Safety of Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy in Critically Ill Adults With Obesity: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of endoscopic percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT) in obese and nonobese critically ill adults. METHODS: A retrospective study of all cases of PDT performed at two academic health centers between 2016 and 2023 was conducted. Primary outcomes included peri- and postoperative complications stratified by both timing and severity. body mass index (BMI) data were stratified according to the World Health Organization classification (class I obesity defined as BMI ≥ 30, class II obesity ≥35 and <40, class 3 obesity ≥40). RESULTS: Totally 336 patients underwent a PDT, 279 of whom had available BMI data: 193 (69.2%) patients had a normal BMI, 56 (20.1%) had class I obesity, 15 (5.4%) class II obesity, and 15 (5.4%) class III obesity. The overall complication rates for the class I, II, and III obesity were 8.9%, 13.3%, and 13.3%, respectively. All procedures were successfully completed at the bedside (no conversions to an open approach), and there was no procedure-related mortality. The only accidental decannulation event was in a patient with class III obesity. There was no difference in overall complication rates between patients without obesity and patients with obesity (7.3% vs. 10.5%, respectively, p = 0.370). CONCLUSION: This study significantly expands the current literature and represents one of the largest studies to date reporting on PDT in patients with obesity. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 2024.

Endoscopic repair of tracheoesophageal fistulas: A contemporary multi-institutional case series and literature review.

OBJECTIVES: Recurrent and primary tracheoesophageal fistulas (TEFs) are a challenging surgical pathology to treat, as standard open surgical approaches are associated with high morbidity and mortality. As such, endoscopic modalities have gained interest as an alluring alternative, yet variable success rates have been reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to provide a contemporary update of the literature and describe our institutional experience with the bronchoscopic obliteration of recurrent and primary TEFs. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of all pediatric patients having undergone endoscopic TEF repair at two pediatric academic centers in Montreal, Canada and Lille, France between January 1, 2008 to December 31, 2020. RESULTS: 28 patients with TEFs (20 recurrent, 8 primary) underwent a total of 48 endoscopic procedures. TEF repair was performed under endoscopic guidance using various combinations of techniques, including fistula de-epithelialization (endoscopic brush, thulium laser, trichloroacetic acid-soaked pledgets or electrocautery), tissue adhesives, submucosal augmentation, esophageal clip and stenting. Successful closure was achieved in 16 patients (57 %), while 12 (43 %) required eventual open or thoracoscopic repair. The mean number of endoscopic procedures was 1.7. There were no major treatment-related complications such as pneumothorax, mediastinitis or death (mean follow-up 50.8 months). CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic repair of recurrent or primary TEFs is a valuable component of our therapeutic armamentarium and may contribute to decreased surgical morbidity in this complex patient population. Families should be counselled that endoscopic results may be more modest than with open or thoracoscopic approaches, and multiple procedures may be required.

Ceftazidime Poloxamer Gel: Expanding the Therapeutic Armamentarium for Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Pseudomonas Mastoid Cavity Otorrhea.

OBJECTIVE: To present and evaluate the treatment of ciprofloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas mastoid cavity otorrhea with a ceftazidime thermosensitive poloxamer gel. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective clinical capsule report. PATIENTS: Three patients diagnosed with ciprofloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas otorrhea in the setting of a previous canal-wall-down mastoidectomy between March 2019 and June 2023 visiting our tertiary care institution were retrospectively reviewed. INTERVENTION: Application of a 2% ceftazidime thermosensitive poloxamer gel to mastoid cavity. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: No evidence of disease during microscopic inspection of the ear within a month of initial treatment or bacterial eradication on subsequent culture. RESULTS: Two patients had complete resolution of symptoms and achieved a safe and dry ear after topical application of the hydrogel. The second patient had pseudomonal eradication on culture, but persistent otorrhea due to other multidrug-resistant bacteria and an anatomically unfavorable mastoid cavity, which ultimately resolved after revision surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This small case series suggests that topical treatment of mastoid cavity otorrhea with a 2% ceftazidime poloxomer gel is a potential therapeutic avenue in patients with ciprofloxacin-resistant Pseudomonas .

