Smoking impacts outcomes in transcervical Zenker's diverticulectomy.

PURPOSE: There is sparse literature discussing the impact of smoking on postoperative outcomes following surgical treatment of Zenker's diverticulum. In this study, we seek to characterize differences in the management and outcomes of open Zenker's diverticulectomy based on patient smoking status. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This paper is a retrospective cohort review. The 2005-2018 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement (ACS-NSQIP) database was queried for patients undergoing open Zenker's diverticulectomy. Chi-square and multivariable logistic regression were performed to determine statistical associations between postoperative outcomes and smoking status. RESULTS: Of the 715 identified patients, 70 (9.8 %) were smokers and 645 (91.2 %) were non-smokers. Smokers were younger than non-smokers (mean 63.9 vs. 71.7 years, p < 0.001) and more likely to have a prolonged operative time (20.0 % vs. 11.6 %, p = 0.044). On multivariable regression analysis controlling for demographics and comorbidities, smokers had greater odds than non-smokers for developing overall postoperative complications (OR: 2.776, p = 0.013), surgical infections (OR: 3.194, p = 0.039), medical complications (OR: 3.563, p = 0.011), and medical infections (OR: 1.247, p = 0.016). Smokers also had greater odds for requiring ventilation/intubation (OR: 8.508, p = 0.025) and having a prolonged postoperative stay (OR: 2.425, p = 0.030). CONCLUSION: In a cohort of patients undergoing transcervical Zenker's diverticulectomy, smokers are at increased risk for overall complications, medical complications, medical infections, surgical infections, prolonged postoperative stay, and ventilation/intubation.

MELD-Na Score as a Predictor of Postoperative Complications in Ventral Skull Base Surgery.

Objective The Model for End-stage Liver Disease-Sodium (MELD-Na) score was designed for prognosis of chronic liver disease and has been predictive of outcomes in a variety of procedures. Few studies have investigated its utility in otolaryngology. This study uses the MELD-Na score to investigate the association between liver health and ventral skull base surgical complications. Methods The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database was used to identify patients who underwent ventral skull base procedures between 2005 and 2015. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the association between elevated MELD-Na score and postoperative complications. Results We identified 1,077 patients undergoing ventral skull base surgery with laboratory values required to calculate the MELD-Na score. The mean age was 54.2 years. The mean MELD-Na score was 7.70 (standard deviation = 2.04). Univariate analysis showed that elevated MELD-Na score was significantly associated with increased age (58.6 vs 53.8 years) and male gender (70.8 vs 46.1%). Elevated MELD-Na score was associated with increased rates of postoperative acute renal failure, transfusion, septic shock, surgical complications, and extended length of hospital stay. On multivariate analysis, associations between elevated MELD-Na and increased risk of perioperative transfusions (odds ratio [OR], 1.62; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20-2.93; p = 0.007) and surgical complications (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.25-2.35; p = 0.009) remained significant. Conclusions This analysis points to an association between liver health and postoperative complications in ventral skull base surgery. Future research investigating this association is warranted.

A review of bilateral sudden sensorineural hearing loss in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: Bilateral, sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) in the pediatric population is a rare phenomenon potentially detrimental to language acquisition and social development. This study comprehensively reviews and analyzes existing literature to determine any correlation or commonality in etiologies, presentations, and management of this condition. METHODS: PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were systematically searched for articles related to pediatric SSNHL from 1970 to 2021. Case series, case reports, and cohort studies were included. Data on patient demographics, etiology, diagnostic testing, management, and hearing recovery were collected. RESULTS: Excluding duplicates, 553 unique titles were identified by established search criteria, of which 342 titles were relevant to pediatric sudden hearing loss. Forty-six papers reported cases of bilateral SSNHL, totaling 145 individual cases. Not included in the analysis were 45 cases documented as non-organic hearing loss. The average age of the total 145 included patients was 8.5 years and 51 were male. Reported etiologies included cytomegalovirus (n = 3), meningitis (n = 13), mumps (n = 5), ototoxin exposure (n = 13), and enlarged vestibular aqueduct (n = 9). Tinnitus (n = 30) was the most reported concurrent symptom, followed by vertigo (n = 21). Systemic steroid therapy was the most common treatment and, when follow up was reported, most patients (51.2%) had complete or partial recovery of hearing. CONCLUSIONS: This is a comprehensive review of pediatric bilateral SSNHL. Though often idiopathic, etiologies also include infectious, structural, and autoimmune. Treatment largely consists of systemic steroid therapy, with variables rates of recovery. Further studies on intratympanic administration of steroids may guide future treatment.

