A validation study of the 30-day questionnaire in the national Norwegian Tonsil Surgery Register: can we trust the data reported by the patients?

Purpose: The aim of this study was to validate the Patient Reported Outcome Measure (PROM) in the Norwegian Tonsil Surgery Register (NTSR) and to examine whether any improvements to the questionnaire could be useful.

Methods: This is a prospective, descriptive study. NTSR collects data from patients who undergo tonsil surgery and the intention of the register is to improve the quality of treatment and to contribute to research.

Reducing post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage: a multicentre quality improvement programme incorporating video-based cold technique instruction.

Objective: Data from the Norwegian Tonsil Surgery Register (NTSR) showed large differences between the hospitals in Norway in the readmission rate due to post-tonsillectomy haemorrhage (rrPTH; range, 0%-25%; national average, 8%). Because of these large variations in the rrPTH, we conducted a quality improvement project involving hospitals with good and bad readmission rates.

Methods: Seven hospitals with readmission rates greater than 10% and four with rates lower than 5% participated in this project.

Comparison of clinical practice of tonsil surgery from quality register data from Sweden and Norway and one clinic in Denmark.

Objectives: To compare the application of indications, demographics, surgical and haemostatic techniques in tonsil surgery in three countries.

Design: Non-randomised, prospective, observational cohort.

Setting: All patients registered in the National Tonsil Surgery Quality Registers in Sweden, Norway and West Jutland, Denmark.

Corrigendum to "Health-Related Quality of Life and Sleep Quality after 12 Months of Treatment in Nonsevere Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Randomized Clinical Trial with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Mandibular Advancement Splints".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2020/2856460.].

Health-Related Quality of Life and Sleep Quality after 12 Months of Treatment in Nonsevere Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Randomized Clinical Trial with Continuous Positive Airway Pressure and Mandibular Advancement Splints.

In this randomized controlled trial, patients with nonsevere obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) were treated with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or a twin block mandibular advancement splint (MAS). The primary objective was to compare how CPAP and MAS treatments change the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-reported sleep quality of patients after 12 months of treatment. In total, 104 patients were recruited: 55 were allocated to the CPAP treatment group and 49 to the MAS treatment group.

Friedman Score in Relation to Compliance and Treatment Response in Nonsevere Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

Nonsevere obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is most often treated with a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device or a mandibular advancement splint (MAS). However, patient compliance with these treatments is difficult to predict. Improvement in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) is also somewhat unpredictable in MAS treatment.

General health, vitality, and social function after sinus surgery in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) has an impact on health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The objective of this study was to examine generic and disease-specific HRQOL and symptoms in CRS patients with (CRSwNP) and without (CRSsNP) nasal polyps before and 6 months after sinus surgery, and to identify preoperative patient factors associated with HRQOL outcome in the two groups separately.

Methods: This prospective, observational study consisted of 220 CRSwNP and 196 CRSsNP patients.

Providing quality data in health care - almost perfect inter-rater agreement in the Norwegian tonsil surgery register.

Background: The Norwegian Tonsil Surgery Register (NTSR) was launched in January 2017. The purpose of the register is to present data on tonsil surgery to facilitate improvements in patient care. Data used for evaluating the quality of medical care needs to be of high reliability.

Improvement in minimal cross-sectional area and nasal-cavity volume occurs in different areas after septoplasty and radiofrequency therapy of inferior turbinates.

Purpose: Septoplasty and radiofrequency therapy for inferior turbinate hypertrophy (RFIT) are common techniques used to improve nasal patency. Our aim was to compare nasal geometry and function using acoustic rhinometry and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) in three patients groups undergoing surgery for nasal obstruction, and to investigate if the improvement in minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) and nasal-cavity volume (NCV) occurred in different cavity areas in the groups. Finally, we evaluated the correlation between the objective measurements and the patients' assessment of nasal obstruction (SNO).

Systematic review of tonsil surgery quality registers and introduction of the Nordic Tonsil Surgery Register Collaboration.

Purpose: Surgical quality registers provide tools to measure and improve the outcome of surgery. International register collaboration creates an opportunity to assess and critically evaluate national practices, and increases the size of available datasets. Even though millions of yearly tonsillectomies and tonsillotomies are performed worldwide, clinical practices are variable and inconsistency of evidence regarding the best clinical practice exists.

A comparison of symptoms and quality of life before and after nasal septoplasty and radiofrequency therapy of the inferior turbinate.

Background: The primary goal of this study is to compare pre- and postoperative symptoms and health related quality of life (HQOL) in 57 patients who underwent septoplasty (group-1), 56 patients who underwent septoplasty combined with radiofrequency therapy of inferior turbinates (RFIT) (group-2) and 58 patients who underwent RFIT alone (group-3). The secondary goal is to investigate if the change in symptoms and HQOL differed between these three patient groups after surgery.

Methods: All patients reported symptoms on a visual analogue scale (VAS) and HQOL on Sino-Nasal-Outcome-Test-20 (SNOT-20) and Short-Form-Health-Survey-36 (SF-36) before and 6 months after surgery.

Sinonasal Characteristics in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Compared to Healthy Controls.

. The difference in nasal obstruction between OSA patients and healthy individuals is not adequately documented. Our aim was to describe the sinonasal quality of life and nasal function in OSA patients and healthy controls using the sinonasal outcome test-20 (SNOT-20), nasal obstruction visual analog scale (NO-VAS), and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF).

