A combined method of conventional and endoscopic adenoidectomy

Endoscopic Evaluation after Conventional Adenoid Curettage

Introduction  Adenoidectomy is one of the most common procedures performed by otolaryngologists. Traditional adenoid curettage is performed blindly, which can result in inadequate removal of the adenoid and injury to the surrounding structures. Objective  To perform transnasal endoscopic examinations to assess the nasopharynx after conventional curettage adenoidectomy. Methods  The present prospective study included 100 children with a mean age of 4.2 ± 3.07 years. It is composed of two steps: conventional curettage adenoidectomy by a resident trainee; and endoscopic evaluation of the nasopharynx through a 0° telescope to assess adenoidal remnants, injury to the surgical field or adjacent structures, and bleeding points. Results  Adenoid remnants were observed in 42% of the cases after conventional adenoid curettage in multiple locations, such as the roof of the nasopharynx over the choana (24%), the tubal tonsil (12%), the posterior pharyngeal wall (4%), and the posterior end of the nasal septum (2%). Injury to the surgical field and adjacent structures was observed in 46% of the cases (posterior pharyngeal wall: 23%; lateral pharyngeal wall: 11%; Passavant ridge: 10%; and the Eustachian tube orifice: 2%). Endoscopic bleeding was observed in 29% of the cases; 13% of the cases were from adenoid remnants, 10%, from the mucosa, and 6%, from the pharyngeal muscles. Bleeding was mild in 19% of the cases, moderate in 9%, and severe in 1%. Conclusion  Endoscopic evaluation of the nasopharynx following conventional adenoid curettage provides important data regarding adenoid remnants, injury to the surgical field or nearby structures, and bleeding points, which aids in the provision of optimal care and in the achievement of a better outcome.

Partial Adenoidectomy in Patients With Palatal Abnormalities

BACKGROUND

Velopharyngeal insufficiency is a feared complication of adenoidectomies in patients with palatal abnormalities. Thus, the benefits of adenoidectomy in this population are less understood. The techniques of partial adenoidectomy aim to preserve velopharyngeal closure while sufficiently debulking the nasal airway to ameliorate obstruction and snoring.

METHODOLOGY

Systematic review of online databases using a combination of search terms including "cleft palate," "submucosal cleft palate," "short palate," "adenoidectomy," "partial adenoidectomy," "subtotal adenoidectomy," and "powered adenoidectomy." Two independent reviewers assessed the eligibility of each study based on predefined inclusion criteria.

RESULTS

From 323 studies identified, 8 were included. All were retrospective case series, except 1 prospective study. Study period ranged from 1.1 to 14 years (median 7.5 years). There were 172 patients with a cleft palate (n = 80), submucous cleft palate (n = 67) or another defined palatal abnormality [short soft palate (n = 14), bifid uvula (n = 4), questionable palatal mobility (n = 4) or incomplete CP (n = 3)] identified. Mean age was 5.5 years and just over half were male (58%). Nearly all patients showed improvement in nasal airway obstruction and snoring. The pooled risk for velopharyngeal insufficiency across all studies was 2 out of 122, which approximates to 1.6% of patients. There were very few complications.

CONCLUSION

This is the first systematic review of partial adenoidectomy in patients with palatal abnormalities. Sub-total adenoidectomy in patients with submucosal cleft palate or repaired cleft palate appears to be a safe and efficacious procedure. There is; however, a need for prospective data collection using a standardized technique in large patient series required to properly assess outcomes.

Curettage adenoidectomy versus endoscopic microdebrider adenoidectomy in children: A randomized controlled trial

INTRODUCTION

Adenoidectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures with different techniques and technologies. Although curettage adenoidectomy (CA) has been practiced conventionally for many years, endoscopic microdebrider adenoidectomy (EMA) has emerged as an innovative surgical method. Comparing physiological effects, efficacy and safety of the endoscopic microdebrider adenoidectomy (EMA) and curettage adenoidectomy (CA) in pediatric population is aimed with this prospective, single-blind, randomized, controlled trial.

METHODS

Sixty pediatric patients with type-A tympanogram according to Jerger classification in both ears before surgery were randomly assigned to receive the CA (n = 30) and the EMA (n = 30). Tympanometry evaluation for each ear was performed the day before surgery firstly and was repeated on days 1, 7 and 14 after surgery. Intraoperative time, complications during and after the operation were recorded. Postoperative pain was also evaluated for 10 days postoperatively.

RESULTS

Tympanometric evaluation revealed significantly reduced middle ear peak pressure levels with the EMA than with the CA for each ear on day 1 after surgery and for only left ear on day 7 after surgery (P < 0.05). In addition, statistically significant reduced pain scores in postoperative first 3 days were related to the EMA (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the methods in terms of duration of surgery and complications.

