The displacement technique: a simple method for clearing maxillary sinus stubborn mucus.

BACKGROUND: Clearing thick secretions from the hidden crevices of the maxillary sinus can be challenging and can increase operative time during endoscopic sinus surgery. METHODS: We demonstrate the Displacement Technique as a user-friendly technique to address thick secretions within the maxillary sinus barring no orbital floor dehiscence. First, a wide maxillary antrostomy is performed. Then, a surgical pledget is placed in the maxillary sinus to displace the inspissated content into the nasal cavity using a curved suction. This process is repeated as necessary. CONCLUSION: The displacement technique is a simple and inexpensive method for addressing stubborn secretions.

New Medical Device and Therapeutic Approvals in Otolaryngology: State of the Art Review of 2022.

Objective: To review new drugs and devices relevant to otolaryngology approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022. Data Sources: Publicly available FDA data on drugs and devices approved in 2022. Review Methods: A preliminary screen was conducted to identify drugs and devices relevant to otolaryngology. A secondary screen by members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery's (AAO-HNS) Medical Devices and Drugs Committee differentiated between minor updates and new approvals. The final list of drugs and devices was sent to members of each subspecialty for review and analysis. Conclusion: A total of 1251 devices and 37 drugs were identified on preliminary screening. Of these, 329 devices and 5 drugs were sent to subspecialists for further review, from which 37 devices and 2 novel drugs were selected for further analysis. The newly approved devices spanned all subspecialties within otolaryngology. Many of the newly approved devices aimed to enhance patient experience, including over-the-counter hearing aids, sleep monitoring devices, and refined CPAP devices. Other advances aimed to improve surgical access, convenience, or comfort in the operating room and clinic. Implications for Practice: Many new devices and drugs are approved each year to improve patient care and care delivery. By staying up to date with these advances, otolaryngologists can leverage new innovations to improve the safety and quality of care. Given the recent approval of these devices, further studies are needed to assess long-term impact within the field of otolaryngology.

Endoscopic sinus surgery outcomes in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and immunoglobulin deficiencies.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and immunoglobulin deficiencies (ID) have more recalcitrant sinonasal disease and a subset of these patients undergo surgical management for their CRS. However, there is a paucity of literature on the surgical outcomes in this patient population and appropriate treatment algorithms for CRS in patients with ID. The objective of this study was to better elucidate the outcomes of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) in patients with ID in terms of disease-specific quality-of-life scores and the need for revision surgery. METHODS: A case-control study was performed comparing adult patients with ID and healthy controls that had undergone ESS for CRS. Patients were matched based on age, sex, CRS phenotype, and preoperative Lund-Mackay score. The revision surgery rates, time to revision surgery, and changes in sinonasal outcome tests (SNOT-22) were evaluated. RESULTS: Thirteen patients with CRS and ID were matched to 26 control patients with CRS. The revision surgery rate for cases and controls was 31% and 12%, respectively, but there was no statistical difference (p > 0.05). There was a clinically meaningful reduction in SNOT-22 scores in both groups from the preoperative to postoperative period [mean of 12 points in patients with ID (p = 0.323) and 25 points in controls (p < 0.001)], however, there was again no significant difference between cases and controls (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that patients with ID have clinically meaningful improvement in SNOT-22 scores after ESS but may have higher revision rates than immunocompetent patients with CRS. ID are rare disease entities, thus most attempts at studying this cohort would be limited by sample size. Further homogenous data on immunoglobulin deficient patients is required for future meta-analysis to better understand the impact of ESS in patients with ID.

Evaluation of Preference and Utility Measures for Transoral Thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Traditional, trans-cervical thyroidectomy results in the presence of a neck scar, which has been shown to correlate with lower quality of life and lower patient satisfaction. Transoral thyroid surgery (TOTS) has been utilized as an alternative approach to avoid a cutaneous incision and scar by accessing the neck and thyroid through the oral cavity. This study was designed to evaluate patient preference through health-state utility scores for TOTS as compared to conventional trans-cervical thyroidectomy. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, patient preferences were elicited for TOTS and trans-cervical thyroidectomy with the use of an online survey. Respondents were asked to consider 4 hypothetical health scenarios involving thyroid surgery with varying approaches. Health-state utility scores were elicited using visual analog scale and standard gamble exercises. RESULTS: Overall, 516 respondents completed the survey, of whom 261 (50.6%) were included for analysis, with a mean age of 41.5 years (SD 14.9 years), including 171 (65.5%) females. Health utility scores were similar for TOTS and conventional transcervical techniques. Statistically significant differences in the standard gamble utility score were noted for gender and ethnicity across all scenarios. Comparisons of visual analog score utilities were not statistically significant based on respondent demographics. CONCLUSION: Preferences for TOTS and trans-cervical thyroidectomy did not significantly differ in the current study. Females and white ethnicity indicated stronger preference for a TOTs approach compared to males and other ethnicities, respectively. Some literature suggests certain types of patients who might prefer minimally invasive thyroidectomy more so than other patients-in keeping with the current findings of this study.

