Javan Nation

Incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease and positive maxillary antral cultures in children with symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis

OBJECTIVES Studies have shown that gastroesophageal reflux disease occurs more frequently than expected in children with chronic rhinosinusitis. The objective of this study is to further understand the relationship of pediatric chronic rhinosinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease in children with symptoms of rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, and chronic cough. METHODS A retrospective chart review of 63 children, ages 6 months to 10 years old with rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, and chronic cough. The patients underwent maxillary cultures, adenoidectomy, and distal third esophageal biopsies. Children with esophageal biopsies showing esophagitis were classified as positive for gastroesophageal reflux disease, and maxillary antral swabs growing a high density of bacteria were classified as positive for chronic rhinosinusitis. RESULTS Six months to 5 years old children (n=43), 6 (14%) had simultaneous positive maxillary antral cultures and positive esophageal biopsies, 11 (26%) had positive esophageal biopsies alone, 23 (53%) had positive maxillary antral cultures alone, and 3 (7%) had neither. Six to 10 years old children (n=20), 9 (45%) had simultaneous positive maxillary antral cultures and positive esophageal biopsies, 1 (5%) patient had positive esophageal biopsies alone, 3 (15%) patients had positive maxillary antral cultures alone, and 7 (35%) patients had neither. Twenty-seven (42%) of the patients from the whole study had gastroesophageal reflux positive biopsies. The younger children were statistically likely to have chronic rhinosinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease independently of each other (p=0.0002). A direct group comparison found the younger group to have independent chronic rhinosinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease and the older group to have simultaneous chronic rhinosinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease (p=0.0006). CONCLUSION In children with the presenting symptoms of rhinorrhea, nasal congestion, and chronic cough, younger children tend to have either chronic rhinosinusitis or gastroesophageal reflux disease, whereas older children tend to have a more complicated etiology of chronic rhinosinusitis and gastroesophageal reflux disease or other. In all of these patients gastroesophageal reflux disease plays an important role, as over 40% of all patients had gastroesophageal positive biopsies.

The Efficacy of Adenotonsillectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Children with Down Syndrome: A Systematic Review:

Objective Determine the efficacy of adenotonsillectomy in children with Down syndrome. Data Sources Databases included PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Google Scholar. The search was inclusive of all references available through January 5, 2017. Review Methods A systematic review of the medical literature addressing adenotonsillectomy in treating obstructive sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses. Data were pooled using a random-effects model where possible. The quality of studies was graded using the Methodological Index for Nonrandomized Studies criteria. Results Of the 957 articles screened, 5 met inclusion for the qualitative analysis and 3 met criteria for the quantitative analysis. The findings of the qualitative analysis were that adenotonsillectomy has a positive effect on children with Down syndrome but in many cases is noncurative, up to 75% need postoperative breathing support, there is a high rate of immediate postoperative airway needs, and there is no change in sleep efficiency or architecture. The articles consistently reported moderate success in improving polysomnographic parameters, and limited pooling of the data demonstrated a mean decrease of the apnea-hypopnea index by 51% (95% confidence interval [CI], 46%-55%). Conclusion A 51% reduction in the preoperative apnea-hypopnea index can be expected with the intervention of adenotonsillectomy alone in children with Down syndrome. This information is useful for counseling and managing patient and family expectations. It also serves as a reminder to clinicians to obtain a postoperative sleep study, as many of these patients will need nighttime airway support or secondary sleep surgery.

Frequency of Otitis Media Based on Otoendoscopic Evaluation in Preterm Infants

Objective This study was conducted to determine the frequency of otitis media in preterm neonates using otoendoscopy and tympanometry. Study Design Prospective study. Setting Wayne State University, Hutzel Women’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Subjects and Methods Eighty-six preterm infants were included (gestational age <36 weeks). Otoendoscopy and tympanometry were performed to detect the presence of otitis media. Kappa statistic and logistic regression were used for statistical analysis. Results Otoendoscopy was performed in 85 patients. The frequency of otoendoscopy-diagnosed otitis media was 72.9% (62/85). Tympanometry could be performed on 69.76% of the ears. There was 73.5% agreement between the findings of tympanometry and those of otoendoscopy. The association between the presence of otitis media and gestational age at birth was statistically significant. The lower the gestational age, the higher the frequency of otoendoscopy-diagnosed otitis media (P = .001). Conclusion Otoendoscopically diagnosed otitis media is frequent in preterm neonates. There was agreement between the results of tympanometry and those of otoendoscopy. The frequency of otitis media increased with lower gestational age.

