Kevin C. Welch

Complications in endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis: a 25-year experience.

The aim of this study was to review complications occurring as a result of endoscopic sinus surgery by one surgeon in an academic practice during a 25‐year period.

Topical therapies in the management of chronic rhinosinusitis: an evidence-based review with recommendations

Topical therapies have become an integral component in the management plan for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Several topical therapy strategies have been evaluated, but a formal comprehensive evaluation of the evidence has never been performed. The purpose of this article is to provide an evidence‐based approach for the utilization of topical therapies in the management of CRS.

The effects of serum and urinary cortisol levels of topical intranasal irrigations with budesonide added to saline in patients with recurrent polyposis after endoscopic sinus surgery

Background The delivery of topical intranasal corticosteroid sprays has traditionally been the primary method of treating recurrent nasal polyposis. An emerging treatment for polyposis is budesonide nasal irrigations. Delivered at concentrations nearly 100 times greater than found in prescription nasal sprays, there have been little studies on the effects of budesonide irrigation on the adrenal axis. Therefore, we investigated whether irrigation with budesonide solution was associated with any increase in serum cortisol and 24-hour urinary cortisol levels. Methods Patients who previously had undergone endoscopic sinus surgery and were not taking prednisone for 3 months were prospectively enrolled in this study. Patients irrigated twice daily with 0.5 mg/2 mL of budesonide mixed with 240 mL of saline solution. Serum cortisol and 24-hour urinary cortisol were collected before drug administration and 6 weeks after continuous use. Results Ten patients completed this study. The average serum cortisol and 24-hour urinary cortisol before drug administration were 9.8 ± 5.4 μg/dL and 28.1 ± 15.1 μg/24 hours, respectively. After 6-week follow-up, the average serum cortisol and 24-hour urinary cortisol were 12.8 ± 3.5 μg/dL and 16.5 ± 5.6 μg/24 hours, respectively. Normal ranges for serum cortisol and 24-hour urinary cortisol are 5–25 μg/dL and 4–50 μg/24 hours, respectively. Conclusions: Irrigation with budesonide, 0.5 mg/2 mL, in 250 mL of saline solution does not result in decreases of serum cortisol and 24-hour urinary cortisol levels. Based on this, we feel irrigation with budesonide solution is safe to perform in patients as an alternative to traditional aerosolized steroid sprays or systemic corticosteroids.

Assessing the risk of irrigation bottle and fluid contamination after endoscopic sinus surgery

Background Saline nasal irrigation has become an important aspect of post-operative care following endoscopic sinus surgery. The objective of this study was to identify the risks of contamination of both the nasal irrigation bottle and fluid following endoscopic sinus surgery. Methods This was a prospective study of consecutive patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic sinusitis. All patients were given nasal irrigation bottles with detailed cleaning instructions preoperatively. Nasal irrigation bottles were collected and cultured at 1 and 2 weeks postoperatively. During the same visit, 5-ml of sterile normal saline was mixed into the irrigation bottle and then cultured separately. Results A total of 20 patients agreed to participate in the study. At 1 week postoperatively, 50% of the bottles had positive cultures with 40% of the irrigation samples testing positive for bacteria. At two weeks, the contamination in the irrigation bottle and fluid decreased to 26.7% and 20%, respectively. The most common bacteria cultured was Pseudomonas aeruginosa. There were no cases of postoperative infection. Conclusion Despite detailed cleaning instructions, there is a relatively high risk of bacterial contamination in nasal irrigation bottles and fluid following endoscopic sinus surgery. Although these risks did not translate into higher infection rates postsurgery, it may be important for physicians to emphasize regular cleaning techniques to minimize a potential source of bacterial contaminant exposure.

A contemporary review of endoscopic sinus surgery: Techniques, tools, and outcomes

Chronic rhinosinusitis is estimated to nearly 25 million people annually in the United States alone. The medical management of these patients is often successful; however, when medical management fails, surgery may be indicated to bring relief. Unfortunately, surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis is not standardized and we remain without a consensus on both the extent of surgery required and the manner in which it is performed. In the past 25 years, three philosophies or schools of thought have arisen to help guide the surgical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery aims to surgically treat problem areas by ventilating the sinuses through the natural ostia and addressing all diseased sinuses when necessary. This procedure is not standardized and is patient and surgeon dependent. The minimally invasive sinus technique has been proposed as a method whereby each surgical procedure is standardized regardless of disease severity. Lastly, balloon catheter dilatation of the sinus ostia, which by itself is not truly a procedure, is also discussed as a separate philosophy since these specific tools used during endoscopic sinus surgery have quickly energized the sinus community. All three schools of thought possess benefits and drawbacks, even when used appropriately. The concepts, tools, and technologies will be reviewed here as well as outcomes in the hopes that this article will provide an understanding of the surgical options to successfully treat chronic rhinosinusitis. Laryngoscope, 2009

