Nanoparticle Concentration in Surgical Plume During Tonsillectomy: A Comparison of Four Techniques.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical plume has known potential occupational health hazards. This study compares nanoparticle concentrations in surgical plumes generated between different pediatric tonsillectomy surgical techniques and assesses the efficacy of mitigation measures. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study performed at a tertiary care academic center. Extracapsular or intracapsular tonsillectomy was performed in 60 patients using four techniques and in 10 additional patients using mitigation measures. Two nanoparticle counters were used to measure particulate concentrations: CPC™ and DiSCmini™. Tonsillectomy techniques included: (1) microdebrider (MD), (2) Bovie with manual suctioning by an assistant (B), (3) Bovie with built-in smoke evacuation system (BS), and (4) Coblator™ (CB). An additional Yankauer suction was used in the mitigation groups (BSY) and (CBY). Comparative analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA on ranks and pairwise comparisons between the groups. RESULTS: The mean concentrations (particles/cm3) and coefficient of variants for the DiSCmini particulate counter were MD: 5140 (1.6), B: 30700 (1.5), BS: 25001 (0.8), CB: 54814 (1.7), CBY: 2395 (1.3) and BSY: 11552 (1.0). Mean concentrations for the CPC particulate counter were MD: 1223 (1.4), B: 3405 (0.7), BS: 5002 (0.9), CB: 13273 (1.0), CBY: 1048 (1.2) and BSY: 3046 (0.6). The lowest mean concentrations were noted in cases using MD and the highest in cases using CB. However, after mitigation, CBY had the lowest overall levels. CONCLUSION: Tonsillectomy technique does impact the levels of nanoparticles emitted within the surgical plume, which may present an occupational hazard for operating room personnel. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3 Laryngoscope, 134:2444-2448, 2024.

Effect of ibuprofen on severity of surgically-managed pediatric post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: The association between ibuprofen use and severity of post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH) remains unclear. We aimed to compare PTH severity in patients who did or did not receive ibuprofen. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients requiring operative control of PTH at a tertiary children's hospital between 2015 and 2019 was performed. PTH severity was assessed using pre-tonsillectomy and post-hemorrhage hemoglobin and hematocrit values, estimated intraoperative blood loss, estimated hemorrhage flow rate, and need for transfusion. Differences in hemorrhage severity markers between the two cohorts were compared. RESULTS: A total of 168 consecutive patients were included in this study. The mean age was 8.8 years, and 55.4% of patients were male. Sixty-five patients (38.7%) received ibuprofen postoperatively. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean change in hemoglobin (1.1 vs. 1.1, P = 0.85) or hematocrit (3.1 vs. 3.2, P = 0.97) between patients who received ibuprofen compared to those who did not. Similarly, there were no significant differences in need for transfusion (3.1% vs. 3.9%, P = 1.00) or occurrence of high-flow (arterial) blood loss (33.8% vs. 40.8%, P = 0.42) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Postoperative ibuprofen use does not appear to significantly increase PTH severity, as measured by change in hemoglobin and hematocrit values, need for transfusion, or presence of high-flow blood loss. This study introduces previously unexplored markers to assess PTH severity and supports further prospective studies to determine the effect of ibuprofen on PTH severity.

Frontal Sinus Drainage in Acute Pediatric Sinusitis With Intracranial Complications.

