ENDOSCOPIC SINUS SURGERY

Bakhshaee M, MDRhinologist, Assistant Prof. MUMS

Section 7 ( فایل هفتم (قسمت

When a high-resolution CT scan has shown the skull base defect, MRI can help define any pathology associated with a CSF leak, e.g., brain, hematoma, CSF.

Inverted Papilloma

MRI can complement CT in determining how extensive an inverted papilloma is.

It defines how much of the opacification shown on CT is due to secretions and how much is due to the tumor. This is important in planning surgery if it involves the frontal or maxillary sinus.

MR Angiography

MR angiography (MRA) delineates flow within vessels by suppressing the signal from stationary tissue.

It is performed as part of an MR examination and does not necessarily require contrast injection.

MRA provides information with respect to the principal feeding arteries in vascular tumors (such as angiofibromas, hemangiopericytomas, or paragangliomas, and certain metastases) and in vascular lesions (such as angiomas or aneurysms located at the skull base).

A negative result on MRA does not definitively rule out a vascular lesion.

A minor amount of flow or the presence of slow flow such as in a capillary hemangioma, esthesioneuroblastoma, and even in an angiofibroma may be invisible to MRA.

Digital Subtraction Angiography Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is the

best method to delineate the vascular supply of a specific anatomical area or lesion

1. In a lesion (e.g., chordoma or neoplasm) that abuts the internal carotid artery at the foramen lacerum or within the cavernous sinus.

2. In recurrent epistaxis, DSA may be required as a means to verify the source of repeated hemorrhage.

Points to Mention on a CT Request1. Write down the provisional diagnosis, e.g.,

“severe polyposis unresponsive to medical treatment.”

2. Say why you want the scan, e.g., to define the anatomy before surgery.

3. Detail what surgery has been done.

4. Ask for fine cuts if indicated, e.g., in case of a CSF leak or when sagittal reconstruction is needed.

5. Name the area you want examined, e.g., the frontal recess.

6. If you suspect a tumor, say so and ask for a contrast study.

Preoperative Check list

what should you do before operating?

1. Minimize the amount of surgical manipulation required.

2. Preserve as much olfactory mucosa as possible.

3. Reduce peroperative bleeding to reduce the likelihood of complications.

4. Work out the surgical anatomy in order to minimize the chance of entering the orbit or skull base.

5. Set clear goals for yourself and your patient

The Preoperative Checklist1. Confirm the diagnosis.

2. Review previous medical treatment.

3. Optimize the immediate preoperative condition.

4. Check that relevant investigations have been done ( Allergy tests, Immune status, Hematological parameters, Olfaction, Vision)

5. Review the relevant medical history, e.g., drug allergies, medication.

6. Preoperative CT checklist.

7. Planning and staging the procedure.

8. Informed consent.

Vision

Left enophthalmos due to silent sinus syndrome—involution of the maxillary sinus with collapse of its roof

The loss of color discrimination, particularly of red, is a worrying symptom of pressure on the optic nerve, and this requires urgent treatment.

For any orbital surgery, e.g., orbital decompression, an ophthalmological assessment is required.

It is alarming if a unilaterally enlarged is noticed during or after surgery.

Preoperative CT Checklist

Like an airline pilot before preparing for take-off, you must go through a systematic check of the CT scanvbefore surgery so as to avoid the surgical equivalent ofva crash.

Step 1.

When placing the scans on the viewing box, orientate the scan sequence from anterior to posterior and ensure that the sides are marked and placed as though as you are looking at the patient.

Follow the cuts anterior to posterior; follow the septum, note any deviation, and look for the size and extent of the ethmoidal bulla, which is a relatively consistent landmark.

A polyp arising from the lamella lateralis

Step 2.

Examine the lamina papyracea, uncinate process, and middle turbinate.

