Readability Analysis of Otolaryngology Consent Documents on the iMed Consent Platform.

INTRODUCTION: The American Medical Association (AMA) and National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend all patient information and consent materials be provided at the fourth- to sixth-grade level. The iMed Consent platform is used nationally by the Veterans Health Administration and private hospitals. We aimed to assess the readability of otolaryngology consents at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs (WLA-VA) hospital to determine whether they conform with AMA/NIH guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A readability analysis of 27 otolaryngology iMed consent documents was performed. The main outcome measure was the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL). The setting of the study was an otolaryngology clinic at a major VA hospital. All consents used in the WLA-VA otolaryngology clinic for the month of October 2018 were analyzed using readability metrics. These included the Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) score, the FKGL, the Gunning Fog Index (GFI), Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (SMOG), and Coleman-Liau Index (CLI). RESULTS: The following means of all consents were calculated for each of the readability metrics: FRE 56.3, FKGL 8.3, GFI 14.5, SMOG 11.3, and CLI 11.2. The standardized anesthesia and blood consent were analyzed separately with the following scores: FRE 45.1, FKGL 11.7, GFI 15.5, SMOG 14.6, and CLI 12.6. The average FKGL of the consents was found to be significantly above the sixth-grade level (P: .0013). CONCLUSION: The average grade level of the otolaryngology iMed consents reviewed was at a reading level above the AMA/NIH recommendations. This objective measure should be taken into consideration when revising the iMed system and in the creation of future standardized consents. Readability analysis does not take into consideration the significant variance that exists as part of the verbal consent process that takes place between patient and provider.

Adult-Type Rhabdomyoma of the Omohyoid Muscle.

Rhabdomyomas are benign tumors composed of mesenchymal tissue and having a histologic appearance similar to skeletal muscle. Extracardiac rhabdomyomas are rare, and the majority of the adult subtype occur in the head and neck (H&N) region. Diagnosis can be challenging due to fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and core needle biopsy being suspicious for sampling error from surrounding muscle or concerning for rhabdomyosarcoma. We present a case of a slowly enlarging left neck mass in the strap musculature of a 45-year-old Hispanic male. Multiple FNA and core biopsies failed to establish a diagnosis, and excisional biopsy was pursued revealing a hypertrophied left inferior belly of the omohyoid muscle. Histological analysis was diagnostic of an adult-type extracardiac rhabdomyoma, with complete surgical excision being the gold standard treatment for these tumors. The patient had an uneventful recovery. Skeletal muscle tumors of the H&N are uncommon, and benign extracardiac rhabdomyoma must be considered in the differential diagnosis to prevent unnecessarily aggressive intervention and appropriate patient counseling before and after surgery.

Free Fatty Acid Receptor G-protein-coupled Receptor 40 Mediates Lipid Emulsion-induced Cardioprotection.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that intralipid (lipid emulsion) protects the heart against ischemia/reperfusion injury and bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity. However, the precise underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here we explored the hypothesis that free fatty acid receptor-1 or G-protein-coupled receptor 40 is expressed in the heart and that cardioprotective effects of lipid emulsion are mediated through G-protein-coupled receptor 40 in two animal models of ischemia/reperfusion injury and bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity. METHODS: Langendorff-perfused male mouse hearts were subjected to ischemia/reperfusion with lipid emulsion alone (1%) or with G-protein-coupled receptor 40 antagonist (GW1100, 10 µM). Additionally, cardiotoxicity was achieved in male rats with bupivacaine bolus (10 mg/kg, IV) followed by lipid emulsion alone (20%, 5 ml/kg bolus, and 0.5 ml · kg · min maintenance, IV) or with GW1100 pretreatment (2.5 mg/kg, IV). RESULTS: G-protein-coupled receptor 40 is expressed in rodent hearts. GW1100 abolished lipid emulsion-induced cardioprotection against ischemia/reperfusion in mice because rate pressure product and left ventricular developed pressure were lower than lipid emulsion alone (rate pressure product: 2,186 ± 1,783 [n = 7] vs. 11,607 ± 4,347 [n = 8]; left ventricular developed pressure: 22.6 ± 10.4 vs. 63.8 ± 20; P < 0.0001). Lipid emulsion + GW1100 also demonstrated reduced LV dP/dtmax and LV dP/dtmin (dP/dtmax = 749 ± 386 vs. 2,098 ± 792, P < 0.001; dP/dtmin = -443 ± 262 vs. -1,447 ± 546, P < 0.001). In bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity rat model, GW1100 pretreatment had no significant effect on heart rate (HR) and ejection fraction after 30 min (HR: 302 ± 17 vs. 312 ± 38; ejection fraction: 69 ± 3% vs. 73 ± 4%). GW1100 pretreatment, however, prevented lipid-rescue, with no recovery after 10 min. In the control group, lipid emulsion improved HR (215 ± 16 at 10 min) and fully rescued left ventricle function at 10 min (ejection fraction = 67 ± 8%, fractional shortening = 38 ± 6%). CONCLUSIONS: G-protein-coupled receptor 40 is expressed in the rodent heart and is involved in cardioprotection mediated by lipid emulsion against ischemia/reperfusion injury and bupivacaine-induced cardiotoxicity.

Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak from the optic canal.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of successful repair of a spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak in a previously unreported anatomic site. METHODS: Retrospective chart review. RESULTS: A 48-year-old woman developed a spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak from the optic nerve sheath and underwent a multilayer endoscopic closure with no damage to the optic nerve. CONCLUSION: Endoscopic surgeons can successfully repair cerebrospinal fluid leaks from the optic nerve sheath without causing loss of vision.

Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant Mitoquinone Reduces Cisplatin-Induced Ototoxicity in Guinea Pigs.

Objective To determine if mitoquinone (MitoQ) attenuates cisplatin-induced hearing loss in guinea pigs. Study Design Prospective and controlled animal study. Setting Academic, tertiary medical center. Subjects and Methods Guinea pigs were injected subcutaneously with either 5 mg/kg MitoQ (n = 9) or normal saline (control, n = 9) for 7 days and 1 hour before receiving a single dose of 10 mg/kg cisplatin. Auditory brainstem response thresholds were measured before MitoQ or saline administration and 3 to 4 days after cisplatin administration. Results Auditory brainstem response threshold shifts after cisplatin treatment were smaller by 28 to 47 dB in guinea pigs injected with MitoQ compared with those in the control group at all tested frequencies (4, 8, 16, and 24 kHz, P = .0002 to .04). Scanning electron microscopy of cochlear hair cells showed less outer hair cell loss and damage in the MitoQ group. Conclusion MitoQ reduced cisplatin-induced hearing loss in guinea pigs. MitoQ appears worthy of further investigation as a means of preventing cisplatin ototoxicity in humans.

Fat burn X: burning more than fat.

A 50-year-old man presented with a 2-day history of bilateral lower extremity cramping and dark urine. The patient was found to have a creatine phosphokinase (CPK) elevated of up to 2306 U/L, a serum uric acid of 9.7 mg/dL and 101 red blood cell's per high-powered field on urinalysis. On questioning, the patient endorsed daily exercise with free weights. There were no changes in his regular exercise and medication regimen, no muscle trauma, no recent drug use and no illness. The patient did mention using a new fat burner known as 'Fat Burn X', which he had begun taking 2 days prior to the onset of his muscle cramps. The patient was given normal saline intravenous fluid resuscitation for 48 h with resultant normalisation of his CPK and creatinine, and was discharged with primary care follow-up.