Effect of Rurality in Head and Neck Cancer: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVES: This scoping review sought to evaluate the current literature regarding the following outcomes in relation to rurality: stage at diagnosis, clinical characteristics, treatment characteristics, and survival outcomes of head and neck cancer (HNC). DATA SOURCES: A literature search was performed using PubMed (MEDLINE), Science Direct, EMBASE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases. REVIEW METHODS: A 20-year study cutoff from the initial search was used to increase the comparability of the studies regarding population and standards of clinical care. These searches were designed to capture all primary studies reporting HNC incidence, presenting characteristics, treatments, and treatment outcomes. Two reviewers independently screened abstracts, selected articles for exclusion, extracted data, and appraised studies. Critical appraisal was done according to the Joanna Briggs Institute Quality Assessment Tool for Cohort Studies. FINDINGS: Twenty eligible original articles were included. Stage at diagnosis, clinical characteristics, treatment characteristics, and survival outcomes were measured. Our review indicates that although this relationship is unclear, there may be variations in treatment choice for laryngeal cancer based on geographic location and rural residency status. The studies assessing HNC outcomes related to stage at diagnosis, clinical characteristics, treatment characteristics, and overall survival demonstrated conflicting findings, indicating a need for further research examining HNC outcomes with a focus on rurality as the main exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The relationship between HNC and rural-urban status remains unclear. More studies are needed, along with a consistent metric for measuring rurality and recruitment of comparable populations from both rural and urban areas. Laryngoscope, 2024.

Inflammatory Rhabdomyoblastic Tumor of the Posterior Pharyngeal Wall.

This case report describes a healthy man in his 40s who presented with a 1-year history of snoring, sleep apnea, dysphonia, and dysphagia owing to a large mass of the posterior pharynx and was diagnosed with an inflammatory rhabdomyoblastic tumor.

A novel STRN3::PRKD1 fusion in a cribriform adenocarcinoma of salivary gland with high-grade transformation.

Cribriform adenocarcinoma of salivary gland (CASG) is a rare form of salivary gland neoplasm that mostly arises from minor salivary glands. We report a case of CASG with high-grade transformation harboring a novel STRN3::PRKD1 fusion. A 59-year-old male presented with a palatal mass. Morphologically, the tumor consisted of two components: solid high-grade and glandular low-grade areas. The solid high-grade area comprised solid nests of high-grade carcinoma with central necrosis arranged in lobules delineated with prominent stromal septa. The glandular low-grade area comprised of cribriform and microcystic architecture in a hyalinized and hypocellular stroma. Immunophenotypically, the tumor was positive for S100 but negative for p40 and actin. However, due to the high-grade component, tissue was sent for salivary gland NGS fusion panel analysis to confirm the diagnosis. The current case illustrates high-grade transformation in CASG. Furthermore, identification of a STRN3::PRKD1 fusion expands the genetic spectrum of CASG.

A Multi-institutional Analysis of Late Complications in Scapula, Fibula, and Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm Free Flaps.

OBJECTIVES: (1) Evaluate the association of flap type with late complications in patients undergoing osseous head and neck reconstruction with the fibula free flap (FFF), osteocutaneous radial forearm free flap (OCRFFF), and scapula free flap (SFF). (2) Compare the prevalence of late complications based on minimum duration of follow-up. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Multiple academic medical centers. METHODS: Patients undergoing FFF, OCRFFF, or SFF with ≥6-month follow-up were stratified by type of flap performed. The association of flap type with late complications was analyzed via univariable and multivariable logistic regression, controlling for relevant clinical risk factors. Additionally, the frequency of late complications by minimum duration of follow-up was assessed. RESULTS: A total of 617 patients were analyzed: 312 (50.6%) FFF, 230 (37.3%) OCRFFFF, and 75 (12.2%) SFF. As compared with the SFF, the FFF (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.05; 95% CI, 1.61-5.80) and OCRFFF (aOR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.12-4.22) were independently associated with greater odds of overall late recipient site wound complications. The SFF was independently associated with the lowest odds of hardware exposure when compared with the FFF (aOR, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.27-5.41) and OCRFFF (aOR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.11-5.12). The frequency of late complications rose as minimum duration of follow-up increased until plateauing at 36 months. CONCLUSIONS: This multi-institutional study suggests that the long-term complication profile of the SFF and OCRFFF compares favorably to the FFF. The SFF may be associated with the fewest overall late recipient site complications and hardware exposure, while the FFF may be associated with the most of these 3 options.

