Changes in management of head and neck malignancies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Objective: Despite multiple studies from high-income countries, reports from low- and middle-income countries on the impact of COVID-19 on head and neck cancer care remain sparse. This study aimed to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on head and neck cancer patients at a tertiary reference centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: We included 228 patients with malignant head and neck tumours evaluated and treated between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021. Patient demographics, histological characteristics, and treatment modalities were retrospectively obtained and compared between the pre-pandemic period (pre-COVID-19 group) and the period after the implementation of COVID-19 restrictive measures (COVID-19 group). Results: Patients were significantly older during the COVID-19 pandemic. In particular, 63 patients (44.7%) were under 65 and 78 (55.3%) were 65 or older, while in the pre-COVID-19 period, 53 patients (60.9%) were under 65 and 34 (39.1%) were 65 or older (p = 0.017). The pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 groups did not significantly differ regarding other patient- and tumour characteristics, or primary treatment modalities. Conclusions: During the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly fewer patients were under 65 at the time of initial work-up, potentially reflecting the more enhanced disease-related anxiety of the younger population. Future studies are warranted to address this population's specific educational and psychological needs to ensure appropriate cancer care.

Early Results With the New Active Bone-Conduction Hearing Implant: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

OBJECTIVE: The bone conduction implant (BCI) 602 is a new transcutaneous BCI with smaller dimensions. However, limited patient numbers restrict the statistical power and generalizability of the current studies. The present systematic review and meta-analysis summarize early audiological and medical outcomes of adult and pediatric patients implanted with the BCI 602 due to mixed or conductive hearing loss. DATA SOURCE: Following the Preferred Reporting items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, 108 studies were reviewed, and 6 (5.6%) were included in the meta-analysis. REVIEW METHOD: The data on study and patient characteristics, surgical outcomes, and audiological test results were extracted from each article. Meta-analysis employed the fixed-effect and random-effects models to analyze the mean differences (MDs) between pre- and postoperative performances. RESULTS: In total, 116 patients were evaluated, including 64 (55%) adult and 52 (45%) pediatric patients. No intraoperative adverse events were reported, while postoperative complications were reported in 2 (3.1%) adult and 2 (3.8%) pediatric patients. Studies consistently showed significant improvements in audiological outcomes, quality of life, and sound localization in the aided condition. In the meta-analysis, we observed a significant difference in the unaided compared to the aided condition in sound field thresholds (n = 112; MD, -27.05 dB; P < 0.01), signal-to-noise ratio (n = 96; MD, -6.35 dB; P < 0.01), and word recognition scores (n = 96; MD, 68.89%; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The implantation of the BCI 602 was associated with minimal surgical complications and excellent audiological outcomes for both the pediatric and the adult cohort. Therefore, our analysis indicates a high level of safety and reliability. Further research should focus on direct comparisons with other BCIs and long-term functional outcomes.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on management of surgically treated laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted the treatment of cancer patients, particularly in terms of treatment choices. This study aimed to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the management of surgically treated laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) patients, focusing specifically on changes in treatment modalities. We retrospectively analyzed the data from 102 patients who underwent surgical treatment for LSCC between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2021, at our tertiary medical center. Patient demographics, histological characteristics, and treatment modalities were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between two time periods: pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19, marked by the introduction of the hospital entry triage. Of the total patients, 53 (52%) were in the pre-COVID-19 group, and 49 (48%) were in the COVID-19 group. No significant differences in patient characteristics at the initial work-up were observed between the two groups. However, a significant shift in treatment modalities was noted. Fewer patients received postoperative adjuvant therapy in the COVID-19 group (70.5%) compared to the pre-COVID-19 group (95.5%). Importantly, this change did not significantly impact the one-year overall survival (OS) rates. The reduction in the use of postoperative adjuvant therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic may be attributed to efforts to minimize hospital visits due to the risk of COVID-19 infection. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and to investigate the potential effects of such changes in treatment modalities on the long-term survival.

Experience With the New Active Transcutaneous Bone-Conduction Implant With Smaller Dimensions.

