[Preventive antibiotic administration in complicated rhinosurgical interventions--a double-blind study]

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Otolaryngology
• Infectious Disease

Background:

• Revision rhinoplasty involves complex reconstructions, increasing infection risk.
• Nasal infections post-rhinoplasty can lead to significant complications.
• Preoperative bacterial colonization is common in nasal cavities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of prophylactic propicillin in preventing infections after revision rhinoplasty.
• To identify risk factors and clinical signs associated with post-rhinoplasty infections.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study of 100 revision rhinoplasty patients.
• Intranasal bacterial cultures taken pre- and postoperatively.
• Randomized administration of propicillin or placebo post-surgery.
• Monitoring of inflammatory markers and clinical signs of infection.

Main Results:

• Serious infections occurred in 6% of patients, primarily those not receiving antibiotics.
• Localized infections occurred in 12% of patients, mostly without antibiotic prophylaxis.
• Preoperative bacterial cultures identified common nasal flora, including Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species.
• Clinical signs and laboratory parameters were unreliable indicators of infection.

Conclusions:

• Postoperative propicillin administration may reduce the incidence of serious infections in revision rhinoplasty.
• Patients undergoing revision rhinoplasty, especially with free transplants, require vigilant monitoring for at least two weeks.
• Prophylactic antibiotics could be considered for high-risk revision rhinoplasty procedures.