to skull base and orbit anatomy. These anatomical structures dictate the maximal extent of ESS in the frontal recess and may limit surgical extent or operative duration. This study investigates the impact of these anatomical constraints on operative time and quality-of-life (QOL) outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with medically refractory chronic rhinosinusitis undergoing Draf IIa frontal sinus surgery were prospectively enrolled. Anatomic measurements of the frontal sinus anatomy were collected during computed tomography review and included: widest distance between the frontal beak and posterior table, narrowest point in the ethmoid bed, Keros height, presence of an anterior ethmoid artery on a mesentery, and presence of inter-sinus septal cells. Primary outcomes included mean operative time and improvement in SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) survey scores. RESULTS: 63 adult participants were enrolled and followed 13.8 (5.2) months on average. The ethmoid bed mean width was 7.2 (1.4) mm, the mean distance from frontal beak to the posterior table at widest was 9.0 (2.7) mm, and mean Keros height was 5.1 (1.8) mm. 49/63 (83.1%) of participants had inter-sinus septal cells and 30/63(50.8%) had anterior ethmoid arteries on a mesentery. Mean operative time was 121.5 (44.0) min while SNOT-22 scores significantly (p<0.001) improved 26.1 (21.6) on average. Anatomic measurements were not predictive of operative time or mean QOL change (p>0.050). CONCLUSIONS: Frontal sinus surgery is an effective treatment for a range of frontal and ethmoid sinus anatomy. Further study with larger sample size and measures of more restricted anatomy might elucidate treatment limitations of ESS.

Utilization of RNA sequencing to investigate olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps: A pilot study.

Objectives: Prior research on olfactory dysfunction in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has focused on patients with polyps and suggests that direct inflammation of the olfactory cleft mucosa plays a contributory role. The purpose of this study was to evaluate gene expression in superior turbinate mucosal specimens, comparing normosmic and dysosmic CRS patients without polyps (CRSsNP). Methods: Tissue samples were obtained from the superior turbinates of patients with CRSsNP at the time of endoscopic sinus surgery. Samples subsequently underwent RNA sequencing and functional analysis to investigate biological pathways associated with differentially expressed genes between dysosmic (n = 7) and normosmic (n = 4) patients. Results: Differential gene expression analysis comparing dysosmic and normosmic CRSsNP patients showed upregulation of 563 genes and downregulation of 327 genes. Using stringent criteria for multiple comparisons, one upregulated gene (Immediate Early Response 3 [IER3]) had an false discovery rate (FDR) correction adjusted P value considered statistically significant (P < 0.001, fold change 2.69). Reactome functional analysis revealed eight biological pathways significantly different between dysosmic and normosmic patients (P < 0.05, FDR correction) including IL-4 and IL-13 signaling, IL-10 signaling, and rhodopsin-like receptors. Conclusions: RNA sequencing of the superior turbinates in patients with CRSsNP can provide valuable information regarding biological pathways and genes involved in olfactory dysfunction. This study supports literature suggesting that Type 2 inflammation may play a role in olfactory dysfunction in at least some patients with CRSsNP. This study also prompts questions regarding the role of IL-10, rhodopsin-like receptors, and IER3 in the pathogenesis of olfactory dysfunction.

How to be a good reviewer: A step-by-step guide for approaching peer review of a scientific manuscript.

Objectives: The peer review process is critical to maintaining quality, reliability, novelty, and innovation in the scientific literature. However, the teaching of scientific peer review is rarely a component of formal scientific or clinical training, and even the most experienced peer reviewers express interest in continuing education. The objective of this review article is to summarize the collective perspectives of experienced journal editors about how to be a good reviewer in a step-by-step guide that can serve as a resource for the performance of peer review of a scientific manuscript. Methods: This is a narrative review. Results: A review of the history and an overview of the modern-day peer review process are provided with attention to the role played by the reviewer, including important reasons for involvement in scientific peer review. The general components of a scientific peer review are described, and a model for how to structure a peer review report is provided. These concepts are also summarized in a reviewer checklist that can be used in real-time to develop and double-check one's reviewer report before submitting it. Conclusions: Peer review is a critically important service for maintaining quality in the scientific literature. Peer review of a scientific manuscript and the associated reviewer's report should assess specific details related to the accuracy, validity, novelty, and interpretation of a study's results. We hope that this article will serve as a resource and guide for reviewers of all levels of experience in the performance of peer review of a scientific manuscript.

Multi-institutional validation of an AI-based sinus CT analytic platform with olfactory assessments.

