Postoperative Oral Antibiotics and Sinonasal Outcomes Following Endoscopic Transsphenoidal Surgery for Pituitary Tumors Study: A Multicenter, Prospective, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Background: Postoperative prophylactic antibiotics are commonly used in pituitary surgery, but evidence supporting their use is lacking, which has implications for antibiotic stewardship.

Objective: To evaluate whether receipt of postoperative oral antibiotics results in superior sinonasal quality of life (QOL) compared with placebo among patients who undergo endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary surgery.

Methods: Patients were randomized to receive either oral placebo or cefdinir (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in patients intolerant to cefdinir) for 7 d after surgery.

Assessment of the Validity of the Sinonasal Outcomes Test-22 in Pituitary Surgery: A Multicenter Prospective Trial.

Objectives/hypothesis: Sinonasal Outcomes Test-22 (SNOT-22) is used widely as a patient-reported sinonasal quality-of-life (QOL) instrument for endoscopic endonasal pituitary surgery. However, it has never been validated in this population. This study explores the psychometric validity of SNOT-22 to determine if it is a valid scale in patients undergoing endoscopic pituitary surgery.

Use of image-guided systems in the reconstruction of the periorbital region.

The conflict in the Middle East has led to an increase in the incidence and severity of facial trauma evaluated at tertiary military medical facilities. The Naval Medical Center San Diego, San Diego, Calif, has treated 5 patients with penetrating injuries to the orbit with associated comminuted fractures. We have used the technology of image-guided surgery to assist in reconstructing these injuries.

Teleotolaryngology: a retrospective review at a military tertiary treatment facility.

Objective/hypothesis: The use of real-time telemedicine in providing quality health-care in multiple specialties has been demonstrated in several small studies; however, a review of the literature reveals no large-scale prospective or retrospective telemedicine studies in otolaryngology. The telemedicine office at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) acquired a large otolaryngology telemedicine patient database, and this study reviews the otolaryngology telemedicine experience at NMCSD over an 18-month period.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective and reviewed new patient consults for the NMCSD otolaryngology telemedicine clinic from April 1, 2001, until November 6, 2002.

Chronic inspiratory stridor secondary to a retained penetrating radiolucent esophageal foreign body.

Although foreign body ingestions are common in infants and young children, penetration of the esophagus is a relatively rare event. Timely diagnosis is impeded by the absence of classical symptoms and by the ingestion of radiolucent foreign bodies. The authors present a 17-month-old girl with a 6-month history of inspiratory stridor.