Publications

2018

Mueller S, Miyake M, Lefebvre D, Freitag S, Bleier B. Long-term impact of endoscopic orbital decompression on sinonasal-specific quality of life. Laryngoscope. 2018;128(4):785–788.
OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic orbital decompression (EOD) is the workhorse surgical intervention for severe thyroid eye disease in Graves disease. Although EOD is a safe and effective procedure, the objective of this study is to determine the impact of orbital decompression on long-term sinonasal-pecific quality of life. METHODS: Retrospective study of 27 patients who underwent EOD by a single surgeon. The primary endpoint was change in preoperative 22-item Sinonasal Outcomes Test (SNOT-22) score at a minimum of 1 year. The secondary endpoint was to determine whether the performance of septoplasty for surgical access in patients without nasal obstruction impacted domain 1 (i.e., rhinologic domain) and total SNOT-22 scores. RESULTS: The mean follow-up was 25.7 ± 11.4 months. Domain 1 scores significantly increased at the first postoperative visit (P ≤ 0.01) and returned to baseline values between 1 and 3 months. At 1 year, significant improvements in both total score and domain 4 and 5 (psychological and sleep dysfunction, respectively) scores were seen (P 0.01 for all scores). Septoplasty was not associated with a significant change in SNOT-22 score at 1 year (P = 0.48). CONCLUSION: Endoscopic orbital decompression is associated at 1 year with a significant improvement in sinonasal-specific quality of life, which is driven by the psychological and sleep dysfunction domains. Adjunctive septoplasty has no significant impact on SNOT-22 scores. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 128:785-788, 2018.
Lundgren P, Hård AL, Wilde Å, Löfqvist C, Smith L, Hellström A. Implementing higher oxygen saturation targets reduced the impact of poor weight gain as a predictor for retinopathy of prematurity. Acta Paediatr. 2018;107(5):767–773.
AIM: This study evaluated poor weight gain as a risk factor for infants who required treatment for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), by comparing those born before and after the implementation of higher oxygen saturation (SpO ) targets at the Queen Silvia Children's Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden. METHODS: We compared infants born at less than 31 weeks, who were screened and, or, treated for ROP: 127 in 2011-2012 when SpO targets were 88-92% and 142 in 2015-2016 when they were 91-95%. The subjects were reviewed for birth characteristics, weekly weight and ROP treatment. Data were analysed using the weight, insulin-like growth factor 1, neonatal, ROP (WINROP) prediction tool. RESULTS: The 2011-2012 infants who needed ROP treatment (12.6%) had significantly poorer postnatal weight gain than those who did not, but this was not seen in the treated (17.6%) and nontreated ROP groups in 2015-2016. WINROP sensitivity decreased from 87.5% in 2011-12 to 48% in 2015-2016. CONCLUSION: After the SpO target range was increased from 88-92% to 91-95%, postnatal weight gain was no longer a significant risk factor and WINROP lost its ability to predict ROP requiring treatment. Risk factors clearly change as neonatal care develops.
Cohen L, Elliott A, Freitag S. Acquired Intermittent Pediatric Horner Syndrome due to Neuroblastoma. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018;34(2):e38-e41.
A 3-month-old male developed intermittent left upper eyelid ptosis at the age of 1 month that was gradually increasing in frequency and duration. Examination revealed anisocoria and left upper and lower eyelid ptosis, consistent with a left Horner syndrome. Imaging showed a mass in the left superior posterior mediastinum, which was resected, and pathology was consistent with neuroblastoma. Eight months thereafter, the patient underwent left upper eyelid ptosis repair. Cases of infantile acquired Horner syndrome due to neuroblastoma are rare. To the authors' knowledge, there has only been one case described that presented with intermittent symptoms. The authors report the second case of intermittent acquired Horner syndrome due to neuroblastoma. This case demonstrates the importance of recognizing that Horner syndrome may present with subtle and intermittent symptoms. In a pediatric patient, one should maintain suspicion for neuroblastoma.
Cavalcanti B, Cruzat A, Sahin A, Pavan-Langston D, Samayoa E, Hamrah P. In vivo confocal microscopy detects bilateral changes of corneal immune cells and nerves in unilateral herpes zoster ophthalmicus. Ocul Surf. 2018;16(1):101–111.