Intracranial complications of pediatric sinusitis: Identifying risk factors associated with prolonged clinical course

OBJECTIVE Intracranial extension is one of the most serious and morbid complications of pediatric sinusitis. Managing this complication continues to be challenging even after widespread pneumococcal vaccination adoption. We aim to identify risk factors associated with complicated clinical courses, and to assess for altering microbial communities and increased antibiotic resistance. METHODS A retrospective review was conducted of sinus procedures performed at a single institution for acute sinusitis with intracranial extension, and 16 cases were identified. Variables collected included patient demographics, vaccination status, laboratory results, imaging data, antibiotic therapy, sinus and intracranial cultures, perioperative and surgical reports, and hospital course. RESULTS The average patient age was 11.9 years, and 75% were male. The dominant microbial organisms were gram positive in 93.8% (15/16) of cases and 37.5% (6/16) were anaerobic. There were no cases of resistant bacterial growth, and only one case of Streptococcus pneumoniae. Increased antibiotic therapy duration was associated with anaerobic and polymicrobial sinus cultures. A significant increase in length of hospital stay was identified in polymicrobial sinus cultures and frontal sinus involvement. Intracranial abscess re-accumulation was associated with sinus cultures positive for fusobacterium (p = 0.036), polymicrobial infections (p = 0.034), and involvement of brain parenchyma (p = 0.036). Patients with frontal sinus involvement required a greater number of surgical procedures for abscess drainage (p = 0.046). An anaerobic intracranial culture was associated with an increased number of revision craniotomies (p < 0.001). Parenchymal involvement of the infection was associated with an increased number of surgical complications. CONCLUSIONS Frontal sinus involvement, and anaerobic and polymicrobial sinus cultures were predictive of a more severe infection requiring more surgical interventions, prolonged intravenous antibiotic treatment and overall hospital length of stay. Streptococcus pneumoniae was not prevalent in our series, and there seems to be a shift in the microbial profile of this patient subset, compared to previous studies, which can likely be attributed to the adoption of pneumococcal vaccinations. Sinus cultures were more predictive of a complicated clinical course compared to intracranial cultures, suggesting the importance of a thorough sinus debridement and obtaining directed sinus cultures.

Management of Large-Volume Subperiosteal Abscesses of the Orbit: Medical vs Surgical Outcomes

Objectives To compare clinical variables and outcomes for children with subperiosteal abscesses of the orbit (SPAO) managed medically vs surgically to identify clinical prognosticators. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Tertiary children’s academic institution. Subjects and Methods The study included 48 children between the age of 1 month and 14 years, with SPAO from 2003 to 2013. Variables included age, sex, physical examination findings, laboratory results, computed tomography (CT) findings, hospital length of stay, length of antibiotic therapy, and placement of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC). Intended methods for comparison were the Student t test for continuous variables and Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables, and a forward stepwise multiple logistic regression. Results Thirty-two (67%) children were successfully treated with antibiotic therapy only, and 16 (33%) required surgery. Abscess volume, abscess width, and the presence of gaze restriction were statistically different between the 2 groups. A multivariate analysis found abscess volume as the only predictor for surgical intervention. A subgroup analysis including only patients with an abscess volume of ≥500 mm3 (n = 26) was performed. Eleven patients were treated medically and 15 treated surgically, with the medical group having longer hospital stays (P = .048), duration of antibiotic therapy (P = .035), and higher incidence of PICC placement (P = .005). Conclusions This is the first study to report that abscess volume has clinical implications, as children with SPAO volume ≥500 mm3 treated medically have longer inpatient admissions, antibiotic therapy durations, and PICC placement. When children present with an abscess ≥500 mm3, early surgical intervention should be strongly considered, even in the absence of other surgical criteria, to shorten duration of hospitalization and accelerate clinical improvement.

Sequential Treatment of Delayed Endovascular Coil Extrusion From a Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm After Tonsillectomy

Sequential Treatment of Delayed Endovascular Coil Extrusion From a Carotid Artery Pseudoaneurysm After Tonsillectomy Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgeries performed in the United States.1 A rare vascular complication of tonsillectomy is extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) pseudoaneurysm, which occurs when a tear in the arterial wall leads to a hematoma and subsequent development of a periarterial fibrous capsule. Expeditious treatment is required to avoid lifethreatening complications. Traditionally, pseudoaneurysm treatment involves ligation or resection of the affected portion of the vessel. However, this technique bears significant risk of stroke and death.2 Owing to the superior safety profile, endovascular methods previously limited to intracranial pathology, such as coiling and stent placement, have become favored.3 In spite of the increasing use of endovascular intervention of extracranial ICA pseudoaneurysm, the safety, efficacy, and treatment of complications is not well established, particularly in children. Here, we describe the presentation and treatment of delayed pharyngeal mucosal extrusion of an endovascular coil in a child who was previously treated with stent and coil for a left extracranial ICA pseudoaneurysm following tonsillectomy procedures.

