Prophylactic vs postoperative antibiotic use in complex septorhinoplasty surgery: a prospective, randomized, single-blind trial comparing efficacy.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of prophylactic vs postoperative antibiotic use in complex septorhinoplasty and strengthen the evidence base for antibiotic use in nasal surgery. DESIGN: A randomized, prospective, single-blinded trial. One hundred sixty-four patients requiring complex septorhinoplasty surgery were recruited sequentially from the waiting lists of the 2 senior authors. Power was calculated at 80% at the 5% significance level. Patients randomized to the prophylactic arm of the study received three 1200-mg intravenous doses of amoxicillin-clavulanate, given at induction of anesthesia and at 6 and 12 hours postoperatively. Patients in the postoperative antibiotic arm received a 7-day course of 375 mg of amoxicillin-clavulanate 3 times a day. Patients allergic to penicillin were given erythromycin. Clinical and microbiological evidence of infection on the 10th postoperative day was categorized as either minor (vestibulitis) or major (nasal or septal cellulitis, septal abscess, secondary hemorrhage, or donor-site infection) infections. RESULTS: At follow-up, 6 (7%) of 82 patients in the prophylactic arm and 9 (11%) of 82 of patients in the postoperative arm showed evidence of infection. Most (80%) of infections were minor. There was no significant difference in infection rates between the prophylactic and postoperative arms on chi2 analysis (P = .42). All 164 patients completed the study on an intention-to-treat basis. CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of prophylactic antibiotics rather than empirical postoperative antibiotics for patients undergoing complex septorhinoplasty.

A study of out-of-hours facilities in otolaryngology: current provision and problems.

'Action on ENT' has recently published advice as to the minimum requirements for equipment required to provide a safe and suitable out-of-hours service in ENT. Our objectives were to determine the availability of a dedicated ENT treatment room for seeing patients out of hours, appropriately maintained specialized ENT equipment and availability of appropriate assistance. In addition, the mechanism for disinfection of nasoendoscopes out of hours was determined. Telephone questionnaires of 106 ENT units in England, which provide an out-of-hours ENT service, were taken. At each unit the standard questionnaire was answered by the first on-call ENT doctor. One hundred and one units (95 percent) had access to a dedicated treatment room out of hours. The number of units with a microscope was 91 (86 percent), headlight/lamp and mirror was 105 (99 percent), flexible nasoendoscope was 86 (81 percent) and cautery (electrical or chemical) was 105 (99 percent). Seventy-nine units (75 percent) found that their treatment rooms were adequately stocked, and 62 units (58 per cent) had assistance available when needed. Twenty-four units (23 percent) sterilized their scopes adequately, 22 units (21 percent) used endosheaths, 26 units (24 percent) used a variety of inadequate cleaning methods, and 34 respondents (32 percent) were unsure how their scopes were cleaned. This survey has shown that not all ENT units have appropriately equipped out-of-hours facilities. There is a need for nationally agreed guidelines stating the minimum equipment and assistance required to provide a safe, adequate and suitable out-of-hours service. National guidelines on out-of-hours disinfection of flexible nasoendoscopes are also required.

Malignant melanoma arising in the frontal sinuses.

Sinonasal malignant melanoma is rare and usually occurs in the nasal cavity. Presentation is often varied and occurs late in the natural history of the disease, resulting in a poor prognosis. A case is reported of a patient with malignant melanoma arising from the frontal sinus who presented with a forehead swelling and progressive confusion. A review of the literature on malignant melanoma in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses regarding its presentation, site of origin and principles of management is discussed.

Ancient schwannoma masquerading as parotid pleomorphic adenoma.

Pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland is common. We report a typical case of a parotid gland swelling which clinically, radiologically and cytologically represented a pleomorphic adenoma. Only following surgical excision and histological examination however, was the true diagnosis of ancient schwannoma made. Benign peripheral nerve sheath tumours should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of parotid gland tumours.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto's syndrome masquerading as tuberculosis.

We report a case of a 27-year-old Asian man presenting with the typical features of tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis who was commenced on anti-tuberculous therapy on the strength of the clinical presentation. Histological examination of an excised cervical lymph node however, revealed the diagnosis of Kikuchi's syndrome; a histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis which is usually self-limiting.

Ball valve nasal obstruction following incomplete inferior turbinectomy.

An interesting case is presented of a 53-year-old male who was seen with a 10-year history of intermittent, unilateral nasal obstruction following a bilateral total inferior turbinectomy. A pedunculated mass was seen in the right posterior nasal space acting as a ball valve. This was removed and found to be residual turbinate tissue.

Delayed massive epistaxis due to traumatic intracavernous carotid artery pseudoaneurysm.

Recurrent epistaxes after head injury may rarely be due to a traumatic intracavernous carotid artery pseudoaneurysm. The head injury is usually associated with fracture of the skull base and the epistaxes are severe with the first episode generally occurring one to three months after the initial trauma. We present a case which illustrates the role of high resolution computed tomography (CT) scanning and also magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) in achieving the diagnosis.

Pictorial assessment of the delivery of oropharyngeal rinse versus oropharyngeal spray.

Oral rinses/gargles and oral sprays are frequently used in the management of oropharyngeal inflammation. This pictorial study, using methylene blue dye as a marker of the distribution of these topical preparations in the oropharynx, suggests that oral sprays are more effective in coating the oropharynx than oral rinses, whilst oral rinses are better at staining the oral cavity and base of tongue. The authors therefore suggest that oral rinses should be used to treat disease in the oral cavity and oral sprays should be used to treat ailments in the oropharynx.

Systematic errors in bone conduction audiometry.

Air and bone conduction audiometry was carried out on two separate groups of 12 normal hearing volunteers. One group was tested at St Mary's hospital, the other at Charing Cross hospital. The results from both centres showed evidence of a systematic error in bone conduction resulting in a pattern of 'notching' at 2 kHz. We argue that the effect is likely to be more apparent in conductive deafness and that a significant distortion of the audiogram occurs in about 17% of such cases. Since the problem appears not to be restricted to the centres involved in the study, we strongly recommend that the issue be addressed by the appropriate professional bodies.

ENT manifestations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in HIV and AIDS.

In acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), opportunistic infections occur which are usually related to defects in cell-mediated immunity. However, there has also been an increase in the incidence of bacterial infections in this population, including infections caused by Pseudomonas species. This study reveals the wide range of ear, nose and throat manifestations which can be caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in patients with HIV and AIDS and illustrates the need for a high index of clinical suspicion combined with accurate microbiological data for treating these potentially life-threatening infections. In addition, treatment using combination chemotherapy, such as ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime, is advised, as it has been shown that dual therapy results in a significantly lower mortality.

Mucocoeles of the maxillary sinus.

Mucocoeles of the paranasal sinuses most commonly occur in the frontal or anterior ethmoidal sinuses. We report two rare cases of mucocoele of the maxillary sinus and describe the presentation, investigations and treatment. A review of the literature on this rare clinical entity is included, with specific reference to diagnostic imaging to distinguish mucocoeles from neoplastic sinus disease.

The laryngeal mask airway in tonsillectomy: the surgeon's perspective.

The laryngeal mask airway presents certain advantages in the management of the airway during general anaesthesia. However, from the surgeon's perspective, there have been reports of problems occurring when the laryngeal mask airway is used in tonsillectomy. This study of 90 patients undergoing tonsillectomy suggests that surgical access is inferior with a laryngeal mask airway and the weight of tonsillar tissue excised is less. In addition the laryngeal mask airway needs to be changed to an endotracheal tube during the procedure in 11.4% of patients.