Percutaneous Bone-Anchored Hearing Implant Surgery: Do Syndromic Children Have More Adverse Perioperative Outcomes?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate and compare perioperative outcomes of percutaneous bone-anchored hearing implant (BAHI) surgery in syndromic and nonsyndromic pediatric patients. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. PATIENTS: Forty-one pediatric patients (22 syndromic, 19 nonsyndromic) who underwent percutaneous BAHI surgery between March 2008 and April 2021. INTERVENTION: Percutaneous BAHI surgery. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient demographics (age at surgery, gender, implant laterality), operative information (American Society of Anesthesia [ASA] score, anesthesia type, surgical technique, implant/abutment characteristics), and postoperative outcomes (implant stability, soft tissue integrity, surgical revisions, implant failure). RESULTS: The most frequent syndromes among implanted patients were Treacher Collins (27.3%), Goldenhar (13.6%), Trisomy 21 (13.6%), and Nager (9.1%). Syndromic patients were more frequently given higher ASA scores: 2 ( p = 0.003) and 3 ( p = 0.014). All cases of implant extrusion were in syndromic patients: two posttraumatic and two failures to osseointegrate. Nine (40.9%) syndromic patients experienced a Holgers Grade 4 skin reaction at one of their postoperative follow-up visits as compared to 0% of nonsyndromic patients ( p < 0.001). Implant stability was similar between cohorts at all postoperative time-points, except for significantly greater nonsyndromic implant stability quotient scores at 16 weeks ( p = 0.027) and 31+ weeks ( p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous BAHI surgery is a successful rehabilitation option in syndromic patients. However, it presents a relatively higher incidence of implant extrusion and severe postoperative skin reactions as compared to nonsyndromic patients. In light of these findings, syndromic patients may be great candidates for novel transcutaneous bone conduction implants.

Surgical Treatment of Early Glottic Cancer.

The incidence of all head and neck malignancies is rising worldwide, with carcinoma of the larynx constituting approximately 1% of all cancers. Early glottic cancer responds quite favorably to surgical intervention due to its early presentation, coupled with the low rate of regional and distant metastases. This article focuses on various approaches to the surgical treatment of early glottic cancer. Details include the clinical and radiological evaluation of laryngeal cancer, the goals of treatment, current surgical options for early disease, approach to surgical resection margins and management of nodal disease, and complications associated with each treatment modality.

Structural Integrity of Absorbable Gelatin Sponges for Middle Ear Packing in Otologic Surgery.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the physical properties upon immersion of two gelatin sponges commonly used in otologic surgery. BACKGROUND: Absorbable gelatin sponges are often used in middle ear surgery to achieve hemostasis and, perhaps more importantly, to provide a "scaffolding" to support ossicular chain and/or tympanic membrane reconstructions. Their rate of dissolution may therefore affect the success of tympanic membrane closure. METHODS: An in vitro study was conducted to quantify the material changes of two absorbable gelatin sponges, a standard-density sponge and one with fewer collagen cross-linkages (low-density sponge). Volume loss (%) in 0.9% saline, 0.3% ciprofloxacin, and/or 0.1% dexamethasone as single-agent otic drops in a combination formulation was measured at 15-minute intervals for the first hour and at days 1, 3, and 5 postimmersion. Secondary end points included compressibility, porosity under microscopy, and infrared spectroscopy analysis. RESULTS: The low-density sponge immersed in any of the three otic solutions showed a statistically significant greater volume loss at all time points when compared with the standard-density sponge (27.2% ± 5.4% vs. 15.4% ± 6.0% at 15 minutes and 44.8% ± 5.1% vs. 34.6% ± 2.9% at 5 days, p < 0.001). Interestingly, both sponges immersed in normal saline had lost almost half of their original volume after 15 minutes when compared with samples immersed in an otic solution (48.3% ± 4.6% vs. 21.3% ± 8.3%, respectively, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The standard-density sponge immersed in an otic solution of ciprofloxacin, dexamethasone, or a combination formulation best maintained its structural integrity. Ancillary in vivo studies are required to assess the hemostatic properties, surgical outcomes, and middle ear synechiae of the above study conditions. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Foundational evidence.

Patient-Reported Outcome Measures of Psychosocial Quality of Life in Oropharyngeal Cancer Patients: A Scoping Review.