Prognostic significance of head and neck spindle cell carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Our study investigates the prognostic significance of spindle cell histology on overall survival (OS) of conventional head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: The 2004 to 2017 National Cancer Database was queried for patients with head and neck spindle cell carcinoma (HNSpCC) (n = 1572) or HNSCC (n = 242 697) of the oral cavity, major salivary glands, sinonasal tract, oropharynx, hypopharynx, and larynx treated with curative intent. RESULTS: Patients with HNSpCC presented more frequently with higher-grade tumors and cN0 disease than those with HNSCC (p < 0.001). In the oral cavity, the HR for death for SpCC compared with SCC was 1.33 (p < 0.001). In the oropharynx, the HR for death for SpCC compared with SCC was 1.47 (p = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for patient, tumor, and treatment characteristics, SpCC histology had an independent adverse prognostic effect on OS in the oral cavity and oropharynx. SpCC histology does not necessarily portend poorer survival in all HNSCC.

An analysis of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in advanced stage IV melanoma of the skin: prognostic capabilities and demographic variability.

Despite its limitations, in part due to decreased specificity in advanced disease, serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is one of few serum factors used in cancer staging. This study quantifies the predictive capabilities of LDH in stage IV melanoma of the skin and explores the validity of suggested demographic discrepancies which may exist in its use. The 1975-2017 Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database was queried for stage IV cutaneous melanoma cases. Demographic characteristics were compared between LDH groups using chi-square and t tests. Subsequent Cox multivariable regression was performed to assess survival differences. 334 cases of stage IV cutaneous melanoma (average age: 63.0 years) with measured serum LDH levels were identified. Of these patients, 150 (44.9%) had normal LDH, 112 (33.5%) had LDH < 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN), 57 (17.1%) had LDH 1.5-10 × ULN, and 15 (4.5%) had LDH > 10 × ULN. Lower incomes were associated with higher LDH; individuals with incomes < $50,000 had the greatest proportion of LDH 10 × ULN (19.2%; p = 0.0031). LDH > 10 × ULN also had the lowest proportion of White patients (p = 0.04). On Cox multivariable survival analysis, increasing LDH levels showed increased risk of death (LDH < 1.5 × ULN: HR = 2.05, p = 0.01; LDH 1.5-10 × ULN: HR = 1.46, p < 0.001; LDH > 10 × ULN: HR = 5.91, p < 0.001). This study reaffirms the utility of LDH as a significant predictor of mortality with incremental severity, suggesting possible use for mortality projections. We note that Black patients and those with lower incomes may be more likely to have an elevated LDH. Older age groups and presence of ulceration among patients with stage IV melanoma were also associated with a greater risk of mortality.