Variations of the position of the cribriform plate

Localize the uncinate process (arrow) from its free margin posteriorly and follow it anteriorly and upward

A key aspect of frontal recess surgery is to define the insertion of the uncinate process as this may also “guard” anterior access to the frontal recess by forming a web if it attaches to the skull base or middle turbinate

The uncinate process insertion

An absent middle turbinate

Hypoplasia of the maxillary sinuses

Left infraorbital cell

Step 3.

Examine the area of the frontal recess. The frontal recess lies anterior and superior to the ethmoid bulla.

Bilateral bulla frontalis

Bulla frontalis and the start of agger nasi cells below

Bilateral suprabullar recesses and supraorbital cells

Anterior ethmoid artery

Step 4.

Determine the height of the skull base

Asymmetrical skull base

Step 5.

Examine the sphenoid sinus

Dehiscent optic nerve (+) and carotid artery (*)

Informed Consent

The following issues need to be addressed.1. What are the options available to the patient?

2. Specifically what would happen if no surgery were undertaken?

3. What is the patient’s prognosis with the various treatment strategies?

4. What does the surgery involve?

5. What are the complications of surgery?

6. This should include complications occurring more frequently than 1 in 100, and severe complications even if they are rare.

Patient Consent and Information

How much do we need to explain to our patients to properly gain their consent?

The surgeon may feel that mentioning complications to the patient will frighten them unnecessarily, but it is possible to mention even serious complications in the right context without causing alarm, and it is our duty to do so.

Patients need to:

Understand their diagnosis Understand the context of their symptoms in the

light of their diagnosis Understand the principles of the surgical

procedure Be informed about complications even if they

are rare Be informed about what they can expect in the

postoperative period: the healing process, the symptoms they can expect, the medical therapy they should take, and the need for time off work

Time Off Work

Rest: 1. After minor surgery, such as a limited

anterior ethmoidectomy: one week2. If they work in dusty or smoky

environment, this should be extended by a further week

3. Patients who have had more extensive sinus surgery are advised to take 2 weeks off work.

Advice about Flying

Fly :1. Some authorities have advised that it is

wise to wait up to 6 weeks after surgery, 2. if patients are able to do a Valsalva

maneuver

Complications

Our aim is to inform the patient without alarming them unnecessarily

We say that the reported risk of any moderate or serious complication is approximately 0.5% to 1%

On reviewing the world literature on the prevalence of complications associated with endoscopic sinus surgery, it is worth mentioning that these are no more common than with conventional surgery

Complications Conventional technique

Endoscopic technique

Adhesions 2−8% 4−6%

Bleeding 0.9−2.65% 0.48−0.6%

Periorbital bruising 0.4−7% 0.4−1.3%

Nasolacrimal injury 0.1% 0−0.5%

CSF leak 0.1−0.6% 0.07−0.9%

Anosmia 0.1% 0.4%

Frontal mucocele Unknown 0.08%

Retro-orbital hemorrhage

0.3−3.4% 0−0.4%

Extraocular muscle damage

0−0.4% Unknown

Optic nerve injury Unknown 0.007%

Pneumocephalus Unknown Unknown

Meningitis 0.1% 0.007%

Carotid artery injury Unknown Unknown

Specific Complications

External Incision

When undertaking frontal recess surgery, and in particular revision surgery, or when a median drainage procedure is planned, it is worth mentioning the possibility of the need for an external incision

For vascular tumors of the lateral nasal wall, such as an angiofibroma, it is important to mention that an external approach such as a lateral rhinotomy or midfacial degloving may be required.

Inverted Papilloma

In the case of accompanied SCC; more radical procedure may be required.

The surgeon should aim to remove all the diseased mucosa there is an increased risk of stenosis, particularly in the frontal recess.

The incidence of recurrent disease is as high as 30%.

Local Osteitis

A rare complication is local osteitis caused by exposure of bone.

It produces a dull, severe nagging ache that lasts for 10 days before abating.

Major analgesics are required, and local treatment appears to provide little help.

Infection

Infection following surgery is rare and can be minimized by giving perioperative antibiotics when purulent disease is present.