BACKGROUND: The indication for frontal sinus drainage is uncertain when managing pediatric acute sinusitis with intracranial complications. OBJECTIVE: The primary objective was to determine if addressing the frontal sinus reduced need for subsequent surgical procedures in children presenting with acute sinusitis complicated by intracranial abscess. METHODS: A case series with chart review was performed at a tertiary children's hospital between 2007 and 2019. Children under 18 years of age requiring surgery for complicated acute sinusitis that included the frontal sinus with noncontiguous intracranial abscess were included. Outcomes were compared among children for whom the frontal sinus was drained endoscopically, opened intracranially, or left undrained. RESULTS: Thirty-five children with a mean age of 11.1 years (95% CI: 9.9-12.3) met inclusion. Most presented with epidural abscess (37%). Hospitalizations lasted 12.9 days (95% CI: 10.2-15.5), 46% required a second surgery, 11% required three or more surgeries, and 31% were readmitted within 60 days. Initial surgery for 29% included endoscopic frontal sinusotomy, 34% had a frontal sinus cranialization and 37% did not have any initial drainage of the frontal sinus. Groups were similar with respect to demographics, severity of infection, need for repeat surgery, length of stay, and readmissions (p > .05). Further, persistence of cranial neuropathies, seizures, or major neurological sequelae after discharge were no different among groups (p > .05). CONCLUSION: Drainage of the frontal sinus, when technically feasible, was not associated with reduced surgical procedures or increased complications and there is unclear benefit on measured clinical outcomes.

Reflux as a Risk Factor for Morbidity after Pediatric Tonsillectomy: A National Cohort of Inpatients.

OBJECTIVE: Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) has been identified as a risk factor for complications following pediatric tonsillectomy. The primary objective of this study was to examine outcomes after tonsillectomy among children with GER using a nationwide database. Secondary objectives included analyzing duration of hospitalization and total charges after admission. METHODS: A cross-sectional review of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids' Inpatient Databases (KID) from 2012 and 2016. RESULTS: A total of 21,232 children had a tonsillectomy with or without adenoidectomy, with 1683 (7.9%) diagnosed with GER. Average age for patients with reflux was 4.4 years and for those without was 5.6 years (P < .001). The rate of primary hemorrhage was not statistically different between groups (P = .87). Patients with reflux were more likely to have respiratory complications (P = .03), aspiration pneumonitis (P < .001), and hypoxemia (P < .001) during their hospital course. Noninvasive ventilation and reintubation also occurred more frequently in this population (P < .001). Children with reflux had a longer duration of postoperative admission (3.8 vs. 2.3 days, P < .001) and higher total hospital charges ($47,129 vs. $27,584, P < .001). Multivariable regression analysis determined that reflux remained a statistically significant indicator of aspiration pneumonitis, hypoxemia, invasive and non-invasive ventilation, as well as length of admission. CONCLUSION: Children with GER were significantly more likely to experience inpatient complications following tonsillectomy. Further, length of admission was higher compared to children without reflux. These results suggest that children with GER experience poorer outcomes after tonsillectomy and highlight the role for appropriate preoperative counseling and planning in this patient population. Laryngoscope, 131:907-910, 2021.

Suppurative Intracranial Complications of Pediatric Sinusitis: A Single-Center Experience.

BACKGROUND: Suppurative intracranial complications of sinusitis are rare events in children and can lead to harmful neurologic sequelae and significant morbidity. We sought to review the presentation and management of patients admitted at our hospital with these conditions. METHODS: This was a retrospective study of pediatric patients admitted to a quaternary children's hospital from 2007 to 2019 for operative management of sinusitis with intracranial extension. Clinical characteristics, including surgical and microbiological data, were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients were included; the median age was 11.0 years, and there was a male predominance. Eighty-nine percent of patients had prior healthcare visits for the current episode of sinusitis; 46% of patients had an abnormal neurologic exam on admission. Epidural abscess and subdural empyema were the most common complications, and subdural empyema was associated with repeat surgical intervention. The dominant pathogens were Streptococcus anginosus group organisms (74%). The majority of patients completed treatment parenterally, with a median duration of therapy of 35 days. Neurological sequelae, including epilepsy or ongoing focal deficits, occurred in 22% of patients. History of seizure or an abnormal neurological exam at admission were associated with neurological sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should consider intracranial complications of sinusitis in patients with symptoms of sinusitis for >1 week. Patients should undergo urgent neuroimaging, as neurosurgical intervention is essential for these patients. Subdural empyema was associated with repeat neurosurgical intervention. Neurological sequelae occurred in 22% of patients, and new onset seizure or an abnormal neurological exam at admission were associated with neurological sequelae.

