How we used a patient visit tracker tool to advance experiential learning in systems-based practice and quality improvement in a medical student clinic.

Poorly designed healthcare systems increase costs and preventable medical errors. To address these issues, systems-based practice (SBP) education provides future physicians with the tools to identify systemic errors and implement quality improvement (QI) initiatives to enhance the delivery of cost-effective, safe and multi-disciplinary care. Although SBP education is being implemented in residency programs and is mandated by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) as one of its core competencies, it has largely not been integrated into undergraduate medical education. We propose that Medical Student-Faculty Collaborative Clinics (MSFCCs) may be the ideal environment in which to train medical students in SBPs and QI initiatives, as they allow students to play pivotal roles in project development, administration, and management. Here we describe a process of experiential learning that was developed within a newly established MSFCC, which challenged students to identify inefficiencies, implement interventions, and track the results. After identifying bottlenecks in clinic operations, our students designed a patient visit tracker tool to monitor clinic flow and implemented solutions to decrease patient visit times. Our model allowed students to drive their own active learning in a practical clinical setting, providing early and unique training in crucial QI skills.

Reducing Risks of Graft Failure for Composite Skin-Cartilage Grafts.

Facial skin defects pose unique challenges for the reconstructive surgeon. Aesthetically complex areas involving a free margin-such as the ear, eyelid, columella, columella-lobule interface, soft tissue triangle, alar rim, and internal nasal lining-are particularly demanding, as secondary soft tissue contracture in these locations can lead to a very poor cosmetic outcome. In these cases, composite grafts offer an ideal combination of soft tissue coverage and structural rigidity, all accomplished in a single-stage surgery. Composite grafts are often underused in facial reconstructive surgery due to the tenuous blood supply and high reported rates of graft failure.

Patient Recovery and Satisfaction with Perioperative Care After Rhinoplasty.

Background: Recovery after rhinoplasty is not well characterized in the literature. Objective: To quantify key aspects of patient recovery after rhinoplasty and characterize factors that may impact recovery and overall satisfaction with perioperative care. Methods: Prospective cohort study of rhinoplasty patients undergoing surgery at a tertiary referral center between January 2018 and January 2020, and completed a patient experience questionnaire at first postoperative visit. Results: Fifty-one patients underwent functional septorhinoplasty. Mean age was 37.8 years (standard error [SE] 2.4) with median 36.0 years (range 16-79). Fifty-three percent were female (n = 27). Patients resumed most daily activities within 4.1 days. Overall satisfaction with perioperative care was high (mean 9.6, SE 0.1), although 29% of patients (n = 15) wished they had more information regarding surgical care. Patients who did not desire additional information reported higher satisfaction and faster time to activity recovery compared with those who desired additional information. Conclusions: Rhinoplasty patients are able to resume most routine activities within 4.1 days after surgery, although patients desiring additional information about care demonstrate lower satisfaction with perioperative care and slower recovery compared to those who felt well informed.

Defining Typical Acetaminophen and Narcotic Usage in the Postoperative Rhinoplasty Patient.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the acetaminophen and narcotic use pattern of the postoperative rhinoplasty patient. To describe a pain level and pain medication usage pattern of the typical post-rhinoplasty patient and identify demographic considerations. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study at a tertiary care center. METHODS: Rhinoplasty patients were given standardized perioperative pain instructions and narcotic medication (18 tabs oxycodone) along with a pain medication use survey. Postoperatively, survey and tracking information was collected regarding narcotic and acetaminophen use at their first postoperative appointment. Patients were asked about non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, aspirin, and chronic opioid use. Narcotic and acetaminophen use along pain levels (1-10) at time of use were recorded by patients at 4-hour increments postoperatively until their first postoperative visit. RESULTS: Pain medication usage (oxycodone and acetaminophen) peaked on (postoperative day 1) POD1. Pain was significantly higher in younger patients (30 years old or younger), female patients, and primary rhinoplasty patients. Pain was correlated with acetaminophen and oxycodone use for women, and acetaminophen used for men. Autologous rib grafting was not correlated with higher narcotic use. CONCLUSION: Describing a pain medication usage pattern for the typical post-rhinoplasty patient provides both patients and clinicians important knowledge of postoperative pain expectations and has the potential to reduce both the amount of narcotic prescribed by providers and the amount of narcotic used by patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 (Case Series) Laryngoscope, 131:48-53, 2021.

