Giovanni Felisati

The management of complications following displacement of oral implants in the paranasal sinuses: a multicenter clinical report and proposed treatment protocols

This study retrospectively analyses paranasal sinus complications following displacement of oral implants in the maxillary sinus treated according to clinical situation by functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), an intraoral approach, or a combination of both procedures. Over 5 years, 27 patients (13 male; 14 female), aged 27-73 years (mean 53.9 years), underwent treatment for postoperative complications involving the paranasal sinuses following displacement of oral implants in the maxillary sinuses. According to the complication (implant displacement, implant displacement with or without reactive sinusitis and/or with or without associated oro-antral communication), patients were treated with FESS, intraoral approach to the sinus, or FESS associated with an intraoral approach. Follow up lasted for at least 1 year with clinical and radiographic controls. 26 patients recovered completely; one patient underwent re-intervention with FESS and an intraoral approach 2 years after implant removal, due to persistent signs and symptoms of maxillary sinusitis and oro-antral communication. Postoperative recovery after the second procedure was followed by complete recovery. The results demonstrate that a rational choice of surgical protocol for the treatment of complications involving the paranasal sinuses following displacement of implants in the maxillary sinuses may lead to reliable results.

Sphenopalatine Endoscopic Ganglion Block: A Revision of a Traditional Technique for Cluster Headache

The diagnosis of chronic cluster headache (CH), the most painful form of headache, is based on typical clinical features characterized by strictly unilateral pain with no side shift and ipsilateral oculofacial autonomic phenomena. The attacks occur several times a day for periods of 1 to 2 months in the episodic form of the disease or less frequently on a daily basis in the chronic form. The pathogenesis of CH involves the activation of parasympathetic nerve structures located within the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), which explains many of the associated symptoms, whereas the activation of the ipsilateral hypothalamic gray matter may explain its typical circadian and circannual periodicity. A number of surgical approaches have been tried in cases of chronic CH resistant to pharmacologic therapy, of which SPG blockade has been shown to have certain efficacy. We have adopted a new technique based on endoscopic ganglion blockade that approaches the pterigo‐palatine fossa by way of the lateral nasal wall and consists of the injection of a mixture of local anesthetics and corticosteroids, which was performed in 20 selected patients with chronic CH, according to the International Headache Society criteria (18 male, 2 female; mean age 40 yr), who were selected for SPG blockade because they were totally drug resistant. The symptoms improved significantly, but always only temporarily, in 11 cases. These results should be considered rather good because, unlike other frequently used techniques, SPG blockade is not invasive and should therefore always be attempted before submitting patients to more invasive surgical approaches.

Acute otitis media: From diagnosis to prevention. Summary of the Italian guideline

Acute otitis media (AOM) is the most common disease occurring in infants and children and has major medical, social and economic effects. If we consider the Italian pediatric population and the incidence rates in different age ranges it can be calculated that almost one million cases of AOM are diagnosed in Italy every year. Various attempts have been made internationally to clarify the most appropriate ways in which AOM should be managed. In Italy, this has been done at local or regional level but there have so far been no national initiatives. The objective of this guideline is to provide recommendations to pediatricians, general practitioners and otolaryngologists involved in the clinical management of acute otitis media in healthy children aged 2 months to 12 years. After a systematic review and grading of evidences from the literature, the document was drafted by a multidisciplinary panel with identified key clinical questions related to diagnosis, treatment of the acute episode, management of complications and prevention.

Deep brain stimulation and cluster headache.

In recent years, neuroimaging data have greatly improved the knowledge on trigeminal autonomic cephalalgias’ (TACs) central mechanisms. Positron emission tomography studies have shown that the posterior inferior hypothalamic grey matter is activated during cluster headache attacks as well as in short-lasting unilateral neuralgiform headache attacks with conjunctival injection and tearing (SUNCT). Voxel-based morphometric MRI has also documented alteration in the same area in cluster headache patients. These data suggest that the cluster headache generator is located in this region and leads us to hypothesise that stimulation of this brain area could relieve intractable cluster headache just as deep brain stimulation improves intractable movements disorders. This view received support by the observation that high frequency stimulation of the ipsilateral hypothalamus prevented attacks in an otherwise intractable chronic cluster headache patient previously treated unsuccessfully by surgical procedures to the trigeminal nerve. So far, 16 patients with intractable cronic cluster headache (CCH) and one intractable SUNCT patient have been successfully treated by hypothalamic stimulation. The procedures were well tolerated with no significant adverse events. Hypothalamic DBS is an efficacious and safe procedure to relieve otherwise intractable CCH and SUNCT.

