Health Related Quality of Life T-14 Outcomes for Pediatric Bizact Tonsillectomy.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the T-14 outcomes of the BizactTM device for tonsillectomy in a pediatric population. Methods: A case series chart review was undertaken at a public tertiary teaching hospital and private otolaryngology practice, with data collected from pediatric patients who underwent a BizactTM tonsillectomy between July 2016 and October 2019 for any indication, whose parents consented to completing the T-14 questionnaire providing a parental perspective of the child's quality of life. Primary outcomes were T-14 scores recorded preoperatively and 6 weeks post-operatively. Secondary outcome measures were postoperative complications, including hemorrhage and readmission. Results: 146 patients were identified. There was a significant improvement in T-14 scores from a median of 24 (Interquartile range (IQR) 18-33) prior to surgery to 2 (IQR 0-4) at 6 weeks postoperatively (p < 0.001). The post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage rate was 6.1% (9/146 participants). Conclusions: Pediatric BizactTM tonsillectomy is effective in treating common indications for pediatric tonsillectomy, reflected by improved parent-reported health-related quality of life T-14 scores postoperatively.

Stress response and communication in surgeons undergoing training in endoscopic management of major vessel hemorrhage: a mixed methods study.

BACKGROUND: Major vessel hemorrhage in endoscopic, endonasal skull-base surgery is a rare but potentially fatal event. Surgical simulation models have been developed to train surgeons in the techniques required to manage this complication. This mixed-methods study aims to quantify the stress responses the model induces, determine how realistic the experience is, and how it changes the confidence levels of surgeons in their ability to deal with major vascular injury in an endoscopic setting. METHODS: Forty consultant surgeons and surgeons in training underwent training on an endoscopic sheep model of jugular vein and carotid artery injury. Pre-course and post-course questionnaires providing demographics, experience level, confidence, and realism scores were taken, based on a 5-point Likert scale. Objective markers of stress response including blood pressure, heart rate, and salivary alpha-amylase levels were measured. RESULTS: Mean "realism" score assessed posttraining showed the model to be perceived as highly realistic by the participants (score 4.02). Difference in participant self-rated pre-course and post-course confidence levels was significant (p < 0.0001): mean pre-course confidence level 1.66 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.43 to 1.90); mean post-course confidence level 3.42 (95% CI, 3.19 to 3.65). Differences in subjects' heart rates (HRs) and mean arterial blood pressures (MAPs) were significant between injury models (p = 0.0008, p = 0.0387, respectively). No statistically significant difference in salivary alpha-amylase levels pretraining and posttraining was observed. CONCLUSION: Results from this study indicate that this highly realistic simulation model provides surgeons with an increased level of confidence in their ability to deal with the rare but potentially catastrophic event of major vessel injury in endoscopic skull-base surgery.