Rare electrosurgical complications in tonsillectomy: Analysis of national adverse event reporting.

OBJECTIVES: To identify U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-reported adverse events related to electrosurgical devices during tonsillectomy and characterize the most common devices and patient/provider sequelae. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of FDA database of device-related adverse events. METHODS: Data were extracted from the OpenFDA database for all adverse events reported for electrosurgical devices used in tonsillectomies from January 2008 to December 2017. Adverse events were classified by device, event type, etiology, complication severity, and patient disposition. RESULTS: Six hundred fifty-two adverse events were identified, with 195 events (30%) leading to known bodily injury to patient/provider. Device failure was the most common adverse event (202 events, 31%), followed by burns in 187 patient (98% of burns) and three provider events (2%). Burn injuries occurred most frequently with coblation devices (78 events, 42% of burns), monopolar electrocautery (48 events, 25%), and electrosurgical generators (23 events, 13%). Burn injuries most commonly occurred in the oral cavity (144 events, 76% of burn events) and were most commonly first-degree (28 events, 15%). Complications related to burns were managed conservatively for 36% of burn events (68 events), and secondary surgery was rarely required (8 events, 4%). Postoperative bleeding (173 events, 26%; 3 deaths) and intraoperative fire (73 events, 11%) were also reported. Device failures caused significant OR delay or cancellation in 17% of occurrences (35 events). CONCLUSION: Numerous complications may occur with various devices used during tonsillectomy and can result in significant patient/provider harm and sequelae. Surgeons must understand the nature of such complications to facilitate safe perioperative care and inform preoperative patient discussions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA Laryngoscope, 130:1138-1143, 2020.

Outcomes of Cartilage-Sparing Wide Local Excision for Primary Melanoma of the External Ear.

OBJECTIVE: To describe outcomes after cartilage-sparing wide local excision for primary melanoma of the external ear. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of patients undergoing external ear melanoma excision using a cartilage-sparing approach at a university-based tertiary care center between 2010 and 2018. SETTING: University-based tertiary care center. SUBJECT AND METHODS: Chart review was performed for all patients over age 18 who were treated for melanoma of the external ear at Massachusetts Eye and Ear between 2010 and 2018. Patients with melanoma in situ or with melanomas in noncartilaginous areas of the ear (eg, lobule) were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 8 patients underwent cartilage-sparing excision. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 7 patients, with positive lymph nodes in 1 of 7 cases. Positive margins and local recurrence occurred in 1 of 8 (12.5%) patients during a mean (SD) follow-up time of 22.5 (15.1) months (SE, 5.3 months). No distant metastasis or death was observed. CONCLUSION: Cartilage-sparing wide local excision for melanoma of the external ear is a surgical approach that enables surgeons to follow guideline-recommended oncologic excision margins but has the added benefit of improved postoperative aesthetic outcomes as well as reconstructive options through preservation of the auricular cartilage framework.

Cognitive and Quality of Life-Related Burdens of Illness in Pediatric Allergic Airway Disease.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the prevalence of pediatric allergic airway disease (PAA) and recognize its impact on cognitive function, childhood activities, use of early intervention, and missed school days. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis of National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), 2014 to 2017. SETTING: US households. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: An NHIS survey of US children and responding caregivers was analyzed to determine the prevalence of PAA, including allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. Associations were determined between the presence of PAA and activities limited by difficulty remembering, limitation in the amount of childhood play, use of special education/early intervention, and number of missed school days in the past 12 months. Multivariate analysis was used to adjust for age, sex, race, ethnicity, and income level. RESULTS: An estimated 11.1 million (10.6-11.6 million, 95% confidence interval) children (mean age, 9.9 years; 56.9% male) reported a diagnosis of PAA (15.1% [14.6-15.6%]). Children with PAA missed 4.0 (3.7-4.4) school days per year vs 2.2 (2.1-2.4) days for those without PAA (P < .001, adjusted). PAA was associated with limited daily activities due to difficulty with memory (odds ratio, 1.8 [1.2-2.9]), limitations in childhood play (3.2 [2.2-4.7]), and need for special education/early intervention services (1.6 [1.4-1.8]) after adjusting for age, sex, race, ethnicity, and income level. CONCLUSION: PAA is a common condition and is associated with declines in cognitive function and school attendance as well as increased use of special education/early intervention. Given the significant prevalence and burden of illness of PAA, further attention is needed to ensure timely diagnosis and treatment.

