Trends and postoperative outcomes of thyroidectomy after expansion and rise of health insurance deductibles in the fiscal year.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate a relationship between expansion of High Deductible Health Plans (HDHPs) and the number of thyroid surgery cases with associated postoperative outcomes in the fiscal year. METHODS: Data from TriNetX was used to evaluate the trends in thyroid surgery from 2005 and 2021 between the end of the year (Quarter 4) and the beginning of the year (Quarter 1). Risk of postoperative outcomes were statistically interrogated. RESULTS: The average rate of thyroid surgery in cases/year between Quarter 4 and Quarter 1 was similar after expansion of HDHPs (152; 146; p = 0.64). There was no increased risk of postoperative complications. The rate of surgery decreased significantly for patients with Medicare after implementation of the revised American Thyroid Association (ATA) guidelines (Quarter 4: p = 0.03; Quarter 1: p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Patients are less likely to delay thyroid surgery at the end of the year despite higher deductibles.

Transoral Robotic Surgery for Oropharyngeal and Hypopharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

With oropharyngeal cancer incidence rising globally, largely due to human papillomavirus (HPV), and hypopharyngeal cancer known for poor outcomes, innovative treatments are needed. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) offers a minimally invasive approach that may improve upon traditional open surgery and radiotherapy/chemoradiotherapy (RT/CRT) methods. We conducted a literature review and included 40 PubMed studies comparing TORS, open surgery, and RT/CRT for oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), focusing on survival rates and swallowing function outcomes. TORS provides favorable survival outcomes and typically results in superior swallowing function post-treatment compared to other therapeutic modalities in both oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal SCCs. The clinical benefits of TORS, including improved operative precision and minimized tissue disruption, along with the elimination of surgical incision recovery and reduced RT toxicity, suggest it is a valuable surgical approach for head and neck cancers.

Surgical Management of a Large Well-Differentiated Liposarcoma in the Supraclavicular Fossa: A Case Report.

Background: Liposarcomas originating in the supraclavicular fossa are exceptionally rare, with only a few documented cases in the medical literature. Methods: We present a unique case involving a remarkably large indolent, atypical lipomatous tumor or well-differentiated liposarcoma situated in the right supraclavicular region, measuring 18 cm × 18 cm × 17 cm. To our knowledge, this represents the largest liposarcoma found in the supraclavicular fossa reported in the literature. This unique case highlights the effective management of a remarkably large supraclavicular liposarcoma through complete surgical resection. Result and Conclusion: Our findings further support the existing consensus that complete surgical removal is often curative for well-differentiated liposarcoma.

Medical Honey in Head and Neck Cancer.

Medical honey has been recognized for its medicinal properties for thousands of years, and several medical honey products have entered the market over the last two decades. In vitro studies have shown that honey has antimicrobial properties, protects against bacterial growth, and improves wound healing. However, these products are not widely used for wound treatment in head and neck surgery. Additionally, honey has been utilized in those undergoing radiotherapy for head and neck cancer (HNC) to treat radiation-induced mucositis. This literature review aims to describe and assess the utility of medical honey for patients undergoing treatment for HNC and thus review publications on medical honey for treating postoperative wounds and preventing radiation-induced mucositis. Ovid (Medicine), PubMed (Medline), and Google Scholar were searched using keywords related to medical honey and HNC. All abstracts retrieved in the search were screened for content relevance. Three randomized controlled trials on wound healing were reviewed and assigned a score using the revised Cochrane risk of bias tool for methodological quality. Three meta-analyses assessing radiation-induced mucositis were reviewed and evaluated. Using medical honey on postoperative wounds was associated with shorter hospital stays, faster healing of palatal graft defects, and reduced pigmentation of thyroidectomy scars. Medical honey had no impact on bacterial culture rates or other aesthetic measures. For patients undergoing radiation for HNC, orally ingested honey was associated with less weight loss and delayed the onset of severe radiation-induced mucositis. However, results across different meta-analyses were mixed. Minimal evidence supporting the use of honey in postoperative wounds for patients with HNC exists. However, the studies reviewed here, combined with in-vitro studies and studies in other anatomical regions, show honey may offer some wound healing benefits. More robust studies are needed to confirm the potential benefits of medical honey in the postoperative wounds of HNC patients. While radiation-induced mucositis continues to be a debilitating adverse effect of HNC treatment, the literature reviewed supports honey as a safe complementary therapy in preventing radiation-induced mucositis.

