Cost-effective airway cultures in the cystic fibrosis patient.

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients have a high incidence of multidrug-resistant infections, rendering CF patients a treatment challenge.

Objective: To evaluate culture protocols for CF patients and develop a cost-effective culture regimen that identifies clinically relevant pathogens.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Radiologic staging system for allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS).

Objectives: 1) Develop an objective method for quantifying radiologic bone erosion in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS); and 2) assess the utility of the new CT scan staging system in differentiating AFRS patient groups.

Methods: Patients from two tertiary care rhinology practices with AFRS and available CT scans (1999-2007) were included for review by trained graders. The following novel assessment scale was used: Each paranasal sinus wall with expansion/erosion was scored 1 point, with maximum 3 points possible for each frontal sinus, 2 points for each ethmoid complex, 3 points for each sphenoid sinus, 3 points for each maxillary sinus, and 1 point each for the frontal and sphenoid intersinus septae, yielding maximum of 24 possible points.

Socioeconomic factors in the diagnosis of allergic fungal rhinosinusitis.

Objectives: 1) To investigate socioeconomic and demographic factors differentiating allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) from other chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) diagnostic groups. 2) To consider the potential impact of epidemiological differences on AFRS disease course.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Socioeconomic factors in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis with bone erosion.

Background: Previous studies have shown an increase in the incidence of orbital and skull base erosion in African Americans and males diagnosed with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS). However, underlying reasons for the advanced presentation of AFRS in certain ethnic and gender groups are currently unknown. We evaluated several socioeconomic and demographic factors for their possible contribution to advanced presentation of AFRS in our patient population.

Laboratory versus portable sleep studies: a meta-analysis.

Objective: The objective of this meta-analysis study was to compare the accuracy of home sleep studies with laboratory polysomnography in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: Eligible studies included prospective cohort studies of portable and in-laboratory sleep studies performed on the same groups of patients. A comparison of respiratory disturbance index (RDI), mean low oxygen saturation levels, sleep time, rate of inadequate studies, and average cost per examination was made between portable and in-laboratory sleep studies.

Incidence of skull base and orbital erosion in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) and non-AFRS.

Objective: To compare the incidence of bony erosion associated with allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS) with the incidence of bony erosion seen in other types of inflammatory sinusitis.

Study Design: Retrospective review.

Results: AFRS was diagnosed in 27 patients, and 15/27 (56%) had bony skull base or orbital erosion.

'Push' versus 'pull' percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement in patients with advanced head and neck cancer.

Objectives/hypothesis: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube (PEG) placement by means of the "pull" method has been reported to result in a significantly higher complication rate when compared with "push" PEG placement. These findings have led to a renewed interest in the push, or Russell introducer, method of PEG placement at the authors' institution when PEG is required before definitive treatment of advanced head and neck cancer. The authors sought to determine whether the push method of PEG placement is associated with a lower incidence of complications in this patient population.