KEY POINTS: AI-based CT sinus analysis may have advantages over visual based systems, for example, Lund-Mackay score. Here, we show multi-institutional validation of an AI algorithm using novel OMC classification. Significant, robust correlations are seen between algorithm outputs and clinical outcomes.

Rate of dupilumab use and symptom severity of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis after Draf 3 frontal sinusotomy.

BACKGROUND: The indications for endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure (Draf 3) in patients with refractory chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) remain unclear. This study evaluates the effectiveness of Draf 3 for refractory CRSwNP focusing on improvements in disease severity and need for subsequent dupilumab rescue therapy. METHODS: Retrospective review of patients with CRSwNP undergoing Draf 3 surgery at a tertiary center between 2012 and 2022. Clinicodemographic variables were compared across those who did versus did not require rescue with postoperative dupilumab. Time to postoperative dupilumab rescue was analyzed and longitudinal disease-specific outcomes were measured using the sinonasal outcomes test (SNOT-22). RESULTS: Within 87 patients with CRSwNP, 24.1% had aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD). Significant improvement in SNOT-22 score was found in CRSwNP with AERD (p < 0.001) and without AERD (p = 0.01) up to 24 months postoperative. 14.9% eventually required rescue with a dupilumab. More specifically, of 21 patients with AERD, 24.1% eventually required rescue with dupilumab. Dupilumab rescue was associated with a greater number of prior sinus surgeries (p = 0.02), prior aspirin desensitization (p = 0.02), and worse preoperative Lund-MacKay scores (p < 0.001). No association between biologic rescue and frontal recess antero-posterior diameter was found (p = 0.20). CONCLUSIONS: Draf 3 surgery in CRSwNP was associated with significant improvement in SNOT-22 score at 24 months. Furthermore, only 14.9% of patients required dupilumab rescue. Patients with AERD were more likely to require rescue with dupilumab even though 75.1% avoided treatment with the biologic over the study period.

Single-Sided Peak Nasal Inspiratory Flow as an Adjunct Objective Measure in Functional Septorhinoplasty.

OBJECTIVE: Nasal obstruction can negatively impact patient quality of life, which can be alleviated by functional nasal surgery. Quantification of improvement is most commonly evaluated with the use of validated survey instruments but lacks widely utilized objective measures. Herein, we evaluate the utility of single-sided peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) as an objective outcome measure in the evaluation and management of nasal obstruction. METHODS: Adults presenting with nasal obstruction who were recommended septorhinoplasty were included in the study. Single-sided and bilateral PNIF measures, nasal obstruction symptom evaluation (NOSE) scores, surgeon-rated percent nasal obstruction, and nasal obstruction visual analog scale (VAS) scores were recorded preoperatively with Spearman's correlation coefficients (ρ) calculated. Correlation coefficients were also calculated between the change in the above variables from the pre- to postoperative state. RESULTS: One Hundred Fifteen patients were enrolled in the study and underwent septorhinoplasty. Significant correlations between single-sided PNIF and the associated VAS scores of the same laterality were found for the worse (ρ = -0.366; p < 0.001) and better (ρ = -0.313; p < 0.001) breathing sides. Correlations between postoperative improvement in single-sided PNIF and improvement in VAS scores were also found (ρ = -0.330; p = 0.007, ρ = -0.354; p = 0.004). No correlation between NOSE scores and single-sided PNIF was found except in the subgroup of patients presenting with bilateral asymmetric nasal obstruction, in who NOSE scores correlated with worse side PNIF (ρ = -0.369; p = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Single-sided PNIF has a better correlation to patients' symptoms as rated by VAS score than bilateral PNIF and may be a useful adjunct objective measure in the evaluation and quantification of improvement in patients undergoing septorhinoplasty. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III Laryngoscope, 2024.

Investigation of Expectations and Satisfaction After Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: To perform the first mixed-methods analysis of patient expectations and satisfaction after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). METHODS: Semi-structured interviews of subjects undergoing ESS were performed to understand pre-operative expectations and 6-month post-operative satisfaction. Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and mediation analyses were performed. Quantitative questions were followed by qualitative probes for subjects to expand on quantitative answers. Study sample size was determined by thematic saturation based on qualitative responses. Data visualization was used to triangulate quantitative and qualitative data wherein themes emerged. RESULTS: A total of 52 participants were included in the mixed-method analysis, and 110 were included in the mediation analysis. 56% of participants were male, with an average age of 55.7 (SD ± 2.18). Mean change in SNOT-22 was 20.8 (SD ± 3.74), and 25% of participants did not achieve a minimal clinically important difference (MCID). Of the participants who did not achieve MCID, 79% would still choose to have sinus surgery again. Qualitative interviews revealed multiple preliminary categories describing the patient experience with ESS. Regression analysis showed that the most important predictor of satisfaction was whether pre-operative expectations were met (OR = 3.8, p < 0.001). In mediation analysis, the effect of the clinical outcome on patient satisfaction was completely mediated by pre-operative expectations (indirect effect p = 0.009, direct effect p = 0.17). CONCLUSION: Patient expectations and satisfaction are important yet understudied measures in CRS and ESS. In ESS, satisfaction with outcome is driven by the fulfillment of pre-operative expectations. Aligning such expectations is the most important intervention a sinus surgeon can perform to maximize success. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 2024.

