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.

Feasibility and Safety of Outpatient Thyroidectomy: A Narrative Scoping Review.

Background: Outpatient thyroid surgery is gaining popularity as it can reduce length of hospital stay, decrease costs of care, and increase patient satisfaction. There remains a significant variation in the use of this practice including a perceived knowledge gap with regards to the safety of outpatient thyroidectomies and how to go about implementing standardized institutional protocols to ensure safe same-day discharge. This review summarizes the information available on the subject based on existing published studies and guidelines. Methods: This is a scoping review of the literature focused on the safety, efficacy and patient satisfaction associated with outpatient thyroidectomies. The review also summarizes and editorializes the most recent American Thyroid Association guidelines. Results: In total, 11 studies were included in the analysis: 6 studies were retrospective analyses, 3 were retrospective reviews of prospective data, and 2 were prospective studies. The relative contraindications to outpatient thyroidectomy have been highlighted, including: complex medical conditions, anticipated difficult surgical dissection, patients on anticoagulation, lack of home support, and patient anxiety toward an outpatient procedure. Utilizing these identified features, an outpatient protocol has been proposed. Conclusion: The salient features regarding patient safety and selection criteria and how to develop a protocol implementing ambulatory thyroidectomies have been identified and reviewed. In conclusion, outpatient thyroidectomy is safe, associated with high patient satisfaction and decreased health costs when rigorous institutional protocols are established and implemented. Successful outpatient thyroidectomies require standardized preoperative selection, clear discharge criteria and instructions, and interprofessional collaboration between the surgeon, anesthetist and same-day nursing staff.

Patient Perspectives on Removing Adult Tonsillectomy and Septoplasty from the Government Health Insurance Plan in a Publicly Funded Health Care System.

In several publicly funded health care systems, including Ontario, Canada, adult tonsillectomies and septoplasties have been suggested to be removed or "delisted" from the government health insurance plan. Thus, the objective of this study was to explore patient perspectives regarding out of pocket (OOP) payment for these procedures. An anonymous survey was administered to patients consented to undergo a tonsillectomy or septoplasty at a community otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) practice. The survey asked patients if they would pay the projected cost for their surgery OOP and the maximum amount of time they would wait for their surgery. The survey also contained questions on socioeconomic status and disease severity. Seventy-one patients were included. Overall, 21% of patients were willing to pay OOP for their surgery. Forty-nine percent of patients reported that the maximum amount of time they would be willing to wait for their surgery was 2 to 6 months. There was no significant correlation found between any of the demographic variables or disease severity and willingness to pay OOP for these surgeries. In this study, a small percentage of patients who met the clinical indications for a tonsillectomy or a septoplasty would pay for their surgery in the event that it was not covered by the government health insurance plan. These surgeries are common operations and delisting them could potentially decrease the provision of these services and have a significant impact on Canadian OHNS practices.

Resource development in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery: an analysis on patient education resource development.

BACKGROUND: There is a need for educational tools in the consenting process of otolaryngology-head and neck procedures. A development strategy for the creation of educational tools in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery, particularly pamphlets on the peri-operative period in an adenotonsillectomy, is described. METHODS: A participatory design approach, which engages key stakeholders in the development of an educational tool, is used. Pamphlets were created through a review of traditional and grey literature and then reviewed by a community expert in the field. The pamphlets were then reviewed by an interdisciplinary team including educational experts, and finally by less vulnerable members of the target population. Questionnaires evaluating the pamphlets' content, layout, style, and general qualitative features were included. RESULTS: The pamphlets yielded high ratings across all domains regardless of patient population. General feedback was provided by a non-vulnerable patient population and final pamphlets were drafted. CONCLUSIONS: By using a participatory design model, the pamphlets are written at an appropriate educational level to incorporate a broad audience. Furthermore, this methodology can be used in future resource development of educational tools.

Otoscopy simulation training in a classroom setting: a novel approach to teaching otoscopy to medical students.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To determine the effectiveness of using of an otoscopy stimulator to teach medical students the primary principles of otoscopy in large group training sessions and improve their confidence in making otologic diagnoses. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional survey design. METHODS: In March 2013, the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery held a large-scale otoscopy simulator teaching session at the MaRS Innovation Center for 92 first and second year University of Toronto medical students. Following the training session, students were provided with an optional electronic, nine-question survey related to their experience with learning otoscopy using the simulators alone, and in comparison to traditional methods of teaching. RESULTS: Thirty-four medical students completed the survey. Ninety-one percent of the respondents indicated that the overall quality of the event was either very good or excellent. A total of 71% of respondents either agreed, or strongly agreed, that the otoscopy simulator training session improved their confidence in diagnosing pathologies of the ear. The majority (70%) of students indicated that the training session had stimulated their interest in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery as a medical specialty. CONCLUSIONS: Organizing large-group otoscopy simulator training sessions is one method whereby students can become familiar with a wide variety of pathologies of the ear and improve both their diagnostic accuracy and their confidence in making otologic diagnoses. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA

Evaluating postoperative pain in monopolar cautery versus harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To compare postoperative pain between monopolar cautery tonsillectomy and harmonic scalpel tonsillectomy (HST). STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial using paired organs. SETTING: Community hospital with academic affiliation. SUBJECTS: One hundred and fourteen consecutive patients six years of age or older undergoing tonsillectomy for indications of hypertrophy or recurrent infection. METHODS: For each subject, monopolar cautery tonsillectomy was performed by four senior surgeons on one side and HST was performed on the other side. Allocation of technique to side was randomized and revealed to the surgeon at the start of the operation. Validated visual analog pain scales were used to quantify pain at rest and with swallowing for each side and were completed daily for 14 days. All subjects were prescribed weight-equivalent doses of analgesics. Secondary outcome measures included postoperative complications (hemorrhage and readmission). RESULTS: Pairwise comparisons of pain scores revealed no significant difference between monopolar cautery tonsillectomy and HST (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Subjects undergoing monopolar cautery tonsillectomy do not experience increased postoperative pain in comparison to HST.

Clinical experience with angulated, hand-activated, wireless instruments in an optical tracking system for endoscopic sinus surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Image-guided surgery of the paranasal sinuses has become a valuable tool in endoscopic sinus surgery. Optical image-guided systems using infrared tracking technology are widely used. We present our experience with new angulated, hand-activated, wireless instruments in an optical tracking system for endoscopic sinus surgery. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Community university teaching hospital. METHODS: Sixty-five consecutive patients underwent computer-assisted endoscopic sinus surgery using a Stryker Navigation System (Stryker Canada LP, Burlington, ON). Patients underwent preoperative fine-cut axial computed tomography. At the time of surgery, anatomic fiducials were registered and the measured fiducial registration error (FRE), which is an indicator of the accuracy of the optical system, was recorded. Angulated battery-powered active instrumentation was used during the surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: FRE, the number of anatomic fiducials used, complication rates pre- and postuse of computer-assisted sinus surgery. RESULTS: The mean FRE was 2.02 +/- 0.48 mm. The mean number of anatomic fiducials used for registration was 5.98. There were no major orbital or intracranial complications. Use of angulated instruments rarely caused a line of sight problem. CONCLUSIONS: The new optical system has a measured FRE comparable to that of other image guidance systems. Our clinical experience shows that the instrumentation decreases the "line of sight" problem and is easy to navigate and manipulate without a wire attachment to the main computer.