Clinical correlation between irrigation bottle contamination and clinical outcomes in post-functional endoscopic sinus surgery patients

Background Sinonasal irrigation after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is a common practice, but the role irrigation bottles play in iatrogenic contamination of the operated sinuses is unknown. Therefore, we investigated whether irrigation bottles used postoperatively become contaminated and have any potential association with immediate postsurgical infection and outcomes. Methods Patients irrigated twice daily after ESS. Bottle cleaning was performed as recommended by the manufacturer. New bottles were distributed at the time of the operation and at each postoperative visit. During postoperative weeks 1, 2, and 4, bottles were cultured. Medical charts were reviewed for the presence of postsurgical infection and changes in management. Results Twenty post-ESS patients were enrolled and examined at weeks 1, 2, and 4. A total of 51 bottles were collected and cultured. Overall, 15 of 51 (29%) bottles demonstrated bacterial growth when cultured. During the first two collection periods, 10 of 40 (25%) bottles demonstrated bacterial growth when cultured; however, five of 11 (45%) bottles collected at the last postoperative visit demonstrated bacterial growth when cultured. During the study, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were frequently recovered during the collection periods. Other organisms isolated included Escherichia coli and Enterobacter spp. Although positive bottle cultures were more common at weeks 2 and 4, no postoperative infections occurred. Conclusions Irrigation bottles used postoperatively have a measurable incidence of contamination. Contamination rate increases when bottles are used for longer than 1 week, but this does not appear to result in postsurgical infection.

Heterogeneous inflammatory patterns in chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps in Chicago, Illinois

CRSsNP is a heterogenous disease but type 2 inflammation in CRSsNP was more common than type 1 inflammation among patients in Chicago, Illinois. Distinct therapeutic strategies may be needed depending on the type of inflammation found in CRSsNP.

Group 2 innate lymphoid cells are elevated and activated in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is characterized by type 2 inflammation with high levels of Th2 cytokines. Although T helper cytokines are released from T cells, innate lymphoid cells (ILC) are also known to produce high levels of the same cytokines. However, the presence of various types of ILC in CRS is poorly understood.

Effect of lumbar drain placement on recurrence of cerebrospinal rhinorrhea after endoscopic repair

Lumbar drain (LD) use in the management of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea remains controversial. We analyzed the relationship between LD placement and CSF leak recurrence after endoscopic repair.

Clinical Consensus Statement Septoplasty with or without Inferior Turbinate Reduction

Objective To develop a clinical consensus statement on septoplasty with or without inferior turbinate reduction. Methods An expert panel of otolaryngologists with no relevant conflicts of interest was assembled to represent general otolaryngology and relevant subspecialty societies. A working definition of septoplasty with or without inferior turbinate reduction and the scope of pertinent otolaryngologic practice were first established. Patients 18 years and older were defined as the targeted population of interest. A modified Delphi method was then used to distill expert opinion into clinical statements that met a standardized definition of consensus. Results The group defined nasal septoplasty as a surgical procedure designed to correct a deviated nasal septum for the purpose of improving nasal function, form, or both. After 2 iterative Delphi method surveys, 20 statements met the standardized definition of consensus, while 13 statements did not. The clinical statements were grouped into 8 categories for presentation and discussion: (1) definition and diagnosis, (2) imaging studies, (3) medical management prior to septoplasty, (4) perioperative management, (5) surgical considerations, (6) adjuvant procedures, (7) postoperative care, and (8) outcomes. Conclusion This clinical consensus statement was developed by and for otolaryngologists and is intended to promote appropriate and, when possible, evidence-based care for patients undergoing septoplasty with or without inferior turbinate reduction. A complete definition of septoplasty with or without inferior turbinate reduction was first developed, and additional statements were subsequently produced and evaluated addressing diagnosis, medical management prior to septoplasty, and surgical considerations, as well as the appropriate role of perioperative, postoperative, and adjuvant procedures, in addition to outcomes. Additionally, a series of clinical statements were developed, such as “Computed tomography scan may not accurately demonstrate the degree of septal deviation,” “Septoplasty can assist delivery of intranasal medications to the nasal cavity,” “Endoscopy can be used to improve visualization of posterior-based septal deviation during septoplasty,” and “Quilting sutures can obviate the need for nasal packing after septoplasty.” It is anticipated that the application of these principles will result in decreased variations in the care of septoplasty patients and an increase in the quality of care.