Kshitij Shah

Radiological correlation between the anterior ethmoidal artery and the supraorbital ethmoid cell.

AbstractThe anterior ethmoidal artery is an important landmark in functional endoscopic sinus surgery.AimsWe undertook this study to determine the reliability of identification of the artery on the coronal CT scan and to determine whether a correlation exists between the pneumatisation of the suprabullar recess and the vertical distance of the artery from the base skull.Materials and Methods50 randomly selected CT scans were studied. The anterior ethmoidal artery was identified on each side and the vertical distance between the artery and the base skull was measured. The orbital beak and the superior oblique muscle were used as landmarks to identify the artery. The CT scans were divided into two groups based on whether the supraorbital cell was present or absent. These groups were each further subdivided into 3 groups depending on the vertical distance between the anterior ethmoidal artery and the base skull.ResultsThe anterior ethmoidal artery was reliably identified in 97% of the cases. When the supraorbital cell was absent, the mean distance between the artery and the base skull was 1.5 mm; while when the cell was present, the mean distance was 4.86 mm. When these groups were evaluated for statistical significance, the p value was 0.000 (highly significant).ConclusionThe orbital beak and superior oblique muscle are reliable landmarks to identify the anterior ethmoidal artery. There exists a strong correlation between the vertical distance of the artery from the base skull and the presence of the supraorbital ethmoid cell.

Transcutaneous Endoscopic Orbital Surgery: A Less Morbid Alternative to Lateral Orbitotomy

Abstract Background: Retrobulbar lesions of the orbit situated lateral to the optic nerve are difficult to access. In this article, the authors would like to present a new perspective to approach these lesions where the goals of surgery are met with minimal complications. Methods: A retrospective analysis of patients’ charts was performed. Results: For approaching retrobulbar lesions an endoscopic technique was developed. Four patients (2 male and 2 female patients) presenting with retrobulbar lesions lateral to the optic nerve have been included in this study. Two patients underwent endoscopic drainage for orbital abscess and two patients were successfully biopsied endoscopically. No intra-operative complications were noted. Open procedures such as lateral orbitotomy were avoided in all the cases. Conclusion: Transcutaneous orbital endoscopy is a safe and a versatile technique to approach retrobulbar lesions lateral to the optic nerve. It can be used as an effective alternative to lateral orbitotomy for well selected cases. One can obtain adequate material for histopathological examination and also drain deep-seated orbital abscess using this technique. It would be possible with increasing experience to use this technique for extended applications.

Invasive aspergillosis of the temporal bone

Invasive aspergillosis of temporal bone, an extremely rare yet potentially life-threatening disease entity, occurs mostly in immuno-compromised individuals. We report a case of a 65-year-old diabetic male who presented with bilateral ear discharge, bilateral subepithelial ear masses, and progressive left facial palsy of recent onset. The biopsy specimen taken from either side after surgical debridement revealed only nonspecific inflammatory granulation tissue, but the culture of the tissue was positive for Aspergillus flavus . Invasive aspergillosis was confirmed by demonstration of the fungi in the tissues with Gomori-Methanamine Silver staining. The patient was hence put on long-term Itraconazole therapy and is presently doing well. The possibility of invasive fungal otitis always needs to be considered as a differential diagnosis in immuno-compromised patients presenting with atypical otomastoiditis so as to diagnose this rare condition at an early stage to reduce the delay in the treatment and prevent its possible complications such as skull base osteomyelitis and progressive cranial nerve palsies.

Orbital Exenteration in Rhino-Orbito-Cerebral Mucormycosis: A Prospective Analytical Study with Scoring System

Mucormycosis is an uncommon, rapidly progressive, angio-invasive, commonly fatal, opportunistic fungal infection. The most critical decision in the management of rhinoorbital mucormycosis is whether the orbit should be exenterated. (1) To layout the indications of orbital exenteration in patients with rhino-orbito-cerebral mucormycosis. (2) To devise a scoring system that predicts the stage at which the exenteration needs to be carried out. A scoring system was devised by a team of experienced Otorhinolaryngologists and Ophthalmologists from prior experience in managing mucormycosis. All patients of mucormycosis visiting our hospital were admitted and included in the study. A total of 15 patients were included. The scoring system is based on 3 main criteria, namely: (1) clinical signs and symptoms. (2) Direct and Indirect Ophthalmoscopy. (3) Imaging. The Sion Hospital Scoring System is an accurate and promising measure to solve the dilemma that is associated with orbital exenteration in orbito-rhino-cerebral mucormycosis.

