David A. Kieff

SELECTION OF ANTIBIOTICS AFTER INCISION AND DRAINAGE OF PERITONSILLAR ABSCESSES

Despite the fact that peritonsillar abscess is the most common complication of acute tonsillitis, the treatment of peritonsillar abscess remains controversial. One element of controversy is the choice of antibiotics after drainage of the abscess. In an attempt to assess the effect of antibiotic choice on the treatment of peritonsillar abscess, we conducted a retrospective review of records from patients with peritonsillar abscess treated with incision and drainage. Our review identified 103 patients, comprising two groups: 58 patients treated with broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotics and 45 patients treated with intravenous penicillin alone. These patients were hospitalized after incision and drainage, and therefore their clinical courses and responses to therapy could be rigorously assessed. Characterization of illness based on patient age, temperature, and white blood cell count revealed similar severity of illness between the two groups. Comparison of clinical outcomes with respect to hours hospitalized (mean 44.3 ± 6.6 and 38.3 ± 7.1 hours, 95% confidence interval, for broad-spectrum and penicillin groups, respectively) and mean hours febrile (16.9 ± 5.0 and 13.3 ± 4.2 hours, 95% confidence interval) were not statistically significantly different (p = 0.222 and 0.269, respectively) between groups, indicating that broad-spectrum antibiotics failed to show greater efficacy than penicillin in the treatment of these patients. The microbiologic characteristics of these infections, failures of therapy, and complication rates were similar to those reported in the literature. These results suggest that intravenous penicillin remains an excellent choice for therapy in cases of peritonsillar abscess requiring parenteral antibiotics after drainage.

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Inflammatory Maxillary Sinus Disease

Objective/Hypothesis The role of endoscopic sinus surgery for treating chronic maxillary sinusitis is well established. The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery in the treatment of maxillary sinus inflammatory disease that includes mucoceles, retention cysts, and antrochoanal polyps.

Treatment of isolated sphenoid sinus inflammatory disease by endoscopic sphenoidotomy without ethmoidectomy.

Objectives/Hypothesis Isolated chronic sphenoid sinusitis is a rare entity. The study was conducted to determine the efficacy of endoscopic sinus surgery with partial middle turbinectomy and without ethmoidectomy in treating isolated sphenoid opacification from inflammatory and infectious disease.

Efficacy of Montelukast in the Treatment of Nasal Polyposis

Objectives: Twenty-four consecutive patients with symptomatic nasal polyposis and nonallergic or perennial rhinitis who were undergoing chronic nasal steroid therapy were prospectively evaluated for response to adjunctive oral montelukast sodium therapy. Methods: The patients were undergoing daily intranasal steroid sprays for a minimum of 6 months before being started on montelukast sodium 10 mg by mouth per day for 3 months while intranasal steroids were continued. The patients were given a validated symptom score survey at the start and end of therapy, with a lower score indicating fewer symptoms. The nasal polyps were submitted to biopsy before and after treatment to determine their degree of eosinophilia. Eosinophilia was graded in a blinded fashion by an independent pathologist on a scale of 0 to 3, with 3 being severe. Patients with seasonal allergies were excluded, and the studied patients were treated during the winter season to avoid confounding by potential seasonal allergic responses. Results: The patients tended to improve on montelukast therapy in terms of their symptom scores and polyp eosinophil counts. The symptoms improved in 17 patients (71%) and remained the same or worsened in 7 patients (29%). The symptom score for the group improved from a pretreatment value of 33.4 (SD, 7.73) to a posttreatment value of 23.3 (SD, 13.73; p < .001). In addition, the eosinophilia score improved from 2.3 (SD, 0.68) to 1.5 (SD, 0.82; p < .01). The improvement was most noticeable in the patients with perennial allergies. Conclusions: These results suggest that montelukast appears to be beneficial for some patients with nasal polyposis. Patients with perennial allergies and nasal polyposis seem more likely to respond to the treatment than those with nonallergic nasal polyposis.

Radiographic patterns of orbital involvement in IgG4-related disease.

Purpose:Immunoglobin G4 (IgG4)-related disease is a systemic condition characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates that can involve the orbit. The purpose of this study was to identify the various patterns of orbital IgG4-related disease on imaging. Methods:Retrospective review of radiologic examinations including CT, MRI, and positron emission tomography was performed in patients with proven cases of IgG4-related disease. Results:A total of 9 patients with orbital IgG4-related disease were identified, including 9 with CT, 4 with MRI, and 4 with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography. Patterns of involvement included lacrimal gland enlargement, lacrimal sac involvement, extraocular muscle thickening, preseptal involvement, orbital fat involvement, and cranial nerve involvement, many of which occurred simultaneously. Associated demineralization of the orbital wall was evident on CT in 2 cases. On T2-weighted MRI, the lesions appeared as hypointense in 2 cases, heterogeneously hypointense to isointense in 1 case, and hyperintense in 1 case. Diffuse enhancement was present in all 3 cases in which postcontrast T1-weighted sequences were available. The lesions were hypermetabolic on positron emission tomography in 3 of 4 cases. There was definite extraorbital involvement by IgG4-related disease in 3 of the 9 patients and suspected involvement in another 3 of the 9 patients. Conclusions:IgG4-related disease displays a wide variety of imaging manifestations in the orbit. Extraorbital disease is often present and can help suggest the diagnosis.

