Nasal dressings have frequently been advocated to improve wound healing and prevent ongoing bleeding after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). Initial experience focused on removable nasal packing materials; however, their adverse effect profile, such as pain/discomfort and mucosal trauma, has driven the development of absorbable biomaterials. Despite these developments, there is still little agreement on the optimal choice of nasal dressing or whether nasal dressings are required at all
Long-duration therapy with macrolide antibiotics has been advocated for the treatment of recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, uncertainty exists as to which patients will respond to such treatment, the degree of benefit likely to be obtained, and the relevant risks to the patient and community at large
Otolaryngologists share their clinical observations on how to get the best results from using topical agents to treat chronic rhinosinusitis
Otolaryngologists, medical students and researchers submited some of their research to be displayed as posters at the Triological Society’s Annual Meeting at the Combined Otolaryngology Spring Meetings. We talked to some of the 2012 winners about their projects and the experience.
Does smoking prevent sinus surgery from making patients feel better? Over the years, evidence and expert opinion have varied on this topic. As a result, some surgeons refuse to provide endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) for active smokers, while others will operate because they believe surgery improves quality of life.
Maintaining sinus patency after functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has long been an issue; as many as 23 to 47 percent of patients require revision surgery after FESS. Now, a new drug-eluting, bioabsorbable stent manufactured by Intersect (Palo Alto, Calif.) is being billed as a “breakthrough treatment [that] improves outcomes for sinus surgery,” according to a news release from the company. The device, which received pre-market approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August, has been studied since 2008. It is currently available in Texas, New York, Philadelphia, New Jersey, Atlanta, Ohio and Kentucky.
Oral appliances may work better than CPAP for some patients
Six years after balloon sinuplasty was introduced to the otolaryngology community, it remains an evolving technology. “In my opinion, balloon dilatation has great potential, but it’s still trying to find its proper place in the ENT arena,” said Ralph Metson, MD, clinical professor of otology and laryngology at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary in Boston.
It is now well recognized that pathogens found in biofilms play a role in many mucosal-based otolaryngologic-related infections, but what that role is and how to prevent or treat biofilms remain unknown, concluded a panel of experts convened here on Sept. 17 at the 2011 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Annual Meeting.
Medicare requirements for physician supervision of speech-language pathologists conducting videostroboscopy (CPT 31579) and nasopharyngoscopy (CPT 92511) will move from the strictest level of oversight back to no national supervision level starting in October.