Background A health utility value represents an individual’s preference for living in a specific health state and is used in cost-utility analyses. This study investigates the impact of continuing medical therapy on health utility outcomes in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Methods The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-6D (SF-6D) was administered to patients prospectively enrolled in a longitudinal study examining treatment outcomes for CRS. Patients were prescribed robust, initial medical therapy and then elected to continue with medical therapy (n=40) or undergo endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS), followed by medical therapy (n=152). Patients observed through treatment crossover to ESS were also evaluated (n=20). Health utility values (SF-6D) were generated at baseline, 6-months, and 12-months follow-up for both cohorts and evaluated using repeated measures ANOVA. Results Treatment crossover patients were found to have a significantly higher prevalence of previous sinus surgery compared to medical management (χ2=6.91; p=0.009) and surgical intervention (χ2=8.11; p=0.004) subgroups. Mean baseline utility value for the medical therapy cohort was significantly better compared to the ESS cohort (0.76[0.12] versus 0.70[0.15]; p=0.023). Significant improvement in health utility was reported in the ESS cohort (F(2)=37.69; p<0.001), while values remained stable, without significant improvement, in both the medical therapy cohort (F(2)=0.03; p=0.967) and treatment crossover cohort (F(2)=2.36; p=0.115). Conclusions Patients electing continued medical management report better baseline health utility compared to patients electing ESS. Patients electing ESS demonstrate significant improvement in health utility while those electing continued medical management demonstrate stable health utility over 12 months.

Implementation of an age-based narcotic restriction for posttonsillectomy patients using an EHR order set is an effective and safe way to influence physician prescription practices.

Background Chronic rhinitis is a common condition generally treated with medical therapies. However, 10–22% of patients are refractory to medical therapies. A cryotherapy handheld device targeting the postganglionic nerve fibers of the posterior nasal nerve (PNN) now serves as an additional option for therapy. This study evaluates the efficacy of the cryosurgical ablation device of the PNN in the clinic setting. Methods This was a prospective single-arm trial of 24 adult patients at seven locations within a large health maintenance organization. Patients with chronic rhinitis that failed medical therapy were offered an in-office cryoablation of PNN. Patients completed the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS) questionnaire consisting of 5 items reported based on the previous 12 hours and 2 weeks at the following time points: pre-treatment, 30 days, 90 days and 1 year post-treatment. Results Following cryoablation of the PNN, the TNSS 12-hour symptom score improved from 6.92 (±2.9) to 3.17 (±2.4, P < 0.001) at 30 days, 2.92 (±1.4, P < 0.001) at 90 days and 3.08 (±2.6, P < 0.001) at 1 year post treatment. Similar results were noted for the 2 weeks scores improving from 7.75 (±3.1) to 3.79 (±2.1, P < 0.001) at 30 days, 3.88 (±1.9, P < 0.001) at 90 days and 3.76 (±2.1, P < 0.001) at 1 year post-treatment. 64.7% of respondents stated the procedure decreased or eliminated nasal sprays. Conclusions Our independent evaluation of cryoablation of the PNN shows improvement in nasal symptoms over a 1 year period and is consistent with other published data.

EPC is a viable alternative to KTP laser photocoagulation for epistaxis control in patients with HHT. Subjectively, patients experience less nasal obstruction following EPC as compared to KTP treatment. A multicentered, well-powered study is warranted to better determine treatment outcomes.

Objective Imaging findings play an important role in the workup and diagnosis of sinonasal disease. Unilateral versus bilateral involvement is a key finding that can differentiate between various diagnoses. Our objective is to characterize presenting symptoms, imaging findings, and most common diagnoses associated with unilateral versus bilateral sinonasal disease. Methods Patients who underwent surgical intervention for sinonasal disease at Emory University between May 2015 and December 2016 were included in the study. Information including demographic variables, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, imaging findings, and pathologic diagnosis was collected for each patient. Unilateral versus bilateral disease was determined by preoperative computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and correlated to surgical and pathologic findings. Data was analyzed using quantitative methodologies and descriptive statistics. Results The study cohort consisted of 250 patients presenting for primary sinonasal surgery, including 110 patients with unilateral disease and 140 patients with bilateral disease. The most common diagnosis for patients with bilateral disease was chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (46%) followed by chronic rhinosinusitis without polyps (26%). For patients with unilateral disease the most common diagnoses were chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps (21%), malignancy (19%), benign neoplasm (15%), and allergic fungal sinusitis (10%). There was a statistically significant association between unilateral sinonasal disease and the final diagnosis of benign neoplasm (OR = 7.8, P < .01) and malignancy (OR = 8, P < .01). Conclusion Patients with unilateral sinus disease on initial imaging are less likely chronic rhinosinusitis compared to patients with bilateral disease. This should be taken into consideration in the workup and management of patients with unilateral sinus disease. Level of Evidence 3 Laryngoscope, 130:E116–E121, 2020