Endodontic disease with formation of periapical lesions (PALs) is one of the most common causes of chronic odontogenic sinusitis (ODS). It requires close collaboration between otolaryngologists and dentists, but the best sequence of management is still unknown. The aim of the present study is to clarify how radiological characteristics of teeth with PALs and previous root-canal treatment (RCT) influence the clinical evolution of the disease and to define the predictive value of its radiological and endoscopic features in determining the need for further surgical intervention. A total of 68 symptomatic patients with ODS with PALs were included in the study. The evaluation was performed by an otolaryngologist and a dentist based on a medical interview, nasal endoscopy, cold pulp testing and tomography images. Patients were prospectively followed for at least 12 months, during which nasal steroids, saline irrigations and RCT were administered. The criteria of disease improvement were: decrease of symptoms, healed sinonasal mucosa in endoscopy and radiological resolution of periapical radiolucency and sinus inflammation. Results showed that 9 (13%) patients improved after conservative treatment and 59 (87%) required further surgical intervention. Patients who improved after medical treatment and RCT were younger (p = 0.043) and had a greater distance from the top of the periapical lesion to the maxillary sinus’ floor (p = 0.003). When expansion of PALs and bone destruction toward the maxillary sinus was observed on radiological imaging (p = 0.041), and when more than one tooth root was affected (p = 0.004), patients were more likely to require surgical intervention. In conclusion, the more roots that are affected and the closer the top of the PAL is to the maxillary sinus’ floor, the greater the possibility of medical treatment and RCT failure. When the bone destruction extends into the maxillary sinus, patients eventually require both tooth extraction and FESS in order to resolve ODS completely.

Background: The balloon catheter has been used for a decade to dilate paranasal sinus outflow tracts. The question is: how wide and how durable is the dilation of drainage pathways in patients in long-term observations after this procedure? Objective: The objective of our study was to observe the changes occurring in the frontal sinus drainage pathway (FSDP) in patients with frontal sinusitis at least 6 months after surgery using balloon catheters in an isolated procedure. Materials and methods: We analyzed and measured the FSDP width on computed tomography (CT) of 23 images before and after the use of balloon catheters. We also assessed mucosal changes using Zinreich’s scale, and symptom improvements with the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-20). Results: A statistically significant difference in the width of the FSDP was found before and after sinuplasty in the study group (p ≤ .0016). On average, the FSDP increased by 24.1%. Clinically meaningful and statistically significant (p ≤ .0002) symptom improvement as indicated by the mean SNOT-20 score was observed. Mucosal changes were also statistically significant (p ≤ .0018) after surgery. Conclusion: The findings at least 6 months after follow-up indicated that the use of balloon catheters in an isolated procedure allowed durable modeling of FSDP and was associated with radiological and clinical improvements.

Tonsillectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures and, given the limited efficacy of conservative treatment, remains the primary approach for managing palatine tonsillitis (PT) and palatine tonsillar hypertrophy (PTH). Both conditions negatively affect quality of life (QoL), increase healthcare costs, and contribute to work absenteeism. Objectives: The primary aim of this study is to assess QoL following tonsillectomy and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) in patients qualified for surgical treatment due to PT and PTH. Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted among 89 adults (85% follow-up) who had undergone tonsillectomy and UPPP. QoL was assessed 6 years post-op using the Glasgow Benefit Inventory (GBI), the Schwentner questionnaire, and VAS. The study group included 89 patients (85% of those who underwent surgery), including 26 women (29%) and 63 men (71%). Results: Patients with PT and PTH showed significant QoL improvement after palatine tonsillectomy. The mean GBI score indicated QoL improvement after both tonsillectomy (+25.7) and UPPP (+15.8), with the most pronounced improvements in physical and general health. Overall, GBI scores were higher in PT compared to PTH (26.6 compared to 15.5), mainly due to better results in the physical health domain (55.9 compared to 12.9). Conclusions: Palatine tonsillectomy has a positive impact on QoL in both PT and PTH patients, with higher questionnaire scores observed in the PT group. Tonsillectomy contributed more significantly to the improvement in QoL than UPPP, as measured by the GBI, the Schwentner questionnaire, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Furthermore, our study demonstrated that, when evaluating and qualifying patients for tonsillectomy, a more comprehensive otolaryngological assessment should be conducted, including evaluation of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx, as comorbid conditions in these regions are correlated with postoperative QoL outcomes.