Assessing Prognostic Value of Quantitative Neck Dissection Quality Measures in Patients With Clinically Node-Negative Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Importance: In clinically localized (T1-2) oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC), regional lymph node metastasis is associated with a poor prognosis. Given the high propensity of subclinical nodal disease in these patients, upfront elective neck dissections (END) for patients with clinically node-negative disease are common and associated with better outcomes. Unfortunately, even with this risk-adverse treatment paradigm, disease recurrence still occurs, and our understanding of the factors that modulate this risk and alter survival have yet to be fully elucidated. Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of lymph node yield (LNY), lymph node ratio (LNR), and weighted LNR (wLNR) in patients with clinically node-negative T1-2 OCSCC. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this cohort study, data were collected retrospectively from 7 tertiary care academic medical centers. Overall, 523 patients with cT1-2N0 OCSCC who underwent elective neck dissections after primary surgical extirpation were identified. Exposures: Lymph node yield was defined as the number of lymph nodes recovered from elective neck dissection. Lymph node ratio was defined as the ratio of positive nodes against total LNY. Weighted LNR incorporated information from both LNY and LNR into a single continuous metric. Main Outcomes and Measures: Locoregional control (LRC) and disease-free survival (DFS) were both evaluated using nonparametric Kaplan-Meier estimators and semiparametric Cox regression. Results: On multivariable analysis, LNY less than or equal to 18 lymph nodes was found to be significantly associated with decreased LRC (aHR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.04-2.24) and DFS (aHR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.12-1.92) in patients with pN0 disease, but not those with pN-positive disease. Importantly, patients with pN0 disease with LNY less than or equal to 18 and those with pN1 diseasehad nearly identical 5-year LRC (69.7% vs 71.4%) and DFS (58.2% vs 55.7%). For patients with pN-positive disease, LNR greater than 0.06 was significantly associated with decreased LRC (aHR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.28-5.55) and DFS (aHR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.07-2.53). Overall, wLNR was a robust prognostic variable across all patients with cN0 disease, regardless of pathologic nodal status. Risk stratification via wLNR thresholds demonstrated greater optimism-corrected concordance compared with American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition nodal staging for both LRC (0.61 vs 0.57) and DFS (0.61 vs 0.58). Conclusions and Relevance: Movement toward more robust metrics that incorporate quantitative measures of neck dissection quality and regional disease burden, such as wLNR, could greatly augment prognostication in cT1-2N0 OCSCC by providing more reliable and accurate risk estimations.

Perioperative Outcomes in Patients Who Underwent Fibula, Osteocutaneous Radial Forearm, and Scapula Free Flaps: A Multicenter Study.

Importance: Studies comparing perioperative outcomes of fibula free flaps (FFFs), osteocutaneous radial forearm free flaps (OCRFFFs), and scapula free flaps (SFFs) have been limited by insufficient sample size. Objective: To compare the perioperative outcomes of patients who underwent FFFs, OCRFFFs, and SFFs. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study assessed the outcomes of 1022 patients who underwent FFFs, OCRFFFs, or SFFs for head and neck reconstruction performed at 1 of 6 academic medical centers between January 2005 and December 2019. Data were analyzed from September 17, 2021, to June 9, 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures: Patients were stratified based on the flap performed. Evaluated perioperative outcomes included complications (overall acute wound complications, acute surgical site infection [SSI], fistula, hematoma, and flap failure), 30-day readmissions, operative time, and prolonged hospital length of stay (75th percentile, >13 days). Patients were excluded if data on flap type or clinical demographic characteristics were missing. Associations between flap type and perioperative outcomes were analyzed using logistic regression, after controlling for other clinically relevant variables. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) with 95% CIs were generated. Results: Perioperative outcomes of 1022 patients (mean [SD] age, 60.7 [14.5] years; 676 [66.1%] men) who underwent major osseous head and neck reconstruction were analyzed; 510 FFFs (49.9%), 376 OCRFFFs (36.8%), and 136 SFFs (13.3%) were performed. Median (IQR) operative time differed among flap types (OCRFFF, 527 [467-591] minutes; FFF, 592 [507-714] minutes; SFF, 691 [610-816] minutes). When controlling for SSI, FFFs (aOR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.36-4.51) and SFFs (aOR, 2.95; 95% CI, 1.37-6.34) were associated with a higher risk of flap loss than OCRFFFs. Compared with OCRFFFs, FFFs (aOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.07-2.91) were associated with a greater risk of fistula after controlling for the number of bone segments and SSI. Both FFFs (aOR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.27-2.46) and SFFs (aOR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.05-2.69) were associated with an increased risk of 30-day readmission compared with OCRFFFs after controlling for Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score and acute wound complications. Compared with OCRFFFs, FFFs (aOR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.25-2.54) and SFFs (aOR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.22-3.13) were associated with a higher risk of prolonged hospital length of stay after controlling for age and flap loss. Conclusions and Relevance: Findings of this cohort study suggest that perioperative outcomes associated with OCRFFFs compare favorably with those of FFFs and SFFs, with shorter operative times and lower rates of flap loss, 30-day readmissions, and prolonged hospital length of stay. However, patients undergoing SFFs represented a more medically and surgically complex population than those undergoing OCRFFFs or FFFs.

