The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of FloSeal(®) (FS, Baxter Healthcare, Deerfield, IL, USA) as a haemostatic matrix in comparison to bipolar electrocautery (EC) after tonsillectomy. Eligible patients were adults undergoing cold-knife tonsillectomy because of recurrent tonsillitis, tonsillar hypertrophy, or peritonsillar abscess (more than 3 months previously). Patients were randomly allocated, on a single-blind basis, to either FS or EC for haemostasis during tonsillectomy. Five experienced surgeons judged the handling of FS application using a five-point scale (very good, good, fair, poor, very poor). Postoperative pain scores were evaluated with a visual analogue scale for 20 days, and the duration under pain medication together with the consumption of pain medication was compared. Wound healing was documented on Days 1-5, 10, and 20. A total of 176 patients were enrolled. Overall, 76/77 (98.7%) of surgeon evaluations of FS handling were judged at least "good". FS-treated patients showed significantly improved wound healing (less thickness of wound plaques) throughout the postoperative observation period, a trend for less postoperative pain (cumulative pain intensity score; P = 0.074), and a significantly shorter duration of pain-medication use (9.5 vs. 11.6 days; P = 0.014) as well as reduced pain-medication consumption/demand (P = 0.032). No difference in the rate of postoperative haemorrhage was observed between the two treatment groups (4.9% for FS patients, 6.0% for EC patients, P = 0.76). In conclusion, this study demonstrates the easy handling of FS application in tonsillectomy. Its use instead of EC after cold-steel tonsillectomy shows beneficial effects on mucosal recovery, as assessed by a decrease in the thickness of wound coating. Furthermore, FS is associated with a significantly shortened duration of pain-medication use and overall reduction in consumption/demand.

Acute mastoiditis is an acute inflammation of the mastoid process with bone erosion. It is a complication of acute otitis media, which is rare but with increasing incidence. Distinct characteristics are an erythema and oedematous swelling of the skin of the mastoid process. A fluctuant swelling points to a subperiosteal abscess. Laboratory examination and imaging only support the diagnostics. Therapy involves obligatory systemic antibiotic treatment. At the beginning of the inflammation a paracentesis can be sufficient. A mastoidectomy must be carried out if clear signs of an osseous necrolysis, such as a subperiosteal abscess, are present. The most frequent causative agents are gram positive cocci. Intraoperative smears are best suitable for microbiological diagnostics. Complications of acute mastoiditis are encroachments of the inflammation on neighbouring structures of the mastoid. In such cases a tomography is indicated and therapy is usually surgical.

Based on these results, adults should be treated with an aminopenicillin with beta-lactamase inhibitor or a cephalosporin of the second generation. For children , however, the first line antibiotic is an aminopenicillin.

. 24, 04103 Leipzig. Direktor: Prof. Dr. med. A.C. Rodloff 76. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Hals-, Nasen-, Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf-und Hals-Chirurgie e.V.

Die 82-jährige Patientin stellte sich mit einer seit einem Tag akut aufgetretenen schmerzhaften Schwellung der linken Ohrmuschel in unserer Poliklinik vor.Die Patientin fühlte sich geschwächt,seit mehreren Tagen bestanden subfebrile Temperaturen.