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the piezoelectric knife as a new tool for frontal beak surgery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) both in terms of imaging and perception of symptoms’ outcomes. Materials and methods: The study involved 28 patients with CRS who underwent endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) using a piezoelectric knife in the frontal recess region. Assessment of sinus imaging and patients’ quality of life (QoL) was performed before and after surgery with the Lund-Kennedy and Lund-Mackay systems and the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22). Results: Median scores on the Lund-Kennedy and Lund-Mackay systems decreased within 24 weeks after surgery with piezo knife assistance by 4 and 5 points, respectively. QoL improved with SNOT-22 scores decreasing by 35.5 points. Conclusions: ESS with the piezoelectric knife used for frontal beak reduction turned out to be a safe procedure. In the studied group of patients, the improvement was observed in terms of imaging, patients’ perceptions of symptoms, and QoL outcomes. Therefore, the piezoelectric knife might be a valuable supporting tool in ESS in patients with CRS, although further observation is needed.

Introduction: Endoscopic medial maxillectomy (EMM) refers to surgical resection of the medial wall of the maxillary antrum. The primary indications for EMM are recalcitrant maxillary sinusitis, ablation of malignant and specific benign diagnoses such as Schneiderian Papilloma. Maxillectomy is potentially complicated by injuries to the orbital contents, lacrimal apparatus, optic nerve, ethmoidal arteries that may be accompanied by brisk bleeding. Aim: The purpose of this paper is to conduct a retrospective analysis of patients treated with EMM surgery at the Otorhinolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology Clinic of Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw in the years 2008–2018. Material and methods: The retrospective analysis was conducted on patients who underwent EMM treated at the the Otorhinolaryngology and Laryngological Oncology Clinic of Military Institute of Medicine in Warsaw in the years 2008–2018. The research included 18 patients aged 15–94; 8 women and 10 men. Results: Out of 18 patients, 8 had been operated before EMM. 16 of them presented with histological examinations, though 5 of which were not confirmed with postoperative histological result. The most common indication for the operation was inverted papilloma. Conclusion: Endoscopic surgical approach is effective and precious way to manage tumors which involve the neighboring structures especially medial maxillary sinus. EMM itself is a safe surgical method in managing maxillary sinus disorders and is favored for its decreased invasiveness and avoidance of the deformity of face.

This work was to compare an innovative solution, i.e. a fully biodegradable nasal packing Nasopore®, with a traditional one, in the aftercare of patients subjected to functional endoscopic sinus surgery. Prospective, blinded study with sequential enrollment conducted at three study centres. One of the investigators evaluated during surgery the level of bleeding in each of the nasal cavities and at the end of surgery he applied the test packing, the biodegradable dressing Nasopore®, to one randomly chosen nasal cavity, and a control packing to the other one. The other investigator removed during aftercare the control packing and conducted the follow-up. During the control visits (24-48 hours, 10 and 30 days post-op.) the subjects evaluated their headache, pain in the nose, pressure in the forehead as well as their nasal obstruction. A total of 39 women and 44 men at the age of 47 years on average (min. 19, max. 82) were qualified for the study. The largest differences between different types of nasal dressings were observed with regard to reduction of nasal obstruction in the fist 10 days after surgery (P<0.005). In relation to the pain in the area of the head and nose as well the pressure in the forehead on every visit, better outcomes were observed for the test dressing. Statistical difference (P<0.05) was observed on the fist follow-up visit for the headache and pressure in the forehead as well as on the fist and second visit for the pain in the nose. The fully biodegradable nasal dressing Nasopore® may constitute significant improvement and facilitation of aftercare in functional endoscopic sinus surgery while increasing the patients' satisfaction and lowering the postoperative discomfort.