Management of Difficult Laryngeal Exposure During Suspension Microlaryngoscopy

Difficult laryngeal exposure during suspension microlaryngoscopic surgeries is a common situation encountered by the phonosurgeons nowadays. It leads to unnecessary trauma, incomplete surgery and even abortion of the procedure. Although various methods have been described to counter the situation, they might not be adequate in some cases with very anteriorly placed larynx. This study is intended to determine the utility of angled rigid endoscope along with malleable endoscopic instruments to improve surgical access in cases with inadequate glottic exposure during suspension microlaryngoscopy. In this cross sectional study conducted at Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital in Mumbai, 50 patients of voice disorders who underwent Suspension Microlaryngoscopy from July 2014 to December 2017 were included. Out of these patients, 5 patients (10%) presented with difficult laryngeal exposure that were operated using readily available angled rigid endoscope along with malleable endoscopic instruments, without requirement of any specially designed instruments. There was improvement in laryngeal exposure in all the cases following utilisation of angled endoscopes. The surgeries were carried out under video monitor guidance with complete excision of the vocal cord lesions. Our study concluded that the cases in which the laryngeal exposure cannot be improved even by various external procedures, can be enhanced by application of angled rigid endoscopes and the vocal cord lesions can be excised completely by using malleable endoscopic instruments.

“AIR LEAK SYNDROME”: An Unusual Presentation of Foreign Body in the Airway

AbstractSpontaneous onset pneumomediastinum, pneumothorax and subcutaneous emphysema are rare presentations of a foreign body in the airway. The possible mechanism for unexplainable and non traumatic subcutaneous emphysema can be attributed to “Air leak syndrome” following inhalation of foreign body in the airway.

False Cord Retractor: An important Tool in diagnosing Posterior Laryngeal Cleft

When the tracheoesophageal septum fails to develop or fuse, a laryngeal cleft is formed. It may or may not be associated with a tracheoesophageal fistula. Diagnosing a laryngeal cleft is not straightforward as was found to be in this case. Here, the cleft was masquerading as a laryngeal polyp, which resulted in misdiagnoses and delay in the management. A false cord retractor was of significant help in diagnosing the cleft. We recommend the use of this instrument during evaluation of laryngobronchoscopy in all patients suspected to have a laryngeal cleft.

Factors Affecting the Outcome of Frontal Sinus Surgery: A Prospective Study

Chronic frontal sinus disease has always been a difficult problem to treat. We undertook this study to evaluate our results of frontal recess surgery, to determine the factors which affected the surgical outcome and to determine whether the post-operative findings correlated with the symptomatic improvement in the patients. Twenty-four patients with chronic sinus pathologies involving the frontal sinus were included in this study. After failure of maximal medical treatment, they were subjected to endoscopic surgery. The factors assessed included the pneumatisation of the frontal recess on CT scan, the technique of surgery, the intra-operative frontal glow, the state of the frontal recess at the end of surgery, the appearance of the recess on follow-up endoscopy and the symptomatic relief in the patients. 81.2% of well pneumatised frontal recesses had a good outcome while only 42.1% of the poorly pneumatised frontal recesses had a good outcome. 76.2% of cases with a frontal glow seen intra-operatively had a favourable surgical result while 44.4% of cases without a frontal glow intra-operatively had a favourable surgical result. Two-thirds (66.7%) of cases with mucosa-lined frontal recess did well post-operatively while only 33.3% of cases with a raw frontal recess did well following surgery. Well pneumatised frontal recesses, presence of an intra-operative frontal glow and a mucosa-lined frontal recess corresponded with better post-surgical outcomes. A difference in the intra-operative technique did not influence the result after surgery. Nineteen out of 24 patients (79.2%) were asymptomatic after surgery while 5 patients had residual symptoms.