All chronic rhinosinusitis endotype clusters demonstrate improvement in patient-reported and clinical outcome measures after endoscopic sinus surgery.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) endotypes show a differential response to endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). We explored patient mucous inflammatory cytokine expression and associations with patient-reported and clinically measured post-operative outcome measures. METHODS: Patients with CRS were prospectively recruited between 2016 and 2021 into a national multicenter, observational study. Mucus was collected from the olfactory cleft preoperatively and evaluated for 26 biomarkers using cluster analysis. Patient-reported outcome measures included the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Questionnaire of Olfactory Dysfunction (QOD). Additional clinical measures of disease severity included threshold, discrimination, and identification (TDI) scores using "Sniffin' Sticks" testing and Lund-Kennedy endoscopic score (LKES). RESULTS: A total of 115 patients were clustered into type 2 inflammatory, non-type 2 inflammatory, noninflammatory, and two indeterminate clusters based on individual protein levels. Overall, the type 2 inflammatory cluster was found to have the highest mean improvement in both SNOT-22 (-28.3 [standard deviation, ±16.2]) and TDI (6.5 [standard deviation, ±7.9]) scores 6 months after ESS. However, on average, all endotype clusters demonstrated improvement in all outcome measures after ESS without statistically significant between-group differences in SNOT-22 (p = 0.738), QOD (p = 0.306), TDI (p = 0.358), or LKES (p = 0.514) measures. CONCLUSIONS: All CRS endotype clusters responded favorably to surgery and showed improvements in patient-reported and objective outcome measures. Thus, ESS should be considered a more generalized CRS therapy, and benefits appear to not be limited to specific endotypes.

Does air pollutant exposure impact disease severity or outcomes in chronic rhinosinusitis?

BACKGROUND: Poor air quality increases the risk of developing chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and other airway diseases. However, there are limited data on air pollutants and CRS-specific disease severity. We assessed the impact of air pollutants on sinonasal-specific and general quality-of-life (QOL) measures in a multi-institutional cohort of patients with CRS. METHODS: Participants with CRS were prospectively enrolled in a cross-sectional study and self-selected continued appropriate medical therapy or endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). The 22-item SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short-Form 6-D (SF-6D) health utility value scores were recorded. Patient exposure to air pollutants was determined using residence zip codes. Unadjusted group differences were compared, and correlation coefficients were evaluated to identify the magnitude of bivariate association. RESULTS: A total of 486 patients were enrolled and followed for a mean of 6.9 (standard deviation [SD] ± 2.3) months. Pollutant exposure did not significantly correlate with baseline SNOT-22 or SF-6D scores. Revision ESS was associated with higher median fine particulate matter (PM2.5; Δ = 0.12, [95% confidence interval {CI}: 0.003, 0.234]; p = 0.006) compared with primary surgery. PM2.5, PM10, and nitrogen dioxide concentrations (µg/m3) did not correlate with change in total SNOT-22 or SF-6D scores after treatment. Nevertheless, sulfur dioxide (SNOT-22: ρ = -0.121 [95% CI: -0.210, -0.030]; p = 0.007; SF-6D: ρ = 0.095 [95% CI: 0.002, 0.186]; p = 0.04) and carbon monoxide (SNOT-22: ρ = -0.141 [95% CI: -0.230, 0.050]; p = 0.002) exposure did correlate with these outcome measures. CONCLUSION: Air pollutants may contribute, at least in part, to disease severity in CRS; future investigation is needed to further elucidate the nature of this relationship.

The Impact of Acute Peri-operative Particulate Matter Exposure on Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Outcomes: A Preliminary Multi-site Investigation.

