Headache and Facial Pain/Pressure in the Chronic Rhinosinusitis Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the severity and prevalence of headache and facial pain/pressurere in the chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) population. DATA SOURCES: CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus. REVIEW METHODS: The literature was searched from inception through June 2023 for English language articles documenting "headache" or "facial pain/pressure" and "chronic rhinosinusitis." Data collected included Lund-MacKay computed tomography score, Lund-Kennedy endoscopy score, sinonasal outcome test, and visual analog scale. Meta-analyses were performed on continuous measures (mean), proportions (%), and regression. RESULTS: A total of 69 studies were included with 8643 CRS patients and 703 control patients. The CRS group had a mean age of 44.1 (range: 16-82; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 40.3-48) and 86.1% [95% CI: 76.4-93.5] with nasal polyposis. The control group had a mean age of 39.2 (range: 17-88; 95% CI: 28.7-49.8). All CRS subgroups had significantly more severe headache and facial pain/pressure when compared to the control (P < .0001). Patients without polyps had significantly more severe facial pain/pressure and headache when compared to patients with polyps (P < .0001). Facial pain/pressure is a moderate problem or worse in 29.8% of polypoid patients versus 56.4% of nonpolypoid patients; Δ26.6% [95% CI: 0.7-50; P = .045]. CONCLUSIONS: Across all outcome metrics, CRS patients experience significantly more severe headache and facial pain/pressure when compared to a control population. Nonpolypoid patients experience significantly more severe facial pain/pressure and headache when compared to polypoid patients. The majority of nonpolypoid patients experience facial pain/pressure that is moderate in severity or worse.

Dexmedetomidine and surgical field visibility in nasal surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Nasal and sinus surgery, especially using endoscopy, relies upon adequate haemostasis to be safe and effective. Often other haemostatic methods, such as cautery are not viable, and other methods must be employed. This study examines the effectiveness of dexmedetomidine in controlled hypotension and for surgical field visibility in endoscopic sinus surgery and other nasal surgeries. REVIEW METHODS: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and Central for randomised controlled trials using dexmedetomidine for controlled hypotension in adult patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery or other nasal surgery. Meta-analysis of mean differences and single means were performed. RESULTS: Of 935 identified studies, 31 met the inclusion criteria. A statistically significant difference in Fromme-Boezaart surgical field visibility scores was found comparing dexmedetomidine to placebo (p < 0.00001) and propofol (p < 0.0001), but not other agents. A significant difference in intraoperative blood loss volume was found compared with placebo (51.5mL, p < 0.00001) and propofol (13.6mL, p < 0.0001), but not other agents. CONCLUSION: Dexmedetomidine demonstrated significantly improved surgical field visibility and blood loss volume compared with placebo and propofol, but not other agents. Dexmedetomidine is viable and useful for controlled hypotension in nasal surgery. Choice of controlled hypotension agent should follow patient and procedure-specific considerations.

Factors Associated with Head and Neck Cancer Postoperative Radiotherapy Delays: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Initiating postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) within 6 weeks of surgery for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is included in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Clincal Practice Guidelines and is a Commission on Cancer quality metric. Factors associated with delays in starting PORT have not been systematically described nor synthesized. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL. REVIEW METHODS: We included studies describing demographic characteristics, clinical factors, or social determinants of health associated with PORT delay (>6 weeks) in patients with HNSCC treated in the United States after 2003. Meta-analysis of odds ratios (ORs) was performed on nonoverlapping datasets. RESULTS: Of 716 unique abstracts reviewed, 21 studies were included in the systematic review and 15 in the meta-analysis. Study sample size ranged from 19 to 60,776 patients. In the meta-analysis, factors associated with PORT delay included black race (OR, 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.28-1.67), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.37, 95% CI, 1.17-1.60), Medicaid or no health insurance (OR, 2.01, 95% CI, 1.90-2.13), lower income (OR, 1.38, 95% CI, 1.20-1.59), postoperative admission >7 days (OR, 2.92, 95% CI, 2.31-3.67), and 30-day hospital readmission (OR, 1.37, 95% CI, 1.29-1.47). CONCLUSION: Patients at greatest risk for a delay in initiating guideline-adherent PORT include those who are from minoritized communities, of lower socioeconomic status, and experience postoperative challenges. These findings provide the foundational evidence needed to deliver targeted interventions to enhance equity and quality in HNSCC care delivery.

