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La scialoadenite cronica ostruttiva rappresenta una delle più frequenti patologie non-neoplastiche delle ghiandole salivari e la scialoendoscopia è sempre più utilizzata nella sua diagnosi e nel suo trattamento, associata o meno con la litotripsia laser. La scialoendoscopia può essere inoltre associata ad approcci esterni mini-invasivi nelle litiasi troppo voluminose per essere rimosse con un approccio unicamente endoscopico. Il presente articolo riporta l’esperienza delle Cliniche Otorinolaringoiatriche dell’Ospedale Sant’Orsola-Malpighi di Bologna e dell’Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Cagliari, Italia. È stata eseguita un’analisi retrospettiva su 48 pazienti (26 femmine, 22 maschi; età media di 45,3 anni; range 8-83 anni) trattati per patologia cronica ostruttiva delle ghiandole salivari maggiori mediante procedure chirurgiche endoscopiche o combinate da novembre 2010 ad aprile 2016 presso l’Azienda-Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari. I risultati dell’Ospedale Sant’Orsola-Malpighi di Bologna erano stati precedentemente pubblicati. Gli aspetti tecnici della scialoendoscopia sono stati accuratamente descritti. I pazienti trattati presso l’Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Cagliari presentavano una patologia unilaterale in 40 casi e bilaterale in 8 casi; sono state trattate 56 ghiandole salivari maggiori (22 sottomandibolari e 34 parotidi). 5 pazienti sono stati sottoposti a scialoendoscopia bilaterale per parotite ricorrente giovanile, 10 per patologia ostruttiva non litiasica e 33 (68,75%) presentavano calcoli salivari (1 paziente presentava una litiasi parotidea bilaterale). Solo 8 pazienti sono stati sottoposti a scialectomia radicale per via esterna (5 scialectomie sottomandibolare e 3 parotidectomie). La chirurgia conservativa nei pazienti con scialoadenite cronica ostruttiva appare efficace e può essere realizzata mediante un approccio puramente endoscopico o combinato, con un’alta percentuale di successo. La procedura richiede una strumentazione adeguata e deve essere eseguita da un chirurgo esperto, che abbia svolto un training specifico scialoendoscopico, in modo da evitare le possibili complicanze maggiori e minori. La scialectomia tradizionale rappresenta la “extrema ratio”, limitata nei casi in cui un approccio conservativo sia risultato inefficace o controindicato. Obstructive sialadenitis is the most common non-neoplastic disease of the salivary glands, and sialendoscopy is increasingly used in both diagnosis and treatment, associated in selected cases with endoscopic laser lithotripsy. Sialendoscopy is also used for combined minimally invasive external and endoscopic approaches in patients with larger and proximal stones that would require excessively long laser procedures. The present paper reports on the technical experience from the Ear, Nose and Throat Unit of the Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital of Bologna, and from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the University Hospital of Cagliari, Italy, including the retrospective analysis of the endoscopic and endoscopic assisted procedures performed on 48 patients (26 females and 22 males; median age 45.3; range 8-83 years) treated for chronic obstructive sialadenitis at the University Hospital of Cagliari from November 2010 to April 2016. The results from the Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital of Bologna have been previously published. The technical aspects of sialendoscopy are carefully described. The retrospective analysis of the University Hospital of Cagliari shows that the disease was unilateral in 40 patients and bilateral in 8; a total of 56 major salivary glands were treated (22 submandibular glands and 34 parotids). Five patients underwent bilateral sialendoscopy for juvenile recurrent parotitis. 10 patients were treated for non-lithiasic obstructive disease. In 33 patients (68.75%) the obstruction was caused by salivary stones (bilateral parotid lithiasis in 1 case). Only 8 patients needed a sialectomy (5 submandibular glands and 3 parotids). The conservative approach to obstructive sialadenitis is feasible and can be performed either purely endoscopically or in a combined modality, with a high percentage of success. The procedure must be performed with dedicated instrumentation by a skilled surgeon after proper training since minor to major complications can be encountered. Sialectomy should be the “extrema ratio” after failure of a conservative approach.

