Seasonal Variation in Generic and Disease-Specific Health-Related Quality of Life in Rhinologic Patients in Southern Finland

Background: Seasonal variation in exacerbations, hospitalisations, and mortality statistics has been reported for some diseases. To our knowledge, however, no published studies exist on the seasonality of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) amongst rhinologic patients. Aims/Objectives: This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the possible seasonal variation in rhinologic patients’ HRQoL using the rhinologic disease-specific Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) and the generic 15D HRQoL instrument. Material and Methods: We enrolled unselected adult rhinologic patients requiring specialist care at the Helsinki University Hospital in this cross-sectional, questionnaire-based prospective study during four seasons: February (winter), May (spring), August (summer), and November (autumn). Patients received SNOT-22 and 15D questionnaires via post. The Finnish Meteorological Institute supplied climate data from these months. Results: SNOT-22 and 15D data were available for 301 and 298 patients, respectively. We found no statistically significant differences (p = 0.948) between the mean monthly 15D scores or mean SNOT-22 scales. Furthermore, the mean SNOT-22 subscales did not differ between the monthly study periods. Conclusions and Significance: Our study shows that seasonality did not impact rhinologic patients’ SNOT-22 or 15D HRQoL scores. Thus, these questionnaires can be used for follow-up amongst rhinologic patients regardless of season

Seasonal Variation in Generic and Disease-Specific Health-Related Quality of Life in Rhinologic Patients in Southern Finland

Background: Seasonal variation in exacerbations, hospitalisations, and mortality statistics has been reported for some diseases. To our knowledge, however, no published studies exist on the seasonality of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) amongst rhinologic patients. Aims/Objectives: This study, therefore, aimed to investigate the possible seasonal variation in rhinologic patients’ HRQoL using the rhinologic disease-specific Sino-Nasal Outcome Test-22 (SNOT-22) and the generic 15D HRQoL instrument. Material and Methods: We enrolled unselected adult rhinologic patients requiring specialist care at the Helsinki University Hospital in this cross-sectional, questionnaire-based prospective study during four seasons: February (winter), May (spring), August (summer), and November (autumn). Patients received SNOT-22 and 15D questionnaires via post. The Finnish Meteorological Institute supplied climate data from these months. Results: SNOT-22 and 15D data were available for 301 and 298 patients, respectively. We found no statistically significant differences (p = 0.948) between the mean monthly 15D scores or mean SNOT-22 scales. Furthermore, the mean SNOT-22 subscales did not differ between the monthly study periods. Conclusions and Significance: Our study shows that seasonality did not impact rhinologic patients’ SNOT-22 or 15D HRQoL scores. Thus, these questionnaires can be used for follow-up amongst rhinologic patients regardless of season

Septoplasty with and without additional sinonasal surgery : postoperative sequelae and the use of prophylactic antibiotics

Purpose One of the most common complications after septoplasty is a postoperative infection. We investigated the number of postoperative infections and unplanned postoperative visits (UPV) in septoplasties with and without additional nasal surgery at our institution and evaluated the role of antibiotic prophylaxis. Methods We collected data of all consecutive 302 septoplasty or septocolumelloplasty patients operated during the year 2018 at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, HUS Helsinki University Hospital (Helsinki, Finland). Hospital charts were reviewed to record sociodemographic patient characteristics and clinical parameters regarding surgery and follow-up. Results Altogether 239 patients (79.1%) received pre- and/or postoperative prophylactic antibiotics and within this group 3.3% developed a postoperative infection. The infection rate in the non-prophylaxis group of 63 patients was 12.7% (p = 0.007). When all patients who received postoperative antibiotics were excluded, we found that the infection rate in the preoperative prophylaxis group was 3.8%, as opposed to an infection rate of 12.7% in the non-prophylaxis group (p = 0.013). When evaluating septoplasty with additional sinonasal surgery (n = 115) the rate of postoperative infection was 3.3% in the prophylaxis group and 16.7% in the non-prophylaxis group (p = 0.034). These results show a statistically significant stand-alone effect of preoperative prophylactic antibiotics in preventing postoperative infection in septoplasty, especially regarding additional sinonasal surgery. Conclusion The use of preoperative antibiotics as a prophylactic measure diminished statistically significantly the rate of infections and UPVs in septoplasty when all postoperative infections, superficial and mild ones included, were taken into account.Peer reviewe

Septoplasty with and without additional sinonasal surgery : postoperative sequelae and the use of prophylactic antibiotics