Improvement in Snoring-Related Quality-of-Life Outcomes After Functional Nasal Surgery.

Importance: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) represents a spectrum of sleep-related disorders associated with significant medical comorbidities. Nasal airway surgery has been shown to improve SDB but no large-scale studies exist that describe the long-term impact of surgery on patient perception of snoring and nasal obstruction. Objective: To characterize longitudinal snoring symptoms and nasal obstruction after functional nasal surgery for patients with SDB, stratified by history of snoring or obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Design, Setting, and Participants: In this prospective cohort study, patients undergoing nasal surgery between 2013 and 2017 at a tertiary academic center were surveyed using Snoring Outcome Survey (SOS) and Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaires through 24 months postoperatively. Patient demographics, history of snoring, diagnosis of OSA, and prior nasal surgeries were analyzed. A total of 625 patients were recruited with 325 females (52.0%) and mean age of 36.3 years (SD 15.6), with 74.9% patients reported snoring (n = 468) and 10.7% patients (n = 67) with OSA. Patients undergoing dual functional and cosmetic septorhinoplasty with or without turbinate surgery were included. Those undergoing concomitant sinus surgery were excluded. Intervention: Functional nasal surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures: SOS and NOSE scores were collected at 2, 4, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperatively. Results: Patients undergoing nasal surgery had statistically and clinically significant improvement in NOSE score at 24 months (mean improvement 29.0 points, p < 0.0001). Patients with snoring history also had significant improvement in SOS score through 24 months (mean improvement 10.7 points, p < 0.0001). Nonsnorers demonstrated no significant change. OSA patients achieved clinically significant improvement in SOS scores through 24 months (mean improvement 31.9; p > 0.05, minimum clinically important difference = 7.6 points). Conclusions and Relevance: Nasal surgery improves long-term nasal obstruction as measured by NOSE score and, for those with comorbid snoring and OSA, can lead to a sustained improvement in snoring-related quality of life (QOL) based on SOS score. Nonsnorers did not have a significant change in snoring symptoms. SOS can be used as a practical and effective instrument to measure snoring-related QOL outcomes after nasal airway surgery. Future studies using objective measures of snoring are needed to quantify the physiologic change in snoring after treatment of nasal obstruction. Level of Evidence: 2c.

Quantifying the benefits from a care coordination program for tracheostomy placement in neonates.

OBJECTIVE: Value-based care models are becoming instrumental in structuring clinical care delivery in our healthcare climate. Our objective was to determine the value associated with implementation of a Family-Centered Care Coordination (FCCC) program for neonates undergoing tracheostomy. METHODS: A multi-disciplinary FCCC program was implemented at the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and MassGeneral Hospital for Children in January 2013. This program is designed to ensure a safe transition out of the hospital for children undergoing tracheostomy, reduce re-admission rates, and increase caregiver quality of life (QOL). Study participants included neonates undergoing tracheostomy in 2012 and 2015. This retrospective cohort study examined length of stay (LOS), utilized time-driven activity-based costing to estimate the cost of care, assessed caregiver QOL with 1-month Pediatric Tracheostomy Health Status Instrument (PTHSI) scores, and assessed complications with 6-month Medical Complications Associated with Pediatric Tracheostomy (MCAT) scores. RESULTS: Following implementation of the FCCC program, average LOS decreased from 30.5 days (range 17-39) to 16.6 days (range 9-23). The largest process improvement (cost reduction of 61%) occurred in the discharge-planning phase. The overall cost per care cycle was reduced by 36%. A large clinically meaningful benefit was demonstrated for PTHSI (effect size 0.80) as well as MCAT scores (effect size 9.35). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the higher outcomes, including reductions in caregiver burden and complication rates, and the lower costs associated with implementation of the FCCC program for neonates undergoing tracheostomy.

