Protocol for postmortem bedside endoscopic procedure to sample human respiratory and olfactory cleft mucosa, olfactory bulbs, and frontal lobe.

We present a protocol for the rapid postmortem bedside procurement of selected tissue samples using an endoscopic endonasal surgical technique that we adapted from skull base surgery. We describe steps for the postmortem collection of blood, cerebrospinal fluid, a nasopharyngeal swab, and tissue samples; the clean-up procedure; and the initial processing and storage of the samples. This protocol was validated with tissue samples procured postmortem from COVID-19 patients and can be applied in another emerging infectious disease.

Anatomical barriers against SARS-CoV-2 neuroinvasion at vulnerable interfaces visualized in deceased COVID-19 patients.

Can SARS-CoV-2 hitchhike on the olfactory projection and take a direct and short route from the nose into the brain? We reasoned that the neurotropic or neuroinvasive capacity of the virus, if it exists, should be most easily detectable in individuals who died in an acute phase of the infection. Here, we applied a postmortem bedside surgical procedure for the rapid procurement of tissue, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid samples from deceased COVID-19 patients infected with the Delta, Omicron BA.1, or Omicron BA.

Visualizing in deceased COVID-19 patients how SARS-CoV-2 attacks the respiratory and olfactory mucosae but spares the olfactory bulb.

Anosmia, the loss of smell, is a common and often the sole symptom of COVID-19. The onset of the sequence of pathobiological events leading to olfactory dysfunction remains obscure. Here, we have developed a postmortem bedside surgical procedure to harvest endoscopically samples of respiratory and olfactory mucosae and whole olfactory bulbs.

Surgery in Nasal Polyp Patients: Outcome After a Minimum Observation of 10 Years.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) often requires surgery, but recurrence even after surgery is common. Recurrence rates largely vary in literature and asthma seems to be a comorbid factor.

Objective: In this study, we aim to estimate disease recurrence during a long-term follow-up, together with the investigation of possible predicting and/or influencing parameters.

Personal protection and delivery of rhinologic and endoscopic skull base procedures during the COVID-19 outbreak.

On March 11th 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 pandemic, with subsequent profound impact on the entire health care system. During the COVID-19 outbreak, activities in the rhinology outpatient clinic and operation rooms are limited to emergency care only. Health care practitioners are faced with the need to perform rhinological and skull base emergency procedures in patients with a positive or unknown COVID-19 status.

Real-life assessment of chronic rhinosinusitis patients using mobile technology: The mySinusitisCoach project by EUFOREA.

Background: Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with a substantial personal and socioeconomic burden. Monitoring of patient-reported outcomes by mobile technology offers the possibility to better understand real-life burden of CRS.

Methods: This study reports on the cross-sectional evaluation of data of 626 users of mySinusitisCoach (mSC), a mobile application for CRS patients.

Stepwise approach towards adoption of allergen immunotherapy for allergic rhinitis and asthma patients in daily practice in Belgium: a BelSACI-Abeforcal-EUFOREA statement.

Allergic rhinitis (AR) affects 23-30% of the European population with equal prevalence reported in Belgium. Despite guidelines on the correct use of effective treatment, up to 40% of AR patients remain uncontrolled. Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been shown to improve the level of control up to 84% of patients being controlled by AIT.

mySinusitisCoach: patient empowerment in chronic rhinosinusitis using mobile technology.

Mobile health technology is emerging to take a prominent position in the management of chronic diseases. These technologies aim at enhancing patient empowerment via education and self-management. To date, of all the different apps available for patients with sinus disease, none were developed by medical experts dealing with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).

Long-term results of a modified expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty for sleep-disordered breathing.

Our aim was to evaluate the long-term objective and subjective results of a modified expansion sphincter pharyngoplasty (ESP) technique in patients with sleep-disordered breathing. Single center prospective study of 35 patients underwent an ESP as a primary surgical treatment between June 2012 and September 2015 at the hospital AZ Sint-Jan Bruges-Ostend. Patients were divided into non-OSAS and OSAS (AHI >5).

Prevalence of risk factors for sensorineural hearing loss in NICU newborns.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and significance of traditional risk factors associated with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) in a population of 615 neonates who attended the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of the University Hospital in Leuven, Belgium between January 2005 and December 2007.

Methodology: Auditory brainstem response (ABR) audiometry using 40 dB stimuli was performed in all 615 neonates. A retrospective medical database analysis was performed to evaluate the influence of 14 predetermined risk factors.