La scialoadenite cronica ostruttiva rappresenta una delle più frequenti patologie non-neoplastiche delle ghiandole salivari e la scialoendo-scopia è sempre più utilizzata nella sua diagnosi e nel suo trattamento, associata o meno con la litotripsia laser. La scialoendoscopia può essere inoltre associata ad approcci esterni mini-invasivi nelle litiasi troppo voluminose per essere rimosse con un approccio unicamente endoscopico. Il presente articolo riporta l’esperienza delle Cliniche Otorinolaringoiatriche dell’Ospedale Sant’Orsola-Malpighi di Bolo-gna e dell’Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Cagliari, Italia. È stata eseguita un’analisi retrospettiva su 48 pazienti (26 femmine, 22 maschi; età media di 45,3 anni; range 8-83 anni) trattati per patologia cronica ostruttiva delle ghiandole salivari maggiori mediante pro-cedure chirurgiche endoscopiche o combinate da novembre 2010 ad aprile 2016 presso l’Azienda-Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Cagliari. I risultati dell’Ospedale Sant’Orsola-Malpighi di Bologna erano stati precedentemente pubblicati. Gli aspetti tecnici della scialoendoscopia sono stati accuratamente descritti. I pazienti trattati presso l’Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Cagliari presentavano una patologia unilaterale in 40 casi e bilaterale in 8 casi; sono state trattate 56 ghiandole salivari maggiori (22 sottomandibolari e 34 parotidi). 5 pazienti sono stati sottoposti a scialoendoscopia bilaterale per parotite ricorrente giovanile, 10 per patologia ostruttiva non litiasica e 33 (68,75%) presentavano calcoli salivari (1 paziente presentava una litiasi parotidea bilaterale). Solo 8 pazienti sono stati sottoposti a scialectomia radicale per via esterna (5 scialectomie sottomandibolare e 3 parotidectomie). La chirurgia conservativa nei pazienti con scialoadenite cronica ostruttiva appare efficace e può essee realizzata mediante un approccio puramente endoscopico o combinato, con un’alta percentuale di successo. La procedura richiede una strumentazione adeguata e deve essere eseguita da un chirurgo esperto, che abbia svolto un training specifico scialoendoscopico, in modo da vitare le possibili complicanze maggiori e minori. La scialectomia tradizionale rappresenta la “extrema ratio”, limitata nei casi in cui un approccio conservativo sia risultato inefficace o contoindicato. Obstructive sialadenitis is the most common non-neoplastic disease of the salivary glands, and sialendoscopy is increasingly used in both diagnosis and treatment, associated in selected cases with endoscopic laser lithotripsy. Sialendoscopy is also used for combined minimally invasive external and endoscopic approaches in patients with larger and proximal stones that would require excessively long laser procedures. The present paper reports on the technical experience from the Ear, Nose and Throat Unit of the Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital of Bologna, and from the Department of Otorhinolaryngology of the University Hospital of Cagliari, Italy, including the retrospective analysis of the endoscopic and endoscopic assisted procedures performed on 48 patients (26 females and 22 males; median age 45.3; range 8-83 years) treated for chronic obstructive sialadenitis at the University Hospital of Cagliari from November 2010 to April 2016. The results from the Sant’Orsola-Malpighi Hospital of Bologna have been previously published. The technical aspects of sialendoscopy are carefully described. The retrospective analysis of the University Hospital of Cagliari shows that the disease was unilateral in 40 patients and bilateral in 8; a total of 56 major salivary glands were treated (22 submandibular glands and 34 parotids). Five patients underwent bilateral sialendoscopy for juvenile recurrent parotitis. 10 patients were treated for non-lithiasic obstructive disease. In 33 patients (68.75%) the obstruction was caused by salivary stones (bilateral parotid lithiasis in 1 case). Only 8 patients needed a sialectomy (5 submandibular glands and 3 parotids). The conservative approach to obstructive sialadenitis is feasible and can be performed either purely endoscopically or in a combined modality, with a high percentage of success. The procedure must be performed with dedicated instrumentation by a skilled surgeon after proper training since minor to major complications can be encountered. Sialectomy should be the “extrema ratio” after failure of a conservative approach.

The endoscopic technique does not substitute traditional resections but is highly useful to improve visualization during these approaches and reduces morbidity. We describe 18 malignant tumors of the paranasal sinuses treated through endoscopic-assisted cranionasal resection between November 2000 and March 2007. Treatment was completed with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The surgical approaches and the technique used are described. Patient follow-up ranged between 12 and 60 months (mean: 33 months). Local recurrence occurred in three patients (17%) and distant metastases in two (11%). The technique has lower morbidity than craniofacial approaches since it avoids facial incisions. There were no cerebrospinal fluid leaks and the patients were discharged within a week. The advantages of endoscopic-assisted cranionasal resection are that it improves results and reduces morbidity in the treatment of malignant tumors of the skull base.