Radial Forearm Free Flap for Cochlear Implant Coverage in a Post-Irradiated Field.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a novel use of a radial forearm free flap (RFFF) for soft tissue coverage over a cochlear implant (CI) in a post-irradiated field. PATIENTS: Single patient case report of a woman with a history of radiation therapy for brainstem astrocytoma who suffered from repeated CI extrusion despite tympanomastoid obliteration and locoregional pedicled flap soft tissue coverage. INTERVENTION(S): Sequential bilateral, single-staged revision cochlear implantation with RFFF soft tissue coverage. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Postoperative wound healing complications including infection or device extrusion. RESULTS: There have been no further issues with wound healing, infection, or device extrusion with a follow up period of 3 years on one side and 8 months on the second side. Both CIs are functioning well with the flaps being sufficiently thin to allow for the use of typical external processor magnets. CONCLUSIONS: A RFFF can be used to provide robust soft tissue coverage over a CI in a post-irradiated field. The RFFF and CI may safely be performed in a single operation.

Reevaluating a Standardized Sedation Weaning Protocol for Pediatric Laryngotracheal Reconstruction for Continuous Quality Improvement.

Importance: Health care organizations are complex and evolving systems. To date, longitudinal evaluation to ensure the sustainability of quality improvement (QI) initiatives has been missing from the otolaryngology literature. We sought to reassess perioperative management of laryngotracheal reconstruction, which requires adequate sedation. Objective: Using principles of continuous QI, the objectives of this study were to (1) describe step-by-step methods to sustain QI efforts and (2) revisit a series of process, outcome, and balance measures for sedation weaning management following implementation of a new electronic health record (EHR). Design, Setting, and Participants: A standardized sedation weaning protocol was previously developed and instituted in February 2013. To address healthcare system-wide changes, a 7-step, Institute for Healthcare Improvement methodology was used to reevaluate a series of measures comparing a previous postweaning group (2013-2014; 13 patients) and current post-EHR group (2016; 11 patients). We conducted a focus group review of these 24 patients. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome measure was length of sedation weaning. Secondary outcome, process, and balance measures included total length of sedation, absence of standardized wean document, absence of specific recommendations on weaning regimen, length of stay, continued weaning at discharge, discharge location, absence of discharge instructions on weaning regimen or iatrogenic withdrawal syndrome (IWS), discharge within 72 hours of stopping weaning, and readmission. Results: The postweaning and post-EHR groups were similar in age (20.5 months [95% CI, 11.92-29.15] vs 26.5 months [95% CI, 17.68-35.40]), as well as male sex (11 of 13 [85%] vs 10 of 11 [91%]), respectively. In the post-EHR group, the standardized sedation wean document was missing from 9 of 11 (82%) medical records. However, the primary outcome measure, length of sedation weaning, remained stable at 9.45 (95% CI, 7.62-11.29) days in the post-EHR group compared with 9.08 (95% CI, 7.00-11.18) days in the postweaning group. In addition, only 5 of 11 (46%) of discharges in the post-EHR group had specific guidance on weaning since the standardized template was no longer in use. As a result, in the post-EHR group, patients were 15.2 (95% CI, 0.46-242.34) times as likely to lack discharge instructions on weaning or IWS. Conclusions and Relevance: Quality improvement is meant to be a continuous process in which reevaluation of care practices are regularly performed. System-wide redesign can be achieved using a formal methodological approach. Moving forward, notable QI opportunities for our institution included the development of a flexible sedation weaning template, as well as enhancements to discharge instructions to include IWS diagnosis and treatment.

