BackgroundTo compare the success rate of monocanalicular intubation (MCI) compared with bicanalicular silicone intubation (BCI) in congenital nasolacrimal duct obstruction (CNLDO) in infants and toddlers.MethodsIn a prospective, nonrandomized, comparative study, MCI (n = 35 eyes) through the inferior canaliculus or BCI (n = 35 eyes) were performed under general anaesthesia in children aged 10 to 36 months with CNLDO. The tubes were removed 3–4 months after tube placement, and the children were followed up for 6 months after the removal of tubes. Therapeutic success was defined as the fluorescein dye disappearance test grade 0–1, corresponding with a complete resolution of previous symptoms. Partial success was defined as improvement with some residual symptoms.ResultsComplete and partial improvement was achieved in 31/35 (88.57%) in the BCI group and 34/35 (97.14%) in the MCI group. The difference between the two groups was not significant (p = 0.584). Complications occurred in both groups. Dislodgement of the tube and premature removal was observed in four BCI cases, and loss of the tube was observed twice in the MCI group. Canalicular slitting was observed in five eyes in the BCI group. Granuloma pyogenicum observed in 2 cases with MCI revealed a few weeks after the tube removal. Corneal erosion in the inferior medial quadrant was observed in one MCI eye and revealed in a few days after the local treatment without tube removal.ConclusionsBoth MCI and the BCI are effective methods for treating CNLDO. MCI has the advantage of a lower incidence of canalicular slit and easy placement.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00417-011-1700-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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CDCR appears to be a reasonable procedure in children over 10 years old. Experience in lacrimal surgery (pediatric dacryocystorhinostomy, CDCR in adults), and good cooperation and compliance of children are a fundamental assumption for successful pediatric CDCR.

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the accuracy of ultrasound, sialography, and sialendoscopy for examining benign salivary gland obstructions.MethodsIn this prospective study, patients with symptoms of obstruction of the major salivary gland duct system presenting at the ENT Clinic University Hospital, Ostrava, from June 2010 to December 2013 were included. All patients (n=76) underwent ultrasound, sialography, and sialoendoscopy. The signs of sialolithiasis, ductal stenosis, or normal findings were recorded after the examinations. Statistical analysis of the sensitivity and specificity of all the methods was performed, as well as a comparison of the accuracy of each method for different kinds of pathology (sialolithiasis or stenosis).ResultsThe sensitivity of ultrasound, sialography, and sialoendoscopy for sialolithiasis findings were 71.9%, 86.7 %, and 100%, respectively. The sensitivity of sialography and sialoendoscopy for stenosis of the duct was 69.0%, and 100%, respectively. The study showed impossibility of ultrasonic diagnostics of ductal stenosis. The sensitivity of sialoendoscopy for both pathologies was significantly higher than that from ultrasound or sialography (p<0.05). The specificity of sialoendoscopy was significantly higher than that from by ultrasound or sialography (p<0.05).ConclusionSialoendoscopy was the most accurate method for examination ductal pathology, with significantly higher sensitivity and specificity than by ultrasound or sialography.

To evaluate whether the presence of dacryolith is a predictive factor for successful dacryocystorhinostomy. The success rate of endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy (EDCR) performed to relieve obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct was evaluated according to the presence of dacryolithiasis. The surgical results of patients with (group I) and without dacryoliths (group II) were analysed and compared 1-year post surgery. A total of 771 EDCRs performed from 1994 to 2010 were evaluated. Dacryolith was found in 76/771 procedures (9.9%). Complete improvement was achieved significantly more frequently in group I (76/76; 100.0%) than in group II (633/695; 91.1%; p < 0.001). EDCRs were performed significantly more frequently in people aged 31-50-years, the average age of the group I was 41.1 years (range 18-72 years), of the group II 53.3 years (range 3 months-86 years; p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the female-to-male ratio in the two groups. The presence of dacryoliths is a predictive factor for successful endonasal dacryocystorhinostomy.

