Todd A. Loehrl

Predictive Factors and Outcomes in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery for Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Purpose: To assess objective and quality of life (QOL) outcomes before and after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and to determine preoperative factors that predict surgical outcome in these patients.

Determinants of outcomes of sinus surgery: A multi-institutional prospective cohort study

OBJECTIVES: 1) To measure the proportion of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) who experience clinically significant improvement after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in a prospective, multi-institutional fashion. 2) To identify preoperative characteristics that predict clinically significant improvement in quality of life (QOL) after ESS. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, multi-institutional cohort study. SETTING: Academic tertiary care centers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 302 patients with CRS from three centers were enrolled between July 2004 and December 2008 and followed for an average of 17.4 months postoperatively. Preoperative patient characteristics, CT scan, endoscopy score, and pre- and postoperative quality of life (QOL) data were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: Patients improved an average of 15.8 percent (18.9 points) on the Rhinosinusitis Disability Index and 21.2 percent (21.2 points) on the Chronic Sinusitis Survey (both P < 0.001). Patients significantly improved on all eight Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) subscales (all P < 0.001). Among patients with poor baseline QOL, 71.7 percent of patients experienced clinically significant improvement on the RSDI and 76.1 percent on the CSS. Patients undergoing primary surgery were 2.1 times more likely to improve on the RSDI (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2, 3.4; P = 0.006) and 1.8 times more likely to improve on the CSS (95% CI, 1.1, 3.1; P = 0.020) compared with patients undergoing revision surgery. CONCLUSION: In this prospective, multi-institutional study, most patients experienced clinically significant improvement across multiple QOL outcomes after ESS. Specific patient characteristics provided prognostic value with regard to outcomes.

An Evolution in the Management of Sinonasal Inverting Papilloma

Objective We reviewed the 15‐year experience of our institution (Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI) in managing sinonasal inverting papilloma, examining trends in diagnosis and treatment.

Management of Cerebrospinal Fluid Rhinorrhea: The Medical College of Wisconsin Experience†

Introduction: The management of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea has evolved in recent years. The purpose of this comprehensive retrospective study is to assess issues related to the management of skull base defects associated with CSF rhinorrhea involving the nose and paranasal sinuses.

Endoscopic Management of the Frontal Recess in Frontal Sinus Fractures: A Shift in the Paradigm?

Objectives To evaluate alternative management strategies for anterior table frontal sinus fractures involving the frontal sinus outflow tract.

Autonomic dysfunction, vasomotor rhinitis, and extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux

OBJECTIVE: Several recent reports suggest there may be a relationship between chronic rhinitis and extraesophageal manifestations of gastroe-sophageal reflux (EER). It is hypothesized that this relationship is a result of autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction. STUDY DESIGN: Patients with isolated vasomotor rhinitis (VR), both VR and EER, and a control group were studied by a battery of tests designed to objectively evaluate ANS function. In addition all 3 groups underwent barium esophagogram and 4-site (proximal pharynx, distal pharynx, proximal esophagus, and distal esophagus) ambulatory pH monitoring. Adult patients fulfilling diagnostic criteria for VR, and with both VR and EER underwent objective ANS testing in a recently developed ANS testing laboratory. The control group consisted of age- and sex-matched adults without diagnostic criteria for VR or EER. RESULTS: In patients with VR only (n = 9), 2 patients had a positive esophagogram, whereas a positive pharyngeal reflux probe was found in 1 and an abnormal composite autonomic scoring scale (CASS) was found in 8 (mean VR CASS = 1.750 vs control CASS 0.556, P = .02). The group with VR and EER (n = 12) had a positive esophagogram in 10 patients, positive pharyngeal reflux by probe in 9, and all 12 had an abnormal CASS (mean CASS VR/EER = 2.909 vs CASS control = 0.556, P = .001 and vs VR CASS = 1.750, P = .05). The control patients (n = 9) had normal transesopohageal gastroduo-denoscopy in 8, 1 had a positive pharyngeal probe study, and all 9 had a normal CASS. In addition ANS testing in patients with diagnostic criteria for both VR/EER revealed statistically significant evidence of an adrenergic deficit as compared with control patients on the basis of mean phase II blood pressure response to Valsalva maneuver (mean phase II VR/EER = −16.730 vs control = −7.780, P = .05). In the VR only group, the phase II blood pressure decrease was greater than in control patients, but did not reach statistical significance (mean phase II VR = −9.370 vs control = − 7.780, P = 0.672). CONCLUSION: Patients with VR and VR/EER have objective evidence of ANS dysfunction when compared with a group of age- and sex-matched control patients. Patients with both VR/EER demonstrate a significantly greater degree of ANS dysfunction than patients with isolated VR. The mechanism by which VR and EER interact is not entirely clear, but ANS dysfunction is objectively associated with both disorders. In addition, patients with VR/EER seem to demonstrate hypo-function of the adrenergic component of the ANS, in contrast to the generally held hypothesis that VR results from increased cholinergic activity. Further characterization of the type of ANS abnormality may allow the development of novel pharmacologic therapies for these disorders.

Nissen fundoplication surgery for extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux (EER).

Objective To determine the outcome of Nissen fundoplication surgery for the treatment of patients with chronic extraesophageal manifestations of reflux (EER).

Endoscopic management of sinonasal tumors: a preliminary report.

Background The increased experience with the endoscopic approach to sinonasal inflammatory disease has resulted in the increased use of endoscopes to manage many different sinonasal pathologies. Methods A chart review of patients with sinonasal tumors treated with primary endoscopic management, from January, 1993 to November, 2003 was performed. Results Forty patients were identified (26 men and 14 women). The mean age was 53.2 years, and the mean follow-up was 31.1 months. For benign tumors, 24 patients were identified with a mean age of 50.7 years, a mean follow-up of 17.5 months, and a recurrence rate of 4.2%. For malignant tumors, 16 patients were identified, with a mean age of 57.3 years, a mean follow-up of 51.5 months, and a recurrence rate of 31.3%. The overall survival rate was 87.5%. Conclusion Endoscopic surgical excision of selective sinonasal tumors may be an effective therapeutic modality. In some cases, adjuvant external procedures may be required based on tumor location.

Inflammatory and Granulomatous Lesions of the Larynx and Pharynx

A number of inflammatory and granulomatous lesions can involve the larynx and pharynx. These conditions are generally difficult to diagnose because of the range of symptoms. This article reviews the following conditions: supraesophageal complications of reflux disease, relapsing polychondritis, Wegener granulomatosis, sarcoidosis, tuberculous laryngitis, Teflon (polytetrafluoroethylene fluoropolymer resin; DuPont, Wilmington, DE) granuloma, amyloidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. The purpose is to provide a brief review of each disease and its manifestations, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

Autonomic Nervous System Evaluation of Patients With Vasomotor Rhinitis

Objective To demonstrate the utility of quantitative neurological laboratory testing of autonomic nervous system dysfunction and to apply this methodology to further study the relation of chronic vasomotor (nonallergic) rhinitis to the autonomic nervous system.