Sex Disparities in Pediatric Acute Rhinosinusitis: A National Perspective.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide an age-stratified analysis of associations with patient sex in pediatric inpatients with acute rhinosinusitis (ARS). STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: National administrative database. METHODS: The 2016 Kids' Inpatient Database was queried for pediatric inpatients (<21 years old) with ARS (ICD-10 J01). Orbital and intracranial sequelae were selected via ICD-10 codes. Statistical associations by sex were determined via univariate and multivariable analyses. Weighted measures are reported to provide national estimates. RESULTS: Of the 5882 patients identified with ARS, 2404 (40.9%) were female and 3478 (59.1%) were male. Male patients were younger than female patients (mean, 9.3 vs 9.9 years; P < .001). Multivariable analysis indicated that males and females had similar total charges ($71,094 vs $66,892, P = .464) and length of stay (5.8 vs 6.1 days, P = .263). However, male patients underwent more procedures (1.8 vs 1.5, P < .001). Mortality was similar between male and female patients (odds ratio [OR], 0.91; P = .664). Male patients also had increased odds for having orbital (OR, 1.58; P < .001) and intracranial (OR, 1.99; P < .001) complications. Differences in sex-dependent sequela risk were starkest in patients aged 14 to 20 years, with male patients being more likely to have orbital (OR, 2.91; P < .001) and intracranial (OR, 3.86; P < .001) complications. CONCLUSION: In a cohort of pediatric inpatients with ARS, males have increased odds for orbital and intracranial sequelae and undergo more procedures than females. However, males and females have similar charges and length of stay. Our study highlights age-stratified differences in ARS across patient sex.

Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Vestibular Schwannoma.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Linear accelerator (LINAC) and Gamma Knife (GK) are common stereotactic radiation therapies for treating vestibular schwannoma (VS). There is currently limited literature examining specific demographic and socioeconomic factors, which influence the type of stereotactic radiation therapy a patient with VS receives. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective database review. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried for cases of VS between 2004 and 2016. Patient demographic characteristics were compared using chi-squared and t-tests between GK and LINAC treated groups. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to assess predictors of stereotactic radiation therapy received. RESULTS: Of the 6,208 included patients, 5,306 (85.5%) received GK and 902 (14.5%) received LINAC. The mean age of GK patients was significantly lower than that of LINAC patients (58.0 vs. 59.7, P < .001). Individuals treated with GK had greater proportions of private insurance (P < .001) and incomes greater than $63,332 (P = .003). A greater proportion of GK patients were treated in academic centers (P < .001), in high-volume facilities (P < .001), in metropolitan areas (P < .001), and in the Northeastern United States (P < .001). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, region, metropolitan area, facility type, tumor size, and distance traveled by patients independently predict receipt of GK versus LINAC. CONCLUSION: Differences in patient demographics and other social determinants of health influence choice of GK versus LINAC therapy for VS patients. Future studies focused on addressing barriers to care, which may influence postprocedural quality of life and clinical outcomes associated with these two treatments are necessary to better understand the impact of these social differences. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 132:2232-2240, 2022.

Assessing Patient Satisfaction Following Blepharoplasty Using Social Media Reviews.

BACKGROUND: Because patient satisfaction is a significant qualitative consideration in measuring aesthetic surgery outcome, it is important to characterize the individual factors that shape the patient perspective about blepharoplasty. OBJECTIVES: This study analyzed reviews by blepharoplasty patients on the aesthetic surgery social media platform RealSelf.com to determine which aspects of the surgical process have the most significant impact on patient satisfaction. METHODS: Blepharoplasty reviews were gathered from RealSelf.com with an automated web crawler. These reviews were characterized as positive or negative, then given a specific category that more specifically defined the theme of the review. Additional variables, including the specialty of the reviewed physician and any patient self-reported ratings, were documented. RESULTS: A total of 1991 reviews pertaining to blepharoplasty were collected. Among reviews with self-reported "worth it" ratings, 93.5% were positive. Following categorization of all reviews, 1865 (93.7%) were positive and 126 (6.3%) were negative. Of the positive reviews, the most common overall themes were bedside manner (n = 899, 48.2%), aesthetic result (n = 859, 46.1%), and overall comfort (n = 58, 3.1%). Among negative reviews, most pertained to aesthetic result (n = 100, 79.4%), and bedside manner (n = 14, 11.1%). The most frequently encountered physician specialties performing blepharoplasty were plastic surgery (n = 1101, 55.3%), ophthalmology (n = 634, 31.8%), and otolaryngology (n = 69, 3.5%). CONCLUSIONS: The majority of reviews were positive. The most prominent factor driving positive reviews was bedside manner, followed by aesthetic results. Negative reviews were most frequently attributed to suboptimal aesthetic results. Most blepharoplasties in our study cohort were performed by plastic and oculoplastic surgeons.