La chirurgia rinosinusale è stata a lungo considerata “la cenerentola” tra le branche chirurgiche otorinolaringoiatriche probabilmente perché gli sforzi chirurgici e la loro morbilità non corrispondevano ad adeguati risultati clinici. Le scarse conoscenze di fisiopatologia nasale, gli inadeguati strumenti farmacologici e la difficoltà di visualizzazione endonasale hanno fatto sì che fino a pochi anni fa si imponessero approcci esterni a elevata morbilità con importante impatto emotivo sul paziente. Il perfezionamento dei sistemi ottici da parte di Harold Hopkins nel 1959, del sistema di trasmissione della luce messo a punto da Karl Storz nel 1960 e degli studi di fisiopatologia nasale applicata di Messerklinger negli anni successivi, hanno permesso di rivoluzionare l’approccio diagnostico e terapeutico alle affezioni rinosinusali. Successivamente, grazie all’evoluzione tecnologica, al miglioramento dell’imaging e alla collaborazione con altre discipline specialistiche quali radiologo-neuroradiologo, neurochirurgo e oftalmologo, si sono ampliate le indicazioni chirurgiche a patologie complesse quali l’atresia coanale, i mucoceli, le patologie tumorali naso-sinusali, le patologie espansive sellari, parasellari e del clivus, le fistole rinoliquorali, i meningoencefaloceli e l’oftalmopatia distiroidea. Surgery of sinonasal tract has been considered "the cinderella" of head and neck surgery, because of the surgical improvement and morbidity were not followed by adequate clinical outcomes. Up few years ago, the poor knowledge of nasal physiopathology, medical treatment and lack of instruments for adequate endonasal visualization have favoured the management of sinonasal pathology through external approaches but with a higher morbidity and low cosmetic results. The improvement of both optic instruments by llarold Hopkins in 1959, and transmission of the light by Karl Strorz in 1960, with the adjunct of the new studies of nasal physiopathology by Messerklinger, have successfully contributed to revolutionize the diagnostic and therapeutic management of nasal pathology. Moreover, thanks to technological improvement of instruments, improvement of radiological assessment and collaboration with other disciplines such as radiology, ophthalmology and neurosurgery have contributed to treat complex diseases such as the choanal atresia, mucoceles, tumors of sinonasal tract, sellar and parasellar tumors, meningoencephaloceles and Graves, ophthalmopathy. With the help of historical hints, the aim of this manuscript is to describe the evolution of the telescope from the "interesting toy" of the past to the indispensable tool in the treatment of both paranasal sinus and skull base pathology for today head and neck surgeon.

Objective The purposes of this study were to report our experience with endoscopic treatment of choanal atresia (CA), to illustrate our surgical technique and analyse the different factors that may affect outcomes. Material and methods A retrospective review was performed of patients affected by congenital CA and treated between June 1996 and November 2013 at three referral centres which follow a uniform policy. Results Eighty-four patients with CA (55 unilateral and 29 bilateral), aged between one day and 76 years (mean, 13 years) were included. Associated malformations were present in 28 patients. The overall success rate was 93%, with 96.3% and 86.2% success rates for unilateral and bilateral CA respectively. Six patients (7%) required revision surgery for early symptomatic restenosis. Statistical analysis revealed that outcomes were not influenced by sex, previous surgeries, unilateral versus bilateral atresia or associated anomalies. However, age seemed to be a prognostic risk factor for patients under one year-old. Conclusion The endoscopic endonasal approach is safe and effective, with a very high success rate and low morbidity. The removal of the vomer and the use of mucoperiosteal flaps are the main keys to avoiding postoperative stenosis. The use of stents or Mitomycin C is therefore not mandatory.