CONCLUSION

According to findings from this study, the EMA procedure may be as safe and rapid as the CA. Furthermore, the EMA may be more controlled and less invasive to the surrounding tissues. Further studies are advised to support these data.

Defining the Surgical Limits of Adenoidectomy so as to Prevent Recurrence of Adenoids

This study aims to define the surgical boundaries of adenoidectomy by demonstrating that recurrence of adenoids and its symptoms can be avoided if a complete adenoidectomy is performed, by following these surgical limits. A prospective descriptive study was carried out at Speciality ENT Hospital, Mumbai, India. Endoscopic adenoidectomy was performed in 83 patients using coblation technology. In all patients, adenoids were removed superiorly till the periosteum over the body of sphenoid; posteriorly till the pharyngobasilar fascia; laterally till fossa of Rosenmuller in the posterior part and till the torus tubarius in the anterior part; and inferiorly till the Passavant's ridge. The patients were followed up postoperatively and a nasal endoscopy was done at the end of 1 year to look for any recurrence or regrowth of adenoids, so as to determine the efficacy of the procedure. A total of 83 patients underwent adenoidectomy with a mean age of 12.80 years. 12 patients were lost to follow up. Of the remaining 71 patients, no patient showed any evidence of recurrence of adenoid on follow-up nasal endoscopy done at the end of 1 year. Recurrence of adenoid post adenoidectomy is not seen if there is complete removal of adenoids. So it is essential that all adenoid tissue be removed during adenoidectomy. The complete removal of adenoids can be ensured by following the surgical limits of adenoidectomy.

Comparative Study for Efficacy and Safety of Adenoidectomy according to the Surgical Method: A Prospective Multicenter Study

Background/Objective

There have been several operative techniques for adenoidectomy and their efficacy and morbidity are different according to the technique. This prospective multicenter study was aimed to compare the efficacy and morbidity of coblation adenoidectomy (CA) with those of power-assisted adenoidectomy.

Study Design

Prospective multi-institutional study.

Methods

Children who underwent CA, power-assisted adenoidectomy with cauterization (PAA+C) or without cauterization (PAA-C) due to adenoid hypertrophy were enrolled from 13 hospitals between July 2013 and June 2014. Mean operation time, degree of intraoperative bleeding and postoperative bleeding rate were evaluated.

Results

A total of 388 children (mean age ± standard deviation = 6.6 ± 2.5 years; 245 males and 143 females) were included. According to the adenoidectomy technique, the children were classified into 3 groups: (1) CA (n = 116); (2) PAA+C (n = 153); and (3) PAA-C (n = 119). Significant differences were not found in age and sex among three groups. In the CA group, mean operation time was significantly shorter (P < 0.001) and degree of intraoperative bleeding was significantly less (P < 0.001) compared to PAA+C or PAA-C group. Delayed postoperative bleeding rate of PAA-C group was significantly higher than that of CA or PAA+C group (P = 0.016).

Conclusions

This prospective multicenter study showed that CA was superior to PAA in terms of mean operation time and degree of intraoperative bleeding.

Evaluation of middle ear pressure in the early period after adenoidectomy in children with adenoid hypertrophy without otitis media with effusion

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to analyze the changes in middle ear pressure in the early period after adenoidectomy in children with adenoid hypertrophy without otitis media with effusion.

METHODS

This prospective, descriptive study was performed on 64 patients (with normal tympanic membranes and tympanograms) undergoing adenoidectomy or adenotonsillectomy. All patients were operated by single experienced team using curettage technique. First tympanometry was done on the day before surgery. Tympanometry was repeated on the first-, third-, and seventh-day after the operation. Patients are separated into two groups according to age as patients younger than 6 years (Group A) and patients older than 6 years (Group B). All data were separately evaluated for each ear using Jerger Classification.

RESULTS

Of the 64 patients included in the study, 35 were male and 29 were female, and the average age was 91.01 ± 37.4 (35-178) months. Pathological decreases in the middle ear pressures of at least one ear were determined in 48 (75%) patients on the first postoperative day and in 10 (15.6%) patients on the third postoperative day. Middle ear pressures returned to preoperative values by the seventh postoperative day except in two patients. There were statistically significant differences (p<0.0001) among preoperative and first, third, and seventh postoperative day mean middle ear pressure. There were no statistically significant differences between Groups A and B in terms of tympanometry values of both ears obtained preoperatively and on the first, third, and seventh postoperative day.

