Objective: To describe an improvised optical myringotomy knife essential in creation of an incision in a myringotomy simulator.

Methods:

Study Design: Instrumental Innovation

Setting:          Tertiary Private Hospital

Subject:          None

Results: The optical myringotomy knife was able to create incisions on mock membranes made up of polyethylene film (Cling Wrap) in a myringotomy simulator. The incisions measured approximately 2 mm with sharp edges indicating that the myringotomy knife was able to penetrate the mock membrane with ease. It provided good control in performing myringotomy incisions under endoscopic visualization of the tympanic membrane.  

Conclusion: Our initial experience with this optical myringotomy knife for tympanostomy tube insertion suggests that it may greatly improve the performance of myringotomy especially among less experienced surgeons. Further studies may establish its accuracy and replicability in vitro, after which formal in vivo trials can be attempted.

Objective: To determine the incidence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak after Hadad[1]Bassagasteguy Flap (HBF) reconstruction after endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for skull base pathologies from 2016 to 2020 at the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center. Methods: Design: Case Series. Setting: Tertiary Private Training Hospital. Participants: Charts of 35 patients who underwent endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery with reconstruction using Hadad-Bassagasteguy flap between January 2016 to February 2020 were reviewed and data on demographics, date of procedure, mass size, final diagnosis, presence of preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative CSF leak, placement of lumbar drain and course in the wards were collected. Results: There were 23 women and 12 men with ages ranging from 21 to 71 years. Four patients (11.4%) had postoperative CSF leak after reconstruction with HBF. Two of these four patients had episodes of nose blowing and sneezing weeks after surgery, prior to the development of the CSF leak. The other two patients experienced CSF leak 3 days postoperatively. Conclusion HBF has been a workhorse for reconstruction of skull base defects after transsphenoidal surgery, and based on our experience remains to be so, making it possible for expanded approaches and a wide variety of pathologies to be operated on via the endonasal route
Cerebrospinal Fluid Leak ;

OBJECTIVES: To fabricate a single instrument that can be used to perform myringotomy and insert a pressure equalizing tube at almost the same time.

METHODS
Design: Surgical Instrumentation

Setting: Tertiary Private Hospital

Subject: A chicken egg membrane was used as a tympanic membrane model

RESULTS: The fabricated instrument was able to perforate the egg membrane and apply the modified polyethylene pressure equalizing tube in less than one minute without complications.

CONCLUSION: The prototype applicator can facilitate myringotomy and pressure equalizing (PE) tube insertion at only a fraction of the time it usually takes to do the standard myringotomy and subsequent ventilating tube insertion.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of a non-traumatic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) rhinorrhea from a midline sphenoid sinus roof that presented as a persistent postnasal drip and was previously managed as allergic rhinitis for 43 years.

METHODS:

            Design:           Case Report

            Setting:           Tertiary Private University Hospital

            Participant:     One

RESULTS: A 58-year-old obese and hypertensive man presented with persistent post nasal drip and intermittent clear watery rhinorrhea. He had been managed as a case of allergic rhinitis for 43 years and was maintained on nasal steroid sprays without relief. Nasal endoscopy revealed pulsating clear watery discharge from the sphenoid ostium. On trans-sphenoidal surgery, a midline sphenoid sinus roof defect was sealed using a Hadad-Bassagasteguy flap.

CONCLUSION: CSF rhinorrhea is uncommon and may mimic more common diseases such as allergic rhinitis. Because misdiagnosis can then lead to life threatening complications, physicians should be vigilant when seeing patients with clear watery rhinorrhea to be able to arrive at a proper diagnosis and provide prompt treatment.

Objective: To describe our reconstruction of an orbital roof and lateral wall defect using a split- thickness calvarial bone graft with titanium mesh complex after resection of a meningioma of the left greater wing of the sphenoid with extension to the left frontotemporal bone and left orbital roof and lateral wall. Methods: Study Design: Surgical Innovation. Setting: Tertiary Private University Hospital. Patient: One. Results: A 44-year-old woman with a left frontotemporal mass associated with left eye proptosis and epiphora underwent reconstruction of the left orbital roof and lateral wall defect using split-thickness calvarial bone graft with titanium mesh and screws after a left frontotemporal craniectomy, superior and lateral orbital wall resection of a mass of the sphenoid wing with orbital and frontotemporal extension. Final histopathology was consistent with meningioma. Surveillance of the mass and orbital reconstruction showed evidence of bone growth and osteointegration of the titanium mesh into the bone grafts. Conclusion The initial good outcome of orbital roof and lateral wall reconstruction using split-thickness calvarial bone graft with titanium mesh is evidenced by osteointegration of the titanium mesh and revascularization leading to new bone growth. This autogenous-alloplastic complex may provide a more stable option for orbital reconstruction, but long term follow-up is needed for surveillance of recurrence and monitoring the status of orbital reconstruction.
Orbit ; Meningioma ; Skull ; Bone Transplantation

Background and Objective: To design and fabricate a suction port adapter to use various sizes of suction cannulas with a wireless otoendoscope enabling ear cleaning under endoscopic guidance demonstrated using an ear examination simulator. Methods: Design: Instrument Innovation. Setting: Tertiary Private Training Hospital. Patient: Ear Examination Simulator. Results: The fabricated suction port adapters were able to hold the wireless otoendoscope and suction cannulas together, allowing simultaneous inspection of the ear canal and suctioning of ear canal debris using the Ear Examination Simulator. Conclusion Our prototype 3D-printed suction port adapters for a wireless otoendoscope may improve ear cleaning by enhancing the accuracy of suctioning debris and decreasing duration since they hold the suction cannulas in place under endoscopic guidance. They may aid ENT physicians in easier visualization and simultaneous ear cleaning of patients and improve ear cleaning techniques and times, especially among less experienced physicians, but actual clinical trials are needed to confirm this.
Printing, Three-Dimensional ; Cerumen ; Otoscopy

Objective: To measure the average distances from anterior lacrimal crest (ALC) to anterior ethmoidal foramen (AEF), anterior ethmoidal foramen to posterior ethmoidal foramen (PEF) and posterior ethmoidal foramen to optic canal (OC) using plain paranasal sinus (PNS) computed tomography (CT) scans of adults in a tertiary private hospital in the Philippines. Methods: Design: Retrospective review of plain PNS CT scans. Setting: Tertiary Private Teaching Hospital. Participants: One hundred four (104) plain PNS CT scans from January 2018 to December 2020 were considered for inclusion. Results: Of the 104 PNS CT scans, 35 were excluded - seven for age less than eighteen, six for undistinguishable PEF and twenty-two for chronic rhinosinusitis. The remaining 69 PNS CT scans demonstrated identifiable structures, with overall average distances from ALC to AEF of 23.71 ± 2.43 mm, AEF to PEF of 10.87 ± 2.39 mm and PEF to OC of 7.39 ± 2.28 mm. Conclusion Our study suggests average distances for localization of vital structures such as the anterior ethmoidal artery, posterior ethmoidal artery and optic nerve among Filipinos. Because of considerable variation between and within sexes, individual measurements should still be obtained for each patient in performing endonasal, skull base and orbital surgery.
Skull Base ; Optic Nerve