Beyond Hypoglossal Hype: Social Media Perspectives on the Inspire Upper Airway Stimulation System.

In the landscape of sleep surgery, the Inspire® Upper Airway Stimulation (UAS) device has gained prominence as an increasingly popular treatment option for obstructive sleep apnea, prompting significant discourse across social media platforms. This study explores the social media narrative of the UAS device, particularly the nature of multimedia content, author demographics, and audience engagement on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Our analysis encompassed 423 public posts, revealing images (67.4%) and videos (28.1%) as the dominant content types, with over a third of posts authored by physicians. A notable 40% of posts were advertisements, whereas patient experiences comprised 34.5%. TikTok, although presenting a smaller sample size, showed a substantially higher engagement rate, with posts averaging 152.9 likes, compared with Instagram and Facebook at 32.7 and 41.2 likes, respectively. The findings underscore the need for otolaryngologists and healthcare professionals to provide clear, evidence-based information on digital platforms. Given social media's expanding role in healthcare, medical professionals must foster digital literacy and safeguard the accuracy of health information online. In this study, we concluded that maintaining an evidence-based, transparent digital dialogue for medical innovations such as the UAS device necessitates collaborative efforts among physicians, health institutions, and technology companies.

How do i salvage that flap?; An evidence-based primer on salvage techniques for head & neck microvascular free flaps.

Interventional strategies for dealing with microvascular free flap failure are varied among institutions and even individual surgeons. This systematic review aims to identify the published methods for salvaging a failing free flap and provide surgeons with a comprehensive toolset for successful intervention. A title and abstract search of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was performed. 1694 abstracts were screened by three reviewers according to Prisma guidelines. 62 full text articles meeting inclusion criteria detailed techniques which were separated into the categories of thrombectomy, thrombolysis, leech therapy, vascular fistula, and an "other" category outlining techniques which did not fit into the prior framework. Assessment of the efficacy of individual salvage techniques is limited due to limited empirical data, however, the approach to successful salvage should be based on timely identification of flap compromise, followed by the implementation of one or several of the aforementioned techniques.

The Impact of the Affordable Care Act on Insurance Coverage and Stage Among Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.

The purpose was to examine the change in percent uninsured and if there is change in T-stage, N-stage and overall-stage among nonelderly patients with newly diagnosed head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The National Cancer Database was used for this study. Patients were divided between pre-ACA and post-ACA implementation with stratification between areas of ACA expansion versus non-expansion. A quasi-experimental difference-in-difference study design was undertaken. A total of 15,037 patients met the inclusion criteria. Between the pre-ACA and post-ACA periods, there was increase in proportion of percent insured with Medicaid coverage in patients residing in expansion region. There was a decrease in the proportion of patients who had advanced Tumor stage and Nodal stage decreased after implementation of ACA. With the implementation of ACA expansion, there is increased Medicaid coverage, corresponding to a decreased proportion of patients presenting with advanced T-stage and N-stage.

A Review of Health Care Disparities in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas are aggressive cancers with significant morbidity and mortality that can be confounded by health care disparities, particularly race. This article is intended to educate and provide evidence on the status of health care disparities in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. A review of the English-language literature was performed using Pubmed and MEDLINE. Results indicated that African American patients are diagnosed at a younger age, presented with higher tumor burden, are less likely to receive definitive cancer treatment, and have increased mortality compared with non-African American patients. Much of these differences are reversible and can be eliminated by education, instituting screening programs, and also extending health care coverage.

Management of Non-High-Risk Salivary Gland Carcinomas With Surgery Alone.