PURPOSE: To analyze bilateral corneal immune cell and nerve alterations in patients with unilateral herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO) by laser in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) and their correlation with corneal sensation and clinical findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a prospective, cross-sectional, controlled, single-center study. Twenty-four eyes of 24 HZO patients and their contralateral clinically unaffected eyes and normal controls (n = 24) were included. Laser IVCM (Heidelberg Retina Tomograph/Rostock Cornea Module), corneal esthesiometry (Cochet-Bonnet) were performed. Changes in corneal dendritiform cell (DC) density and morphology, number and length of subbasal nerve fibers and their correlation to corneal sensation, pain, lesion location, disease duration, and number of episodes were analyzed. RESULTS: HZO-affected and contralateral eyes showed a significant increase in DC influx of the central cornea as compared to controls (147.4 ± 33.9, 120.1 ± 21.2, and 23.0 ± 3.6 cells/mm2; p < 0.0001). In HZO eyes DCs were larger in area (319.4 ± 59.8 μm2; p < 0.001) and number of dendrites (3.5 ± 0.4 n/cell; p = 0.01) as compared to controls (52.2 ± 11.7, and 2.3 ± 0.5). DC density and size showed moderate negative correlation with total nerve length (R = -0.43 and R = -0.57, respectively; all p < 0.001). A higher frequency of nerve beading and activated DCs close to nerve fibers were detected specifically in pain patients. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic unilateral HZO causes significant bilateral increase in corneal DC density and decrease of the corneal subbasal nerves as compared to controls. Negative correlation was observed for DC density and size to nerve parameters, suggesting interplay between the immune and nervous systems. Patients with chronic pain also showed increased nerve beading and activated DCs.
Isik L, Singer J, Madsen J, Kanwisher N, Kreiman G. What is changing when: Decoding visual information in movies from human intracranial recordings. Neuroimage. 2018;180(Pt A):147–159.
The majority of visual recognition studies have focused on the neural responses to repeated presentations of static stimuli with abrupt and well-defined onset and offset times. In contrast, natural vision involves unique renderings of visual inputs that are continuously changing without explicitly defined temporal transitions. Here we considered commercial movies as a coarse proxy to natural vision. We recorded intracranial field potential signals from 1,284 electrodes implanted in 15 patients with epilepsy while the subjects passively viewed commercial movies. We could rapidly detect large changes in the visual inputs within approximately 100 ms of their occurrence, using exclusively field potential signals from ventral visual cortical areas including the inferior temporal gyrus and inferior occipital gyrus. Furthermore, we could decode the content of those visual changes even in a single movie presentation, generalizing across the wide range of transformations present in a movie. These results present a methodological framework for studying cognition during dynamic and natural vision.
Pemberton J, Salter M, Fay A, Thuro B, Spencer H, Dajani O. Investigation of goldmann perimetry in evaluation of patients for upper eyelid blepharoplasty. Orbit. 2018;37(1):48–52.
PURPOSE: To determine if preoperative Goldmann Visual Field (GVF) testing in patients with functional dermatochalasis accurately depicts the postoperative superior visual field (SVF) outcome. METHODS: A prospective cohort study was done to compare preoperative and postoperative GVF field tests in patients undergoing upper eyelid blepharoplasty for treatment of dermatochalasis. This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences institutional review board. A preoperative GVF was obtained with the eyelids in the natural position (untaped) and then again with excess skin elevated (taped). One month post-blepharoplasty, another GVF was conducted with eyelids untaped. The pre- and post GVF tests were analyzed to determine if preoperative testing accurately predicts the SVF improvement post-blepharoplasty. RESULTS: Forty-six eyelids (23 patients) who underwent blepharoplasty for dermatochalasis were included. The preoperative testing underestimated 76% (35/46) of cases by a mean of 61%; and overestimated the final outcome in 24% (11/46) of cases by mean of 23%. Overall, the preoperative GVF testing underestimated the postoperative outcome by a mean of 35%. CONCLUSION: Improvement of the SVF after a blepharoplasty is typically greater than the preoperative GVF testing predicts.
Veronese C, Maiolo C, Morara M, Armstrong G, Ciardella A. Bilateral multiple evanescent white dot syndrome. Int Ophthalmol. 2018;38(5):2153–2158.
PURPOSE: To present a single case of bilateral multiple evanescent white dot syndrome (MEWDS). METHODS: A single case with three months of follow-up using imaging studies including fundus color photography (FP), fluorescein angiography (FA), indocyanine green angiography (ICGA), fundus autofluorescence (FAF), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), en face SD-OCT and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is presented. RESULTS: The patient presented with bilateral MEWDS, ultimately with complete resolution of symptoms. FP revealed foveal granularity and white punctate deep retinal spots, FA found early wreath-like hyperfluorescence, while ICGA showed hypofluorescent dots and spots in the early and late stages. FAF showed areas of hyperautofluorescence. SD-OCT revealed disruption of the ellipsoid zone (EZ) and accumulation of hyperreflective material of variable size and shape. En face SD-OCT demonstrated hyporeflective areas corresponding to areas of EZ disruption as well as hyperreflective dots in the outer nuclear layer. OCTA showed areas of photoreceptor slab black-out corresponding to areas of EZ disruption and light areas of flow void or flow disturbance in the choriocapillaris slab. CONCLUSIONS: This case represents an unusual case of bilateral MEWDS with complete resolution within three months.
