Yuresh Naidoo

Long-term outcomes for the endoscopic modified Lothrop/Draf III procedure: a 10-year review.

To detail the long‐term outcomes of the endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure (EMLP) (also know as Draf III/frontal drillout) and identify key risk factors for failure.

When FESS fails: The inflammatory load hypothesis in refractory chronic rhinosinusitis†

Through recent advances in research, our understanding of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has evolved to consider it as an inflammatory condition of the mucosa brought about by multiple factors. However, surgical management is still ruled by the classical concepts of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), which emphasizes the importance of ostial obstruction and sinus ventilation. These concepts fail to provide sufficient explanation for the presence of a subset of patients with refractory CRS who fail to respond to conventional FESS. Recent outcome studies have shown that high‐grade mucosal inflammation often results in a poor outcome and that this patient group may show improved results with more radical surgery. This review examines the “inflammatory load hypothesis” as a possible explanation. We hypothesize that the grade of the inflammation is the most important predictor of long‐term outcomes. Surgery, therefore, has a significant role not only in reestablishing ventilation, but also with removing the inflammatory load in the affected sinuses. We suspect that in these severely diseased patients, a more radical removal of local proinflammatory factors during surgery may improve patient outcomes.

Image-guided surgery influences perioperative morbidity from endoscopic sinus surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective Although image-guided surgery (IGS) is considered a valuable tool, its impact on perioperative morbidity for endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) remains unclear. The evidence from reported literature is systematically reviewed with meta-analysis. Data Sources MEDLINE (1946 to September 14, 2012, week 2) and EMBASE (1974 to September 14, 2012, week 37). Review Methods MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched using a search strategy for publications on IGS during ESS that reported original data on perioperative morbidity. PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines were followed. Both comparative cohort studies with non-IGS cases and case series were included. Primary outcome was major and total complications. Secondary outcomes were specific orbital and intracranial injury, major hemorrhage, ability to complete the operation, and revision surgery. The incidence of these events was defined as dichotomous variables and expressed as a risk ratio (RR) in a fixed-effects model. Results In total, 2586 articles fulfilled the search, producing 55 included studies. Fourteen were comparative cohorts of IGS and non-IGS sinus surgical patient populations used for meta-analysis. Among the cohorts, major complications were more common in the non-IGS group (RR = 0.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.82; P = .007). Total complications were greater in the non-IGS group (RR = 0.66; 95% CI, 0.47-0.94; P = .02). All other outcomes did not reach significance on meta-analysis. Conclusion Contrary to current review articles on the topic of IGS use during ESS, there is evidence from published studies that the use of IGS for sinus surgery, within selected populations, is associated with a lower risk of major and total complications compared with non-IGS sinus surgery.

Quality of Life in Postoperative Vestibular Schwannoma Patients

To quantify the postoperative quality of life (QOL) in patients following vestibular schwannoma surgery in a new multidisciplinary skull base unit.

Endoscopic endonasal resection of anterior skull base meningiomas.

Objective Anterior cranial fossa (ACF) meningiomas are difficult to surgically manage. Endoscopic transnasal approaches have increasingly been used as a minimally invasive route and thus offer significant advantages. However, a paucity of literature describing the intraoperative challenges and postoperative outcomes of this technique still exists. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting The Royal Adelaide Hospital, Flinders Medical Centre, Wellington Hospital. Subjects and Methods Fifteen consecutive patients who underwent endoscopic resection of ACF meningiomas between 2004 and 2010 by the South Australian and Wellington Skull Base Units. Demographic and clinical information was compiled by reviewing patient charts and operation notes. Safety and efficacy of the procedure, role of a team approach, and areas for further improvement were analyzed. Results Of the patients, 87% were women. Tumor locations: 8 olfactory groove, 2 tuberculum sellae, 1 clinoidal, 1 jugum sphenoidale, 1 planum sphenoidale, 1 subfrontal, and 1 midline ACF floor. Commonest presenting symptom was visual change. Mean volume of tumor was 25.69 cm3, with a size area of 7.28 cm2. Five were revision cases. None had previous endonasal surgery. Average operating times decreased over time. Gross total removal was achieved in 14, with no deaths. Four patients had postoperative cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. Rate of CSF leak decreased over time. Sixty percent of patients reported visual improvement. Two patients had radiological evidence of recurrence. Conclusion ACF meningiomas can be safely removed endonasally, offering significant advantages over the traditional transcranial approach for suitable tumors. Early audit of this approach shows results achieved by this unit are comparable with the published literature.

Long-term results after primary frontal sinus surgery

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the long‐term frontal ostium patency rate and symptom improvement in patients undergoing primary endoscopic frontal sinusotomy (Draf 2A) and to assess the impact of patient factors, disease factors, and frontal ostium size on surgical outcomes.

Does mucosal remodeling in chronic rhinosinusitis result in irreversible mucosal disease

Mucosal remodeling in the sinuses is a recently described phenomenon in which the mucosa undergoes potentially irreversible changes as a result of ongoing underlying inflammatory processes. Research into remodeling that occurs in the bronchial airways in asthmatic patients has led to modification of asthma treatment guidelines. However, remodeling in the sinuses has still not led to changes in current medical or surgical management of chronic rhinosinusitis. Upper airway remodeling constitutes a new area of research that poses many unanswered clinical questions and may potentially alter the management of patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis.Laryngoscope, 122:225–229, 2012

Risk factors and outcomes for primary, revision, and modified Lothrop (Draf III) frontal sinus surgery.

Background The purpose of this level 4, retrospective cohort study was to detail the outcomes of primary, revision, and endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure (EMLP) (Draf III) frontal sinus surgery and evaluate whether risk factors would help determine which patients would benefit from which procedures. Methods The study used a retrospective chart review. Endoscopic assessment of frontal ostium patency and patient reported symptoms were prospectively collected on patients who underwent frontal sinusotomy between January 2003 and December 2009. High-risk cohorts were studied to assess their response to standard endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) compared with EMLP. Results A total of 339 patients who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria underwent either primary or revision endoscopic frontal sinus surgery. The average ± standard deviation (SD) length of follow-up was 20.8 ± 18.7 (95% confidence interval [CI], 18.0–22.9) months. Postsurgical recurrence of disease with persistence of symptoms requiring an EMLP occurred in 9 patients in the primary group and 38 in the revision group. The highest risk groups for failure of standard frontal sinusotomy were patients with nasal polyps, asthma, Lund-Mackay score >16, and frontal ostium size <4 mm (relative risk = 9.9, p < 0.0001). Conclusion Patients with underlying asthma and polyposis as well as narrow frontal ostia and extensive radiological disease have a high failure rate from standard endoscopic frontal sinusotomy. In this patient group consideration should be given to offering the patient a primary EMLP procedure, which has excellent success rates with low risks and low morbidity.The purpose of this level 4, retrospective cohort study was to detail the outcomes of primary, revision, and endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure (EMLP) (Draf III) frontal sinus surgery and evaluate whether risk factors would help determine which patients would benefit from which procedures.

Clinical Significance of Middle Turbinate Lateralization After Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

To investigate the clinical significance of middle turbinate lateralization (MTL) occurrence postendoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis, namely, association with postoperative symptoms and eventual need for undergoing revision surgery.

Outcomes of modified endoscopic Lothrop in aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease with nasal polyposis

Patients with aspirin‐exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) are often reported to be recalcitrant to standard medical and surgical intervention. Failure rates of standard endoscopic sinus surgery in these patients are reported to be as high as 90%. We review the outcomes for our cohort of AERD patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery and endoscopic modified Lothrop procedure (EMLP).