CONCLUSION

In our study, temporary eustachian dysfunction and aural fullness occur in the early period after adenoidectomy and/or adenotonsillectomy. This situation may be due to post-surgery clots and edema in nasopharynx. We consider that tubal orifice can be exposed to surgical trauma as adenoidectomy surgeries are done by curettage technique. There is a need for comparative studies using microdebrider or laser adenoidectomy accompanied by an endoscope.

Choanal adenoid in adults with persistent nasal symptoms: endoscopic management to avoid misdiagnosis and unsuccessful surgeries

Our objective was to confirm the necessity of nasal endoscopy in the diagnosis and treatment of choanal adenoid in adult patients with persistent bilateral nasal obstruction and recurrent nasal infections that may lead to repeated unsuccessful medical and surgical procedures. We present a series of 64 adult patients (18-37 years: 40 males, 24 females). All patients had persistent bilateral nasal obstruction and recurrent nasal infections. There was history of repeated medical and surgical unsuccessful procedures. Choanal adenoid was confirmed by nasal endoscopy and CT scanning. Absence of adenoid tissues in the nasopharynx was confirmed in all cases. Surgical removal of choanal adenoids was undertaken in all cases endoscopically. Some other surgical procedures like straightening of a deviated septum or reduction of a hypertrophied turbinate were undertaken in some indicated cases. Most of the cases experienced complete relief from obstruction and return of a patent nasal airway, and improvement of associated complaints such as dry mouth and persistent cough. A thorough review of this phenomenon and its clinical relevance, and methods of diagnosis and management are presented. We recommend a thorough nasal endoscopy as a routine in cases of persistent nasal obstruction even in the presence of an apparent cause of obstruction.

Endoscopic adenoidectomy with microdebrider

To describe endoscopic power assisted adenoidectomy and review the experience with the procedure demonstrating its safety and efficacy. Prospective study of 44 patients aged between 7 to 15 years undergoing power assisted adenoidectomy between Jan 2004 and July 2006. Tertiary care private teaching hospital. Forty four consecutive children with adenoid hypertrophy undergoing power assisted adenoidectomy. Therapeutic endoscopic adenoidectomy using microdebrider. Operative time, blood loss, complications, completeness and depth of removal, surgeon's satisfaction and recovery period. The average operative time was 12 min (range: 8-16 min) and average blood loss was 30 ml (range: 24-42 ml). Complete resection was possible under vision with few complications. The surgeon satisfaction was high and post-operative recovery good. Power assisted adenoidectomy is quick, precise and safe. There is good visualization during resection thus improving precision and ensuring complete removal of adenoid tissue.

Rigid endoscopic evaluation of conventional curettage adenoidectomy

Objectives:

To evaluate the results of conventional adenoidectomy, using rigid endoscopy of the nasopharynx, and to establish the role of such evaluation in facilitating complete adenoid removal via the curettage technique.

Design:

Descriptive rigid endoscopic evaluation of the nasopharynx before and after adenoid curettage, and following subsequent endoscopy-assisted adenoidectomy.

Setting:

Tertiary referral centre.

Patients:

Forty-one consecutive children with symptomatic adenoid hypertrophy scheduled to undergo adenoidectomy.

Results:

Rigid endoscopic evaluation indicated that conventional curettage, used alone, failed to completely remove adenoid tissue from the superomedial choanae and anterior vault in all cases; incomplete removal was also seen in other parts of the choanae (in 67.2 per cent of patients), the eustachian tube opening (63 per cent), the nasopharyngeal roof (61.78 per cent) and the fossa of Rosenmuller (61 per cent). Subsequent rigid endoscopy-assisted adenoidectomy successfully removed the residual adenoid tissue from all nasopharyngeal sites, except the eustachian tube opening in two cases.

Conclusion:

Conventional curettage adenoidectomy misses a substantial amount of adenoid tissue. Rigid endoscopy-assisted adenoidectomy improves this result by enabling localisation of any residual adenoid tissue.

How we do it: a combined method of traditional curette and power-assisted endoscopic adenoidectomy

CONCLUSION

After conventional curette adenoidectomy, a significant mass of residual adenoid tissue is observed in about 50% of the cases. The combined approach of conventional curette and endoscopic adenoidectomy with microdebrider assures a complete and accurate removal of the mass. It is an effective and safe method without significantly prolonging the operative time.

OBJECTIVES

To describe the surgical technique of conventional curette adenoidectomy completed with the microdebrider under endoscopic vision in case of residual adenoid tissue.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This was a retrospective review of 143 consecutive patients (age range 2-16 years, mean 6.2) who underwent endoscopic adenoidectomy for adenoid hypertrophy at an academic hospital-based institution. A classic transoral curette adenoidectomy was performed initially. Then a rigid fibre-optic endoscope was used transnasally to assess the completeness of surgery. Residual adenoid tissue was removed using a microdebrider under endoscopic vision.