Parathyroid hormone-driven algorithms after thyroid surgery: Not one-size-fits-all.

BACKGROUND: Underreported variation in parathyroid hormone (PTH) assays exists. Using quality improvement methods, we aimed to develop an institution-specific PTH-based protocol to predict hypocalcemia after thyroidectomy. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent total/completion thyroidectomy. A receiver operating curve (ROC) determined postoperative PTH cut-offs predictive of hypocalcemia. The stakeholders developed PTH-driven calcium management guidelines. Post-implementation outcomes were prospectively measured. RESULTS: Pre-implementation, 95 patients were assessed. PTH ≤1.5 pmol/L (14.1 pg/ml) predicted hypocalcemia (96%sensitivity), and ≥2.8 pmol/L (26.4 pg/ml) predicted normocalcemia (99%specificity) (area under curve = 0.97, SEM = 0.018). PTH on the day of and morning after surgery were identically predictive. Post-implementation, 64 patients were assessed. Hypocalcemia occurred with PTH >2.8 pmol/L in 2 cases (3.1%). Calcium over-prescribing decreased from 13.7% to 3.1% (p = 0.06). Length of stay (LOS) > 2 nights decreased from 13% to 3.1% (p = 0.05). CONCLUSION: A PTH-driven calcium management protocol post-thyroidectomy effectively reduces unnecessary calcium replacement and LOS. Given the variability in PTH assays, each institution may need to use individual cut-offs.

Battle of the axes: simulation-based assessment of fine needle aspiration biopsies for thyroid nodules.

IMPORTANCE: Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsies (UGFNA) play a crucial role in the diagnosis of thyroid nodules. There are two techniques for performing an UGFNA: short-axis technique and long-axis technique. There is sparsity in the literature regarding the differences between these two techniques. OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficiency between long-axis and short-axis thyroid UGFNA techniques in trainees. Our secondary outcomes were to define the comfort level and learning curves of trainees. DESIGN: A longitudinal prospective cohort study, completed from December 2018 to November 2019, using the Blue Phantom Thyroid Model© for UGFNA. Face and construct validity of the model were verified. Residents completed UGFNA on an assigned nodule using both long-axis and short-axis techniques, the order of which was sequentially allocated. The rate and time to successful biopsy were obtained for both techniques. Biopsy attempts were repeated to establish learning curves. SETTING: Single-center study. PARTICIPANTS: Fourteen Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery residents at the University of Toronto. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Biopsy success and efficiency for novice learners completing UGFNA on a simulated thyroid model using long-axis and short-axis techniques. RESULTS: A trend towards higher odds of successful biopsy using the long-axis technique with no difference in procedure duration was observed (OR = 2.2, p = 0.095, CI = 0.87-5.39). Learning curve graphs appeared heterogenous according to trainee level. Trainees found the long-axis technique easier to perform (10/14, 71%), and the simulator valuable for learning (12/14, 86%). CONCLUSION: Thyroid UGFNA using the long-axis technique may have an increased success rate and is generally favored by trainees for being easier to perform. Thyroid simulators have the potential to increase learner comfort and efficiency with UGFNA.