Improvement in nasal obstruction and quality of life after septorhinoplasty and turbinate surgery.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the long-term impact of functional septorhinoplasty (SRP) with and without inferior turbinate reduction (ITR) on disease-specific symptom severity and general health-related quality of life (QOL). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study at a tertiary referral center. METHODS: Patients undergoing functional SRP with and without ITR were administered the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale to assess severity of nasal obstruction and the EuroQol-5 Dimension Questionnaire Visual Analog Scale (EQ-5D VAS) to assess general health-related QOL preoperatively and at 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months postoperatively. Patient demographics, surgical technique, symptom severity, and QOL outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 567 patients were included, with 391 patients undergoing functional SRP alone (54.0% female; mean age 36.0 years [standard deviation (SD):16.2]) and 176 patients undergoing functional SRP with ITR (50.0% female; mean age 35.6 years [SD:13.6]). There was a significant decrease in NOSE and increase in EQ-5D VAS scores in both groups through at least 24 months postoperatively. Change in NOSE scores was negatively correlated with change in EQ-5D VAS (r = -0.38, P < 0.01). Compared to patients undergoing SRP, patients also undergoing ITR had a statistically but nonclinically significant improvement in NOSE, with similar trends for EQ-5D VAS that were not significant. CONCLUSION: SRP results in a sustained, long-term improvement in nasal obstruction based on disease-specific and general health-related QOL measures, with incremental improvement in outcomes with addition of ITR. This study provides the foundation for defining health outcomes and the health utility value of surgical interventions that address nasal obstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2c Laryngoscope, 129:1554-1560, 2019.

Utilization patterns of systemic corticosteroid use for chronic rhinosinusitis.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to characterize the utilization pattern and factors associated with use of systemic corticosteroids for CRS. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of 236 participants with CRS who were prospectively recruited. Participants reported the number of CRS-related oral corticosteroid courses taken in the last year. Baseline CRS symptomatology was measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and SNOT-22 sleep, nasal, otologic/facial pain and emotional subdomain scores. Clinical and demographic characteristics were also collected. Association was determined between patient characteristics and oral corticosteroid use in the last year for CRS. RESULTS: Sleep (p = .026), nasal (p < .001) and otologic/facial pain (p = .022) SNOT-22 subdomain scores, and nasal polyps (p = .007) were associated with CRS-related oral corticosteroid use. In study participants without polyps, past CRS-related oral corticosteroid use was associated with sleep (adjusted OR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.01-2.40, p = .043), otologic/facial pain (adjusted OR = 1.65, 95%CI: 1.09-2.51, p = .019) and nasal subdomain scores (adjusted OR = 1.59, 95%CI: 1.01-2.51, p = .047). In study participants with polyps, past CRS-related oral corticosteroid use was only associated with the nasal subdomain score (adjusted OR = 2.20, 95%CI: 1.40-3.45, p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: Past CRS-related oral corticosteroid use was associated with increased baseline severity of specific symptoms, which were different depending on the presence of polyps.

Association between systemic antibiotic and corticosteroid use for chronic rhinosinusitis and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to establish the significance of querying chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients about their past CRS-related oral antibiotic and corticosteroid usage by determining the association between these metrics and patients' quality of life (QoL). STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. METHODS: A total of 157 patients with CRS were prospectively recruited. CRS-specific QoL was measured using the 22-item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22). General health-related QoL was measured using the EuroQoL five-dimensional questionnaire visual analog scale. Associations were sought between these measures of QoL and frequency of CRS-related oral antibiotic and corticosteroid usage reported by the participants in the prior 3 and 12 months. RESULTS: More frequent antibiotic and corticosteroid use was significantly associated with worse CRS-specific and general health-related QoL, whether querying medication use over the prior 3 months or over the prior 12 months (P < 0.001 in all cases). The effect size of CRS-related antibiotic use during the prior 3 months on CRS-specific QoL (SNOT-22 score) was significantly greater than for use during the prior 12 months. However, there was no other statistically significant difference in effect size for association between QoL and CRS-related antibiotic or corticosteroid use in the prior 3 months versus prior 12 months. These results were independent of the presence or absence of polyps. CONCLUSION: More frequent past CRS-related oral antibiotic and corticosteroid use, regardless of time period queried (3 months or 12 months) is associated with significant decrease in CRS-specific and general health-related QoL. CRS-related systemic medication use is an important indicator of CRS patients' QOL that easily can be queried and utilized in both clinical and research settings. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2c. Laryngoscope, 128:37-42, 2018.