RESULTS

After conventional curette adenoidectomy 70 children (48.9%) underwent residual adenoid tissue transnasal removal. Mean curette adenoidectomy time with endoscopic visualization of the nasopharynx was 9.1 min and, in the case of completion with the microdebrider, 14.6 min. No significant intraoperative bleeding, postoperative haemorrhage or other complications have occurred. After a mean follow-up of 24.4 months, no patients have been readmitted for symptoms of adenoid regrowth.

[Endoscopic adenotomy--clinical assessment of value and safety--an own experience]

High number of performed adenotomies inclines ENT surgeons to introduce more and more satisfying concerning safety, accuracy and results predictability surgical techniques. The aim of our study was to assess the value and safety of an endoscopic surgical technique. The study was performed on 768 patients aged 7 months - 14 years. Group A (I) consisted of 453 patients on whom adenotomy was performed with use of Beckmann adenotome. Group B (II) consisted of 315 patients operated under endoscope control with the use of Jurasz forceps. An endoscopic technique gives remarkable decrease of intraoperative blood loss and eliminates post op bleedings, what increases patients safety. Low aggressiveness of an endoscopic technique compared to classic decreases incidents of undesirable post adenotomy signs and symptoms. In authors opinion, the results obtained during study, definitely prove the superiority of endoscopic technique--it is worth of introducing into daily surgical practice.

How we do it: Transoral suction diathermy adenoid ablation under direct vision using a 45 degree endoscope

Keypoints * Adenoid ablation using suction diathermy is associated with a number of difficulties, mainly associated with the use of the mirror. Transoral and transnasal 0 degree endoscopes have also been utilised but again have limitations. We describe a technique that overcomes the above problems. * A prospective case series of patients undergoing suction diathermy adenoidectomy under direct vision using a transoral 45 degree endoscope connected to a monitor was conducted, performed by surgical trainees and under direct supervision of the consultant trainer (J.R.-J.). * Intra-operatively, trainees had to demonstrate to the trainer the appropriate anatomy, completed adenoid ablation, and haemostasis. * Fifty-six cases have been performed. In every case, it was possible for the trainer to monitor the trainee's technique throughout the entire procedure. No complications have been reported. * We describe a modified technique which overcomes the disadvantages previously encountered by conventional suction diathermy adenoid ablation.

Telescopic-Assisted Radiofrequency Adenoidectomy: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS

The objective was to conduct a prospective randomized controlled trial describing and investigating the efficacy and safety of transoral telescopic-assisted radiofrequency adenoidectomy in young children.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective randomized controlled trial.

METHODS

One hundred twenty patients who were 36 months of age or less and planned to undergo adenoidectomy or adenoidectomy with insertion of tympanostomy tubes were included in the study. Children were prospectively and randomly assigned into two equal treatment groups: the telescopic-assisted adenoidectomy using radiofrequency curette and the conventional adenoid-curette adenoidectomy. The main parameters included visual analogue scale score for nasal breathing, amount of blood loss, operating time, completeness of adenoid resection, smoothness of postoperative recovery, and complications.

RESULTS

Both groups had a significant improvement in the visual analogue scale score after surgery with no evidence for a significant difference between the conventional adenoid-curette and radiofrequency groups. The amount of blood lost during radiofrequency adenoidectomy was minimal, with a mean difference of 31 mL and a median difference of 26 mL. There was a tendency for shorter operative time in the radiofrequency group, but this did not reach a statistical significance. No evidence for a significant difference was noticed in the smoothness of postoperative recovery or complication rate.

CONCLUSION

Telescopic-assisted radiofrequency-curette adenoidectomy allows removal of huge adenoids completely in a precise, easy, and cost-effective procedure, with minimal blood loss and short operating time. The use of transoral telescopes provides a clear visualization that helps complete removal of the adenoids, reduction of unnecessary trauma, and effective control of bleeding.

Pediatric endoscopic transnasal adenoid ablation

We describe a technique in which suction diathermy is used for adenoid ablation through a solely endoscopic transnasal approach in the older pediatric population. This procedure has proved to be both effective and convenient during other transnasal endoscopic procedures, as it provides excellent visualization of both the superior and inferior parts of the nasopharynx and results in minimal to no bleeding in the adenoid bed. In all cases to date, there has been complete resolution of preoperative problems of infection, pain, and bleeding. All patients had good control of postoperative pain. There has been no evidence of postoperative nasopharyngeal stenosis and no velopharyngeal insufficiency. Although transnasal adenoid ablation is not appropriate for the entire pediatric population, this procedure has multiple benefits when another endoscopic sinonasal procedure is planned, when there is neck instability, or when enhanced visualization of the nasopharynx is desired.