Contemporary decongestant practices of Canadian otolaryngologists for endoscopic sinus surgery

Abstract Background Cocaine has traditionally been the topical decongestant most frequently used for visualization of the surgical field in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS). Alternatives include xylometazoline, oxymetazoline, and epinephrine. The understanding of the safety profile of each agent is ch...

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Main Authors: Jonathan W. Reid, Brian W. Rotenberg, Leigh J Sowerby
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SAGE Publishing 2019-03-01
Series:Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-019-0337-8
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author Jonathan W. Reid
Brian W. Rotenberg
Leigh J Sowerby
author_facet Jonathan W. Reid
Brian W. Rotenberg
Leigh J Sowerby
author_sort Jonathan W. Reid
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Cocaine has traditionally been the topical decongestant most frequently used for visualization of the surgical field in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS). Alternatives include xylometazoline, oxymetazoline, and epinephrine. The understanding of the safety profile of each agent is changing, as are the practices of Otolaryngologists-Head & Neck Surgeons. The objective of this study is to determine decongestant use practices in ESS across Canada, which has not previously been studied. Methods A cross-sectional survey design using a 24-item electronic questionnaire was distributed to actively practicing members of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery via email. A French translated version of the survey was also available. Questions explored the respondents’ demographics and decongestion practices for ESS. Results Ninety-six surveys from otolaryngologists practicing in Canada were completed (19% response rate). The average time in practice was 16.5 years (range 1–50 years, SD 12.0 years). Twenty-six (27%) of respondents use some form of cocaine solution for topical decongestion in ESS. Over a total of over 1500 combined practice-years, eight respondents (8%) personally experienced an adverse event that could be attributed to cocaine, including two mortalities. One cardiac even was directly attributable to the patients’ use of recreational cocaine in the immediate pre-operative period. Conclusion The popularity of cocaine for topical decongestion in ESS in present-day Canada is less than in surveys from other countries. However, there are few reported adverse events with long-term consequences that are attributable to intraoperative cocaine. Considering the beneficial effects of cocaine for visualization and pain control, this change in practice warrants further investigation.
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spelling doaj-art-b25fbeab7ccf48208f31fef99ccf189f2025-02-03T10:55:01ZengSAGE PublishingJournal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery1916-02162019-03-014811710.1186/s40463-019-0337-8Contemporary decongestant practices of Canadian otolaryngologists for endoscopic sinus surgeryJonathan W. Reid0Brian W. Rotenberg1Leigh J Sowerby2Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Western UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Western UniversityDepartment of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Western UniversityAbstract Background Cocaine has traditionally been the topical decongestant most frequently used for visualization of the surgical field in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (ESS). Alternatives include xylometazoline, oxymetazoline, and epinephrine. The understanding of the safety profile of each agent is changing, as are the practices of Otolaryngologists-Head & Neck Surgeons. The objective of this study is to determine decongestant use practices in ESS across Canada, which has not previously been studied. Methods A cross-sectional survey design using a 24-item electronic questionnaire was distributed to actively practicing members of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery via email. A French translated version of the survey was also available. Questions explored the respondents’ demographics and decongestion practices for ESS. Results Ninety-six surveys from otolaryngologists practicing in Canada were completed (19% response rate). The average time in practice was 16.5 years (range 1–50 years, SD 12.0 years). Twenty-six (27%) of respondents use some form of cocaine solution for topical decongestion in ESS. Over a total of over 1500 combined practice-years, eight respondents (8%) personally experienced an adverse event that could be attributed to cocaine, including two mortalities. One cardiac even was directly attributable to the patients’ use of recreational cocaine in the immediate pre-operative period. Conclusion The popularity of cocaine for topical decongestion in ESS in present-day Canada is less than in surveys from other countries. However, there are few reported adverse events with long-term consequences that are attributable to intraoperative cocaine. Considering the beneficial effects of cocaine for visualization and pain control, this change in practice warrants further investigation.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-019-0337-8Endoscopic sinus surgeryDecongestantCocaineEpinephrineMoffett’s solutionPractice patterns
spellingShingle Jonathan W. Reid
Brian W. Rotenberg
Leigh J Sowerby
Contemporary decongestant practices of Canadian otolaryngologists for endoscopic sinus surgery
Journal of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Endoscopic sinus surgery
Decongestant
Cocaine
Epinephrine
Moffett’s solution
Practice patterns
title Contemporary decongestant practices of Canadian otolaryngologists for endoscopic sinus surgery
title_full Contemporary decongestant practices of Canadian otolaryngologists for endoscopic sinus surgery
title_fullStr Contemporary decongestant practices of Canadian otolaryngologists for endoscopic sinus surgery
title_full_unstemmed Contemporary decongestant practices of Canadian otolaryngologists for endoscopic sinus surgery
title_short Contemporary decongestant practices of Canadian otolaryngologists for endoscopic sinus surgery
title_sort contemporary decongestant practices of canadian otolaryngologists for endoscopic sinus surgery
topic Endoscopic sinus surgery
Decongestant
Cocaine
Epinephrine
Moffett’s solution
Practice patterns
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s40463-019-0337-8
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AT brianwrotenberg contemporarydecongestantpracticesofcanadianotolaryngologistsforendoscopicsinussurgery
AT leighjsowerby contemporarydecongestantpracticesofcanadianotolaryngologistsforendoscopicsinussurgery