Perioperative Topical Antisepsis and Surgical Site Infection in Patients Undergoing Upper Aerodigestive Tract Reconstruction.

Importance: Surgical site infections (SSIs) after vascularized reconstruction of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) are associated with considerable morbidity. The association between perioperative prophylaxis practices, particularly topical antisepsis, and SSIs remains uncertain. Objective: To assess the association between perioperative topical antisepsis and SSIs in patients undergoing vascularized reconstruction of the UADT. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study included patients from 12 academic tertiary care centers over an 11-month period, from July 1, 2020, to June 1, 2021. Patients undergoing open surgical procedures requiring a communication between the UADT and cervical skin with a planned regional pedicled flap, free flap, or both were included. Patients with an active infection at the time of surgical procedure were excluded. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome measure was an SSI within 30 days of surgery. The association of demographic characteristics, perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis, surgical technique, and postoperative care with SSIs was assessed using univariable and multivariable analyses. The relative risk ratio and 95% CIs for developing SSI were calculated for each of the variables based on predetermined categories. Variables for which the relative risk 95% CI did not include the value of zero effect (relative risk = 1.00) were included in the multivariable model. Results: A total of 554 patients (median age, 64 years; range, 21-95 years; 367 men [66.2%]) were included. Cancer ablation was the most frequent reason for surgery (n = 480 [86.6%]). Overall, the SSI rate was 20.9% (n = 116), with most infections involving the head and neck surgical site only (91 [78.4%]). The median time to SSI diagnosis was 11 days (range, 1-28 days). Topical antisepsis mucosal preparation was performed preoperatively in 35.2% (195) and postoperatively in 52.2% (289) of cases. Ampicillin and sulbactam was the most common systemic antibiotic prophylaxis agent used (n = 367 [66.2%]), with 24 hours being the most common duration (n = 363 [65.5%]). On multivariable analysis, preoperative topical antisepsis mucosal preparation (odds ratio [OR], 0.49; 95% CI, 0.30-0.77) and systemic prophylaxis with piperacillin and tazobactam (OR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.21-0.84) were associated with a decreased risk of a postoperative SSI. The use of an osseous vascularized flap was associated with an increased risk of postoperative SSI (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.13-2.75). Conclusions and Relevance: Findings of this study suggest that preoperative topical antisepsis mucosal preparation was independently associated with a decreased risk of SSIs in a 12-center multi-institutional cohort. Further investigation of the association between individual perioperative practices and the incidence of postoperative SSIs is necessary to develop evidence-based protocols to reduce SSIs after UADT reconstruction.