Reliability and Accuracy of Remote Fiberoptic Nasopharyngolaryngoscopy in the Pediatric Population.

INTRODUCTION: Telemedicine is an increasingly prevalent component of medical practice. In otolaryngology, there is the potential for telemedicine services to be performed in conjunction with device use, such as with a nasolaryngoscope. This study evaluates the reliability of remote examinations of the upper airway through an iPhone recording using a coupling device attached to a nasopharyngolaryngoscope (NPL). METHODS: A prospective, blinded study was performed for pediatric patients requiring an NPL during an office visit. The NPL was performed using a coupling device attached to a smartphone to record the examination. A second, remote otolaryngologist then evaluated the recorded examination. Both otolaryngologists evaluated findings of anatomic sites including nasopharynx, oropharynx, base of tongue, larynx including subsites of epiglottis, arytenoids, aryepiglottic folds, false vocal cords, true vocal cords, patency of airway, and diagnostic impression, all of which were documented through a survey. Results of the survey were evaluated through inter-rater agreement using the κ statistic. RESULTS: Forty-five patients underwent an NPL, all of which were included in the study. The average age was 4.9 years. The most common complaint requiring NPL was noisy breathing (n = 16). The inter-rater agreement for overall diagnosis was 0.74 with 80% percent agreement, rated as "good." Other anatomic subsites with "good" or better inter-rater agreement were nasopharynx (0.75), oropharynx (0.75), and true vocal cords (0.71), with strong percentage agreement of 89%, 91%, and 87%, respectively. Both users of the adaptor found the recording setup to run smoothly. CONCLUSION: A telemedicine device for NPL use demonstrates strong diagnostic accuracy across providers and good overall evaluation. It holds potential for use in remote settings.

The Role of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery in Children Undergoing External Drainage of Non-Medial Subperiosteal Orbital Abscess.

BACKGROUND: The extent of surgery required in the management of pediatric non-medial subperiosteal orbital abscess (SPOA) due to medically refractory complicated acute sinusitis is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The primary objective is to compare operative outcomes of children treated with combined endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) and external orbital drainage (EOD) versus those treated with EOD alone. METHODS: Retrospective case series from a tertiary children's hospital analyzing outcomes in children requiring surgical management for acute sinusitis complicated by non-medial SPOA between November 2007 and September 2019. RESULTS: Sixteen children with a mean age of 9.4 years (95% CI: 7.3-11.4) met inclusion. Eleven (68.8%) underwent combined EOD and ESS, while five (31.2%) underwent EOD alone. Groups were similar in age, symptom duration, white blood cell count, C-reactive protein level, intraocular pressure, Lund-Mackay score, and abscess volume. There was no significant difference in median length of stay between patients treated with a combined approach versus those treated by EOD alone. Cultures identified non-beta-hemolytic Streptococcus species in 56.3% of patients, with Streptococcus intermedius representing the most common organism in 37.5%. In one case, ESS identified a pathogen not acquired via concomitant EOD, which did influence management. No child required a subsequent surgical procedure and there were no operative complications. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of ESS in the management of pediatric non-medial SPOA was not associated with a statistically different duration of hospitalization. Cultures from concomitant ESS rarely aided in diagnosis or antibiotic therapy. Further study should delineate the indications for ESS in these cases.

