The Effect of Segmentation Threshold on Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis of Nasal Airflow.

BACKGROUND: The objective analysis of nasal airflow stands to benefit greatly from the adoption of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) methodologies. In this emerging field, no standards currently exist in regard to the ideal modeling parameters of the nasal airway. Such standards will be necessary for this tool to become clinically relevant. METHODS: Human nasal airways were modeled from a healthy control, segmented, and analyzed with an in-house immersed boundary method. The segmentation Hounsfield unit (HU) threshold was varied to measure its effect in relation to airflow velocity magnitude and pressure change. FINDINGS: Surface area and volume have a linear relationship to HU threshold, whereas CFD variables had a more complex relationship. INTERPRETATION: The HU threshold should be included in nasal airflow CFD analysis. Future work is required to determine the optimal segmentation threshold.

Hemorrhage Rates in Pediatric Patients Receiving Postoperative Steroids After Tonsillectomy.

Importance. Developing a safe postoperative pain regimen after tonsillectomy is important. While postoperative steroids may provide an analgesic benefit, it is not known whether steroids increase the bleeding risk after tonsillectomy. Objective. To determine whether postoperative steroids increase the risk of hemorrhage after tonsillectomy in children. Design. Retrospective cohort study. Setting. Tertiary referral academic medical center. Participants. An age- and indication-matched cohort was randomly selected from tonsillectomy patients ≤12 years old from 2012 to 2017. Intervention. Prednisolone, 0.5 mg/kg (maximum dose 20 mg/day) qAM × 3 days postoperatively. Main Outcome. Postoperative hemorrhage requiring operative intervention. Results. A total of 1358 patients were included in this study, 679 of which received postoperative steroids. The steroid group had a similar of operative intervention for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage of 1.8% versus 2.2% in the nonsteroid group (P = .560). Conclusion and Relevance. Post-tonsillectomy steroid use is not associated with an increase in operative intervention for postoperative hemorrhage.

Barriers to Rehabilitation Care in Pediatric Cochlear Implant Recipients.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess barriers to rehabilitation care for pediatric cochlear implant (CI) recipients. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional questionnaire study. SETTING: Tertiary medical center. PATIENTS: Parents of children who received a CI from October 1996 to June 2013. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Factors related to access to and barriers in audiology and speech therapy services, factors related to CI use, and performance with CI using the Parents' Evaluation of Aural/Oral Performance of Children (PEACH). RESULTS: Thirty-five parents participated in the study (21 rural residents and 14 urban residents). Distance was a significant barrier to audiology services for rural participants compared with urban participants (p = 0.01). Consistent CI use was complicated by mechanical complications or malfunction in 70% of rural children compared with 33% of urban children (p = 0.05). Only 10% of rural children were able to access speech therapy services at diagnosis compared with 42% of urban children (p = 0.04). Low socioeconomic (SES) status and Medicaid insurance were associated with a lack of local speech therapists and medical/mechanical CI complications. Higher parental educational attainment was associated with higher PEACH scores in quiet conditions compared with families with lower parental education (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Rural children are often delayed in receipt of CI rehabilitation services. Multiple barriers including low SES, insurance type, and parental education can affect utilization of these services and may impact the recipient language development. Close follow-up and efforts to expand access to care are needed to maximize CI benefit.

Promotion of early pediatric hearing detection through patient navigation: A randomized controlled clinical trial.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: To assess the efficacy of a patient navigator intervention to decrease nonadherence to obtain audiological testing following failed screening, compared to those receiving the standard of care. METHODS: Using a randomized controlled design, guardian-infant dyads, in which the infants had abnormal newborn hearing screening, were recruited within the first week after birth. All participants were referred for definitive audiological diagnostic testing. Dyads were randomized into a patient navigator study arm or standard of care arm. The primary outcome was the percentage of patients with follow-up nonadherence to obtain diagnostic testing. Secondary outcomes were parental knowledge of infant hearing testing recommendations and barriers in obtaining follow-up testing. RESULTS: Sixty-one dyads were enrolled in the study (patient navigator arm = 27, standard of care arm = 34). The percentage of participants nonadherent to diagnostic follow-up during the first 6 months after birth was significantly lower in the patient navigator arm compared with the standard of care arm (7.4% vs. 38.2%) (P = .005). The timing of initial follow-up was significantly lower in the navigator arm compared with the standard of care arm (67.9 days after birth vs. 105.9 days, P = .010). Patient navigation increased baseline knowledge regarding infant hearing loss diagnosis recommendations compared with the standard of care (P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Patient navigation decreases nonadherence rates following abnormal infant hearing screening and improves knowledge of follow-up recommendations. This intervention has the potential to improve the timeliness of delivery of infant hearing healthcare; future research is needed to assess the cost and feasibility of larger scale implementation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 1b. Laryngoscope, 127:S1-S13, 2017.

Pediatric Hearing Healthcare in Kentucky's Appalachian Primary Care Setting.

Diagnosis and intervention for infant hearing loss is often delayed in areas of healthcare disparity, such as rural Appalachia. Primary care providers play a key role in timely hearing healthcare. The purpose of this study was to assess the practice patterns of rural primary care providers (PCPs) regarding newborn hearing screening (NHS) and experiences with rural early hearing diagnosis and intervention programs in an area of known hearing healthcare disparity. Cross sectional questionnaire study. Appalachian PCP's in Kentucky were surveyed regarding practice patterns and experiences regarding the diagnosis and treatment of congenital hearing loss. 93 Appalachian primary care practitioners responded and 85% reported that NHS is valuable for pediatric health. Family practitioners were less likely to receive infant NHS results than pediatricians (54.5 versus 95.2%, p < 0.01). A knowledge gap was identified in the goal ages for diagnosis and treatment of congenital hearing loss. Pediatrician providers were more likely to utilize diagnostic testing compared with family practice providers (p < 0.001). Very rural practices (Beale code 7-9) were less likely to perform hearing evaluations in their practices compared with rural practices (Beale code 4-6) (p < 0.001). Family practitioners reported less confidence than pediatricians in counseling and directing care of children who fail newborn hearing screening. 46% felt inadequately prepared or completely unprepared to manage children who fail the NHS. Rural primary care providers face challenges in receiving communication regarding infant hearing screening and may lack confidence in directing and providing rural hearing healthcare for children.