Ramzi T. Younis

History and current practice of tonsillectomy

Objective To review important developments in the history of adenotonsillectomy and describe current methods and results for the operation.

Functional endonasal sinus surgery in adults and children.

Functional endonasal sinus surgery (FESS) is becoming the procedure of choice for the surgical treatment of chronic and recurrent sinusitis in adults and children. Retrospective analysis of the charts of 513 adult and 260 pediatric patients who underwent FESS after failing to respond to optimal medical treatment revealed an improvement rate of approximately 80% for both age groups. Although high response rates and low complication rates were found for both groups, there were significant differences in indications, preoperative evaluation, operative technique, and methods of postoperative follow‐up for children.

Comparison of Plain Radiographs, Coronal CT, and Intraoperative Findings in Children with Chronic Sinusitis

Evaluating the extent of chronic sinusitis in children is critical in management of the disease and determination of the need for surgery. High-resolution computed tomography can demonstrate disease that is not shown on routine x-ray films. It can also delineate pathologic variations and demonstrate inaccessible anatomic structures. We compared plain radiographs, CT scans, and intraoperative findings for 300 pediatric patients with chronic or recurrent sinusitis. Despite an imperfect record in demonstration of sinus disease in all of our patients, computed tomography was unquestionably better than plain radiography in diagnosis of chronic sinusitis and evaluation of the need for surgery. Despite its superior performance, CT should not be used exclusively to diagnose disease or propose surgery. These determinations must be made on the basis of a combination of the patients symptoms, physical examination findings, and CT results.

Management of medial subperiosteal abscess of the orbit in children - A 5 year experience

A medial subperiosteal abscess (SPA) of the orbit is the most common serious complication of sinusitis in children. The distinction between SPA and the more benign pre-septal disease is difficult to make especially in a young child in whom an ophthalmological evaluation is often difficult. Computerised tomography (CT) is the investigation of choice in making this distinction. Subperiosteal inflammatory disease of the orbit is initially treated with intravenous antibiotic therapy with surgery reserved for those patients who do not respond to medical treatment and in whom a medial SPA is confirmed by CT. Conventionally, the abscess is drained via an external incision and an ethmoidectomy is performed at the same time. More recently, successful drainage of SPAs has been accomplished endoscopically via a intranasal approach with less morbidity and superior cosmesis. We present a 5 year experience of 24 patients with CT scans suggestive of medial SPA who underwent endoscopic exploration of the medial subperiosteal orbital space. We discuss the current management of medial subperiosteal disease of the orbit in children and include a review of the literature. Also included is a clinical staging system which aids the management of orbital complications of sinusitis.

Criteria for Success in Pediatric Functional Endonasal Sinus Surgery

Functional endonasal sinus surgery (FESS) is widely used in the treatment of chronic sinusitis in adults and children. Although success rates of 80% to 93% have been reported, no criteria for success or improvement have been suggested. Standardized measures are needed to assess the outcome of FESS and to compare the results obtained by different surgical teams and for various patient groups. After reviewing the charts of 500 pediatric patients who underwent FESS between July 1987 and June 1992, the authors of this study formalized criteria for assessing the outcome of surgery.

Posterior Cartilage Graft in Single-Stage Laryngotracheal Reconstruction

PURPOSE: Single-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction (LTR) has gained popularity during the past decade, but few reports discuss posterior grafting. We assessed the indications, treatment, complications, and outcomes for patients who underwent this procedure. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of 120 pediatric patients who underwent LTR at LeBonheur Childrens Medical Center or the University of Mississippi Medical Center between January 1992 and September 2000. We identified and evaluated those who had undergone single-stage anterior plus posterior cartilage rib graft reconstruction during this period. RESULTS: Of 120 patients, 56 had anterior graft procedures, and 46 had anterior plus posterior cartilage rib graft reconstruction. The 46 patients included 26 boys and 20 girls (age range, 18 months to 9 years; follow-up periods, 3 months to 6 years). Twenty-one of 46 had circumferential grade III stenosis, 14 had grade IV stenosis, 4 had bilateral vocal cord paralysis, 4 had posterior glottic and subglottic stenosis, and 3 had laryngeal cleft. Eleven of 46 patients had previous procedures and required revision LTR. All 46 patients underwent single-stage reconstruction with temporary stenting using an endotracheal tube for 10 to 24 days; 4 failed required replacement of the tracheotomy tube, and 8 required reintubation after the first extubation. The overall decannulation success rate was 83% (38 of 46). CONCLUSIONS: LTR is the procedure of choice for the surgical management of subglottic stenosis. Although use of a posterior rib graft is technically demanding and requires extensive experience, good results can be obtained when the guidelines are followed.

