Surgery For Chronic Rhinosinusitis Research Articles

Sinus Surgery: Indications and Techniques

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is a recent addition to the treatment armamentarium of sinus disease. Performed through the nasal cavity using endoscopes and inciting no external scars, these advantages have renewed an interest in the surgical intervention of various sinus diseases. With minimal risk and complications associated with FESS, the temptation exists to lower the threshold and expand the indications for sinus surgery. However, regardless of the reduced risk, FESS should be pursued only when the goals are attainable and the limitations of surgery are understood for each specific disease. Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), affecting more than 31 million people a year, represents a treatment challenge. The challenge stems from evidence that CRS can result from different etiologies including bacteria, virus, fungi, superantigens, and unfavorable anatomy. With an unclear pathogenesis, success of medical therapy is often limited. Individuals failing medical therapy are candidates for surgical intervention. The controversy, indications, and goals of surgery in CRS are reviewed. Other indications for FESS are less controversial. Nasal polyps, which can interfere with medical therapy and obstruct airflow, often require surgical intervention. In addition, recent data has suggested a link between surgery and a reduction in inflammatory markers. Repair of skull base defects, and resection of benign and limited malignant nasal masses are also indications for FESS. This article reviews the indications of sinus surgery. In addition, it addresses some of the controversies, limitations, and advances in FESS.

Prevalence of Pus in Radiologically Diseased Sinuses in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Prevalence of Pus in Radiologically Diseased Sinuses in Patients Undergoing Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Psychiatric distress amplifies symptoms after surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis

Psychiatric disorders are associated with increased symptom burden when combined with chronic medical conditions. However, there are no reports of how psychiatric distress influences outcomes with surgical treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We hypothesized that subjects with psychiatric distress (somatization, anxiety, and depression) would report more severe long-term sinus symptoms and worse quality of life (QOL) than subjects without psychiatric distress. This is a community-based, prospective, observational cohort study of patients diagnosed with CRS presenting for surgery. Patients were interviewed before surgery; CT scans were reviewed, and questionnaires were completed about sinusitis-related symptoms (SNOT-16), general health status and QOL (SF-36), and psychiatric distress (BSI and PHQ). Outcomes were also assessed 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Ninety-five patients had complete records for analysis. Psychiatric distress was prevalent, with 31% screening positive for somatization, 17% positive for anxiety, and 25% positive for depressive disorders. Subjects with somatization had significantly worse SNOT-16 scores at each time point compared with those without somatization ( P < 0.05). Subjects with depression reported more severe symptoms at 6 and 12 months after surgery than those without depression ( P < 0.05). The presence of somatization preoperatively was also independently associated with worse symptom severity 12-months after surgery, even after adjusting for prior sinus surgery, CT stage, Charlson Index, and deviated septum. In addition, subjects with psychiatric distress reported significantly worse SF-36 physical and mental component summary scores 12-months after surgery than subjects without psychiatric distress. Psychiatric distress is associated with worse reported sinus symptoms and lower QOL throughout surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Despite this, subjects with psychiatric distress report a similar degree of improvement in sinus symptoms after surgery compared with those without distress. Psychiatric distress should be considered in patients with persistent symptoms after surgery. Psychiatric distress should also be considered in efforts to design a chronic sinusitis staging system.

Anterior skull base: High risk areas in endoscopic sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis: A computed tomographic analysis

Computed Tomography (CT) scan of nose and paranasal sinuses play a key role in preoperative evaluation of patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgeries (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis. The asymmetry of ethmoid fovea olfactory fossa, anatomical variations of lateral lamella and course of anterior ethmoid artery are critical in ESS as it may predispose to dangerous consequences like hemorrhage. CSF leak and intracranial complications. A prospective study was done on 75 patients of clinically and diagnostically proven chronic rhinosimusits. The coronal CT scan was evaluated with special attention to anatomical variations of anterior skull base including ethmoid fovea, olfactory fossa, lateral lamella and course of anterior ethmoid artery. The endoscopic surgeon's awareness of these variations and its role in preventing complications are highlighted.

Psychiatric distress amplifies symptoms after surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis

Problem: Psychiatric disorders are associated with increased symptom burden when combined with chronic medical conditions. However, there are no reports of how psychiatric distress influences outcomes with surgical treatment for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). We hypothesized that subjects with psychiatric distress (somatization, anxiety, and depression) would report more severe long-term sinus symptoms and worse quality of life (QOL) than subjects without psychiatric distress. Methods: This is a community-based, prospective, observational cohort study of patients diagnosed with CRS presenting for surgery. Patients were interviewed prior to surgery; their CT scans were reviewed; and they completed questionnaires about sinusitis-related symptoms (SNOT-16), general health status and QOL (SF-36), and psychiatric distress (BSI and PHQ). Outcomes were also assessed 1, 3, 6, and 12 months postoperatively. Results: Ninety-five patients had complete records for analysis. Psychiatric distress was prevalent, with 31% screening positive for somatization, 17% positive for anxiety, and 25% positive for depressive disorders. Subjects with somatization had significantly worse SNOT-16 scores at each time point compared to those without somatization ( P < 0.05). Subjects with depression reported more severe symptoms at 6 and 12 months after surgery than those without depression ( P < 0.05). The presence of somatization preoperatively was also independently associated with symptom severity 12 months after surgery, even after adjusting for prior sinus surgery, CT stage, Charlson Index, and deviated septum. Additionally, subjects with psychiatric distress reported significantly worse SF-36 physical and mental component summary scores 12 months after surgery than subjects without psychiatric distress. Conclusion: Psychiatric distress is associated with worse reported sinus symptoms and lower QOL throughout surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Despite this, subjects with psychiatric distress report a similar degree of improvement in sinus symptoms after surgery compared to those without distress. Significance: Psychiatric distress should be considered in patients with persistent symptoms following surgery. Psychiatric distress should also be considered in efforts to design a chronic sinusitis staging system. Support: Dr Davis was supported by an NIH Training Grant (DC-00018) during this project. Dr Bevan Yueh is supported by a Career Development Award (CD-98318) from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This project was funded, in part, by a Resident Research Gran

Objective outcome after functional endoscopic sinus surgery: prediction factors.

