Kiyoshi Yanagi

Healing Process of Sinus Mucosa after Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

In the treatment of chronic sinusitis, the mucosa should be preserved, or, when severely damaged, only the mucosal surface removed with cutting forceps. It is especially important not to expose the surface of the bone by complete removal of the mucosa. When the mucosa is conserved, or excision is limited to only the mucosal surface, ciliated cells regenerate within 6 months. However, where the mucosa was completely removed during surgery and the bone was exposed, the area was covered with nonciliated cells, and only scattered cilia were present.

Saccharin test of maxillary sinus mucociliary function after endoscopic sinus surgery.

Objectives: To determine the usefulness of the saccharin time (ST) test for evaluating the mucociliary function of the maxillary sinus after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic sinusitis.

Risk factors for complications of endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background Patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) are at risk of complications because of the close proximity of the sinuses to the orbit and anterior skull base. The aim of this study was to evaluate the complications of ESS and to identify patient characteristics that were risk factors for the complications. Methods We conducted a prospective study of 706 patients who underwent ESS for chronic rhinosinusitis. Patients completed preoperative examinations that included computed tomography, endoscopic observation for nasal polyps, and tests for comorbidities including asthma and vascular disease. Perioperative complications were evaluated based on information provided by the surgeons. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify patient characteristics that were risk factors for complications. Results Overall, perioperative complications occurred in 41 patients (5.8%). A major complication, cerebrospinal fluid leakage, occurred in one patient (0.1%). Minor complications occurred in 40 patients (5.7%), with the most common being intraoperative hemorrhage (n = 18). Multivariate analysis indicated that presence of asthma and the total polyp score correlated significantly with the occurrence of complications. Conclusion The risk factors for perioperative complications were asthma and the polyp score. We conclude that the surgeon should confirm whether the patient has lower airway disease, especially asthma, before operating. The surgeon should also determine the grade of nasal polyps.

Endoscopic Endonasal Treatment of Ostium of the Frontal Sinus and the Results of Endoscopic Surgery

We discuss a procedure for opening the nasofrontal duct and the postoperative findings in endoscopic endonasal surgery. The route of the anterior ethmoidal artery was also studied. The subjects of this study were 57 patients (105 sides) who had frontal sinus disease. The patients all underwent surgery for chronic sinusitis between 1990 and 1992. Patients undergoing revision surgery were excluded. All patients were operated on by the same surgeon. In each patient, following anterior and posterior ethmoidectomy, the frontal sinus ostial region was opened using a 70 endoscope, while carefully monitoring the anterior ethmoidal artery. The agger nasi was left intact. The cells around the ostium were opened using a curved suction tip and upward bent forceps, and the lamellae were removed to achieve the greatest possible communication with the frontal sinus. In 77 sides (73.4%), the communication between the frontal and ethmoidal sinuses was well maintained. The ostium was patent with edematous mucosa in 18 sides (17.1%). The opened ostium could not be confirmed due to presence of polyp, etc., in 10 sides (9.5%). During surgery, the route of the anterior ethmoidal artery was confirmed in 70.8%; and of these cases, it was located anterior to the third ground lamella in about 50%.

Identification of Onodi cell and new classification of sphenoid sinus for endoscopic sinus surgery

There is no effective classification method for the opening of the sphenoid sinus. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of identification of the Onodi cell and classification of the sphenoid sinus using sagittal computed tomography (CT) for sphenoidotomy.

Endoscopic transantral and transnasal repair of orbital floor fracture with the ballooning technique, and classification and characterization of orbital floor fractures

Background The level of difficulty during an endoscopic approach for an inferior orbital fracture depends on the fracture pattern and the presence of a ruptured membrane (orbital periosteum and sinus mucosa). The purpose of our study was to examine fracture patterns according to age group and to determine the relationship between the type of fracture and the type of membrane injury. Methods We reviewed the records of 30 patients who, from 2006 to 2010, underwent endoscopic transantral and transnasal approach with a balloon catheter technique to repair orbital floor fracture. The procedure was done through middle or inferior meatal antrostomy and two small antrostomies made in the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus by using an endoscope and specially designed curved dissectors. Results There were 3 linear, 20 trapdoor-type and 7 blowout fractures. There was a tendency toward a higher incidence of linear fractures at younger ages and of blowout fractures in older patients. All linear fractures had rupture of both membranes, whereas both membranes were intact in 15 of the 20 patients with trapdoor fractures. Among blowout fractures, there was no membrane rupture in five and both membranes were ruptured in two patients. No patient reported diplopia after fracture repair. Conclusions Rupture of the periosteum, which makes visualization and reduction of orbital tissue difficult for the surgeon during endoscopic repair of the orbital floor fracture, was observed in 3 of 3 linear fractures and 5 of 20 trapdoor fractures. We found that linear fractures were more common in pediatric patients. Care of pediatric orbital floor fracture requires particular caution.