Mueller S, Freitag S, Lefebvre D, Bleier B. Endoscopic DCR using bipedicled interlacing mucosal flaps. Laryngoscope. 2018;128(4):794–797.
OBJECTIVE: Obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct is a relatively common condition that affects patients of all ages, races, and sexes. The surgical gold standard for complete nasolacrimal duct obstruction and dacryocystitis is dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). The purpose of this study was to describe a novel, bipedicled interlacing mucosal sparing flap technique for endoscopic DCR (eDCR). METHODS: A posteriorly based mucosal flap over the fundus is combined with a novel, anteriorly based mucosal flap over the intraosseus portion of the nasolacrimal duct (NLD). This exposes a wide area of the maxillary bone, allowing for exposure and identification of the NLD/sac complex in a safer, more inferior position. The interlacing mucosal flaps may be replaced at the conclusion of the procedure, thereby minimizing bone exposure and maintaining excellent long-term patency. RESULTS: The authors have utilized this technique in 55 procedures with 100% positive identification of the NLD and lacrimal sac, 0% complication rate, 100% anatomical patency rate, and 96.4% success rate after a minimal follow-up of 6 months. DISCUSSION: The bipedicled interlacing flap technique for eDCR provides for safe and reproducible identification of the NLD and lacrimal sac while minimizing bone exposure and restenosis rate. CONCLUSION: The bipedicled interlacing flap technique for eDCR provides for safe and reproducible identification of the NLD and lacrimal sac while minimizing bone exposure and restenosis rate. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA. Laryngoscope, 128:794-797, 2018.
Howell D, OʼBrien M, Raghuram A, Shah A, Meehan W. Near Point of Convergence and Gait Deficits in Adolescents After Sport-Related Concussion. Clin J Sport Med. 2018;28(3):262–267.
OBJECTIVE: To prospectively examine gait characteristics of participants acutely after concussion with and without receded near point of convergence (NPC), compared with healthy controls. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Sports-medicine clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Patients examined after concussion (n = 33; mean ± SD = 7.2 ± 3.1 days) and a group of uninjured athletes (n = 31) completed a Postconcussion Symptom Scale, underwent NPC testing, and single/dual-task gait assessments. INDEPENDENT VARIABLES: Near point of convergence was defined as the patient-reported diplopia distance when a fixation target moved toward the nose. Receded NPC was defined as a distance >5 cm from the tip of the nose. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Spatiotemporal gait characteristics in single-task and dual-task conditions were evaluated with analysis of variance; correlations were calculated between NPC and gait measures. RESULTS: Eighteen of 33 (55%) patients with concussion presented with receded NPC. Those with receded NPC exhibited slower gait speed (single-task = 1.06 ± 0.14 m/s vs 1.19 ± 0.15 m/s; dual-task = 0.80 ± 0.13 m/s vs 0.94 ± 0.13 m/s; P = 0.003) and shorter stride lengths (single-task = 1.11 ± 0.10 m vs 1.24 ± 0.11 m; dual-task = 0.97 ± 0.11 m vs 1.09 ± 0.11 m; P = 0.001) than healthy controls. Near point of convergence was moderately correlated with dual-task average walking speed for the normal NPC group (ρ = -0.56; P = 0.05). Postconcussion Symptom Scale scores did not significantly differ between groups (27 ± 18 vs 28 ± 16). CONCLUSIONS: After concussion, adolescents with receded NPC exhibited significant gait-related deficits compared with healthy controls, whereas those with normal NPC did not. Vergence and gross motor system dysfunction may be associated after concussion. Gait and vergence measures may contribute useful information to postconcussion evaluations.
Jakobiec F, Zakka F, Bojovic B. Ellipsoid Smooth Muscle Tumor of the Lower Eyelid: An Exploration of Its Possible Origin. Ophthal Plast Reconstr Surg. 2018;34(1):e6-e10.
Ocular adnexal smooth muscle masses/neoplasms are extremely rare. Such lesions are comparatively more common in the conjunctiva than in the orbit and are most unusual in the eyelid. A 58-year-old woman slowly developed over 4 months a firm, movable sausage-shaped lesion in the deep lateral half of the right lower eyelid. The lesion ran parallel to and above the orbital rim. At surgery, the lesion was located between the orbicularis muscle and the inferior orbital septum. The term ellipsoid is used descriptively and does not imply any particular biologic behavior. Immunohistochemical evaluation revealed smooth muscle actin and desmin positivity. Due to the ubiquity of small blood vessels and the absence of smooth muscle bundles in the potential space between the orbicularis striated muscle and the inferior orbital septum, venular smooth muscle emerges as a highly likely source for the lesion.