Medical and surgical treatment outcomes in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and immunodeficiency: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Immunodeficiency is a risk factor for recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). Currently, there is no consensus on effective treatment modalities for immunodeficient CRS patients. This review aims to evaluate the existing evidence on the treatment outcomes and its limitations in patients with CRS and immunodeficiency. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched from inception to April 2019 for studies reporting measurable medical or surgical treatment outcomes for adult patients with CRS and underlying primary or secondary immunodeficiency. RESULTS: Of the 2459 articles screened, 13 studies met the inclusion criteria: 2 prospective double-blind placebo-controlled trials, 2 prospective case-control studies, 2 prospective cohort studies, and 7 case series. The high degree of study heterogeneity precluded a meta-analysis. Antibiotic monotherapy was not linked with significant improvement in clinical, radiographic, or endoscopic outcomes. Immunoglobulin replacement therapy may potentially reduce the frequency of acute or chronic sinusitis in patients with primary immunodeficiency (PID) but may not improve their sinonasal symptoms. Outcomes from endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) were reported in 8 studies, which found that surgery was linked with improvement in symptoms, disease-specific quality of life, endoscopy scores, and radiographic scores. The average reported ESS revision rate was 14%. CONCLUSION: Patients with CRS and immunodeficiency likely benefit from ESS based on the available evidence. Data supporting medical therapy in this targeted population is limited overall, but there may be a potential role for immunoglobulin therapy in patients with PID and CRS.

Outpatient versus inpatient superficial parotidectomy: clinical and pathological characteristics.

BACKGROUND: Superficial parotidectomy has a potential to be performed as an outpatient procedure. The objective of the study is to evaluate the safety and selection profile of outpatient superficial parotidectomy compared to inpatient parotidectomy. METHODS: A retrospective review of individuals who underwent superficial parotidectomy between 2006 and 2016 at a tertiary care center was conducted. Primary outcomes included surgical complications, including transient/permanent facial nerve palsy, wound infection, hematoma, seroma, and fistula formation, as well as medical complications in the postoperative period. Secondary outcome measures included unplanned emergency room visits and readmissions within 30 days of operation due to postoperative complications. RESULTS: There were 238 patients included (124 in outpatient and 114 in inpatient group). There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of gender, co-morbidities, tumor pathology or tumor size. There was a trend towards longer distance to the hospital from home address (111 Km in inpatient vs. 27 in outpatient, mean difference 83 km [95% CI,- 1 to 162 km], p = 0.053). The overall complication rates were comparable between the groups (24.2% in outpatient group vs. 21.1% in inpatient, p = 0.56). There was no difference in the rate of return to the emergency department (3.5% vs 5.6%, p = 0.433) or readmission within 30 days (0.9% vs 0.8%, p = 0.952). CONCLUSION: Superficial parotidectomy can be performed safely as an outpatient procedure without elevated risk of complications.

Denture Impaction Causing an Upper Esophageal Diverticulum.

BACKGROUND: Dentures are a common cause of inadvertent foreign body ingestion particularly in the elderly. Due to their radiolucent nature, they often present a diagnostic challenge to care providing physicians. CASE PRESENTATION: A 66-year-old female presented to our otolaryngology clinic with a 2-year history of dysphagia. Her physical examination was unremarkable. Computed tomography scan of the neck and barium swallow suggested Zenker diverticulum. She was planned for endoscopic diverticulotomy; however, during surgery, a foreign body was incidentally found and retrieved, which was a partial lower denture. The diverticulum resolved thereafter, and the patient's symptoms abated. CONCLUSION: The authors recommend evaluating the esophagus endoscopically first in cases of upper esophageal diverticular formation, even when planning an open repair approach, to rule out any concealed foreign bodies.

Epidemiology and clinical consequences of occupational exposure to blood and other body fluids in a university hospital in Saudi Arabia.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the epidemiological characteristics, clinical impact, and adequacy of post-exposure management of occupational exposure to blood and body fluids (BBFs).  METHODS: Retrospective chart review of individuals reporting exposure to BBFs from 2007 to 2013 at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  RESULTS: The total number of exposures reported was 326 exposures, of which 302 (92.6%) exposures were percutaneous, 21 (6.5%), mucocutaneous, and 3 (0.9%), bites. Nursing staff/students had the highest rate of exposure (149, or 45.6%), followed by physicians (57, or 17.5%). Surgeons were found to have a significantly higher risk for sharp injuries compared with other physicians (26.3%, or 15 exposures, p less than 0.005). Most (216, or 72.5%) percutaneous injuries were caused by hollow-bore needles. Majority of exposures (124, or 42.6%) occurred after using the needle/sharp item and before disposal. Two-thirds (219, or 67%) of exposed individuals were immune to hepatitis B at the time of exposure. With appropriate post-exposure management, none of exposed individuals seroconverted to HIV, hepatitis B or C virus infections.  CONCLUSION: Occupational exposure to BBFs remains a concern among healthcare workers. Educational programs targeting high-risk groups entailing reinforcement of prevention and adherence to post-exposure management guidelines are needed.