BACKGROUND: Environmental exposures have been postulated to play an important role in the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Particulate matter (PM) is one of the most widely studied ambient air pollutants, but its peri-operative impact on CRS is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of acute, peri-operative PM exposure on outcomes after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). METHODS: Participants with CRS who self-selected ESS were prospectively enrolled. The 22-item SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short-Form 6-D (SF-6D) health utility values scores were recorded. Using residence zip codes, a secondary analysis of patient exposure to PM <2.5 µm and <10 µm (PM2.5 and PM10, respectively) was performed for the month of surgery utilizing data from Environmental Protection Agency air quality monitors. Spearman's correlation coefficients (ρ), 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and effect estimates (ß) were used to determine the magnitudes of association. Simple, multivariate regression analysis was also completed. RESULTS: One hundred and seven patients from four geographically unique institutions across the US were enrolled with a follow-up of 6 months. Patients with higher peri-operative PM2.5 exposure had less improvement in their SNOT-22 scores after ESS compared to those with less exposure using both univariate analysis (ρ = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08, 0.43; P = .01) and after covariate adjustment with multivariate analysis (B = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.001, 2.14, P = .05). Similar associations were not found with SF-6D outcomes or with PM10 as an exposure of interest. No significant correlations were found between peri-operative PM levels and Lund-Kennedy endoscopy scores post-operatively. CONCLUSION: Preliminary data from this pilot study reveal that PM exposure at the time of ESS may negatively associate with post-operative improvement in sinonasal quality-of-life. Larger, population-based studies with more standardized PM exposure windows are needed to confirm the clinical significance of the present findings.

Health care disparities and chronic rhinosinusitis: Does neighborhood disadvantage impact outcomes in sinonasal disease?

OBJECTIVE: Socioeconomic status (SES) is linked to health outcomes but has not been well studied in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). The area deprivation index (ADI) is a comprehensive measure of geographic SES that ranks neighborhood disadvantage. This investigation used ADI to understand the impact of neighborhood disadvantage on CRS treatment outcomes. METHODS: A total of 642 study participants with CRS were prospectively enrolled and self-selected endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) or continued appropriate medical therapy as treatment. The 22-item SinoNasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire Short-Form 6-D (SF-6D) health utility value scores were recorded pre- and post-treatment. Using residence zip codes, national ADI scores were retrospectively assigned to patients. Spearman's correlation coefficients (Rs) and Cramer's V effect size (φc) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated. RESULTS: A history of ESS was associated with significantly worse ADI scores compared to no history of ESS (φc = 0.18; 95% CI: 0.10, 0.25; p < 0.001). Baseline total SNOT-22 (Rs = 0.14; 95% CI: 0.06, 0.22; p < 0.001) and SF-6D values (Rs = -0.20; 95% CI: -0.27, -0.12; p < 0.001) were significantly negatively correlated with national ADI rank. No significant correlations between ADI and within-subject improvement, or achievement of >1 minimal clinically important difference, in SNOT-22 or SF-6D scores after treatment were found. CONCLUSIONS: Geographic socioeconomic deprivation was associated with worse baseline disease severity and history of prior surgical intervention. However, ADI did not correlate with improvement in disease-specific outcomes. The impact of socioeconomic deprivation on outcomes in CRS requires further investigation.

Impact of sinus surgery in people with cystic fibrosis and chronic rhinosinusitis in the era of highly effective modulator therapy: Protocol for a prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is commonly complicated by chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Despite highly effective management options, CRS in people with CF (PwCF+CRS) may be refractory to medical therapy, eventually requiring endoscopic sinus surgery. The impact of sinus surgery on pulmonary, quality of life (QOL), and other outcomes in PwCF+CRS in the expanding era of highly effective modulator therapy has not been fully elucidated. This study aims to determine if endoscopic sinus surgery can offer superior outcomes for PwCF+CRS when compared to continued medical treatment of CRS. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This multi-institutional, observational, prospective cohort study will enroll 150 adults with PwCF+CRS across nine US CF Centers who failed initial medical therapy for CRS and elected to pursue either endoscopic sinus surgery or continue medical treatment. To determine if sinus surgery outperforms continued medical therapy in different outcomes, we will assess changes in pulmonary, CF-specific QOL, CRS-specific QOL, sleep quality, depression, headache, cognition, olfaction, productivity loss, and health utility value after treatment. The influence of highly effective modulator therapy on these outcomes will also be evaluated. This study will provide crucial insights into the impact of endoscopic sinus surgery for PwCF+CRS and aid with development of future treatment pathways and guidelines. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study has been approved by each institution's internal review board, and study enrollment began August 2019. Results will be disseminated in conferences and peer-reviewed journals. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04469439).