Faculty Bibliography

Sinusitis in the immunocompromised person can be a fulminant or even fatal illness. Aggressive treatment with intravenous antibiotics and surgery is often warranted. We report 13 cases of sinusitis in immunocompromised patients who, having failed medical treatment, required surgical management of their sinus disease. Among the patients whose sinuses were cultured intraoperatively, 63% grew Staphylococcus aureus. Most of the patients showed improvement in their infections, and none had complications of surgery

Necrotizing bacterial infections that occur in the head and neck are exceedingly rare and are often associated with a group A beta-hemolytic streptococcus (Streptococcus pyogenes). The disease is associated with soft tissue necrosis and vascular thrombosis. There appears to be an increasing incidence of hyperaggressive beta hemolytic streptococcal infections associated with high mortality rates. We report the survival of an otherwise healthy patient who developed a flu-like illness followed by a rapidly progressive toxic systemic illness associated with subtotal facial soft tissue necrosis down to bone. The recent literature related to this necrotizing bacterial infection is reviewed. Otolaryngologists must be aware of this entity since survival depends upon aggressive early wound management and high-dose intravenous antibiotics

The availability and application of miniplate systems for the repair of displaced zygomatic fractures may effect commonly accepted guidelines for fixation of these injuries. A retrospective review of 20 patients at New York University-Bellevue Medical Center was conducted to further delineate issues concerning surgical repair and fixation. Our experience with one- and two-point fixation is evaluated and guidelines are presented

Toxic shock syndrome has been associated with rhinologic surgery and medical devices, and it has been linked to a circulating exotoxin of a toxogenic strain of Staphylococcus aureus. One hundred forty patients with rhinosinusitis were studied. Nasal cultures were obtained. The microbiological characteristics are described. The carrier rate for Staphylococcus aureus was 35%. Thirty percent of patients selected for surgery were Staphylococcus aureus carriers. Toxin-capable isolates were identified in 40% of those tested. Users of cocaine, topical decongestants, and steroid sprays had a statistically higher rate of Staphylococcus aureus carriage compared to nonusers. It is hoped that by identifying the population at risk and defining the factors associated with the development of toxic shock syndrome, a cogent policy of prevention can be established

A prospective, randomized study comparing the effectiveness of two nasal steroid sprays, flunisolide and beclomethasone dipropionate, in the treatment of nasal obstruction associated with allergic or vasomotor rhinitis has been conducted at New York University Medical Center-Bellevue Hospital. All patients underwent routine history and physical examinations and a modified radioallergosorbent test. Paranasal sinus films were used to exclude patients with sinusitis. The Rhinotest microprocessor rhinomanometer was used to quantify pretreatment and posttreatment total nasal air flow and resistance during a period of 2 months. These findings were assessed in conjunction with the patients' subjective complaints. Results demonstrated that anterior rhinomanometric assessment of the nasal airway during inhalant therapy correlated well with the patients' own subjective impressions of nasal air flow. Both steroid inhalants were effective; however, flunisolide provided for earlier and more substantial symptomatic relief. Beclomethasone dipropionate had milder side effects