Sinonasal complications resulting from dental treatment: outcome-oriented proposal of classification and surgical protocol.

Background Odontogenic sinusitis is a relevant infectious condition of the paranasal sinuses. The widespread use of dental implants and reconstructive procedures for dental implant placement has led to new types of complication. To the authors’ knowledge, no publication has extensively examined sinonasal complications resulting from dental treatment, and no classification system allowing standardization and comparison of results is currently available. This study was designed to (a) analyze the results obtained from surgical treatment of complications resulting from dental procedures combining functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) and an intraoral approach and (b) propose a new classification system and standardized treatment protocols for sinonasal complications resulting from dental procedures. Methods A total of 257 patients consecutively treated with FESS (136 in conjunction with oral surgery) were included in the study. Different clinical situations were integrated into a new classification system based on the pathogenesis and clinical aspects of each case, with the aim of identifying homogenous treatment groups. Results were evaluated for each class. Results Of the 257 patients, 254 were successfully treated with surgery performed according to the proposed protocols. Three of 257 patients required a second surgery, after which they completely recovered. Complications of implant and preimplant surgery (maxillary sinus floor elevation) showed longer recovery times. Conclusion The results obtained are very encouraging. The majority of patients (254/257; 98.8%) were successfully treated with the proposed protocols. These results seem to indicate that the rationalization of surgical treatment protocols according to the initial clinical situation may significantly improve the clinical outcome.

Management of acute pharyngitis in children: summary of the Italian National Institute of Health guidelines.

BACKGROUND Discrepancies in the management of pharyngitis in children have been reported in Europe and the United States, and recommendations concerning the use of clinical scores, rapid antigen diagnostic tests (RADTs) or throat cultures, and the indications for antibiotic treatment largely differ. OBJECTIVE This article summarizes the Italian guidelines on the management of pharyngitis in children issued by the National Institute of Health. METHODS A multidisciplinary panel of experts (the Guidelines Development Group) developed and used a set of key questions to conduct a systematic review of the literature. Relevant publications in English were identified through a systematic review of MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from their inception through April 30, 2011. Final recommendations were scaled according to the Italian National Guidelines Program grading. RESULTS Eighteen clinical questions were defined, and 44 recommendations were issued. None of the available scoring systems is sufficiently accurate to identify group A β-hemolytic streptococci (GABHS) pharyngitis in settings with low prevalence for rheumatic disease. RADT should be performed by trained personnel in every child with a history and signs/symptoms suggestive of GABHS pharyngitis. RADT is not recommended in children with a McIsaac score of 0 or 1 with ≥2 signs/symptoms suggestive of viral infection. Backup culture in children with negative RADT result is not recommended. Culture test with antibiotic susceptibility assay should be performed exclusively for epidemiologic purposes. Streptococcal antibody titers are of no value in diagnosing acute pharyngitis. Antibiotic therapy is recommended in microbiologically documented GABHS pharyngitis. Because penicillin V is not available in Italy, amoxicillin (50 mg/kg/d in 2-3 doses orally) for 10 days is the first choice of treatment. In noncompliant cases, benzathine penicillin may be administered. Although not routinely recommended due to the high cost and wide spectrum of activity, a 5-day course with a second-generation cephalosporin may be used in noncompliant cases. Macrolides should be limited to children with demonstrated type I hypersensitivity to penicillin. Ibuprofen or paracetamol is recommended for relief of pain or fever associated with discomfort. Because the carrier state is not associated with increased risk of suppurative complications and risk of GABHS transmission to contacts is minimal, the carrier state should never be investigated and treated. Recommendations for the management of suppurative complications are given. CONCLUSIONS This guideline provides a comprehensive, evidence based, tool for the diagnosis and therapy of acute pharyngitis in children.