Endoscopic embolization with onyx prior to resection of JNA: a new approach.

OBJECTIVE To report a novel pioneering approach of endoscopic embolization (EE) and resection of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA) and describe all outcomes and results. METHODS Four patients presented to the University of Miami with repeated episodes of unilateral epistaxis diagnosed by fiberoptic and radiographic examination as nasal JNA. Subsequently, in conjunction with neurosurgery, endoscopic visualization was provided to perform intratumor needle insertion, through which the liquid embolic agent Onyx was infused to embolize the JNAs under fluoroscopic and endoscopic guidance. The day after EE, endoscopic resection was performed. Operating room time, estimated blood loss (EBL), and other intraoperative and post-operative results are reported and compared to published literature. RESULTS A total of 4 patients (all males), had EE of JNA and subsequent endoscopic resection between September 2008 and January 2009. Average EBL during surgery was 412.5 ml (range 150-800) with an average operating room time of 228 min (range 95-485). We experienced no bleeding from the tumor or its attachments, only from the approach. Two patients experienced mild numbness in the V2 distribution, which began to resolve one week post-operatively. No other complications were encountered. CONCLUSIONS This is the first published report of direct endoscopic embolization of JNA with Onyx. Although further studies are needed, it seems to provide a safe, less invasive alternative to traditional embolization and endoscopic resection, but must be done in cooperation with interventional neurosurgery to maximize its safety profile.

Laryngotracheal reconstruction without stenting

Many surgical procedures, including laryngotracheal expansion with or without grafting, have been suggested for repairing laryngotracheal stenosis in children, and although a variety of stents have been described, the practice of prolonged stenting continues to diminish. We describe 21 pediatric patients with moderate-to-severe subglottic or tracheal stenosis who had laryngotracheal reconstructions with anterior rib cartilage grafts without stenting or intubation. The patients were between 6 months and 7 years of age at the time of surgery. All patients were extubated in the operating room after the procedure was terminated. One patient required reintubation in the intensive care unit for 48 hours after surgery, and another patient required a tracheotomy. Wound infection occurred in one patient. Most patients were discharged to their homes 3 to 5 days after surgery. We report the indications, technique, results, and complications of laryngotracheal reconstruction using a rib graft without stenting.

Revision Single-Stage Laryngotracheal Reconstruction in Children

In this report, we discuss indications, technique, outcome, and complications of revision single-stage laryngotracheal reconstruction (SSLTR), formulate guidelines to avoid or prevent procedure failure, and establish a protocol for the management of procedure failure. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 122 patients between the ages of 8 months and 9 years who underwent SSLTR between January 1992 and September 2001 in 2 tertiary care childrens medical centers in different cities and assessed the outcomes of patients who underwent revision SSLTR. A total of 122 patients underwent SSLTR, of whom 48 patients underwent anterior and posterior grafting. Of the 122 patients, 13 had revision SSLTR; 8 of these 13 underwent the initial laryngotracheal reconstruction at another institution. Five patients had anterior grafting laryngotracheal reconstruction without stenting, 7 had anterior and posterior grafting with 1 to 21 days of endotracheal intubation, and 1 had cricotracheal resection and anastomosis. Of the 13 patients, 5 had anterior wall or graft collapse (grade IV stenosis), 4 had subglottic stenosis (grade IV), 2 had circumferential subglottic stenosis (grade III), and 2 had subglottic and glottic stenosis (grade IV). The overall success rate for all patients was 86% (105 of 122). The success rates for the 122 patients were as follows: anterior grafting, 100%; anterior and posterior grafting, 83% (40 of 48); and revision cases, 70% (9 of 13). We conclude that laryngotracheal reconstruction with a costal cartilage rib graft should be considered the procedure of choice for the management of subglottic stenosis. We believe that patients in whom the first procedure fails should have a high chance of success with revision SSLTR if strict guidelines and protocols are followed.

Extramedullary hematopoiesis of the paranasal sinuses in sickle cell disease.

S ickle cell disease is one of the most common hemoglobinopathies, affecting primarily African Americans. It results from a genetic substitution in the beta-chain of hemoglobin. Clinical manifestations occur as a result of vascular clogging due to changes in erythrocyte shape. As a result of the chronic anemia associated with homozygous sickle cell disease, extramedullary hematopoiesis has been known to arise in these patients throughout the body. We present an unusual case involving the paranasal sinuses, which provided both diagnostic and treatment challenges. To the best of our knowledge and review of the English literature, this is the second case of maxillary sinus extramedullary hematopoiesis in sickle cell disease.