Objective: Postoperative infection is a potentially dramatic consequence in endoscopic endonasal surgery. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of our intraoperative antibiotic prophylaxis, analyzing the risk factors of postoperative meningitis in our series. Methods: Each endoscopic endonasal procedure performed since 1998 in patients with no preoperative infections and a follow-up longer than 30 days have been included and retrospectively reviewed. Antibiotic protocol consisted in single antibiotic administration of ampicillin/sulbactam 3 g or cefazolin 2 g on induction, no postoperative administrations have been performed after 2005. All cases of CSF leak, meningitis, and systemic infection were recorded. Results: Two thousand thirty-two procedures matched the inclusion criteria (median age 50; range: 1-89, male/female ratio: 1:1.12). Intraoperative CSF leak occurred in 32.8% of the cases and postoperative CSF leak in 3.4%. The rate of meningitis was 0.69%, other systemic infections were observed in 0.44% of cases. Meningitis was statistically associated with intra- and postoperative CSF leak (p

Objective Pediatric periorbital cellulitis represents a common disease complicating a nasal infection. Methods A ten–year retrospective review of fifty-seven children admitted to our institution with the diagnosis of periorbital cellulitis as a complication of sinus infections was carried out. Results The age varied from one month to eleven years (mean 3.9 years). Thirty-five were males (62%), while twenty-two were females (38%). Nine out of fifty-seven (15.8%) presented exophthalmos associated with eyelid erythema and edema, while the rest suffered mainly from eyelid erythema and edema. Twenty-two patients complaining of exophthalmos or not responding to medical therapy within 48 h were assessed with a computed tomography scan (38.6%). A subperiosteal orbital abscess was detected in nine cases and these patients underwent surgical drainage (15,8%). Recurrence of orbital infection occurred in three cases (5.3%). Conclusions Medical management is the main treatment for both preseptal and postseptal orbital cellulitis. Nevertheless, there is no universally accepted guideline for the treatment of subperiosteal abscesses and each case should be treated accordingly. Urgent surgical drainage should be considered in cases not responding to adequate medical management, or those cases presenting visual deterioration.

The endoscopic bidimensional vision offered by the endoscope during endoscopic sinus surgery involves difficulty in visualizing surgical field depth which makes it difficult to learn this surgical technique and makes it necessary for the endoscopic surgeon to mentally create a three-dimensional (3D) picture of the paranasal sinuses anatomy. In particular, frontal recess surgery requires good knowledge of its anatomic position, also since it is necessary to use angled endoscopes, which distort the view, and angular instruments which are difficult to use. Purpose of this project is to offer to the endoscopic surgeon a detailed 3D model of the nose and paranasal sinuses with particular attention to the frontal recess. A 3D reconstruction of the frontal recess and its related structures, starting from computer tomography scans of the human skull, was realized using a professional 3D graphics software. A detailed reconstruction of the main structures which contribute to form the frontal recess was obtained. Particular attention was paid when reproducing the agger nasi cells, uncinate process, ethmoidal bulla, anterior ethmoidal cells, frontoethmoidal cells and their anatomic variants. This is the first experience reported in literature regarding this new technique of iconographic didactics applied to endoscopic sinus surgery. It represents a new frontier, which surpasses and integrates the previous didactic techniques to help the surgeon to mentally create a 3D image of the paranasal sinuses.

We thank Basant Kumar Misra and Milind V. Kitrtane for their commentary on our article entitled “Meningocele and meningoencephalocele of the lateral wall of sphenoidal sinus: the role of the endoscopic endonasal surgery

Objectives. Epistaxis is one of the most common otorhinolaryngologic emergencies representing more than 12% of conditions managed at the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Emergency Consulting Room of our Otorhinolaryngologic Unit each year. The elevated frequency of this pathology makes it necessary to adopt the most effective and least expensive therapeutic strategy available. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy, costs and morbidity of nasal packing (NP), which is the mainstay of treatment for anterior epistaxis in our ENT Emergency Consulting Room versus submucosal infiltrations of lauromacrogol (LA). Methods. A retrospective study was designed from August 2012 to April 2013 involving 53 patients suffering from anterior epistaxis. Anterior NP was used in 27 patients versus 26 patients undergoing 27 procedures performed with submucosal infiltrations of LA (or polidocanol). Outcomes for each treatment were evaluated. Patients in group 1 were treated with LA 400 injection next to the bleeding point: 0.5- to 1-mL single or multiple infiltrations with a 27-gauge needle. The whitening of the nasal mucosa around the bleeding point during infiltration was considered a marker of correct procedure in order to achieve the best results. Bilateral treatment was also performed at the same time. Patients in group 2 were treated with standard NP. Results. Bleeding recurrence was higher in the NP group even if it was not statistically significant (P=0.2935). However, the LA infiltrations were better tolerated with lower morbidity and costs as compared to NP. No complications were observed in either group. Conclusion. LA infiltrations were shown to be a viable alternative in anterior epistaxis treatment. They are safe, easy to use with good efficacy and have a low cost.