Prospective clinical trial of gelatin-thrombin matrix as first line treatment of posterior epistaxis.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the effectiveness of gelatin-thrombin matrix for first line treatment of posterior epistaxis. Secondarily, we evaluated discomfort during treatment and the cost savings of treatment with gelatin-thrombin matrix compared to posterior packing, endoscopic, or endovascular treatment at our institution.

Study Design: Prospective pilot, nonblinded, noncontrolled registered clinical trial (NCT01098578).

Bacterial biofilms and the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis.

Purpose Of Review: To review the evidence for the presence of bacterial biofilms in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and mechanisms by which they may contribute to the chronic inflammation characteristic of this disease. Lastly, to provide an overview of the current and potential future treatments for bacterial biofilms in CRS.

Recent Findings: Advances in the techniques for identifying biofilms have confirmed the presence of bacterial biofilms on the sinonasal mucosa of patients with CRS.

Manuka honey: histological effect on respiratory mucosa.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory disease in which bacteria are commonly implicated often in the form of a biofilm. Manuka honey has been shown in vitro to be an effective treatment against two common CRS pathogens both in the planktonic and in the biofilm forms. The purpose of this study was to determine if the application of manuka honey to respiratory epithelium would result in histological evidence of epithelial injury.