Surgical emphysema

Caused by air being forced through a defect in the lamina papyracea, is avoided if the surgeon advises the patient not to blow their nose or to stifle sneezes for 4 days after surgery

Visual Complications

If a patient has significant proptosis or displacement of the axis of their pupils due to paranasal sinus disease (e.g., a mucocele), they may have adapted slowly to these changes over several weeks and not have any diplopia.

Occasionally, patients may have some temporary diplopia after surgery when this displacement is suddenly corrected, and it is worth mentioning this before surgery

Diplopia in orbital decompression

Patients who undergo orbital decompression are at an increased risk of diplopia, although maintaining the medial−inferior strut of bone between the medial wall and floor of the orbit minimizes this risk.

Recurrent Polyposis

When counseling a patient with nasal polyposis associated with late-onset asthma or aspirin sensitivity, it is wise to mention that, in spite of good surgery and postoperative medical treatment, the majority of patients will have a recurrence of their polyps

Perioperative Aids

Local anesthesia General anesthesia Operating room setup Ancillary staff Camera-guided surgery Instruments Computer-aided surgery

Local Anesthesia

A day-stay procedure Encouraging preservation of mucosa There is less peroperative bleeding It is possible to monitor vision

General Anesthesia

It is possible to access areas that are not readily anaesthetized with local anesthetic

The surgeon is freed from worrying about patient feels discomfort

If bleeding is moderate or marked, it can be sucked out as the patient is not distressed

In infected cases, local anesthetic works poorly

The patient is unaware of unpleasant sensations

Operating Room Setup

Operating Table Surgeon’s Seat Position of the Anesthetist

Setup for One Surgeon

Setup for Two Surgeons

Video Stack/Cameras

The screen should be positioned at a level that makes the surgeon raise their head just a little, as this will encourage good posture

Cables

Cables can get in the way and their weight can tire the surgeon.

The light cable and camera lead should be clipped to the drapes so that their weight going to the stack does not pull on the surgeon’s supporting hand

It is important that the scrub nurse gives and takes each set of instruments so that they are kept separate and do not become entangled.

Lighting

For optimal viewing, the screen should have a relatively dim background

Radiograph Screen

The CT scans must be placed in order on a screen for the surgeon to inspect before and during the procedure

Instruments

Endoscopes

The majority of surgery is best done using a 0° 4mm endoscope, which allows good illumination. Even in a child or a narrow nose it is easier to operate with this than with a 2.7mm scope.

Most of the paranasal sinuses can be visualized with a 0° scope, with the exception of the lateral, medial, and inferior walls of the maxillary sinus.

It is best to do as much surgery as possible using the 0° scope.

Endoscopes

Even the frontal recess can be approached using a 0° scope, but you need to remove the front of any agger nasi air cells.

A 45° scope provides superior access and visibility that helps conserve mucosa around the frontal recess.

Camera Systems

The three-chip camera gives a superlative image that allows detailed surgery of the paranasal sinuses.

A good camera and light source are required because redness of bleeding from the rich blood supply to the nose absorbs much of the light and it is difficult to get definition and a sense of depth with a poor image.

Point

Operating with the naked eye down an endoscope does provide a good image.

There is, however, a dear price to be paid for this, and that is that the operator may develop neck problems over time.

Suckers

Curved Olive-ended Suckers

Ball Probes

Curettes

Blakesley Forceps

Through-cutting Instruments

Rhinoforce Stammberger Antrum Punch (“Back-biters”)

Hajek−Kofler (Rotating) Punch

Stammberger Cutting Mushroom Punch

Freer Elevator

Sickle Knife

Belluci and Zurich Scissors

Stammberger Side-biting Punch Forceps

Heuwieser Antrum Grasping Forceps

Giraffe forceps

Anterior-posterior Side-grasping

Powered Shavers

Drill

Unipolar Suction Diathermy

Bipolar Suction Diathermy

Computer-aided Surgery