Surgical outcomes and revision rates for velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) in syndromic and non-syndromic children: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate pre- and post-operative resonance, surgical technique, revision rate, and revision indication among syndromic and non-syndromic children with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic review was conducted through July 2022. Children surgically treated for VPI were included. A meta-analysis of single means, proportions, comparison of proportions, and mean differences with 95 % confidence interval [CI] was conducted. RESULTS: Twenty-three articles (n = 1437) were included in the analysis. The most common surgery was Sphincter Pharyngoplasty (SP), 62.6 % [31.3-88.9] for syndromic and 76.3 % [37.5-98.9] for non-syndromic children. Among all surgical techniques, for syndromic and non-syndromic children, 54.8 % [30.9-77.5] and 73.9 % [61.3-84.6] obtained normal resonance post-operatively, respectively. Syndromic patients obtained normal resonance post-operatively in 83.3 % [57.7-96.6] of Combined Furlow Palatoplasty and Sphincter Pharyngoplasty (CPSP), 72.6 % [54.5-87.5] of Pharyngeal Flap (PF), and 45.1 % [13.2-79.8] of Sphincter Pharyngoplasty (SP) surgeries. Non-syndromic patients obtained normal resonance post-operatively in 79.2 % [66.4-88.8] of PF and 75.2 % [61.8-86.5] of SP surgeries. The revision rate for syndromic and non-syndromic patients was 19.9 % [15.0-25.6] and 11.3 % [5.8-18.3], respectively. The difference was statistically significant, 8.6 % [2.9-15.0, p = 0.003]. Syndromic patients who underwent PF were least likely to undergo revision surgery as compared to SP and CPSP, 7.7 % [2.3-17.9] vs. 23.7 % [15.5-33.1] and 15.3 % [2.8-40.7], respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Syndromic children had higher revision rates and were significantly less likely to obtain normal resonance following primary surgery than non-syndromic patients. Among syndromic children, PF and CPSP have been shown to improve resonance and reduce revision rates more so than SP alone.

Medical Management of Headache and Facial Pain in CRS: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to characterize the effect of medical therapy on headache and facial pain/pressure among patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). DATA SOURCES: CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus. METHODS: CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus were searched from inception through April 10th, 2024, for English language articles reporting headache or facial pain/pressure outcomes in CRS patients. Inclusion was restricted to studies reporting results of the medical treatment of CRS in nonsurgical cohorts. Primary outcome measures included the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT) and the visual analogue scale (VAS). Meta-analyses of continuous measures (mean), mean difference (Δ), and proportions (%) were conducted. RESULTS: The initial search yielded 2429 unique articles. After a full-text review of 272 articles, 17 studies reporting outcomes for 2269 patients were included in the meta-analysis. The mean patient age was 48.6 years (range 18.0-86.0; 95% CI: 46.5 to 50.6), among which 55.4% (95% CI: 51.5 to 59.4) were male and 82.9% (95% CI: 68.8 to 93.4) had nasal polyposis. SNOT facial pain/pressure scores improved by 1.1 points (95% CI: -1.7 to -0.5; relative reduction 40.4%) with non-biologic therapies and 1.0 point (95% CI: -1.4 to -0.6; relative reduction 54.6%) with biologic therapies. On an 11-point scale, VAS headaches scores improved by 1.8 units (95% CI: -3.3 to -0.3; 42.1% relative reduction) in CRSwNP patients and 1.0 unit (95% CI: -1.7 to -0.3; 54.0% relative reduction) in CRSsNP patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest medical therapy significantly reduces facial pain and pressure in the CRS population. Laryngoscope, 2024.