Assessment of the feeding Swallowing Impact Survey as a quality of life measure in children with laryngeal cleft before and after repair.

OBJECTIVE: To cross-validate the Feeding Swallowing Impact Survey (FSIS), a quality of life instrument, specifically to a subpopulation of children who aspirate due to laryngeal cleft. INTRODUCTION: The FSIS is a recently validated instrument used to describe caregiver quality of life (QOL) in children with aspiration due to various causes. To cross-validate the FSIS specifically to the subpopulation of children who aspirate due to laryngeal cleft, we tested the hypotheses that caregivers would report significant different scores form baseline if their children improved at the one year mark postintervention due to either successful conservative or surgical measures (discriminant validity) and would not report significant differences in their FSIS reporting if there was no change in their child's aspiration at the one year mark post intervention (convergent validity). METHODS: The FSIS was administered to the caregivers of 35 children (19 male, 16 female; age range: 5-79 months) who aspirate secondary to known laryngeal cleft (diagnosed by suspension laryngoscopy and inspection). All children had a baseline VFSS demonstrating aspiration and documenting what feeding plan to follow and caregivers completed the FSIS at this point as well. All children regardless of whether they were treated by conservative or surgical intervention underwent a follow-up VFSS at the one year post-intervention mark and the caregivers completed a FSIS at this time point as well. RESULTS: Among two distinct sub-populations of children who underwent either successful conservative or surgical treatment for their laryngeal cleft and demonstrated improvement at the one year mark (as defined by a VFSS documented decreased need for thickener by at least one consistency or more) and where we hypothesized that FSIS scores would not be significantly different, the caregivers reported no significant differences in FSIS scores cleft repair (mean FSIS scores 2.45 (SD 0.88)/2.1 (SD 0.94); p = 0.28). Moreover, as another test to convergent validity, for children who underwent either unsuccessful conservative treatment (and subsequently went on to need surgery) or who were not successfully surgically treated for their laryngeal cleft and demonstrated no significant improvement at the one year mark (as defined by a VFSS documented decreased need for thickener by at least one consistency or more), the caregivers reported no significant differences in FSIS scores cleft repair (mean FSIS scores 2.8(SD 0.79)/2.5(SD 0.88); p = 0.69). For divergent validity, two distinct sub-populations of children who underwent either successful or not successful surgical treatment for their laryngeal cleft (demonstrated by either improvement or lack of improvement at the one year mark VFSS as defined by a decreased need for thickener by at least one consistency or more) revealed significant differences in caregiver FSIS scores cleft repair (mean FSIS scores 1.38 (SD 0.32); 32.8 (SD 0.79); p=<0.0002). DISCUSSION: This results of this study provide convergent and divergent validity supporting the cross-validation of the FSIS instrument to be utilized as a validated QOL instrument to evaluate children with aspiration specifically due laryngeal cleft as another tool with which to evaluate the outcomes of medical or surgical interventions for this disorder.