Background Risk stratification and appropriate treatment selection are essential for the management of head and neck malignancies, in order to optimize long-term outcomes. Salivary gland carcinomas (SGCs) pose a particular challenge due to their extensive biologic heterogeneity. Primary surgical resection remains the mainstay of treatment; however, outcomes with single modality therapy for 'non-high-risk' lesions are less elucidated in the literature present on the subject. We present our experience with non-high-risk salivary gland malignancies treated by surgery alone.  Methods A retrospective analysis of SGCs from 1998-2011 was completed after receiving Institutional Review Board approval. Patient demographic, tumor, treatment, and outcome data were obtained from chart review. The primary outcomes of interest were overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Results Of the 62 patients identified, 49 patients underwent resection of the primary tumor alone, while an ipsilateral selective neck dissection was included for 13 patients. The median follow-up was 5.05 years. Of the tumors, 79% were low-intermediate grade, 3% high grade, and 17% poorly classified. The OS and RFS were 91% and 87% at five years and 80% and 79% at 10 years, respectively. The combined failure rate of local, regional, and distance was 13%. Conclusion Surgery alone is an appropriate treatment strategy for patients with non-high-risk salivary gland malignancy, affording a high likelihood of long-term RFS and OS.

Algorithmic Approach to Reconstruction of Esophageal/Hypopharyngeal Injuries After Anterior Cervical Spinal Fusion.

BACKGROUND: Anterior cervical disk fusion (ACDF) is a common surgical approach for the treatment of cervical spine pathology. Esophageal perforations, though uncommon, are a devastating complication of this surgery. The objective of this paper is to assess the success of different treatment approaches for the management of esophageal/pharyngeal injury after ACDF. METHODS: Given the absence of prospective trials, the review includes institutional case reports and case series from 1985-2020 in the English language literature. Only cases of esophageal/pharyngeal injury in the setting of anterior cervical hardware were considered for study inclusion. For purposes of this study, treatment success is defined as resumption of oral intake. RESULTS: The database review identified 76 distinct series that meet criteria for study inclusion, with 173 patients available for analysis. A heterogeneous array of treatments was used for the management of pharyngoesophageal injuries after ACDF ranging from observation to complex free tissue reconstruction, with varying degrees of treatment success reported. We identified a number of factors, specifically duration of injury from initial ACDF procedure, which may impact the complexity of treatment required to maximize likelihood of treatment success. CONCLUSIONS: Pharyngoesophageal injuries, albeit rare, are a serious and often complex complication after ACDF procedures. We propose a detailed algorithmic approach to guide decision making if faced with this clinical challenge. The huge variability in how these patients are treated emphasizes the potential utility of future multiinstitutional studies.

Neonatal airway obstruction due to a massive lingual foregut duplication cyst.

Foregut duplication cysts (FDCs) are rare malformations arising along primitively derived alimentary tract. Head and neck cases comprise 0.3% of all FDCs with 60% occurring in the oral cavity. We present a case of neonatal airway obstruction secondary to a prenatally diagnosed massive lingual FDC. Definitive treatment requires surgical excision. Histologically, the cysts are lined gastric and respiratory epithelium. FDC should be a consideration in prenatally diagnosed masses affecting the oral cavity.

Diabetes mellitus in major head and neck cancer surgery: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a risk factor for surgical complications and a common comorbidity in the setting of head and neck (H&N) cancer. Our objective was to determine if DM is associated with increased rates of H&N cancer surgery complications. METHODS: We conducted a search of Pubmed, Embase, and the national clinical trials database focusing on H&N cancer surgery or free flap reconstruction and diabetes. Two reviewers screened studies by title/abstract and then full text. We then collected data using a pre-made template. Meta-analysis was performed using Revman 5.3. RESULTS: Of the 272 results from Pubmed and 559 from Embase, we selected 16 studies for inclusion. Meta-analysis revealed DM was associated with increased rates of flap failure (risk ratio [RR] = 1.83 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-2.85; P = .007) and local complications (RR = 1.87 95% CI, 1.24-2.80; P < .00001). CONCLUSION: Although DM is associated with increased risk of flap failure and local H&N cancer surgery complications, further research is required to optimize care in this population.

Head and neck cutaneous metastasis of testicular choriocarcinoma.

Testicular choriocarcinoma (CC) is a malignant germ cell tumour which most frequently presents with disseminated metastasis, often involving the lungs, brain and liver. Metastatic are characterised by extensive vascularity, often causing patients to present emergently with potentially life-threatening haemorrhagic complications. We report a patient with disseminated testicular CC, presenting with haemorrhage from a dermal metastatic focus involving the lower lip and mentum, requiring surgical intervention. This unique case illustrates the potential utility of palliative surgery, for the management of symptomatic metastatic disease, such as those caused by testicular CC.