Surgical management of headache and facial pain/pressure in chronic rhinosinusitis: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Headache and facial pain are common symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, given the numerous etiologies that can cause these symptoms, the impact of sinus surgery is not well characterized. METHODS: A systematic review was performed by searching the literature from inception through June 6, 2023. English-language articles reporting outcomes for facial pain/pressure or headache following endoscopic sinus surgery were selected for inclusion. Meta-analyses were performed using random and fixed effect models on continuous measures (mean), mean difference (Δ), and proportions (%). RESULTS: A total of 26 articles reporting on 2839 patients were selected for inclusion. The mean patient age was 44.0 ± 3.9 (range 16.0-84.0), with an average symptom duration of 5.3 ± 2.8 years. Among these patients, 56.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 52.3-60.6) were male and 77.0% (95% CI: 56.6-92.3) had nasal polyposis (NP). Patients with and without NP reported substantial reductions in both 22-item sino-nasal outcome test facial pain/pressure (with NP: -1.4 [95% CI: -1.6 to -1.2; relative reduction 59.1%]; without NP: -1.5 [95% CI: -1.9 to -1.1; relative reduction 60.9%]) and visual analogue scale (VAS) headache (with NP: -2.5 [95% CI: -2.8 to -2.1; relative reduction 67.2%]; without NP: -2.8 [95% CI: -4.7 to -1.0; relative reduction 42.7%]). Symptom reductions were greater in the without NP versus with NP group; VAS facial pain/pressure: Δ0.4 (95% CI: 0.2-0.6; p = 0.0006) and VAS headache: Δ0.4 (95% CI: 0.1-0.7; p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that CRS patients, regardless of polyp status, benefit from significant reductions in facial pain/pressure and headache following surgical therapy.

Topical steroids for chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Evidence supporting topical steroids for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyposis (CRSsNP) is unclear. Recent trials describe alternative topical steroid delivery modalities, including rinses and exhalation delivery system (EDS), necessitating a re-examination of the current literature. METHODS: Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus databases were searched from inception to February 13, 2024 for placebo-controlled randomized control trials on topical steroids used to treat CRSsNP, including topical spray, nasal irrigation, sinonasal catheter, and EDS modalities. Primary outcome measures included total symptom scores (TSS) (Δ) and response rates (odds ratio). RESULTS: Ten trials (N = 751) were included for meta-analysis, with a mean age of 47.5 years (range: 18-80 years; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 43.9-51.2 years). Topical steroids delivered by any method significantly improved TSS in CRSsNP patients (Δ0.4; 95% CI: 0.3-0.6; p < 0.0001). When stratified by allergy status, CRSsNP patients without allergy had significantly improved TSS when treated with EDS (Δ0.4; 95% CI: 0.1-0.7; p = 0.01), but not with topical spray (Δ0.04; 95% CI: -0.9 to 1.0; p = 0.94). Patients treated with EDS or sinonasal catheter responded significantly better compared to placebo (odds ratio [OR]: 3.4; 95% CI: 1.9-6.0; p < 0.0001; OR: 12.4; 95% CI: 1.8-83.8; p < 0.01), whereas patients treated with topical spray had no significant difference (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 0.9-4.0; p = 0.12). CONCLUSIONS: Topical steroids are effective in treating CRSsNP, especially when delivered via EDS or sinonasal catheter. Future trials comparing steroid delivery mechanisms using validated outcome measures in CRSsNP populations are needed.

Comparison of trigeminal lateralization with differing stimulants.

Trigeminal-specific stimulants have been shown to activate different receptors preferentially and this likely accounts for variation in sensory perception. It is unclear whether trigeminal sensitivity is similar across different transient receptor potential (TRP) receptors or if dysfunction of different receptors results in differing patient symptoms. Therefore, a prospective cohort study was conducted, consisting of trigeminal lateralization testing with three different stimulants (eucalyptol, isothiocyanate, acetic acid), olfaction testing with Sniffin' Sticks, and measurement of various patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs). A total of 50 participants were enrolled across the olfactory spectrum. Mean TDI score was 27.1 ± 8.3 (range 7.0-39.5) with 38% normosmic and 62% dysosmic. Mean trigeminal lateralization scores out of 20 in the overall cohort were 16.18 (2.78) for eucalyptol, 14.94 (3.49) for mustard oil, and 15.28 (3.68) for vinegar. Eucalyptol showed a significant correlation with threshold scores of Sniffin' Sticks. A significant correlation was found between acetic acid and various PROMs. None of the lateralization scores of the trigeminal stimulants correlated to each other significantly and there was no correlation to age. The lack of correlation suggests that the measured sensitivity of one type of TRP receptor may not translate to similar sensitivity of the other receptors. Additional investigations with TRPV1 and TRPA1 agonists are needed to corroborate our findings.

