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Objective The pathophysiology of empty nose syndrome (ENS) remains unclear despite significant research. The pathophysiologic mechanism of ENS was systematically reviewed. Data Sources MEDLINE and Embase. Review Methods Data were systematically reviewed for studies that provided original data on pathophysiology. Results A total of 2476 studies were screened, and 19 met the inclusion criteria: 13 case-control and 6 cross-sectional. Nine pathophysiologic themes were identified. • Demographics: ENS symptoms had no relationship with climatic factors. • Symptomatology: ENS patients demonstrated high symptom severity. • Mental health: Anxiety and depression including hyperventilation were reported in >50% of ENS patients and correlated with ENS symptom severity. • Anatomic features: Structural changes in response to turbinate surgery were similar between ENS and non-ENS patients. • Airflow analysis: Airflow parameters were similar between ENS and non-ENS patients after turbinate surgery. On computational fluid dynamic analysis, differences were found on multiple outcomes. • Diagnostic testing: The menthol detection test was impaired in ENS, and cotton placement in the airway improved ENS symptoms. • Cognitive function: Functional magnetic resonance imaging showed activation in emotional processing area during breathing. • Olfactory function: Subjective impairment was reported in ENS, but quantitative measures were similar to non-ENS patients. • Mucosal physiology/innate immunity: Turbinate histopathology in ENS showed a tissue-remodeling pattern. Nasal nitric oxide level was lower in ENS patients. Conclusion There is evidence of high comorbid mental health disorders in ENS patients. An abnormal trigeminal-thermoreceptor response may be present in some patients. The influence of altered airflow and the evidence of surgery as the cause for ENS are unclear.

Background Mucociliary function is affected by temperature. Exposure to cold air may impair ciliary beat frequency. While saline nasal irrigation improves in ciliary beat activity, there is no evidence supporting the use of heated saline irrigation in treating patients with chronic rhinosinusitis. Objective To compare the effects of heated saline to room-temperature saline nasal irrigation on mucociliary clearance in chronic rhinosinusitis patients. Methods Adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis were randomized into two groups receiving either heated saline or room-temperature saline nasal irrigation. Healthy subjects were included as control. Saccharin transit time was measured before and after nasal irrigation. Nasal patency was assessed by peak nasal inspiratory flow, anterior rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry, nasal obstruction score, and breathe-comfort score. Any adverse events were reported. Results Twenty-three patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nine healthy subjects were enrolled. Saccharin transit time was decreased after nasal irrigation in both heated saline subgroup (baseline 12.3 ± 4.5 min vs. postirrigation 8.4 ± 4.9 min, p = 0.05) and room-temperature subgroup (baseline 12.8 ± 5.0 min vs. postirrigation 8.9 ± 4.2 min, p = 0.01). The saccharin transit time improvement was not different between heated saline (3.8 ± 6.2 min) and room-temperature saline (3.8 ± 4.0 min), p = 0.13. Postheated saline irrigation saccharin transit time of chronic rhinosinusitis patients (8.4 ± 4.9 min) was not different to healthy subjects (9.2 ± 3.7 min), p = 0.69. Nasal patency was not different between groups. There was no adverse event reported. Conclusion Nasal saline irrigation is beneficial to patients with chronic rhinosinusitis on mucociliary improvement. Warming saline is not necessary and adds no additional benefit to room-temperature saline irrigation.

Background The concept of unified airway disease has linked bronchiectasis with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), much in the same way as in asthma and CRS. Although the outcomes of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) on comorbid asthma have been relatively well studied, the outcomes of ESS on comorbid bronchiectasis have rarely been examined. Objective We sought to determine sinonasal and pulmonary clinical outcomes of ESS in bronchiectasis patients with CRS. Method We reviewed all bronchiectasis patients who had ESS for CRS at our institution from 2006 to present. The sinonasal outcome test 22 (SNOT-22) was administered preoperatively and at 3 months, 1 year, and 3 years postoperatively. Pulmonary function tests (PFTs) were measured preoperatively and at 6 months and 1 year post operation to assess the forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced viral capacity (FVC), and FEV1/FVC values. Paired t test and Pearson correlation were used to compare pre- and postsurgical results. Results A total of 141 bronchiectasis patients who had ESS for CRS were studied. The most common cause of bronchiectasis was cystic fibrosis (CF) (42.55%). SNOT-22 scores improved at 3 months post operation and were maintained at 1 year and 3 years post operation ( P < .001). All SNOT sub-domains showed a significant improvement after surgery ( P < .01). However, PFTs did not change at 6 months post operation and 1 year post operation ( P > .05). There were significant differences in the outcomes in CF versus non-CF patients ( P < .05) but not by sex or age. Conclusion ESS is effective in improving long-term sinonasal outcomes in bronchiectasis patients with CRS. However, ESS does not appear to improve the pulmonary function.

Orbital complications are the most common complications of acute rhinosinusitis presenting with chemosis, proptosis and orbital pain. 1 When the patients develop diffuse headache, altered consciousness and abducens nerve palsy, intracranial complications should be considered. 2 Orbital involvement was classified by Chandler et al 3 into 5 groups: inflammatory oedema, orbital cellulitis, subperiosteal abscess, orbital abscess and cavernous sinus thrombosis. Recently, cavernous sinus thrombosis has been reclassified as an intracranial

Both EPOS2012 and IDSA2012 had modest accuracy. EPOS2012 had less sensitivity but a better specificity compared to IDSA2012. This suggests that IDSA2012 diagnostic criteria may contribute to inappropriate use of antibiotics due to poorer specificity.

BACKGROUND: Low-dose macrolides (LDM) are anti-inflammatory agents with antineutrophilic activity, but patient selection for LDM therapy in treating chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is controversial. This study aimed to assess factors which predict LDM responders. METHODOLOGY: A prospective cohort study was performed. Patients with CRS received roxithromycin (150 mg) once daily for 12 weeks. Nasal secretions and serology were collected. Nine predictors for LDM response were assessed: nasal secretion IgE, nasal secretion IL-5, serum IgE, serum eosinophils, serum neutrophils, nasal polyps, asthma, allergy, and aspirin hypersensitivity, using receiver-operating curve analysis and multivariable logistic regression. Macrolide responders were those with sino-nasal outcome test-22 improvement, symptoms visual analogue scale decreased to ≤5, and no rescue medication. RESULTS: One hundred CRS patients (mean age 47.4±14.1 years, 45% male) were enrolled. Univariable logistic regression showed local total IgE less than 5.21; and serum eosinophils less than 2.2% associated with macrolide response. Multivariate models showed local total IgE maintained an independent association with macrolide response, with an ability to discriminate between responders and non-responders of 63%. Serum total IgE, nasal secretion IL-5, serum neutrophil, nasal polyp, asthma, allergy, and aspirin hypersensitivity showed no association with LDM response. CONCLUSIONS: Low total IgE level in the nasal secretion but not in the serum, predict LDM response.