Sphenopalatine endoscopic ganglion block in cluster headache: a reevaluation of the procedure after 5 years

Cluster headache (CH) is considered the most painful form of primary headaches. It is characterized by severe unilateral pain, typically associated with autonomic manifestations and may be divided into an episodic and a chronic form. The latter is often resistant to a multitude of medication and is, therefore, very hard to treat. In 2002, our group developed a technique for the endoscopic sphenopalatine ganglion block that was able to ameliorate the symptoms in 55% of drug-resistant chronic CH patients. This paper is intended as an update on the technique as well as a comparison in effectiveness to our prior approach.

Prevention and treatment of postoperative infections after sinus elevation surgery: clinical consensus and recommendations.

Introduction. Maxillary sinus surgery is a reliable and predictable treatment option for the prosthetic rehabilitation of the atrophic maxilla. Nevertheless, these interventions are not riskless of postoperative complications with respect to implant positioning in pristine bone. Aim. The aim of this paper is to report the results of a clinical consensus of experts (periodontists, implantologists, maxillofacial surgeons, ENT, and microbiology specialists) on several clinical questions and to give clinical recommendations on how to prevent, diagnose, and treat postoperative infections. Materials and Methods. A panel of experts in different fields of dentistry and medicine, after having reviewed the available literature on the topic and taking into account their long-standing clinical experience, gave their response to a series of clinical questions and reached a consensus. Results and Conclusion. The incidence of postop infections is relatively low (2%–5.6%). A multidisciplinary approach is advisable. A list of clinical recommendation are given.

Traumatic and Iatrogenic Retrobulbar Hemorrhage: An 8-Patient Series

Retrobulbar hemorrhage (RBH) is 1 of the 3 main causes of traumatic vision loss; the other 2 are direct penetrating injuries and traumatic optic neuropathy. The underlying causes of RBH are bleeding after trauma or a surgical intervention, although RBH can occur in the absence of orbital trauma, especially after maneuvers that increase blood pressure. The reorted incidence of RBH after blunt or penetrating rauma to the orbit or zygoma ranges from 0.45% to %. RBH can occur after surgery on or near the orbit, such as blepharoplasty (0.0052%), the treatment of facial fractures (0.3%), and endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS; 0.006%). RBH is an emergency that must be recognized and treated quickly. However, according to a recent report, only 17% of emergency senior house officers could identify RBH and perform first-line treatment. This article presents an 8-patient case series of traumatic and iatrogenic RBH.

Perioperative Cortisol can predict hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal status in clinically non-functioning pituitary adenomas

Background: Peri-operative steroids are administered routinely to patients with pituitary adenoma undergoing transsphenoidal adenomectomy (TSA). Aim: To evaluate hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis before and after programmed endoscopic TSA (E-TSA) in patients with clinically non-functioning pituitary macroadenoma (NFPA). Design: Open prospective. Setting: Tertiary referral hospitals. Patients: Seventy-two consecutive patients (20–87 yr, 37 males). Interventions: Adrenal steroid replacement therapy (ASRT) was given only in patients with hypocortisolism [08:00 h cortisol (F) <8 µg/dl]. Main outcome measurements: After E-TSA, achieving wide (>90%) selective resection of the adenoma in all, F and clinical picture were checked at day 2. The low-dose (1 µg) ACTH test (LDACTH) was performed at 6 weeks and repeated at 12 months. Results: Hypocortisolism was present pre-operatively in 14 patients (19.4%), persisted post-operatively in all but one, and was detected de novo at the post-operative day 2 control in 6 (10.3%). In all but one the post-operative day 2 basal F and peak F during LDACTH test were concordant. No patient whose F was > 8 µg/dl was treated with ASRT or developed symptoms of adrenal failure during the follow-up (1–11 yr, median 5). Conclusions: HPA function is usually preserved in NFPA and is infrequently impaired after complete tumor removal by E-TSA. The 08:00 h. plasma cortisol evaluation before and 2 days after surgery, using as cut-off the value of 8 µg/dl, allows full evaluation of HPA status. Peri-operative steroid treatment should be given only in patients with hypocortisolism.