After failure of medical treatment, chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyposis require surgical management. However, little is known about the predictive factors for objective outcome after sinus surgery. The aims of the study were to correlate preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative clinical factors to healing outcome and to establish their respective predictive values. Prospective study. Eighteen patients who had surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis and 18 who had surgery for nasal polyposis at the Ghent University Hospital (Ghent, Belgium) were followed for a 6-month period. In all, 76 operated sides were independently considered. The healing quality was evaluated by endoscopy weekly and then monthly for a period of 6 months. A logistic regression analysis with healing quality at month 6 as outcome was performed on preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors. Previous sinus surgery (P =.0006) and initial disease (P =.0430) were found to be highly predictive for the healing outcome at month 6, patients with nasal polyposis or previous surgery showing significantly worse objective outcome (P =.0034 and P <.0001, respectively). The preoperative computed tomography scan had no predictive value with respect to the extent of surgery (P =.0281). Postoperative parameters had less predictive value. Initial disease and its severity as reflected by the extent of surgery and surgical antecedents were the best predictors for the objective outcome at 6 months after sinus surgery. Whereas the first postoperative phase showed similar characteristics for all patients, the healing course differed between patients from month 1 to the end point.

Role of Nasal Endoscopy in Patients Undergoing Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

The goal of this study was to determine the role of nasal endoscopy in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery and to examine the correlation between nasal endoscopy and pre- and postoperative computed tomography (CT) grade, symptom scores, and the patients' asthma status. A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data from 254 consecutive patients treated with endoscopic sinus surgery was performed from 1999 to 2002. There were 131 men and 123 women, with a mean age of 48 years. All patients had at least 1-year follow-up. All patients received preoperative CT scans, which were graded as per Lund-MacKay, completed the sinonasal outcome test 20 questionnaires, and underwent endoscopic nasal examination at both the preoperative and 1-year postoperative visits. The correlation between the endoscopy score, CT grade, and sinonasal outcome test 20 findings was calculated. Nasal endoscopy indicated a statistically significant correlation with preoperative CT grade in this patient population. There was no correlation between endoscopic findings and patient symptom scores. Nasal endoscopy in patients with asthma (n = 47) did not correlate with either CT grade or patient symptom scores. In patients without asthma (n = 207), nasal endoscopy correlated with CT grade but not with symptom scores. Nasal endoscopy findings do not correlate with symptom scores in patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis. Nasal endoscopy findings correlated with CT grade in patients without asthma, but no such correlation was found in patients with asthma.

Yamik Sinus Catheter in the Topical Treatment of Patients with Acute Rhinosinusitis after Previous Sinus Surgery

The Yamik sinus catheter was designed as a new device for the topical treatment of rhinosinusitis. It creates intermittent positive and negative intranasal pressure after sealing the ipsilateral nostril and choana with two inflatable cuffs. Affecting the nasal cavity and all paranasal sinuses of one side at a time, it is used to evacuate mucous and secretions as well as and to introduce antiseptic, antibacterial, or antifungal solutions. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Yamik catheter in cases of acute purulent rhinosinusitis in patients who previously underwent endonasal sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis. Twenty patients were treated at repeated visits to the outpatient clinic of our institution. At each visit, their clinical symptoms as well as findings on anterior rhinoscopy, nasal endoscopy, and A-mode ultrasound were evaluated. Acute disease resolved completely within 10 days of treatment in 17 of the 20 patients. Two patients discontinued treatment after repeated visits, showing only mild improvement. One patient felt uncomfortable during the application of the Yamik catheter and did not continue after the initial treatment. Our results suggest that the Yamik catheter may be a helpful device in the topical treatment of acute rhinosinusitis and it appears possibly helpful in patients who suffer from episodes of acute purulent infection after previous sinus surgery.

Evaluation of Ultrastructural Changes in Paranasal Sinus Mucosa after Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Patients with Chronic Rhinosinusitis

The purpose of this study was to compare the preoperative and postoperative ultrastructural changes of paranasal sinus mucosa in patients treated with functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis. Twelve patients undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis were involved. The ethmoid sinus mucosa was sampled during the operation and approximately 6 months after the operation. The ciliated epithelium of sinus mucosa was evaluated with transmission electron microscopy. The samples were taken at the Otolaryngology Department of Istanbul University School of Medicine. Electron microscopic study was performed at the Histology and Embryology Department of the same University. Preoperatively, ciliated epithelial cells of the sinus mucosa of the patients showed degenerated ultrastructure with decreased number of cilia, cytoplasmic protrusions, cisternal dilatations of endoplasmic reticulum, and mitochondrial swellings. Remnants of degenerated cells and cellular separations at cell junctions were evident in the diseased epithelium. Goblet cells were frequent along the epithelial lining. Postoperatively, normal architecture and ultrastructure of the ciliated epithelium was restored. These observations showed that unlike other surgical operations, paranasal sinus mucosa can regenerate and the ciliated epithelium can return to normal after functional endoscopic sinus surgergy.

Evidence-Based Surgery in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Considerable interest has been focused in recent years on an evidence-based approach to clinical medicine. For obvious reasons, however, it has proved difficult to examine the benefit of surgical procedures in randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials. This review considers the evidence available in the literature for surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis and examines the validity of the studies in the context of evidence-based medicine.