Quantification of Aerosol Particle Concentrations During Endoscopic Sinonasal Surgery in the Operating Room

Background Recent indirect evidence of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission during endoscopic endonasal procedures has highlighted the dearth of knowledge surrounding aerosol generation with these procedures. As we adapt to function in the era of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) a better understanding of how surgical techniques generate potentially infectious aerosolized particles will enhance the safety of operating room (OR) staff and learners. Objective To provide greater understanding of possible SARS-CoV-2 exposure risk during endonasal surgeries by quantifying increases in airborne particle concentrations during endoscopic sinonasal surgery. Methods Aerosol concentrations were measured during live-patient endoscopic endonasal surgeries in ORs with an optical particle sizer. Measurements were taken throughout the procedure at six time points: 1) before patient entered the OR, 2) before pre-incision timeout during OR setup, 3) during cold instrumentation with suction, 4) during microdebrider use, 5) during drill use and, 6) at the end of the case prior to extubation. Measurements were taken at three different OR position: surgeon, circulating nurse, and anesthesia provider. Results Significant increases in airborne particle concentration were measured at the surgeon position with both the microdebrider (p = 0.001) and drill (p = 0.001), but not for cold instrumentation with suction (p = 0.340). Particle concentration did not significantly increase at the anesthesia position or the circulator position with any form of instrumentation. Overall, the surgeon position had a mean increase in particle concentration of 2445 particles/ft3 (95% CI 881 to 3955; p = 0.001) during drill use and 1825 particles/ft3 (95% CI 641 to 3009; p = 0.001) during microdebrider use. Conclusion Drilling and microdebrider use during endonasal surgery in a standard operating room is associated with a significant increase in airborne particle concentrations. Fortunately, this increase in aerosol concentration is localized to the area of the operating surgeon, with no detectable increase in aerosol particles at other OR positions.

Metastasis of Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma to the Maxillary Sinus: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Metastasis of the thyroid carcinoma to the paranasal sinuses is rarely reported. Among these sinuses, metastasis to the maxillary sinus alone has been reported only in a few cases. This is the first reported case in a 76-year-old woman with papillary thyroid carcinoma metastasizing to the maxillary sinus alone and resected through endoscopic sinonasal surgery. When patients have sinus lesions and a history of malignancy, metastasis should be included in the differential diagnosis. If they have an isolated metastatic lesion to the paranasal sinus, ESS, either palliative or radical, can be a useful treatment option.