Sexual history of patients with human papillomavirus positive and negative oropharyngeal cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Increased sexual activity is associated with higher human papillomavirus (HPV) rates; however, there is a lack of analysis comparing the sexual history of patients with HPV positive and HPV negative oropharyngeal cancer (OPC). METHODS: In this meta-analysis, PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched for articles that included patients with OPC and reported information regarding HPV status and either history of oral sex, number of sexual partners, or sexually transmitted infections (STI). RESULTS: A total of 11 studies were included with 3296 patients with OPC. Patients with HPV positive OPC were more likely than patients with HPV negative OPC to report a history of oral sex (92%, 95% CI: 87.0-97.0 vs. 74.5%, 95% CI: 50.6-98.4, p < 0.0001), higher mean number of sexual partners (18.4 partners, 95% CI: 1.5-35.4 vs. 7.2 partners, 95% CI: 1.0-13.4, p < 0.0001), and more frequent history of STI (23.7%, 95% CI: 18.4-29.0 vs. 8.8%, 95% CI: 4.7-12.8, p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to patients with HPV negative OPC, our analysis shows a larger proportion of patients with HPV positive OPC had participated in oral sex, had a higher number of sexual partners, and had a higher proportion of STI history.

Vascular events in patients with head and neck cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the incidence of vascular events in patients with head and neck cancer. REVIEW METHODS: Primary studies identified through April 2023. Meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: There were 146 studies included in the systematic review. Rates of events were collected in the overall group, those with chemoprophylaxis, and those that underwent surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. Of 1 184 160 patients, 4.3% had a vascular event. Radiation therapy had highest risk of overall events and stroke when compared to surgery and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy had a higher risk of stroke and overall events when compared to surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Vascular events occur in 4%-5% of patients with head and neck cancer. Our data does not support the use of routine anticoagulation. Patients undergoing radiation therapy had the highest frequency of events.

Characteristics and outcomes of interventions for pediatric laryngomalacia: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze characteristics of children treated for laryngomalacia to determine predictive factors and provide an updated meta-analysis on outcomes. METHODS: A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines from inception to May 2, 2023, using CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Study screening, data extraction, quality rating, and risk of bias assessment were performed by 2 independent reviewers. Data were meta-analyzed using fixed-/random-effects model to derive continuous measures (mean), proportions (%), and mean difference (Δ) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: 100 articles were identified with information on outcomes of pediatric patients with laryngomalacia (N = 18,317). The mean age was 10.6 months (range: 0 to 252, 95%CI: 9.6 to 11.6, p = 0.00) with a 1.4:1 male to female ratio. Many patients presented with stridor (87.9%, 95% CI: 69.8 to 98.4), and the most common comorbidity at time of diagnosis was gastroesophageal reflux disease (48.8%, 95%CI: 40.9 to 56.8). Based on the patient population included in our analysis, 86.1% received supraglottoplasty (95% CI: 78.7 to 92.1). A total of 73.6% (95% CI: 65.5 to 81.0) had reported complete resolution of symptoms. For patients with a concurrent diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing receiving supraglottoplasty, the apnea-hypopnea index improved with a mean difference of -10.0 (95%CI: 15.6 to -4.5) events per hour post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Laryngomalacia continues to be a common problem in the pediatric population. Supraglottoplasty remains an effective treatment option leading to symptomatic improvement in many cases. For those with concurrent sleep disordered breathing, supraglottoplasty lowers the apnea-hypopnea index.

Neuromodulation for Treatment of Tinnitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the treatment efficacy of neuromodulation versus sham for the treatment of tinnitus. DATA SOURCES: Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus. REVIEW METHODS: The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus were searched from inception through May 2023 for English language articles documenting "neuromodulation" and "tinnitus" stratified by sham-controlled randomized control trials with 40 or more patients. Data collected included Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI), Tinnitus Questionnaire, and Visual Analog Scale. A Meta-analysis of continuous measures (mean) and proportions (%) were conducted. RESULTS: A total of 19 randomized control trials (N = 1186) were included. The mean age was 48.4 ± 5.3 (range: 19-74), mean duration of tinnitus was 3.8 ± 3.4 years, 61% [56.2-65.7] male, and 55.7% [46-65] with unilateral tinnitus. The short-term effect of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation on THI score is -16.2 [-23.1 to -9.3] and -19 [-30.1 to -7.8], respectively. The long-term effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on THI score is -8.6 [-11.5 to -5.7]. Transcranial direct current stimulation decreases BDI score by -11.8 [-13.3 to -10.3]. CONCLUSION: As measured by the Tinnitus Handicap Index, our findings suggest the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation reach significant benefit in the short term, whereas repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation reaches significant benefit in the long term. Based on the BDI, transcranial direct current stimulation significantly reduces comorbid depression in patients with tinnitus.