Background: Oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients are burdened by the effect of the disease process and treatment toxicities on organs important in everyday activities, such as breathing, speaking, eating, and drinking. There is a rise in OPSCC due to human papilloma virus (HPV)-associated OPSCC, affecting younger and healthier patients and with a better overall prognosis. Emphasis must be shared between oncologic outcomes and the effects on quality of life. While there have been efforts to study global and physical quality of life, the impact on psychosocial quality of life has not yet been specifically reviewed. Methods: A scoping review methodology was employed to explore the emotional, social, and mental quality of life in OPSCC patients and determine the impact of HPV status or treatment modalities. Results: Eighty-seven full-text articles were evaluated for eligibility. Fifteen articles met final inclusion criteria. The majority of the studies were conducted in the United States (n = 10) and study methodology was divided between cross-sectional (n = 6), prospective (n = 5), and retrospective studies (n = 4). Four psychosocial quality of life themes were explored: the impact on mental health and emotional wellbeing, social wellbeing and function, stress, and relationship and sexual behavior. Eighteen different patient-reported outcome measures were used, including both general head and neck oncology questionnaires and symptom-specific surveys. Conclusion: There is a paucity of research regarding the effect of OPSCC on patients' psychosocial quality of life. Learning more about this component of quality of life can guide outreach programs and multidisciplinary involvement in improving patient care.

International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group: Consensus guidelines on the diagnosis and management of non-tuberculous mycobacterial cervicofacial lymphadenitis.

INTRODUCTION: Non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) infection commonly manifests as subacute or chronic cervicofacial lymphadenitis in immunocompetent children. The optimal management of this pathology remains controversial. OBJECTIVES: This international consensus guideline aims to understand the practice patterns for NTM cervicofacial lymphadenitis and to address the primary diagnostic and management challenges. METHODS: A modified three-iterative Delphi method was used to establish expert recommendations on the diagnostic considerations, expectant or medical management, and operative considerations. The recommendations herein are derived from current expert consensus and critical review of the literature. SETTING: Multinational, multi-institutional, tertiary pediatric hospitals. RESULTS: Consensus recommendations include diagnostic work-up, goals of treatment and management options including surgery, prolonged antibiotic therapy and observation. CONCLUSION: The recommendations formulated in this International Pediatric Otolaryngology Group (IPOG) consensus statement on the diagnosis and management of patients with NTM lymphadenitis are aimed at improving patient care and promoting future hypothesis generation.

Complication Rate of Percutaneous Dilatational Tracheostomy in Critically Ill Adults With Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance: Obesity has traditionally been described as a relative contraindication to percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy (PDT). Increased familiarity with the technique and use of bronchoscopy or real-time ultrasonography to enhance visualization have led many practitioners to expand the indication for PDT to patients historically deemed to have high risk of perioperative complications. Objective: To assess the reported complication rate of PDT in critically ill adults with obesity and compare it with that of open surgical tracheostomies (OSTs) in this patient population and with that of PDT in their counterparts without obesity. Data Sources: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials were searched from January 1, 2000, to March 1, 2022. Key terms related to percutaneous tracheostomy and obesity were included. Study Selection: Original investigations of critically ill adult patients (age ≥18 years) with obesity who underwent PDT that reported at least 1 complication of interest were included. Case reports or series with fewer than 5 patients were excluded, as were studies in a language other than English or French. Data Extraction and Synthesis: Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) were used, with independent extraction by multiple observers. Frequencies were reported for all dichotomous variables. Relative risks for complications were calculated using both fixed-effects and random-effects models in the meta-analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures: Main outcomes included mortality directly associated with the procedure, conversion to OST, and complications associated with the procedure (subclassified into life-threatening or non-life-threatening adverse events). Results: Eighteen studies were included in the systematic review, comprising 1355 patients with obesity who underwent PDT. The PDT-related complication rate was 16.6% among patients with obesity overall (791 patients, 17 studies), most of which were non-life-threatening. Only 0.6% of cases (8 of 1314 patients, 17 studies) were aborted or converted to an OST. A meta-analysis of 12 studies (N = 4212; 1078 with obesity and 3134 without obesity) showed that patients with obesity had a higher rate of complications associated with PDT compared with their counterparts without obesity (risk ratio, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.38-2.28). A single study compared PDT with OST directly for critically ill adults with obesity; thus, the intended meta-analysis could not be performed in this subgroup. Conclusions and Relevance: The findings suggest that the rate of complications of PDT is low in critically ill individuals with obesity, although the risk of complications may be higher than in individuals without obesity.

Pediatric Oral Neurovascular Hamartoma of the Hard Palate: A Clinicopathologic Report.