Development and Validation of Machine Learning Models for Predicting Occult Nodal Metastasis in Early-Stage Oral Cavity Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Importance: Given that early-stage oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) has a high propensity for subclinical nodal metastasis, elective neck dissection has become standard practice for many patients with clinically negative nodes. Unfortunately, for most patients without regional metastasis, this risk-averse treatment paradigm results in unnecessary morbidity. Objectives: To develop and validate predictive models of occult nodal metastasis from clinicopathological variables that were available after surgical extirpation of the primary tumor and to compare predictive performance against depth of invasion (DOI), the currently accepted standard. Design, Setting, and Participants: This diagnostic modeling study collected clinicopathological variables retrospectively from 7 tertiary care academic medical centers across the US. Participants included adult patients with early-stage OCSCC without nodal involvement who underwent primary surgical extirpation with or without upfront elective neck dissection. These patients were initially evaluated between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2019. Exposures: Largest tumor dimension, tumor thickness, DOI, margin status, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, muscle invasion, submucosal invasion, dysplasia, histological grade, anatomical subsite, age, sex, smoking history, race and ethnicity, and body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared). Main Outcomes and Measures: Occult nodal metastasis identified either at the time of elective neck dissection or regional recurrence within 2 years of initial surgery. Results: Of the 634 included patients (mean [SD] age, 61.2 [13.6] years; 344 men [54.3%]), 114 (18.0%) had occult nodal metastasis. Patients with occult nodal metastasis had a higher frequency of lymphovascular invasion (26.3% vs 8.1%; P < .001), perineural invasion (40.4% vs 18.5%; P < .001), and margin involvement by invasive tumor (12.3% vs 6.3%; P = .046) compared with those without pathological lymph node metastasis. In addition, patients with vs those without occult nodal metastasis had a higher frequency of poorly differentiated primary tumor (20.2% vs 6.2%; P < .001) and greater DOI (7.0 vs 5.4 mm; P < .001). A predictive model that was built with XGBoost architecture outperformed the commonly used DOI threshold of 4 mm, achieving an area under the curve of 0.84 (95% CI, 0.80-0.88) vs 0.62 (95% CI, 0.57-0.67) with DOI. This model had a sensitivity of 91.7%, specificity of 72.6%, positive predictive value of 39.3%, and negative predictive value of 97.8%. Conclusions and Relevance: Results of this study showed that machine learning models that were developed from multi-institutional clinicopathological data have the potential to not only reduce the number of pathologically node-negative neck dissections but also accurately identify patients with early OCSCC who are at highest risk for nodal metastases.

Impact of Preoperative Risk Factors on Inpatient Stay and Facility Discharge After Free Flap Reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the preoperative risk factors most predictive of prolonged length of stay (LOS) or admission to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) or inpatient rehabilitation center (IPR) after free flap reconstruction of the head and neck. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary academic medical center. METHODS: Retrospective review of 1008 patients who underwent tumor resection and free flap reconstruction of the head and neck at a tertiary referral center from 2002 to 2019. RESULTS: Of 1008 patients (65.7% male; mean age of 61.4 years, SD 14.0 years), 161 (15.6%) were discharged to SNF/IPR, and the median LOS was 7 days. In multiple linear regression analysis, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI; P < .001), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification (P = .021), female gender (P = .023), and inability to tolerate oral diet preoperatively (P = .006) were statistically significantly related to increased LOS, whereas age, body mass index (BMI), modified frailty index (MFI), a history of prior radiation or chemotherapy, and home oxygen use were not. Multiple logistic regression analysis demonstrated that CCI (odds ratio [OR] = 1.119, confidence interval [CI] 1.023-1.223), age (OR = 1.082, CI 1.056-1.108), and BMI <19.0 (OR = 2.141, CI 1.159-3.807) were the only variables statistically significantly related to posthospital placement in an SNF or IPR. CONCLUSION: Common tools for assessing frailty and need for additional care may be inadequate in a head and neck reconstructive population. CCI appears to be the best of the aggregate metrics assessed, with significant relationships to both LOS and placement in SNF/IPR.

The two-handed template for planning fibular free flap reconstruction of the head and neck.

Fibular free flap reconstruction of head and neck defects is complex, and the anatomic relationships among components of the fibular flap pose challenges to reconstructive surgeons. Various techniques have been employed in planning for fibular free flap procedures, but these are often cumbersome and difficult to implement in clinically. We devised a simplistic tool for pre-operative leg selection, wherein the surgeon uses two hands to represent the various components of the fibular flap. The senior author has used this method to aid in leg selection for fibular free flaps. In all cases, utilization of this technique allowed for appropriate leg selection relative to the location of the vascular pedicle and posterior crural septum. The two-handed template for fibular free flap reconstruction is a simple, reproducible, and affordable tool that can aid reconstructive surgeons when they are planning to use a fibular flap.

The role of age in treatment decisions for oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma: Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

BACKGROUND: The number of elderly patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) is increasing as the elderly population increases. Unfortunately, evidence to guide the management of these patients is lacking. METHODS: Patients with OCSCC identified from the National Cancer Database (NCDB) were stratified into age-based cohorts. Demographics, comorbidities, and treatment patterns were analyzed. Patients were stratified into early stage (Stage I/II) and advanced stage (Stage III/IV) disease. The likelihood of receiving multimodality therapy by age was calculated using multinomial logistic regression for each stratum while controlling for potential confounders. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to calculate 5-year mortality risk while controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: Surgery alone or palliative options were offered to older patients more frequently. After controlling for confounders, older patients were less likely to receive multimodality therapy for both early stage and advanced stage disease. Patients with advanced disease across all age cohorts had improved 5-year survival with surgery and adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSION: Our analyses suggest that elderly patients have unique demographic and pathologic features. They frequently receive less treatment than similarly staged younger patients, yet they benefit from multimodality therapy when feasible. These data suggest an urgent need to critically appraise the care of elderly OCSCC patients within the broader context of their individual comorbidity burden, functional status, and treatment goals.

