Medical Therapy Versus Balloon Sinus Dilation in Adults With Chronic Rhinosinusitis (MERLOT): 12-Month Follow-up.

Background Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a devastating disease affecting nearly 30 million people in the United States. An interim analysis of data from the present study suggested that, in patients who had previously failed medical therapy, balloon sinus dilation (BSD) plus medical management (MM) provides a significant improvement in the quality of life (QOL) at 24 weeks postprocedure compared to MM alone. Objective The primary objective of this final analysis was to evaluate the durability of treatment effects through the 52-week follow-up.

Does successful segmental tracheal resection require releasing maneuvers?

Objectives: Tracheal resection is a well-established option for the management of airway stenosis. Releasing maneuvers have been described to reduce anastomotic tension. The aim of this study is to report on a series of tracheal resections performed without the use of these maneuvers.

The effect of polysomnography on pediatric adenotonsillectomy postoperative management.

Objective: We retrospectively investigated the effect and predictability of preoperative polysomnography (PSG) on the postoperative course of younger pediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy.

Study Design And Setting: A retrospective chart review was performed for patients 3 years of age and younger who had undergone adenotonsillectomy between July 1997 and July 2002 at the Children's Hospital of Wisconsin.

Results: Two hundred eighty-two patients were identified.

Pediatric myasthenia gravis and velopharyngeal incompetence.

Objective: To determine the clinical course of velopharyngeal incompetence in children with myasthenia gravis (MG).

Methods: A 30-year retrospective study was performed using the medical records of 538 children who presented with velopharyngeal inadequacy (VPI) to a tertiary care academic pediatric center. Children with velopharyngeal incompetence due to myasthenia gravis were identified and their clinical courses were reviewed.

Normal endoscopic anatomy of the pharynx and larynx.

The pharynx and larynx are readily visualized in ambulatory settings during endoscopic examination. Although these organs may be perceived as the portal to the lungs or upper digestive tract, endoscopists could refine their technical and diagnostic acumen by becoming more familiar with this special area of anatomy. Further, an anatomic description of these structures may augment the generalist's understanding of their physiologic functioning.