Post-Tonsillectomy Hemorrhage and the Diagnosis of Occult Pediatric Coagulopathies.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: The primary objective of this investigation was to determine rates of abnormal coagulation panels and diagnoses of coagulopathies in children with post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage (PTH). Secondary objectives identified patient demographics and hemorrhage event characteristics that correlated with a coagulopathy diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: Case series with chart review. METHODS: Patients requiring operative control of PTH at a tertiary children's hospital between 2015 and 2019 were included. Details of tonsillectomy procedures and hemorrhage events were reviewed along with screening labs for coagulopathy, referrals to hematology and bleeding disorder diagnoses. RESULTS: There were 250 children included. Mean age was 8.8 years (95% CI: 8.2-9.4) and 53.6% were males. PTH events occurred at a median of postoperative day six (mean: 5.9, 95% CI: 5.4-6.3), and 14.8% occurred within 24 hours of surgery. In this series, 23 patients (9.2%) had a second PTH, and three (1.2%) had a third PTH. Single and multiple PTH patients were similar with respect to age, gender, postoperative day, and technique (P > .05). Screening coagulation panels were obtained on presentation in 67.8% of children with one PTH and abnormally elevated in 38.3%. All children with multiple PTHs had labs drawn with 34.8% having elevated levels. No child with a single PTH was diagnosed with a bleeding disorder. Conversely, 87.0% of children with multiple PTHs saw hematology and three (13.0%) were diagnosed with a bleeding disorder (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Obtaining coagulation panels in pediatric patients presenting with PTH is rarely useful and diagnosing a coagulopathy is uncommon. However, among children with a second PTH, referral to hematology is reasonable as this group has a significantly higher, albeit small, incidence of undiagnosed bleeding disorders. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 131:E2069-E2073, 2021.

Recorded Flexible Nasolaryngoscopy for Neonatal Vocal Cord Assessment in a Prospective Cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Assessing vocal cord mobility by flexible nasolaryngoscopy (FNL) can be difficult in neonates. To date, prospective studies evaluating the incidence and diagnostic accuracy of vocal cord paralysis (VCP) after surgical patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) ligation are limited. It is unknown whether video FNL improves diagnosis in this population. This study compared video recordings with bedside evaluation for diagnosis of VCP and determined inter-rater reliability of the diagnosis of VCP in preterm infants after PDA ligation. METHODS: Prospective cohort of preterm neonates undergoing bedside FNL within two weeks of extubation following PDA ligation. In a subset, FNL was recorded. Two pediatric otolaryngologists, blinded to the initial diagnosis, reviewed the FNL video recordings. RESULTS: Eighty infants were enrolled and 37 with a recorded FNL were included in the cohort. Average gestational age at birth was 25.2 weeks (SD: 1.2) and postmenstrual age at FNL was 37.0 weeks (SD: 4.5), which was 9.5 days (SD: 14.7) after extubation following PDA repair. There were 6 diagnosed with left VCP (16.2%; 95% CI: 4.3-28.1%) at bedside, and 9 diagnosed by video review (24.3%; 95% CI: 10.5-38.1%) (P = .56). Videos confirmed all 6 VCP diagnosed initially, but also identified 3 additional cases. Though imperfect, reviewing FNL by video showed substantial reliability (kappa = .75), with 91.9% agreement. CONCLUSION: Video recorded FNL most often confirms a bedside diagnosis of VCP, but may also identify discrepancies. Physicians should consider the limitations of diagnosis especially when infants persist with symptoms such as weak voice or signs of postoperative aspiration. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 2b.

Two rare cases of sinonasal vascular malformation in the pediatric population.

Vascular malformations presenting in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are rare. Differentiating benign vascular malformations of the sinonasal cavity from other pathologic entities can be challenging and the role of preoperative angiography and embolization is not well defined. We present two unique cases of large pediatric sinonasal vascular malformations and describe their presentation, diagnosis and subsequent management. Both patients underwent embolization of the ipsilateral arterial supply followed by successful and complete endonasal surgical excision. This report provides description of management of the very rare occurrence of sinonasal vascular malformation in two adolescents.

The Microbiology of Complicated Acute Sinusitis among Pediatric Patients: A Case Series.