Objectives. To compare the bipolar thermofusion BiClamp 150 with conventional ligature techniques for thyroid gland surgery, and report the advantages/disadvantages of both techniques. Methods. In this retrospective comparative study, all thyroid gland operations performed in the ENT Clinic Faculty Hospital Ostrava from 2006 to 2013 were included (1156 operations, 2122 lobes). Patients were categorized into two groups according to the type of vessel sealing method used, group I (BiClamp, n = 819 operations) and group II (conventional ligature, n = 337 operations). The number of revision surgeries due to wound hematoma was recorded as a bleeding event. Statistical analysis of the complication rate (bleeding rate, recurrent nerve palsy) and time of duration was performed. Results. The rate of revision surgery performed due to postoperative wound hematoma was significantly lower in group I (15/819, 1.83%) compared with group II (14/337, 4.15%) (P = 0.022). There was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy between groups I and II (P = 0.36). The average surgery time was significantly shorter in group I (P < 0.001). Conclusion. Bipolar thermofusion BiClamp is an effective vessel sealing method that leads to a significant reduction in postoperative wound bleeding rates and reduces surgical time compared with conventional vessel ligature.

Purpose: To determine the success rate of revision endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomies (DCR) and to analyse 44 revision DCRs. Methods: The operative and postoperative data were collected in 44 revision DCRs. The corrections of associated structural anatomic alterations were performed during the surgery (resection of the scarr, the bone window creating, resection of the head of the middle turbinate, septoplasty, ethmoidectomy etc.) and the intubation was performed in all cases. Results: The follow-up interval ranged from 12 to 36 months. The 44 ReEDCRs were performed in adults and there were only 5 children under the age of 15. The surgery was performed under local or general anaesthesia. The most frequent secondary procedures were scar resections, creating a wider bone window, and partial middle turbinate resection. Four patients were excluded for their follow-up periods had not been completed. An average time of the tubes removal was 5.6 months. The total success rate was 84.0%; the success rate was 85.7% in the group with closed rhinostomy and 1/2 in the group of canalicular and rhinostomy obstructions. Conclusions: The endonasal revision DCR is a safe and very effective surgical procedure following the failed DCRs. The correction of associated structural anatomic alterations that may be involved in the failure of previous surgeries can be easily performed.

Objective: The aim of this study is to fi nd out how many patients with an ongoing smell and taste disorder after COVID-19 infection, can improve the subjective perception of smell by olfactory training method. Methods: Patients after COVID-19 (fi rst and second wave of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021) with persisting smell disorder (hyposmia, anosmia, parosmia, fantosmia) with or without taste disorder and while the olfactory disorder did not improve within one month afterrecovery, signed up on the website www.cuch.sk and asked for a testing set (perfumed felt-tip pens) to be sent. After a self-examination at home, each respondent fi lled out an on-line questionnaire and sent it to the Neurobio logical Institute of the BMC SAV. Patient with confi rmed hypo and anosmia underwent an ENT examination at contracted ENT workplaces in Slovakia. All the 117 patients included got through the olfactory training, twice a day, following the instructions. The control examination was performed after three and six months of smell training. Smell and taste status was evaluated by visual analogue scale (VAS) from 1 to 10 in admission and discharge of the study. According to VAS, the average entering olfactory status was 4 and the average taste status reached an average of 2. At admission, 28 patients entering the study suff ered from parosmia, 18 from phantosmia, and 20 from dysgeusia. Results: After the olfactory training, improvement of smell capability was observed in 96 patients, which is 73% from the whole group of patiets (117) with hyposmia and anosmia. The discharge olfactory score after 6 months of olfactory training reached grade 8 according to VAS. Improvement of taste capability was observed in 47 patients, which is 65% from the whole group of patients (72) with hypogeusia and dysgeusia. The discharge taste score after six months of olfacory training reached grade 4 according to VAS. However, various forms of dysgeusia, parosmia, or phantosmia persisted after the olfactory training in 18 patients. Conclusion: Smell (olfactory) training is currently considered the most eff ective rehabilitation method for improving impaired olfactory function after COVID-19 infection. Better subjective results were observed in the restitution of quantitative smell disorder than in quantitative taste disorder. Key words anosmia – hyposmia – COVID-19 – parosmia – phantosmia – hypogeusia – dysgeusia – olfactory training