0000000000460344
AUTHOR
Niki Karaiskaki
Tracheal Ceramic Rings for Tracheomalacia: A Review After 17 Years
Background: Despite different support techniques, the surgical management of tracheomalacia is still a challenging problem. Satisfactory results after internal stenting are above 80%, whereas, when performing external stenting using biocompatible ceramic rings, results are reported at over 90%. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the efficiency of surgical treatment in patients with segmentary tracheomalacia using external ceramic ring grafts. Methods: In this retrospective study, we collected data from 12 patients who underwent surgery during the last 17 years for symptomatic segmentary tracheomalacia by use of biocompatible aluminum-oxide ceramic rings. All except one pati…
Controlled trial for long-term low-dose erythromycin after sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis
Objectives/Hypothesis The efficacy of macrolides in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is still under controversy. To date, only two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies have been published with differing results. None of these studies investigated the possible benefit of macrolides in the postoperative period. We conducted an investigator-initiated clinical trial using 250-mg erythromycin once a day over a period of 3 months, beginning the administration of either erythromycin or placebo 2 weeks after a surgical intervention for CRS. Study Design Randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Methods The concentrations of eosinophilic cationic protein (ECP) and myeloperoxidase in nasal s…