[Smarter medicine in Otorhinolaryngology - Top 5 List].

Smarter medicine in Otorhinolaryngology - Top 5 List Many diseases or symptoms with a high prevalence in the population, such as vertigo / dizziness, tinnitus, or sinusitis, but also nasal bone fractures and otitis externa, lead to a high number of visits to the physicians due to their frequency alone. Often, conventional X-rays (sinusitis, nasal bone fractures) or - in cases of vertigo and tinnitus - magnetic resonance imaging are ordered for further diagnostic clarification even though the benefit of theses is not generally given according to the current state of knowledge. The indication for imaging can be set much more restrictive after critical review of these clinical conditions without reducing the quality of treatment.

Woakes' syndrome and albinism.

Nasal polyposis is a very common and multifactorial disease. Whereas eosinophil-dominated polyps often are sensitive to anti-inflammatory treatment like corticosteroids, the therapy of polyps without eosinophils is more difficult and disappointing. We report the clinical course of a 29-year-old albino patient suffering from a extreme manifestation of Woakes' syndrome, which is characterized by severe recurrent nasal polyps, often without eosinophils on histological examination and with broadening of the nose.

Invasive sphenoidal aspergillosis: successful treatment with sphenoidotomy and voriconazole.

Treatment of invasive sphenoidal aspergillosis is surgical, followed by antifungal therapy, mostly amphotericin B. To optimize the adjuvant antifungal treatment, which is often limited by severe side effects, the new triazole antifungal agent voriconazole with broad coverage of fungal pathogens including Aspergillus was investigated in a study of 4 patients with clinical, radiological and histological signs of invasive sphenoidal aspergillosis. They first underwent endoscopic sphenoidotomy with drainage and extraction of the fungal mass.

Hemostasis in endoscopic sinus surgery using a specific gelatin-thrombin based agent (FloSeal).

The safety and efficacy of a new hemostatic sealant, based on a gel with collagen derived particles and topical thrombin (FloSeal, Fusion Medical Technologies, Inc. Fremont, CA) were assessed as an alternative to nasal packing for hemostasis in functional endoscopic sinus surgery. In a prospective clinical study of 50 patients undergoing bilateral endoscopic anterior ethmoidectomy, 2 ml FloSeal was used after surgery to stop bleeding.

Headache after removal of vestibular schwannoma via the retrosigmoid approach: a long-term follow-up-study.

Objective: Our goal was to study the occurrence and source of origin of postcraniotomy headache syndrome after removal of vestibular schwannoma via the retrosigmoid approach.

Methods: A retrospective chart analysis was conducted of all patients with headache at 3 months after removal of vestibular schwannoma from January 1981 through March 1997 and with a minimum of 24 months of follow-up. Diagnosis was made according to the headache classification and was graded using the HARNER scale.

Success and predictability of provox prosthesis voice rehabilitation.

Objectives: To determine the success rate and relating clinical factors of voice prosthesis rehabilitation and to analyze the discrimination ability of the multidimensional Harrison-Robillard-Shultz Tracheoesophageal Puncture Rating Scale (HRS Rating Scale).

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Setting: University Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.