We hereby present the first-reported pediatric case of a hard palate neurovascular hamartoma in a male newborn, in which the diagnosis was established following an initial nondiagnostic biopsy, extensive radiological investigations, and eventual wide local excision. These benign lesions can easily be mistaken for malignant diagnoses, leading to increased parental and child anxiety as well as avoidable diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

De-Escalation Strategies for Human Papillomavirus-Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma-Where Are We Now?

The prevalence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has been increasing in North America due to human papillomavirus-associated disease. It is molecularly distinct and differs from other head and neck cancers due to the young population and high survival rate. The treatment regimens currently in place cause significant long-term toxicities. Studies have transitioned from mortality-based outcomes to patient-reported outcomes assessing quality of life. There are many completed and ongoing trials investigating alternative therapy regimens or de-escalation strategies to minimize the negative secondary effects while maintaining overall survival and disease-free survival. The goal of this review is to discuss the most recent advancements within the field while summarizing and reviewing the available evidence.

Aerosolization in Endoscopic Sinus Surgery and Risk Mitigation in the COVID-19 Era: A Scoping Review.

Objective The continually evolving coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has created a dire need for rapid reorganization of health care delivery within surgical services. Ensuing initial reports of high infection rates following endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery, various expert and societal guidelines have emerged. We hereby provide a scoping review of the available literature on endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery, exploring both the risk of aerosolization and expert recommendations on surgical management during the pandemic. Methods A literature search of the PubMed database was performed up until May 9th, 2020. Additionally, websites and published statements from otolaryngology associations were searched for recommendations. This scoping review followed the guidelines provided by the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews. Results A total of 29 peer-reviewed publications and statements from expert recommendations or professional associations were included. Current expert guidance relies mainly on scarce, anecdotal evidence, and two cadaveric studies, which have demonstrated potential aerosolization during transnasal surgery. General consensus exists for delaying surgery when possible, ascertaining COVID-19 status preoperatively and donning of adequate personal protective equipment by all operating room staff (including at minimum an N95 mask). Cold, nonpowered surgical instruments are deemed the safest, while thermal instruments (electrocautery and laser) and high-speed drills should be minimized. Conflicting recommendations emerge for use of microdebriders. Conclusion Endoscopic sinus and skull base surgery impart a potential risk of aerosolization. Hence, surgical indications, protective measures for health care workers, and surgical instrumentation must be adapted accordingly in the COVID-19 context.

Herpes Zoster of The Larynx: A Narrow Diagnostic and Therapeutic Window.

We hereby present a rare case of laryngeal zoster presenting with unilateral odynophagia and hemifacial pain in an immunocompetent host. Visualization of the characteristic vesicles is challenging given their short-lived and at times delayed appearance; thus, laryngeal zoster may be a largely unrecognized cause of laryngitis and cranial neuropathies. Heightened awareness may improve prompt diagnosis, referral and initiation of antiviral therapy, while guiding patient counselling on the associated long-term sequelae such as voice and swallowing impairments, and post-herpetic neuralgia.

Procedural Sedation in Minor Procedure Rooms for Pediatric Myringotomy and Tympanostomy: A Quality Improvement Initiative.

OBJECTIVE: Lengthy wait times for elective surgery is a widespread health care system conundrum that may increase patient distress and jeopardize health outcomes. The primary aim of this quality improvement project was to reduce the surgical wait time in patients undergoing tympanostomy tube insertion. METHODS: As of January 2018, our tertiary care institution implemented a novel protocol whereby healthy children may undergo tympanostomy tube insertion in a minor procedure room under ketamine sedation administered by pediatric emergency physicians to address lack of both physical and anesthesia staffing resources. A retrospective study of all children undergoing elective tympanostomy tube insertion was conducted between September 1, 2017, and May 8, 2019, to assess wait time to surgery, as well as anesthesia-related and surgical complications. RESULTS: Procedural sedation in minor procedure rooms effectively decreased surgical wait times by 53 days (from 134 to 81 days, P < .001) at 16 months postimplementation. This new protocol was found to be safe and effective for healthy children, with no major surgical or anesthesia-related complications noted in 113 patients having undergone the procedure in the novel setting. DISCUSSION: Although conscious sedation by emergency physicians has been well studied across a variety of surgical procedures, its novel use in pediatric tympanostomy tube insertion requires careful patient selection to enhance accessibility while maintaining anesthetic safety. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: This quality improvement project describes a novel combination of processes, using a minor procedure room space and ketamine-based procedural sedation to address surgical wait times in pediatric patients undergoing tympanostomy tube insertion.