Same-Day Discharge for Selected Patients Undergoing Combined Nasal and Palatal Surgery for Obstructive Sleep Apnea:

To determine the safety of same-day discharge for patients who undergo combined nasal and palatal surgery for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, we undertook a retrospective review and analysis of 2 groups of patients (total, 86 patients) who underwent such surgery. The patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome who underwent combined nasal and palatal surgery were considered for same-day discharge if they fulfilled the following postoperative criteria: sustained O2 saturation of 94% or greater on room air while asleep, no history of cardiopulmonary disease or diabetes mellitus, adequate oral analgesia and oral intake, hemostasis, and normal vital signs. Twenty-three patients met these criteria and were assigned to group 1. The remaining 63 patients were admitted overnight for monitoring and were assigned to group 2. The data collected included patient demographics, respiratory disturbance index, lowest O2 saturation, body mass index, and postoperative complications. The mean age, respiratory disturbance index, lowest O2 saturation, and body mass index for group 1 were 45.9 years, 36 events per hour, 84.9%, and 28.7 kg/m2, respectively. For group 2, the results were 48 years, 36.5 events per hour, 82%, and 32.5 kg/m2. There were no postoperative complications in group 1, and 3 in group 2. There were no incidents of airway compromise or cardiopulmonary events in the immediate postoperative period in either group. There were no readmissions for either group. We conclude that same-day discharge for patients who have undergone combined nasal and palatal surgery for obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is relatively safe in selected cases in which significant comorbid diseases are not present. These selected cases would have constituted a minority of the patients studied.

Ameloblastoma associated with the nevoid basal cell carcinoma (Gorlin) syndrome

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by a wide range of clinical signs and symptoms. The major criteria for the diagnosis are multiple cutaneous basal cell carcinomas, multiple odontogenic keratocysts of the jaw, palmar and plantar pits, and skeletal abnormalities. Here, we report an unusual case of NBCCS in a 68-year-old woman with late onset of clinical signs and symptoms and with an associated ameloblastoma. Only 4 other cases of this unusual association have been reported.

Open Zenker's Diverticulectomy Using Stapling Techniques:

This is a prospective review of patients who underwent Zenkers diverticulectomy, closure of the pharyngotomy with nonabsorbable staples, and cricopharyngeal myotomy through an open neck approach over a period of 2 years. The study group consisted of 9 men with a mean age of 67 years. The diagnosis of Zenkers diverticulum was based on a barium swallow esophagram. The mean operative time was 1.5 hours, with a mean estimated blood loss of 25 mL. Barium swallow esophagrams performed on the first postoperative day showed no pharyngeal fistulas. Oral feeding was started after the esophagram. One patient was discharged on postoperative day I, I was discharged on postoperative day 3, and the remaining 7 were discharged on postoperative day 2. All patients were able to take oral feeding by postoperative day I. There were no operative complications in this series. We conclude that stapling with nonabsorbable staples is a relatively safe and effective method for closing pharyngeal defects after Zenkers diverticulectomy. The technique leads to shortening of the operative time and hospital stay, and allows early resumption of oral feeding.

Clinical assessment is an accurate predictor of which patients will need septoplasty

Septoplasty is a frequently performed surgical procedure with the most common indication being nasal airway obstruction. Almost universally, health insurance companies mandate a trial of medical therapy consisting of intranasal corticosteroids prior to performance of septoplasty regardless of clinical assessment. Evidence for this requirement is lacking. We sought to evaluate the initial clinical assessment as a predictor of response to this mandated trial of medical treatment.

Reformation of concha bullosa following treatment by crushing surgical technique: implication for balloon sinuplasty.

There are various surgical techniques designed to treat conchae bullosae (CB). These include partial or total resection and crushing. Frontal sinus balloon sinuplasty is thought to work by the crushing/remodeling of the agger nasi and frontal recess air cells. The long‐term outcome of sinuplasty in the frontal/ethmoid air cell region is unknown. To date, no study has been done on the reformation of CB after crushing. We report on the long‐term outcome of a series of patients who underwent crushing of their CB and suggest implications for frontal sinus balloon sinuplasty.