Pediatric Endoscopic Endonasal Approaches for Skull Base Lesions in the Very Young: Is It Safe and Effective?

Abstract Introduction The fully endoscopic expanded endonasal approach (EEA) has been shown to be safe and efficacious in pediatric patients. However, in the very young patient (ages six and under), the anatomical challenge of working through a small nasal corridor is problematic. The ability to repair the skull base and use a nasoseptal flap (NSF) has also been called into question. Here, we review skull base resections using EEA in patients aged 6 years and younger. Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted on pediatric patients age 6 years and younger who underwent EEA skull base resections over a 3‐year period (June 2014 through June 2017). Results Eight children aged 6 and under with seven tumor pathologies underwent an EEA for the resection of their skull base tumors, with a mean follow‐up of 1.45 years. Only chordoma cases required multiple‐staged resections. There are no tumor recurrences to date. A high‐flow intraoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak was encountered in three cases, and there were no postoperative CSF leaks. CSF leaks were effectively repaired with NSFs. One patient suffered from postoperative hypopituitarism, one patient experienced recurrent epistaxis secondary to turbinate destruction by the tumor, and one patient expired 8 months postresection secondary to metastatic disease. Conclusion In our case series, EEA for skull base tumors in children aged 6 and under was a safe and effective surgical approach. Skull base defects are able to be effectively addressed with typical repairs including NSFs. Larger studies are warranted to further investigate this technique in this pediatric population.

Refractory sleep-disordered breathing due to unilateral lingual tonsillar hypertrophy in a child with Proteus Syndrome☆

Proteus Syndrome (PS) is a rare congenital overgrowth disease affecting bones, skin, adipose and the central nervous system. The result is asymmetric, disfiguring hypertrophy which can manifest as craniofacial dysmorphia and aerodigestive tract abnormalities. We report the case of obstructive lingual tonsillar hypertrophy resulting in residual sleep disordered breathing after adenotonsillectomy in a child with PS, a previously unrecognized manifestation of the disease. Endoscopic treatment with coblation effectively and safely treated the obstructive symptoms.

A novel technique for pedicled nasoseptal flap takedown in revision skull base surgery

Objective To describe a novel technique of using the CO2 laser for a revision pedicled nasoseptal flap (PNSF) takedown. Patient Patient with a pituitary adenoma recurrence that had undergone an endoscopic skull base resection with a nasoseptal flap repair 3 years prior. Procedure Flap edges and bony defect are examined using an image-guidance probe to identify the full extent of the defect. The CO2 laser fiber is used to incise through to the underlying skull base. The flap is then elevated from its most distal portion toward the pedicle, using the laser to cut adhesions away from the underlying dura. The skull base defect is then repaired with an onlay graft of acellular dermis, then the PNSF. Results The laser was adept at dissecting through mucosa to the underlying bone and at dissecting the underside of the flap from the posterior adhesions and intradural structures safely. Conclusion The novel use of the of the CO2 laser for the flap takedown was very effective at safely making the mucosal cuts and dissecting the flap from the underlying structures. The nasoseptal flap takedown can be a technically challenging procedure that was made easier by the use of the CO2 laser.

Auditory Brainstem Response and Distortion-Product Otoacoustic Emission Studies in Neonates at High-Risk for Hearing Loss:

Objectives: 1) Recognize that preterm infants less than 1300g have a well-described and markedly increased incidence of hearing loss, possibly attributed to reversible early middle ear pathology. 2) Analyze if distortion product oto-acoustic emissions (DPOAE) and/or auditory brainstem response (ABR) could be useful adjuncts when used in addition to tympanometry and otoendoscopy in evaluation of neonatal hearing and middle ear. Methods: Institutional review board approved prospective study at a tertiary care center neonatal intensive care unit with subjects undergoing ABR, DPAOE, tympanometry, and otoendoscopy studies within 72 hours of birth and in scheduled increments until discharge. From January 2010 to date, 77 neonates have been examined. Results: Our results confirmed that DPOAE could be a reliable and repetitive study from 24 weeks of gestational age and onward. When comparing traditional tympanometry to DPOAE, 85.7% of examinations with type B or C tympanometry also had an abnormal DPOAE result. Conversely, 62.5% of patients with type A tympanometry had a normal DPOAE result. Furthermore, in patients with a clinical diagnosis of AOM or OME, 66.7% percent had an abnormal DPAOE result. Regarding ABR threshold studies, there were several limitations with data acquisition due to incubator interference and background noise; thus, the potential of ABR in this population remains to be determined. Conclusions: This study suggests that DPOAE can be used as a reliable hearing evaluation in the neonatal population. Additionally, it may serve as a useful adjunct and insight into evaluating neonatal middle ear pathology, especially when combined with tympanometry and otoendoscopy.