Salvage of Recurrence after Surgery and Adjuvant Therapy: A Multi-institutional Study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the oncologic outcomes of patients undergoing salvage surgery for recurrent oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OCSCC) and oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) after initial treatment with surgery and adjuvant therapy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series with chart review. SETTING: Five academic tertiary care centers. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients included those with OCSCC and OPSCC who were initially treated with surgery and adjuvant therapy between 2000 and 2015 and underwent salvage surgery for local and/or regional recurrence. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients were included (76% OCSCC, 24% OPSCC). Five-year overall survival was 31% (95% CI, 21%-41%) and was significantly improved among patients with human papillomavirus-associated oropharyngeal tumors (hazard ratio [HR], 0.34; 95% CI, 0.11-0.98) and significantly worse for those with postoperative positive margins (HR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.43-4.93). Adjuvant (chemo)reirradiation was not associated with disease control or survival regardless of margin status. Combined locoregional recurrence was significantly correlated with a positive margin resection (HR, 5.75; 95% CI, 1.94-17.01). Twenty-five patients (25%) underwent a second salvage surgical procedure, of whom 8 achieved long-term disease control. CONCLUSION: Patients presenting with resectable recurrence after initial therapy with surgery and adjuvant therapy have a reasonable salvage rate when a negative margin resection can be attained. Patients with postoperative positive margins have poor survival outcomes that are not significantly improved with adjuvant (chemo)reirradiation. Those with combined locoregional recurrence are at particularly high risk for postoperative positive margins. The functional consequences of salvage surgery and its effect on quality of life are critical in decision making and require further investigation.

Endoscopic Management of Idiopathic Subglottic Stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a homogeneous idiopathic subglottic stenosis (ISS) population undergoing endoscopic balloon dilation and evaluate factors affecting inter-dilation interval (IDI). METHODS: Retrospective review of 37 patients. Co-morbidity prevalence versus normal population was evaluated using chi-square tests. Correlations were evaluated using Pearson product moment tests. Independent samples t tests/rank sum tests assessed differences between groups of interest. RESULTS: All patients were female aged 45.9 ± 15.4 years at diagnosis. Four required a tracheotomy during management. Most prevalent co-morbidity was gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) (64.9%; P = .036). Body mass indices (BMI) at first and most recent dilation were 29.8 and 30.8 ( P = .564). Degree of stenosis before first dilation was 53 ± 14%. Patients underwent 3.8 ± 1.8 dilations (range, 1-11). Average IDI was 635 ± 615 days (range, 49-3130 days), including 556 ± 397 days for patients receiving concomitant steroid injection and 283 ± 36 for those who did not ( P = .079). Inter-dilation interval was not correlated with BMI ( r = 0.0486; P = .802) or number of co-morbidities ( r = -0.225, P = .223). CONCLUSIONS: Most patients with ISS can be managed endoscopically, and IDI may be increased with steroid injection. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is a common co-morbidity. Body mass index did not change over time despite potential effects on exercise tolerance; BMI did not affect IDI. Methods to determine optimal timing for next intervention are warranted.

Airway Obstruction Secondary to Emphysematous Epiglottitis: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND Despite a shift in the epidemiology of epiglottitis following the introduction of the Haemophilus influenzae type B vaccine, acute infectious epiglottitis continues to be a relatively common and potentially life-threatening infection in adults. Epiglottitis complicated by abscess is rare, and emphysematous abscess is even less common. Early diagnosis and intervention is paramount in reducing morbidity and mortality. Although case reports exist, photographic depiction of this complication is not readily available. CASE REPORT We present the case of a 59-year-old male with rapidly progressive emphysematous epiglottitis managed with awake fiber optic intubation followed by incision, drainage, and antibiotic therapy. Early recognition and intervention in this patient led to complete resolution of the infection, with no long-term sequelae. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians should be familiar with the radiographic and endoscopic findings which support an emphysematous abscess, as well as the treatment and airway management concerns in such cases.