Purpose One of the most common complications after septoplasty is a postoperative infection. We investigated the number of postoperative infections and unplanned postoperative visits (UPV) in septoplasties with and without additional nasal surgery at our institution and evaluated the role of antibiotic prophylaxis. Methods We collected data of all consecutive 302 septoplasty or septocolumelloplasty patients operated during the year 2018 at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, HUS Helsinki University Hospital (Helsinki, Finland). Hospital charts were reviewed to record sociodemographic patient characteristics and clinical parameters regarding surgery and follow-up. Results Altogether 239 patients (79.1%) received pre- and/or postoperative prophylactic antibiotics and within this group 3.3% developed a postoperative infection. The infection rate in the non-prophylaxis group of 63 patients was 12.7% (p = 0.007). When all patients who received postoperative antibiotics were excluded, we found that the infection rate in the preoperative prophylaxis group was 3.8%, as opposed to an infection rate of 12.7% in the non-prophylaxis group (p = 0.013). When evaluating septoplasty with additional sinonasal surgery (n = 115) the rate of postoperative infection was 3.3% in the prophylaxis group and 16.7% in the non-prophylaxis group (p = 0.034). These results show a statistically significant stand-alone effect of preoperative prophylactic antibiotics in preventing postoperative infection in septoplasty, especially regarding additional sinonasal surgery. Conclusion The use of preoperative antibiotics as a prophylactic measure diminished statistically significantly the rate of infections and UPVs in septoplasty when all postoperative infections, superficial and mild ones included, were taken into account.Peer reviewe

Sinonasal Oncocytic Papilloma—A Series of 20 Cases With Special Emphasis on Recurrences

Objective Reports on sinonasal oncocytic papilloma (SNOP) are scarce. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical features of this rarest form of sinonasal papilloma with special emphasis on the pattern of recurrences and on the potential factors predicting them. Study Design Retrospective study. Methods Between the years 1994 and 2016, 20 patients (mean age 66 years; range 30-87) were diagnosed with SNOP at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, HUS Helsinki University Hospital (Helsinki, Finland). Hospital charts were reviewed to record various medical and sociodemographic patient characteristics, and the archived histological specimens were re-evaluated. Postoperative follow-up time varied between 26 days and 167 months. Results Maxillary sinus was the most common (60%) tumor location. None of the tissue samples showed dysplasia. Recurrence rate was 39% and the median time span to the first recurrence was 25 months (range 7-71). Smokers had more often a recurrence than nonsmokers (75% vs. 31%). Patients with perioperative purulent rhinosinusitis during the primary surgery had a higher recurrence rate compared with those without (60% vs. 31%). Tumors located in the sinuses recurred more often than those located in the nasal cavity (45% vs. 29%). However, all these findings remained statistically nonsignificant. None of the cases showed malignant transformation during the follow-up. Conclusion SNOP has a propensity to recur. History of smoking, purulent rhinosinusitis during the primary surgery, and tumor location in the sinuses outside the nasal cavity seem to contribute to an increased trend in the risk of recurrence.Peer reviewe

Sivuontelotulehdusten diagnostiikka ja hoito

Vertaisarvioitu.• Flunssan aikana esiintyy usein lieviä sivuontelo-oireita, jotka paranevat itsestään. • Suuri osa äkillisistä ja pitkittyneistä sivuontelotulehduksista on lieväoireisia ja helpottuu nenän paikallishoidolla. • Lasten sivuontelot ovat pienet ja väljästi auki nenäkäytävään, joten äkillisiä bakteerien aiheuttamia tai pitkittyneitä sivuontelotulehduksia on heillä harvoin. • Pitkittyneissä sivuontelotulehduksissa itsehoito on tärkeää, ja potilasta tulee motivoida siihen.Peer reviewe

Sivuontelotulehdusten diagnostiikka ja hoito

Vertaisarvioitu.• Flunssan aikana esiintyy usein lieviä sivuontelo-oireita, jotka paranevat itsestään. • Suuri osa äkillisistä ja pitkittyneistä sivuontelotulehduksista on lieväoireisia ja helpottuu nenän paikallishoidolla. • Lasten sivuontelot ovat pienet ja väljästi auki nenäkäytävään, joten äkillisiä bakteerien aiheuttamia tai pitkittyneitä sivuontelotulehduksia on heillä harvoin. • Pitkittyneissä sivuontelotulehduksissa itsehoito on tärkeää, ja potilasta tulee motivoida siihen.Peer reviewe

One dose of preoperative, intravenous, prophylactic antibiotics significantly lowers postoperative infection rate in septoplasty—a study of 772 operations

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 John Wiley & Sons LtdObjectives Postoperative infection is the most common complication after septoplasty. Pre- or postoperative prophylactic antibiotics are commonly used, although no official guidelines exist. Design We retrospectively collected data on postoperative infections from 772 septoplasties performed in 2015, 2016 and 2018, and classified the infections according to surgical site infection (SSI) criteria by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We evaluated the infections according to antibiotic use (preoperative or postoperative, both, or none) and accounted for patient and surgical confounding factors. We compared the results with three previous studies from our department to find out the trend in the occurrence of postoperative infections and in the use of antibiotics. Results Twenty-nine cases (3.8%) fulfilled CDC infection criteria. Any kind of antibiotic prophylaxis reduced the risk of SSI (p = .018). One dose of intravenous cefuroxime before incision was the most effective preventive measure (p = .045). We found no significant effect of postoperative antibiotics. However, postoperative antibiotics lowered the infection rate to 1.8% compared to 6.1% among those not treated with any antibiotics. The only other factor reducing the risk of SSI was local anaesthesia compared with general anaesthesia. Conclusion Preoperative antibiotic prophylaxis effectively reduced postoperative infection rate after septoplasty.Peer reviewe