In correctly selected patients with sinonasal tumors involving the ASB, ETC offers a less invasive alternative than resection by an open approach with an acceptable morbidity.

Introduction: Nasal septal abscess is a rare disorder in pediatric patients and is mostly diagnosed as a complication of trauma or secondary to dental or sinonasal infection. Case Presentation: A 10-year-old girl presented with acute nasal obstruction, otalgia, and headache. Medical history was negative; physical examination and anterior rhinoscopy did not reveal signs of acute rhinosinusitis or septal abscess. Management and Outcome: A thorough nasal endoscopy was performed to rule out a posterior nasal infection, revealing a bilateral posterior septal bulging, in the absence of purulent discharge. CT scan and contrast-enhanced MRI were performed, confirming the diagnosis of a spontaneous posterior septal abscess. Trans-nasal endoscopic-assisted drainage was conducted under general anesthesia. Haemophilus influenzae was detected on culture. Discussion: Although rare, nasal septal abscess in the pediatric age is typically anterior and secondary to local trauma or infection. Accurate medical history and anterior rhinoscopy are usually sufficient to make the diagnosis. In cases where the clinical presentation is consistent with a nasal septal abscess, with no history of recent local trauma or infection, or signs of anterior septal bulging, nasal endoscopy should be performed to rule out spontaneous posterior septal abscess. Delay in diagnosis and treatment could potentially cause the rapid onset of life-threatening complications, including intracranial abscess, meningitis, and cavernous sinus thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: 1) Review all cases of CSF leaks of the anterior and middle skull base treated through an endoscopic approach; 2) Assess the outcome; 3) Discuss key points to improve success rate. METHOD: Sixty-five patients endoscopically treated for CSF leak of the anterior and middle skull base (October 1996 -December 2009) were retrospectively evaluated. The etiology of the leak was spontaneous (48%), traumatic (30%), and iatrogenic (22%). The site of the fistula was localized at the cribriform plate (60%), fovea etmoidalis (29%), and sphenoid sinus (11%). Associated meningo (encephalo)cele was detectable in 57% of cases. Endoscopic transnasal multilayer duraplasty involved 3 different techniques: underlay (73%), overlay (24%), and tobacco pouch (3%). Autologous grafts were preferably employed (iliotibial tract, fat tissue, cartilage). Fischer and Chi-square tests were employed to statistically correlate postoperative complications with patient age, gender, site and etiology of the leak, and period in which the procedure was performed. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 65 months. Mean hospitalization time was 8.8 days. Postoperative complications occurred in 11% of the patients (3 CSF-leak, 4 meningitis) but no statistical correlation was found between complications and the above-mentioned variables, even if no complications were recorded during the last 2 years. Two patients required a revision duraplasty for recurrent CSF leak after 3.5 and 7 years. The success rate after primary treatment was 92.3%. CONCLUSION: Transnasal endoscopic multilayer duraplasty is a safe and effective technique in the treatment of the majority of anterior and middle skull base defects. Standardization of the surgical technique and the selection of autologous materials for the plasty are key points for success.

We discuss two cases of congenital airway malformations seen in our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The aim is to report extremely rare events characterized by immediate respiratory distress after delivery and the impossibility to ventilate and intubate the airway. The first case is a male twin born at 34 weeks by emergency caesarean section. Immediately after delivery, the newborn was cyanotic and showed severe respiratory distress. Bag-valve-mask ventilation did not relieve the respiratory distress but allowed for temporary oxygenation during subsequent unsuccessful oral-tracheal intubation (OTI) attempts. Flexible laryngoscopy revealed complete subglottic obstruction. Postmortem analysis revealed a poly-malformative syndrome, unilateral multicystic renal dysplasia with a complete subglottic diaphragm, and a tracheo-esophageal fistula (TEF). The second case is a male patient that was vaginally born at 35 weeks. Antenatally, an ultrasound (US) arose suspicion for a VACTERL association (vertebral defects, anal atresia, TEF with esophageal atresia and radial or renal dysplasia, plus cardiovascular and limb defects) and a TEF, and thus, fetal magnetic resonance (MRI) was scheduled. Spontaneous labor started shortly thereafter, before imaging could be performed. Respiratory distress, cyanosis, and absence of an audible cry was observed immediately at delivery. Attempts at OTI were unsuccessful, whereas bag-valve-mask ventilation and esophageal intubation allowed for sufficient oxygenation. An emergency tracheostomy was attempted, although no trachea could be found on cervical exploration. Postmortem analysis revealed tracheal agenesis (TA), renal dysplasia, anal atresia, and a single umbilical artery. Clinicians need to be aware of congenital airway malformations and subsequent difficulties upon endotracheal intubation and must plan for multidisciplinary management of the airway at delivery, including emergency esophageal intubation and tracheostomy.

Objective This paper discusses two cases of congenital airway malformations that presented in NICU in a four-month period. The aim is to present extremely rare evidences that inevitably lead to the death of the patient if not correctly identified during pregnancy. Case 1: male twin born at 34 weeks by emergency caesarean section to a 37-year-old mother. Antenatal history was notable for in vitro fertilization and renal dysplasia. Immediately after delivery, there was respiratory distress, cyanosis, with a 1- and 5-min Apgar score of 0 and 1, respectively. He required ventilation and was supposed intubated orally with significant difficulty with a 2.0 mm ETT. For persistent ventilation problems and severe combined acidosis, the neonatologists tried without success to reintubate the patient. Some hours later, the otolaryngologist was called and was again unable to intubate with flexible laryngoscopy due to an obstruction that prevented advancement of the endotracheal tube past the vocal folds, but since the baby general conditions had been already deteriorated a decision to withdraw the treatment was made. He died after few hours. Postmortem revealed a polymalformative syndrome with subglottic complete diaphragm, a tracheoesophageal fistula 1 cm caudally to the diaphragm and unilateral multicystic renal dysplasia. Case 2: male vaginally delivery at 35 weeks to a 43-year-old mother with gestational diabetes. Antenatally, ‘VACTERL’ association was suspected on the basis of the US and a MRI was planned but not performed because of the early delivery. Following the delivery, there was severe respiratory distress, no audible cry, and ventilation was not effective in relieving the respiratory distress. Subsequent intubation was unsuccessful. An emergency tracheostomy was attempted: the larynx was identified, but only a tracheal stump was present on neck exploration. Postmortem confirmed type II (according to Floyd) tracheal agenesis with the esophagus connect to the main bronchus, renal dysplasia, anal atresia, and single umbilical artery. Conclusion Clinicians need to be aware of congenital airway malformation and subsequent difficulties upon endotracheal intubation and they have to be prepared to plan a multidisciplinary management at the delivery including emergency intubation through esophageal fistula.