A validated model for the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test subdomain structure in chronic rhinosinusitis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have identified subdomains of the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22), reflecting distinct and largely independent categories of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) symptoms. However, no study has validated the subdomain structure of the SNOT-22. This study aims to validate the existence of underlying symptom subdomains of the SNOT-22 using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and to develop a subdomain model that practitioners and researchers can use to describe CRS symptomatology. METHODS: A total of 800 patients with CRS were included into this cross-sectional study (400 CRS patients from Boston, MA, and 400 CRS patients from Reno, NV). Their SNOT-22 responses were analyzed using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) to determine the number of symptom subdomains. A CFA was performed to develop a validated measurement model for the underlying SNOT-22 subdomains along with various tests of validity and goodness of fit. RESULTS: EFA demonstrated 4 distinct factors reflecting: sleep, nasal, otologic/facial pain, and emotional symptoms (Cronbach's alpha, >0.7; Bartlett's test of sphericity, p < 0.001; Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin >0.90), independent of geographic locale. The corresponding CFA measurement model demonstrated excellent measures of fit (root mean square error of approximation, <0.06; standardized root mean square residual, <0.08; comparative fit index, >0.95; Tucker-Lewis index, >0.95) and measures of construct validity (heterotrait-monotrait [HTMT] ratio, <0.85; composite reliability, >0.7), again independent of geographic locale. CONCLUSION: The use of the 4-subdomain structure for SNOT-22 (reflecting sleep, nasal, otologic/facial pain, and emotional symptoms of CRS) was validated as the most appropriate to calculate SNOT-22 subdomain scores for patients from different geographic regions using CFA.

Tympanic Plexus Neurectomy for Intractable Otalgia.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to analyze whether tympanic plexus neurectomy is a successful surgical option in patients with intractable otalgia. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective single institution study from the experience of two surgeons was conducted. METHODS: Records of adult patients with intractable unilateral otalgia of likely glossopharyngeal origin were reviewed, with institutional review board approval. Patients who responded to a tympanic plexus block were considered for tympanic neurectomy. Twelve patients (13 ears) underwent the procedure. Surgical outcomes and the presence of persistent otalgia were evaluated. RESULTS: Persistent otalgia was present for 16.7 months ± 8.6 standard-error-of-the-mean months prior to an intervention. Narcotic medication was used in 41.7% of patients prior to surgery. Patients received tympanic plexus blocks (median: 1, range 1-3) prior to tympanic neurectomy to evaluate candidacy for surgery. Intractable otalgia resolved in six of 13 ears (46.2%) after one surgery, with an average follow-up of 25.5 months. A significant reduction in pain occurred in two of 13 ears (15.4%) after an initial surgery. One patient received no benefit from the initial procedure. Revision surgery occurred in four ears, resulting in pain relief in three of four cases. All together, nine of 13 ears received complete resolution of pain, and an additional two of 13 ears received partial benefit using our algorithm for treatment of intractable otalgia of tympanic plexus origin. CONCLUSION: Intractable otalgia treated with tympanic neurectomy is a viable treatment option in cases of failed medical management. These findings provide important information that will aid clinicians in counseling chronic otalgia patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Musical preference correlates closely to professional roles and specialties in operating room: A multicenter cross-sectional cohort study with 672 participants.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear whether music preferences and perceptions in the operating room (OR) differ by demographic and professional factors and how an improved understanding of these potential differences can be leveraged to enhance team dynamics and the OR work environment. Currently, there is limited knowledge regarding the impact of music on OR team concentration and communication. METHODS: This study was a multicenter, cross-sectional study of 282 preoperative patients and 390 providers-attending physicians, residents, and nurses in anesthesiology and surgery. Patient and provider responses were measured using a newly developed questionnaire. RESULTS: Patients who highly enjoyed music felt music alleviated stress and enhanced concentration and communication and favored use of music in the OR. The genres favored most by patients were rock music (32%), classical music (28%), and top 40 hits (26%). All providers reported a high frequency of use of music during the operation. Nurses and residents were more likely than attendings to report high enjoyment of music in the OR (P < .02). Surgeons and anesthesiologists had high median scores for enjoyment of music and low median scores for music as distraction. Anesthesiologists preferred classical and jazz/blues at lower volumes compared with surgeons, who favored top 40 music at higher noise pressure levels. Patients and providers perceived music to improve provider concentration and team communication; nurses held the most positive views. CONCLUSION: Musical preferences and perceptions of the effect of music in the OR differ by both professional status and specialty and provide insight into broader team dynamics that could be leveraged potentially to optimize the OR environment.