Complications After Pediatric Temporal Bone Fractures by Classification System: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the rates of complications after pediatric temporal bone fractures (TBF) and the utility of the longitudinal, transverse, and mixed versus the otic capsule sparing (OCS) and otic capsule violating (OCV) classification systems in predicting these complications. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL. REVIEW METHODS: Per PRISMA guidelines, studies of children with TBFs were included. Meta-analyses of proportions were performed. RESULTS: A total of 22 studies with 1376 TBFs were included. Children with TBF had higher rates of conductive hearing loss (CHL) than sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) (31.3% [95% confidence interval [CI] 23.2-40.1] vs 12.9% [95% CI 8.9-17.5]). No differences in both CHL and SNHL were seen between longitudinal and transverse TBFs; however, OCV TBFs had higher rates of SNHL than OCS TBFs (59.3% [95% CI 27.8-87.0] vs 4.9% [95% CI 1.5-10.1]). Of all patients, 9.9% [95% CI 7.2-13.1] experienced facial nerve (FN) paresis/paralysis, and 13.4% [95% CI 5.9-23.2] experienced cerebrospinal fluid otorrhea. Transverse TBFs had higher rates of FN paresis/paralysis than longitudinal (27.7% [95% CI 17.4-40.0] vs 8.6% [95% CI 5.2-12.8]), but rates were similar between OCS and OCV TBFs. CONCLUSION: CHL was the most common complication after TBF in children; however, neither classification system was superior in identifying CHL. The traditional system was more effective at identifying FN injuries, and the new system was more robust at identifying SNHL. While these results suggest that both classification systems might have utility in evaluating pediatric TBFs, these analyses were limited by sample size. Future research on outcomes of pediatric TBFs stratified by type of fracture, mainly focusing on long-term outcomes, is needed.

Adult Laryngomalacia: A Scoping Review.

OBJECTIVE: This review sought to determine the characteristics of adults diagnosed with new onset laryngomalacia including airway symptoms, laryngoscopic findings, treatments, and outcomes. Moreover, we wanted to highlight suspected limitations in the literature. DATA SOURCES: Studies were identified through CINAHL, Cochrane Review, PubMed, and Scopus published between 1966 and 2023. REVIEW METHODS: The search was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist by 2 independent investigators. A meta-analysis of proportions and continuous measures was conducted. RESULTS: Of the 1121 abstracts identified, 33 articles pertaining to laryngomalacia in the adult population were included. The most common presenting symptoms were stridor at rest (78.3%, 65.1-88.3) and dyspnea with exertion (83.8%, 64.8-96.3). The most suspected etiology was exercise-induced (86.0%, 69.4-95.5), and the most common description of laryngomalacia on visualization was collapse of supraglottic structures during exercise (93.3%, 79.0-99.1). Nonsurgical options were attempted in 87.0% (54.0-99.1), which included oral appliances, respiratory retraining, breathing techniques, and working with a speech pathologist. Surgical options were ultimately performed in 84.2% (75.0-91.0). Complete resolution of symptoms following therapy was seen in 61.9% (48.0-74.6). CONCLUSION: Adult onset laryngomalacia is difficult to characterize. It typically presents in patients during exercise, with neurological injury, or idiopathically. Surgical management can lead to improvement or complete resolution of symptoms. The need for a universal nomenclature is highlighted in this review, as it is inconsistently classified.

Does REM AHI Predict Persistent OSA After Pediatric Adenotonsillectomy?