Quality of life and symptoms before and after nasal septoplasty compared with healthy individuals.

Background: The goal of this study is to compare quality of life (Qol) and symptoms in 91 patients with a deviated nasal septum preoperatively and postoperatively with a control group of 93 healthy individuals.

Methods: All patients reported Qol on Sino-Nasal-Outcome-Test-20 (SNOT-20) and symptoms on visual analogue scale (VAS) preoperatively and 6 months after surgery and the results were compared with the controls.

Results: Mean SNOT-20 score improved from 1.

A comparison of minimal cross sectional areas, nasal volumes and peak nasal inspiratory flow between patients with obstructive sleep apnea and healthy controls.

Background: The differences in nasal geometry and function between OSA patients and healthy individuals are not known. Our aim was to evaluate the differences in nasal geometry and function using acoustic rhinometry (AR) and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) between an OSA population and healthy controls.

Methodology: The study was designed as a prospective case-control study.

The repeatability of oVEMP in response to low-frequency vibration against the vertex and forehead.

Background: The measurement of ocular Vestibular Evoked Myogenic Potentials (oVEMP) is a novel method for investigating vestibular function. Stimulus and recording techniques vary in the literature. A standardized test procedure is desirable in order to ensure repeatable results.

Paranasal sinus opacification in headache sufferers: A population-based imaging study (the HUNT study-MRI).

Background The association between headache and paranasal sinus disease is still unclear. Because of symptom overlap, the two conditions are not easily studied on the basis of symptoms alone. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether paranasal sinus opacification on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was associated with migraine, tension-type headache (TTH) or unclassified headache.

Paranasal sinus opacification at MRI in lower airway disease (the HUNT study-MRI).

The study builds on the concept of united airways, which describes the link between the upper and lower airways. Explorations of this concept have mainly related to asthma and less to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The aim of this study was to investigate paranasal sinus opacification at magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in COPD, self-reported asthma and respiratory symptoms.

Pilot study of sphenopalatine injection of onabotulinumtoxinA for the treatment of intractable chronic cluster headache.

Objective: The main object of this pilot study was to investigate the safety of administering onabotulinumtoxinA (BTA) towards the sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) in intractable chronic cluster headache. Efficacy data were also collected to provide indication on whether future placebo-controlled studies should be performed.

Method: In a prospective, open-label, uncontrolled study, we performed a single injection of 25 IU (n = 5) or 50 IU BTA (n = 5) towards the SPG in 10 patients with intractable chronic cluster headache with a follow-up of 24 weeks.

Incidental findings in MRI of the paranasal sinuses in adults: a population-based study (HUNT MRI).

Background: Diagnostic imaging of the head is used with increasing frequency, and often includes the paranasal sinuses, where incidental opacifications are found. To determine the clinical relevance of such findings can be challenging, and for the patient such incidental findings can give rise to concern if they are over-reported. Studies of incidental findings in the paranasal sinuses have been conducted mostly in patients referred for diagnostic imaging, hence the prevalence in the general population is not known.

The determining factors of peak nasal inspiratory flow and perception of nasal airflow in asthmatics.

Background: The effect of pulmonary pathology on peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF) remains largely unknown. We investigated an association between a diagnosis of asthma and of lung function on PNIF when adjusted for possible confounders. Further, we investigated the perception of nasal obstruction in asthmatics compared to healthy controls when adjusted for PNIF.

Ocular vestibular-evoked myogenic potentials (oVEMPs) in response to bone-conducted vertex vibration.

Objective: To investigate low-frequency vertex bone-conducted (BC) vibration for evoking ocular vestibular myogenic potentials (oVEMPs) and its ability to discriminate between lesioned and healthy ears.

Methods: oVEMPs were analysed in response to 125-Hz single cycle vertex BC vibration in healthy subjects (n=50) and in patients with severe unilateral vestibular loss (n=10). Both positive and negative initial stimulus motions were used.

Can general practitioners do the follow-ups after surgery with ventilation tubes in the tympanic membrane? Two years audiological data.

Background: A university hospital in Mid-Norway has modified their guidelines for follow-up after insertion of ventilation tubes (VTs) in the tympanic membrane, transferring the controls of the healthiest children to general practitioners (GPs). The aim of this study was to evaluate the implementation of these guidelines by exploring audiological outcome and subjective hearing complaints two years after surgery, assessing if follow-ups in general practice resulted in poorer outcome.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed at the university hospital and in general practice in Mid-Norway.

Nasal flow, volumes, and minimal cross sectional areas in asthmatics.

Background: The Unified Airways hypothesis suggests an involvement of the upper airways in asthma. Critical parameters of the nasal airway can be quantified objectively with acoustic rhinometry (AR) and peak nasal inspiratory flow (PNIF).

Objective: We aimed to investigate nasal airway patency in asthmatics compared to non-asthmatic controls.

Implementing guidelines for follow-up after surgery with ventilation tube in the tympanic membrane in Norway: a retrospective study.

Background: When clinical guidelines are being changed a strategy is required for implementation. St. Olavs University Hospital in Norway modified their guidelines for the follow-up care of children after insertion of ventilation tubes (VT) in the tympanic membrane, transferring the controls of the healthiest children to General Practitioners (GPs).