Janalee Stokken

The utility of lumbar drains in modern endoscopic skull base surgery.

Purpose of review Lumbar drains were once routinely used for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion in endoscopic skull base reconstruction. The vascularized pedicled nasoseptal flap has now become the reconstructive workhorse in the setting of high-flow leaks. High-flow CSF leaks occur when there is violation of a cistern or ventricle. As lumbar drains have the potential for significant complications and the rate of postoperative CSF leak has decreased with the use of vascularized flaps, lumbar drain use has been challenged. Recent findings Lumbar drains have a reported 3% major and 5% minor complication rates. Two recent studies reviewed their postoperative CSF leak rates after reconstruction of high-flow leaks. Garcia-Navarro described 46 cases in which a lumbar drain was placed in 67% of patients with two postoperative CSF leaks, one in each group. Eloy et al. described 59 patients without lumbar drain and reported no postoperative CSF leaks. Summary Lumbar drains are not necessary in the settings of low-flow CSF leaks or even in all high-flow leaks. We consider the use of a lumbar drain in settings wherein a high-flow leak is encountered or anticipated and the patient has other risk factors that may make the risk of postoperative CSF leak higher or closure of the leak more difficult.

Multi-institutional study of risk factors for perioperative morbidity following transnasal endoscopic pituitary adenoma surgery

The goal of this study was to identify preoperative risk factors associated with increased perioperative morbidity after endoscopic pituitary surgery.

Rhinosinusitis in children: A comparison of patients requiring surgery for acute complications versus chronic disease ☆

BACKGROUND Patient characteristics, risk factors, and microbiology are important to consider in the management of complications of acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS) in pediatric patients. This study evaluates this subset of patients and compares them to patients that undergo surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). METHODS This study is a retrospective review of all pediatric patients from 2002 to 2011, who underwent sinus surgery at a tertiary hospital. Patients who underwent surgery for ABS complication were compared to patients who underwent surgery for CRS. Statistical analysis was completed using chi-square test or Fishers exact test with a statistical significance set at p<0.05. RESULTS Twenty-seven patients with a complication of ABS and 77 patients with CRS were analyzed. The groups did not differ demographically. Patients with a complication were statistically less likely to have seasonal allergies, prior sinusitis, prior nasal steroid use, or adenoidectomy (p<0.05). In addition, they had more frequent involvement of ethmoid and frontal sinuses (p<0.05). The most common cultures results were no growth (30.8%), Streptococcus milleri (30.8%), and normal flora (19.2%) in ABS for the with a complication group, and normal flora (41.5%), coagulase negative Staphylococcus (22%), and Propionobacterium (19.5%) for the CRS group. Most prevalent complications were preseptal cellulitis (55.5%), orbital subperiosteal abscess (29.6%), subgaleal abscess (22%), and epidural abscess (22%). Five patients had simultaneous orbital and intracranial complications. CONCLUSIONS Patients who present with complications of ABS vary significantly from the CRS patients. Location of most commonly affected sinuses and microbiology also differ and is crucial for understanding the management of this disease process.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Diversion in Endoscopic Skull Base Reconstruction: An Evidence-Based Approach to the Use of Lumbar Drains

Before the vascularized pedicled nasoseptal flap was popularized, lumbar drains (LDs) were routinely used for cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) diversion in endoscopic skull base reconstruction. LDs are not necessary in most CSF leaks encountered during skull base surgery. In this article, the use is considered of an LD in select high-risk settings in which a high-flow leak is anticipated and the patient has significant risk factors that make closure of the leak more challenging. Evidence for the use of LDs in preventing postoperative after endoscopic skull base reconstruction is reviewed and a rational framework for their use is proposed.

A systematic review of the sinonasal microbiome in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background The interaction between the host and microorganisms in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is poorly understood and is a growing area of interest. More recently, methodologies have been developed to assess the microbiome without the use of culture by analyzing the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene. We reviewed the microbiome literature to better understand the role of microbes in CRS. Methods Systematic review of studies that used the 16S ribosomal RNA gene deep sequencing. Results Nine publications met the search criteria. Eight studies evaluated the microbiome in controls (total, 83 subjects; range, 3-28 per study), whereas six of the studies included patients with CRS (total, 121 patients; range, 7-43 per study). Various sequencing techniques, primers, sample sites, and extraction methods were used. Of the articles that specified the number of taxa in controls, an average of 1587 taxa were identified (range, 911-2330). Significant heterogeneity was noted among the studies; however, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroides phyla were identified in every sample of control patients and patients with CRS. Three of the studies showed enrichment to some degree of Staphylococcus aureus in patients with CRS. The total bacterial burden in CRS was similar to the controls. One study demonstrated a decrease in diversity, whereas other studies did not show any changes in CRS when compared with controls. Conclusion Although there are common phyla present in both control patients and patients with CRS, no consistent enrichment of any particular taxon was identified. Our findings indicated that there was no clear single causative microbe in CRS. More studies are needed to better understand the significance of the host interaction with the microbiome and the role it plays in CRS.