OBJECTIVE: The utility of REM AHI in managing pediatric obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is not fully understood. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship of preoperative REM AHI to postoperative persistence of OSA in children who underwent adenotonsillectomy. METHODS: This retrospective chart review identified children under the age of 18 years that received an adenotonsillectomy for OSA and a preoperative and postoperative polysomnogram. Children with craniofacial or neuromuscular disorders or a tracheostomy were excluded. The primary outcome was the postoperative persistence of OSA, defined as a postoperative obstructive apnea-hypopnea index (oAHI) ≥ 1.5 events/hour. REM-predominant OSA was defined as a ratio of REM/NREM AHI ≥ 2. REM AHI minus NREM AHI and REM AHI minus oAHI helped to identify patients with a larger distribution of REM AHI. RESULTS: A total of 353 patients were included. Postoperative persistent OSA was seen in 232 (65.7%) children. The preoperative REM AHI, REM AHI minus NREM AHI, and REM AHI minus oAHI of children with persistent OSA did not differ significantly from children with resolution of OSA. Rates of persistence were not different between those with REM-predominant OSA and REM-independent OSA (63.8% vs 70.7%, P = .218). CONCLUSION: This study suggests that preoperative REM AHI may be a poor predictor of OSA persistence after adenotonsillectomy. Further study is needed to help characterize how pre-operative REM AHI should impact clinicians' decision making, family counseling and recommendations.

Direct impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rhinology practice.

KEY POINTS: The pandemic caused an increase in computed tomography imaging in patients with sinusitis, which persisted post-COVID. Nasal endoscopies significantly decreased during COVID but returned to pre-COVID levels in 2022. The management of cerebrospinal fluid leaks, tumors, and orbital pathology was not impacted by the pandemic.

Global Otitis Media Incidence Changes During the COVID Pandemic: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to analyze the global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and national lockdowns on the incidence of otitis media (OM), a common otolaryngologic disease. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Scopus, and CINAHL. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed using PRISMA reporting guidelines. OM incidence (measured as newly diagnosed OM cases over total patients seen over a time period), OM antibiotic prescriptions (OM cases for which antibiotics were prescribed over total OM cases), and tympanostomy tube surgeries (all tympanostomy tube surgeries over total surgical cases) were extracted. Meta-analysis of proportions and comparison of proportions were performed. RESULTS: Of 1004 studies screened, 26 studies in 11 countries met inclusion criteria. The percentages of OM cases pre- and during-lockdown were 6.67%, 95% CI [4.68%, 8.99%], and 2.63% [2.02%, 3.31%], respectively, with an OR of 0.31 favoring during-lockdown [0.25, 0.39] (p < 0.00001). Antibiotic prescriptions per all OM episodes pre- and during-lockdown were 1.61% [0.17%, 8.46%] and 0.62% [0.07%, 3.32%], with an OR of 0.37 favoring during-lockdown ([0.35, 0.40], p < 0.00001). Tympanostomy tube surgery proportions pre- and during-lockdown were 31.64% [6.85%, 64.26%] and 29.99% [4.14%, 66.55%], with an OR of 0.94 favoring neither during- nor pre-lockdown [0.45, 2.00] (p = 0.88). CONCLUSION: The incidence of OM decreased significantly following international lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with antibiotic prescriptions for OM episodes showing a corresponding decrease. Despite these reductions, numbers of tympanostomy tube procedures did not change significantly. These reductions are likely due to social distancing, decreased exposure through high transmission facilities such as day cares, decreased health care utilization, and even possibly decreased air pollution. Laryngoscope, 134:2028-2037, 2024.

Recurrence rate of pleomorphic adenoma of the lacrimal gland: systematic review and meta-analysis.

PURPOSE: The aim is to increase the understanding of lacrimal gland pleomorphic adenoma's recurrence rate and the factors that influence it. METHODS: A systematic search of PubMed, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The data in the included studies were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: Twenty-two studies were included representing 963 patients from 12 different countries. The pooled analysis of the recurrence rate was 8.83% (95% CI: 5.08-13.50). In the event of recurrence, there was a 75.17% (95% CI: 65.98-82.94) chance of benign recurrence and a 28.35% (95% CI: 19.66-38.41) chance of malignant recurrences, with malignant recurrence occurring almost exclusively after a benign recurrence. The results showed that 47.09% (95% CI: 24.60 to 70.22) of recurrent tumors had a ruptured pseudocapsule and 6.35% (95% CI: 0.82 to 16.54) had an intact pseudocapsule with a significant difference between the two. Of the recurrent tumors, 51.50% (95% CI: 9.28 to 92.39) were biopsied compared to 8.83% (95% CI: 3.40 to 16.49) of the total; the difference between these two proportions was also found to be significant. CONCLUSION: There was a statistically significant difference in the rates of recurrence between tumors that were either biopsied or had a ruptured pseudocapsule compared to those that did not. This evidence adds additional support for excisional biopsy being the procedure of choice for LGPA and reinforces the importance of keeping the pseudocapsule intact during surgical resection.