Free vascularized parascapular fat flap for parotidectomy reconstruction.

OBJECTIVE: The contour defect resulting after parotidectomy can be cosmetically unappealing. Multiple reconstructive efforts have been reported to mitigate this problem. We describe a novel technique of vascularized parascapular fat reconstruction based on the circumflex scapular vessels and evaluate its outcomes. METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent parotidectomy with or without additional resections and vascularized parascapular fat flap reconstruction in 2020 were included. Demographic, morphologic, intraoperative, and postoperative data were assessed. RESULTS: Eight patients (3 female) were included. Median cut-to-close time was 247 (range 209-298) minutes, including tumor ablation. None of the patients had any wound complications, and all except one was discharged on postoperative day 1. Flap monitoring was not performed. None reported any significant donor site morbidity except scar formation. At last follow up, all patients reported satisfactory facial contour. CONCLUSION: Vascularized parascapular fat flap reconstruction of parotidectomy contour defects has satisfactory cosmetic outcomes with minimal morbidity and short hospitalization courses.

An improved predictive model for postoperative pulmonary complications after free flap reconstructions in the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: Commonly used predictive models for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) do not perform when applied to head and neck cases. A head and neck-specific risk prediction tool is needed. METHODS: Data on 794 free flap head and neck surgery cases at a single center were abstracted from the electronic medical record. Each case was reviewed for the development of PPCs. A predictive model was developed and was then compared to existing predictive models for PPCs. RESULTS: The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator procedure identified age, alcohol use, history of congestive heart failure, preoperative packed cell volume, preoperative oxygen saturation, and preoperative metabolic equivalents as predictors of PPCs in the head and neck population. The model demonstrated an area under the receiving operating characteristic curve of 0.75 (0.69-0.80) with moderately good calibration. Comparisons to the performance of existing models demonstrate superior performance. CONCLUSIONS: The model for the development of PPCs developed in this article displays superior performance to existing models.

Transcervical sonography and human papillomavirus 16 E6 antibodies are sensitive for the detection of oropharyngeal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Human papillomavirus 16 (HPV-16) E6 seropositivity is a promising early marker of human papillomavirus-driven oropharyngeal cancer (HPV-OPC), yet more sensitive imaging modalities are needed before screening is considered. The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity of transcervical sonography (TCS) for detecting clinically apparent HPV-OPC in comparison with computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT. METHODS: Fifty-one patients with known or suspected HPV-OPC without prior treatment underwent oropharyngeal TCS and blood collection (for HPV multiplex serology testing). Eight standard sonographic images were collected; primary-site tumors were measured in 3 dimensions if identified. Each patient underwent a full diagnostic workup as part of standard clinical care. The pathologic details, HPV status, final staging, and imaging findings were abstracted from the medical record. The sensitivity of each imaging modality was compared with the final clinical diagnosis (the gold standard). RESULTS: Twenty-four base of tongue cancers (47%), 22 tonsillar cancers (43%), and 2 unknown primary cancers (4%) were diagnosed; 3 patients (6%) had no tumors. All p16-tested patients were positive (n = 47). Primary-site tumors were correctly identified in 90.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 78.6%-96.7%) with TCS, in 69.4% (95% CI, 54.6%-81.7%) with CT, and in 83.3% (95% CI, 68.6%-93.0%) with PET/CT. TCS identified tumors in 10 of 14 cases missed by CT and recognized the absence of tumors in 3 cases for which CT or PET/CT was falsely positive. The smallest sonographically identified primary-site tumor was 0.5 cm in its greatest dimension; the average size was 2.3 cm. Among p16-positive patients, 76.1% (95% CI, 61.2%-87.4%) were seropositive for HPV-16 E6. CONCLUSIONS: TCS and HPV-16 E6 antibodies are sensitive for the diagnosis of HPV-OPC.