OBJECTIVE: Recently, the Bonebridge 602 implant was introduced. Its smaller dimensions facilitate implantation even in surgically demanding cases. However, in extreme anatomical conditions, implant lifts are still required. We intended to report on the medical and audiological outcomes of all patients implanted with the implant with a secondary focus on the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of the use of 1-mm lifts. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Tertiary academic center. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all patients implanted with the Bonebridge 602. Patient demographics and surgically-specific data were collected from the medical charts. Furthermore, audiological results were assessed. Outcomes were compared between implantations with versus without lifts. RESULTS: Twenty-one devices were implanted during the study period. Satisfactory audiological results were observed, while no intra- or postoperative adverse events occurred. The majority of patients were daily users at the end of the observation period (n = 20/21, 95.2%), and one patient (n = 1/21, 4.8%) was a nonuser after 6 months of use because of subjective dissatisfaction. Due to anatomical considerations, 1-mm lifts were used in 4 implantations (19.0%). The application of lifts did not result in prolonged surgical times, complications, or shorter time of use, nor did it negatively affect audiometric results. CONCLUSION: Implantations with the new and smaller Bonebridge were associated with gratifying medical and audiological outcomes. Still, in extreme anatomical conditions, 1-mm lifts are necessary. Nonetheless, surgical placement with the help of lifts seems safe, effective, and feasible, and is a viable option in cases with challenging anatomies due to previous surgeries or anomalies.

Smart Artificial Soft Tissue - Application to a Hybrid Simulator for Training of Laryngeal Pacemaker Implantation.

Surgical simulators are safe and evolving educational tools for developing surgical skills. In particular, virtual and hybrid simulators are preferred due to their detailedness, customization and evaluation capabilities. To accelerate the revolution of a novel class of hybrid simulators, a Smart Artificial Soft Tissue is presented here, that determines the relative position of conductive surgical instruments in artificial soft tissue by inverse resistance mappings without the need for a fixed reference point. This is particularly beneficial for highly deformable structures when specific target regions need to be reached or avoided. The carbon-black-silicone composite used can be shaped almost arbitrarily and its elasticity can be tuned by modifying the silicone base material. Thus, objective positional feedback for haptically correct artificial soft tissue can be ensured. This is demonstrated by the development of a laryngeal phantom to simulate the implantation of laryngeal pacemaker electrodes. Apart from the position-detecting larynx phantom, the simulator uses a tablet computer for the virtual representation of the vocal folds' movements, in accordance with the electrical stimulation by the inserted electrodes. The possibility of displaying additional information about target regions and anatomy is intended to optimize the learning progress and illustrates the extensibility of hybrid surgical simulators.

Progressive Sensorineural Hearing Loss in Vibrant Soundbridge Users Requiring Cochlear Implantation.

Less than 20% of patients with sensorineural hearing loss (HL) provided with the Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) experience a progressive HL and warrant cochlear implantation (CI). The aim of this study was to identify possible predictors of progressive HL prior to VSB implantation. This retrospective study included all consecutive ears with sensorineural HL provided with the VSB between 1998 and 2016. The patient cohort was divided in a study group comprising patients who underwent CI (CI group) after years of VSB usage and those who did not require VSB replacement during the observational time (control group). Pre- and postoperative pure-tone audiometry thresholds were compared among the two groups. Fifteen out of 81 VSB devices (18.5%) required a CI. The CI group had higher preoperative air-conduction (AC) thresholds than the control group (64.3 ± 8.9 dB vs. 56.3 ± 12.9 dB; p = 0.007) at the time of the VSB implantation. On average, the CI group was significantly younger (39.1 ± 12.3 years vs. 52.6 ± 16.2 years; p = 0.003). In conclusion, VSB users with higher preoperative AC thresholds and younger age at the time of VSB implantation might be at risk for progressive HL within the upcoming eight years and need a further CI surgery. Preoperative counseling is particularly advisable in this patient group.

Accuracy of local conduction velocity determination from non-fractionated cardiac activation signals.

Local velocity and direction of cardiac excitation spread can be estimated from four extra-cellular electric potential waveforms recorded simultaneously by closely-spaced electrodes. In this work, three methods for the determination of these parameters in case of non-fractionated electrograms were compared. Waveforms recorded during in-vitro experiments were analyzed in terms of their noise components. Noise according to the experimental environment was generated and added to noise-free waveforms obtained from computer simulations. For each of the three investigated methods the accuracy of the determined parameters velocity and direction was evaluated for three different noise levels and three types of propagation.

Oblique propagation of activation allows the detection of uncoupling microstructures from cardiac near field behavior.

Wave fronts of cardiac activation, when propagating oblique to the fiber axis, reveal small fractionations and distortions in extracellular potential waveforms Phi(e) as well as in parameters derived from Phi(e) like dPhi(e)/dt and the gradient of Phi(e), the cardiac near field E. dPhi(e)/dt shows multiple deflections and E changes its morphology forming abnormal or even two or multiple subsequent loops. We analyze segments of such irregular loops of E obtained from in-vitro experiments and from computer simulation of a 2D-tissue sheet with a longitudinal oriented obstacle. In computer simulations we found that the individual sections of E reflect fairly well individual pathways of activation separated and delayed by the presence of a structural obstacle similar to connective tissue embedded longitudinally in heart tissue. Electrophysiological experiments with papillary muscles confirm this near field behavior.