Treatment Decision-Making Among Chinese Americans With Chronic Rhinosinusitis.

Objective: There has been limited research on the influence of race and ethnicity on treatment decision-making for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). This prospective study aims to investigate potential factors linked to treatment modality choice among patients with medically refractory CRS, distinguishing between Chinese American and non-Chinese American patients.

Methods: CRS patients with persistent symptoms despite prior medical treatment were prospectively enrolled.

Efficacy of a RADA-16 peptide hydrogel versus chitosan-based polymer in improving patient comfort during postoperative debridement: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Bioresorbable nasal packing is associated with a decreased incidence of adhesions and bleeding postoperatively after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). However, discomfort during postoperative debridement is still a major area of concern for patients. Our objective was to compare the efficacy of a peptide hydrogel to that of a chitosan-based polymer in reducing pain during debridement after ESS.

Unplanned 30-Day ER Visit Rate and Factors Associated With ER Visits After Ambulatory Sinus Surgery.

Background: Emergency room (ER) visits after surgery can be inconvenient and costly to the patient and the healthcare system. Estimates of the 30-day ER visit rate following ambulatory sinus procedures and their risk factors are largely unknown in the literature.

Objective: To determine the 30-day postoperative ER visit rate following ambulatory sinus procedures and the causes and risk factors associated with ER visits.

Bacterial biofilms and increased bacterial counts are associated with airway stenosis.

Objectives: Most airway stenoses are acquired secondary to the use of prolonged endotracheal intubation. Antibiotics have been shown to decrease local inflammation and granulation tissue formation in the trachea. However, antibiotic therapy is not 100% effective in preventing or treating granulation tissue formation.

Relationship of eosinophils and plasma cells to biofilm in chronic rhinosinusitis.

Background: This study investigates the relationship of eosinophils and plasma cells to biofilm in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). A prospective observational study was performed at the Keck Hospital, University of Southern California, Department of Otolaryngology, Los Angeles, CA.

Methods: A total of 29 patients, 20 undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for CRS and 9 control patients undergoing septoplasty for nasal obstruction without history or evidence of CRS, were included in this study.

Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of major salivary gland masses and adjacent lymph nodes.

Ultrasound has an established role in the detection of masses in the major salivary glands and potentially malignant adjacent lymph nodes. Because there is overlap in their sonographic features, tissue diagnosis plays an important role in management. This review assesses ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration biopsy as a diagnostic tool in the characterization of these lesions.

US-guided fine-needle aspiration of major salivary gland masses and adjacent lymph nodes: accuracy and impact on clinical decision making.

Purpose: To determine whether ultrasonography (US)-guided fine-needle aspiration (FNA) is an effective technique for diagnosing masses in the salivary gland and adjacent lymph nodes.

Materials And Methods: The institutional review board waived the requirement to obtain informed consent and approved this HIPAA-compliant retrospective study. Radiology records of 50 patients (28 female patients aged 25-85 years [median age, 58 years], 22 male patients aged 11-82 years [median age, 62 years]) who underwent 52 consecutive US-guided FNA procedures from 2004 to 2009 were reviewed.

Biofilm and persistent inflammation in endoscopic sinus surgery.

Bacterial biofilms have been observed in many patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, but their importance is still being investigated. This study examines the association between biofilms and other clinical findings in chronic rhinosinusitis patients. Twenty-four patients with chronic rhinosinusitis who failed medical management underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Biofilm detection with hematoxylin-eosin staining.

Objective: To demonstrate that hematoxylin-eosin staining can be used to detect the presence of bacterial biofilm in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: The University of Southern California University Hospital and the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles.

Traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the occipital artery: case report and review of the literature.

Only 3 cases of traumatic pseudoaneurysm of the occipital artery have been reported since 1644. We report a fourth case, which occurred in an 85-year-old woman who experienced a blunt trauma during a fall. The pseudoaneurysm resolved without surgical intervention.

The significance of EphB4 and EphrinB2 expression and survival in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: To examine the expression of EphB4 and EphrinB2 in tumor tissue and surrounding normal tissue in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to evaluate its association with overall patient survival.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: University of Southern California-University Hospital, the Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, and the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Use of AlloDerm implant to improve cosmesis after parotidectomy.

We evaluated the effectiveness and practicality of using AlloDerm, an acellular human dermal matrix graft, as an interpositional barrier in an attempt to improve the appearance of the surgical defect created by parotidectomy. We performed AlloDerm reconstruction in a series of 10 patients, and we found that normal contour was satisfactorily restored in all 10. We conclude that the use of an AlloDerm implant is a low-risk, practical option for repairing the surgical defect in postparotidectomy patients.

Management of a type II nasoethmoid orbital fracture and near-penetration of the intracranial cavity with transnasal canthopexy.

Nasoethmoid orbital fractures are perhaps the most complicated aspect of craniomaxillofacial trauma. Involvement of the medial canthal tendon markedly increases the complexity of the repair. We report a case of type II nasoethmoid orbital fracture in a 32-year-old man that was managed without formal medial canthal tendon repair; instead, we used open reduction and internal fixation of the central fragment and the nasoethmoid complex.

The association between elevated EphB4 expression, smoking status, and advanced-stage disease in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To examine the expression of EphB4 in tumor tissue, surrounding normal tissue, and metastatic lymph node in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to evaluate its association with disease stage and smoking.

Design: A retrospective study.

Setting: University of Southern California-University Hospital, University of Southern California and Los Angeles County Medical Center, and Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.

Fibrin glue in thyroid and parathyroid surgery: is under-flap suction still necessary?

The introduction of fibrin sealants has brought into question the necessity of routinely placing suction drains. We conducted a retrospective study to determine whether fibrin sealants are comparable to traditional drains in terms of length of hospital stay and hematoma prevention. We evaluated 124 patients who had undergone thyroidectomy and 47 patients who had undergone parathyroidectomy.

Platelet-rich plasma in endoscopic sinus surgery.

The author designed a study to assess the healing properties of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) after endoscopic sinus surgery in 30 patients with bilateral and symmetrical chronic rhinosinusitis that was refractory to medical management. At the conclusion of each operation, PRP was introduced into the middle meatus of a randomly chosen side, while the other side was treated normally and served as a control. Patients were followed until both sides healed.

Circles of prominence: a new theory on facial aesthetics.

Objective: To elucidate key elements of facial aesthetics through a new hypothesis called the circles of prominence.

Design: In this subjective survey, 32 persons in the medical field rated frontal-view photographs of 20 subjects in 5 categories on a 0-to-100 scale, 0 representing the most unaesthetic rating, 100, the most aesthetically pleasing. The study was conducted in an academic setting, and the subject photographs were of 9 women (aged 27-65 years) from a clinical setting and 11 women whose pictures appeared in entertainment magazines.