Incidence of pedicle ossification in osseous free flap reconstruction in the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: There are several reports of ossification occurring along the pedicle of fibular free flaps in head and neck microvascular reconstruction, but the incidence of pedicle ossification of other osseous flaps in head and neck surgery has never been investigated. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted for all patients undergoing free flap reconstruction in the head and neck between 2005 and 2016. Patients were included if they had reconstruction with an osseous free flap and if they had computed tomography (CT) scans at least 1 month post-operatively. Available CT images were reviewed for each patient. RESULTS: Three-hundred thirty four osteocutaneous free flaps were performed. The average age was 64 years (range 8-89). There was slight male predominance with 63.5% of the cohort being male (n = 212). One hundred fifty-five patients had fibular flaps (45%), 108 had radial forearm flaps (34%) and 71 had scapular flaps (21%). One hundred fibulas had available imaging, 73 forearms had available imaging, and 44 scapulas had imaging post-operatively. Of the images reviewed, pedicle ossification was identified in 21 fibular flaps (21%). None of the radial forearm or scapular flaps developed pedicle ossification. DISCUSSION: Pedicle ossification is relatively common in osteocutaneous free flap reconstruction and is uniquely associated with fibular. The presence of pedicle ossification is benign and does not compromise the flap, though it can create concern in cancer surveillance as the lesion is often identified as a new neck mass. As such, head and neck surgeons should be aware of this relatively frequent finding.

Existing Predictive Models for Postoperative Pulmonary Complications Perform Poorly in a Head and Neck Surgery Population.

Postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) are common following major surgical procedures. Risk stratification tools have been developed to identify patients at risk for PPCs. While otolaryngology cases were included in the development of common predictive tools, they comprised small percentages in each tool. It is unclear how these tools perform in patients undergoing major head and neck surgery with free flap reconstruction. This retrospective review studied all free flap reconstructions in head and neck surgery over a 12-year period at a single institution in the southeastern US. Baseline demographic and medical information were included for each case. All cases were reviewed for development of major PPCs, including pneumonia and respiratory failure. The cohort underwent risk stratification using the ARISCAT and Gupta pulmonary risk indices. Performance of these predictive models for head and neck surgery was determined through receiver-operator curve comparison. 794 patients were identified with a median age of 62 years (IQR 41-83). Sixty-five percent were male. Forty-three (5.4%) developed pneumonia, 23 patients developed respiratory failure (2.9%), and 38 patients developed both (4.8%), resulting in a total PPC proportion of 13.1% (n = 104). Both ARISCAT and Gupta pulmonary risk indices demonstrated low discrimination to predict PPCs in head and neck free flap reconstruction, with areas under the curve of 0.60 and 0.65, respectively. Two major indices for prediction of postoperative pulmonary complications do not accurately identify risk in patients undergoing major head and neck surgery. Further studies are needed to develop predictive tools for PPCs in this high-risk population.

Hearing Outcomes Following Type 3 Tympanoplasty With Stapes Columella Grafting in Canal Wall Down Mastoidectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze hearing outcomes following Type 3 tympanoplasty with stapes columella grafting after canal wall down mastoidectomy and determine disease recurrence rates in patients undergoing this procedure. METHODS: This retrospective cohort analysis examines patients undergoing Type 3 tympanoplasty with stapes columella grafting following canal wall down mastoidectomy for cholesteatoma at a tertiary care center from 2005 to 2015. Patient charts were reviewed for demographic data, diagnosis, and operative details. Patients were included in statistical analysis if they were found to have undergone the aforementioned procedure. Evaluation of hearing improvement was made by comparing preoperative air-bone gap (ABG) and ABG at follow-up at 6 months and 1 year postoperatively. RESULTS: Nineteen patients met criteria for this study. Erosion of the otic capsule, posterior fossa plate, or tegmen was noted in 37% of cases, highlighting disease severity. Eighteen (95%) had undergone prior otologic surgery. Mean time to short-term follow-up was 6 ± 3 months. The average short-term ABG was 26 ± 11 dB HL; 26% achieved an ABG <20 dB, and 58% achieved an ABG <30 dB. Fifteen had follow-up at least 1 year postoperatively (mean = 33 ± 16 months). At longer-term follow-up, mean ABG was 25 ± 10 dB HL; 33% achieved an ABG <20 dB, while 66% achieved an ABG <30 dB. Hearing remained stable over time (P = .52). At date of last clinical follow-up, only 1 (5%) patient had undergone revision for recurrent disease. CONCLUSION: In some patients undergoing canal wall down mastoidectomy for advanced or recurrent cholesteatoma, Type 3 tympanoplasty with stapes columella grafting yields marginal hearing benefit. This type of reconstruction is a viable option in this challenging patient cohort, particularly as it is associated with low rates of revision surgery.