OBJECTIVE: The microbiology of pediatric complicated acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) has evolved, and our current understanding of pathogenic organisms is limited. The objectives of this study are to describe the incidence of pathogens causing complicated ARS requiring surgical intervention at our institution over a 10-year period as well as their associated treatment outcomes. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: A single tertiary care children's hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Data were reviewed from all patients who underwent surgery for complicated ARS and had positive culture data from 2006 to 2016. Associations among pathogens, complications, and outcomes were analyzed with Pearson χ2 and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients met criteria. Complications included orbital infections (78%), intracranial infections (48%), Pott's puffy tumor (13%), and cavernous sinus thrombosis (9.0%). Bacterial isolates were majority polymicrobial (55%) and included Streptococcus species (58%), Staphylococcus species (49%; including methicillin-resistant S aureus [MRSA], 11%), and anaerobic bacteria (35%). S pneumoniae (9.0%), Haemophilus species (4.5%), and Moraxella catarrhalis (1.1%) were relatively uncommon. Bacterial isolates were similar among patients with all types of complications. CONCLUSION: Among a large cohort of pediatric patients with complicated ARS, most bacterial isolates were polymicrobial, with Streptococcus and Staphylococcus species contributing to the majority of cases. S aureus species, including MRSA and anaerobic pathogens, were common. The pattern of bacterial isolates was similar among patients with all types of complications of ARS. We suggest treatment for complicated ARS with broad-spectrum antibiotics with coverage for Streptococcus species, Staphylococcus species including MRSA, and anaerobic bacteria.

Predictive ability of bedside nasal endoscopy to diagnose invasive fungal sinusitis in a pediatric population.

INTRODUCTION: Invasive fungal sinusitis (IFS) is a rare but deadly clinical entity that occurs in immunocompromised patients. Diagnosis in children typically requires operative biopsies under general anesthesia, which has associated risks. Findings on bedside nasal endoscopy (BNE) can be used with history, exam, and imaging to determine the need for surgery, however, the accuracy of this tool has not been established among pediatric patients. METHODS: Patients who underwent BNE for evaluation of IFS from 2008 to 2016 at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia were identified using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes. Retrospective chart analysis was performed and included underlying diagnoses, presenting signs and symptoms, imaging findings, endoscopic findings and outcomes. RESULTS: Nineteen patients were identified who underwent evaluation for IFS using BNE during the period studied. Eight patients had exam findings that were concerning for IFS, including debris or crusting, darkened or pale mucosa, or copious, thick and/or purulent secretions. Immediate operative biopsies and debridement revealed IFS in six of eight patients. Eleven patients had exam findings deemed not concerning for IFS including mucosal edema, mucous without purulence, or normal findings. Six of eleven patients underwent operative biopsy despite negative endoscopy, and five were observed clinically. None of the 11 patients with negative bedside endoscopy developed IFS. CONCLUSIONS: All patients with IFS had concerning exam findings on endoscopy and were treated with immediate biopsies and debridement. No patient with normal or non-concerning findings on BNE progressed to have invasive fungal sinusitis. While suspicion for IFS in immunocompromised children must remain high, BNE is feasible and useful in its assessment.

The Use of Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation following Pediatric Tonsillectomy.

Objective To determine the risks of bleeding and other complications in pediatric patients who require noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (PPV) in the immediate posttonsillectomy period. Study Design Case series with chart review. Setting Single tertiary pediatric hospital. Subjects and Methods Sixty-nine patients who had undergone tonsillectomy from July 2007 through December 2013 and required postoperative PPV were reviewed. Data collected included age, sex, medical history, preoperative polysomnogram parameters, length of use and type of noninvasive ventilatory support, and postoperative complications. Bleeding rate was calculated. Results Sixty-nine children met inclusion criteria for the study. Most had comorbid conditions. The mean age of these patients was 6.4 years. The postoperative bleeding rate of children who required operative intervention for control was 5.97%. Patients did not experience other complications. Conclusion This is the largest study in the literature investigating bleeding in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy who required postoperative noninvasive PPV. Some hesitation may exist in using this form of ventilation when open pharyngeal wounds are exposed to pressure, but this study suggests that it can be used as a suitable alternative to invasive ventilation.