Role of lumbar drains in contemporary endonasal skull base surgery: Meta-analysis and systematic review.

Background Historically, lumbar drains (LD) have played a prominent role in endonasal skull base surgery. Over the past few decades, advancements in techniques have augmented our ability to successfully reconstruct complex skull base defects and often obviates the need for cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) diversion. Clarity on the appropriate use of LDs is needed. Objective To examine the literature for the need for LDs in contemporary skull base reconstruction after resection of skull base tumors. Methods A systematic literature review of English language articles by using PubMed and Ovid. Search terms included “lumbar drain,” “CSF leak,” and “endoscopic endonasal reconstruction.” Articles were included when they pertained to adults, used current methods for reconstruction (i.e., multilayered repair or vascularized tissue), and addressed CSF leak rates secondary to endoscopic resection of skull base masses. All the studies discussed CSF leaks that resulted from traumatic-, idiopathic-, or sinus surgery-related iatrogenic causes were excluded. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines were followed. Results A total of five articles met inclusion criteria. These comprised 376 endoscopic skull base tumor resection and reconstruction cases; 5.59% developed postoperative CSF leaks. A meta-analysis was conducted by incorporating three studies that met criteria based on testing for heterogeneity. The average odds ratio for postoperative CSF leak for patients who did not have an LD relative to patients who had an LD was 0.590 (95% confidence interval, 0.214–1.630). Given a p value of 0.30, the results demonstrated a lack of statistically significant improvement between patients who had an LD and patients who did not have an LD. Various details, such as the defect size and type of CSF leak, were not consistently reported among studies. Conclusions Available evidence for the use of LDs in skull base surgery is of poor quality. Analysis of the literature revealed heterogenous and varied reporting in the primary literature. Further studies that include randomized controlled trials are needed.

Attitudes on and usage of balloon catheter technology in rhinology: A survey of the American Rhinologic Society.

Introduction Use of balloon catheter dilation in the management of paranasal sinus diseases, including chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and recurrent acute rhinosinusitis, remains controversial. In an effort to gain some clarity about its evolving role, we surveyed members of the American Rhinologic Society (ARS). Method Online survey. Results ARS Members were sent an invitation by e-mail to participate in an online, anonymous 23-item survey. A total of 231 participants completed the survey, for an overall response rate of 25%. Balloon catheter technology (BCT) played no role in the practices of one-third of all the respondents. Of those who did use BCT, more than 50% performed only 1–4 cases per month on average. This did not differ significantly with practice type (p = 0.2988). The overall use of BCT differed between types of practices with those in private practice reporting greater use of the technology for maxillary and sphenoid sinuses (p = 0.0003 and p = 0.0073, respectively). Participants in private practice appeared significantly more impressed with the results of BCT when compared with those in academia (p = 0.0005) and also thought that patients were more satisfied (p = 0.0002). Opinions toward the strength of available evidence also differed significantly between the two groups (p = 0.0007). Thirty-two respondents had experienced a complication with BCT, although the majority of these did not require any intervention. Conclusions ARS members surveyed used BCT infrequently in their practices. Attitudes on the role of this technology in CRS management differed between academic and private practitioners, but, despite this, the volume of reported BCT use was the same. Surgeons are more accepting of the technology now compared with 5 years ago, and many of them believe that their use of BCT will increase in the future.

Factors impacting cerebrospinal fluid leak rates in endoscopic sellar surgery

In patients undergoing transnasal endoscopic sellar surgery, an analysis of risk factors and predictors of intraoperative and postoperative cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF) would provide important prognostic information.

Quality measurement for rhinosinusitis: A review from the Quality Improvement Committee of the American Rhinologic Society

Measuring quality outcomes is an important prerequisite to improve quality of care. Rhinosinusitis represents a high value target to improve quality of care because it has a high prevalence of disease, large economic burden, and large practice variation. In this study we review the current state of quality measurement for management of both acute (ARS) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Successful repair of intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid leaks improves outcomes in endoscopic skull base surgery

The impact of failed cerebrospinal fluid leak (CSF) leak repair in endoscopic skull base surgery has not been adequately studied.