Provider moral distress in caring for tracheostomy and ventilator dependent children: A single institution cross-sectional evaluation.

OBJECTIVE: To determine levels of moral distress in a pediatric unit caring for patients with tracheostomy/ventilator dependence. HYPOTHESIS: Moral distress will be significant in a dedicated pediatric trach/vent unit. METHODS: The Moral Distress Survey-Revised (MDS-R) is a 21-question survey measuring moral distress in pediatrics. The MDS-R was anonymously distributed to medical degree/doctor of osteopathy (MD/DOs), advanced practice practitioners (APPs), registered nurses (RNs), and respiratory therapists (RTs) in a unit caring for tracheostomy/ventilator dependent patients. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate analysis were performed. RESULTS: Response rate was 48% (61/127). Mean MDS-R score was 83 (range 43-119), which is comparable to reported levels in the pediatric intensive care unit (ICU). APPs had the highest median rate of moral distress (112, interquartile range [IQR], 72-138), while MD/DOs had the lowest median score (49, IQR, 43-77). RNs and RTs had MDS-R scores between these two groups (medians of 91 and 84, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Moral distress levels in a unit caring for long term tracheostomy and ventilator dependent patients are high, comparable to levels in pediatric ICUs. APPs. APPs had higher levels of distress compared to other groups. This may be attributable to the constant stressors of being the primary provider for complex patients, especially in a high-volume inpatient setting.

Revision Endoscopic Posterior Costal Cartilage Grafting: Is It Feasible?

The objective of this work is to examine the feasibility of revision endoscopic posterior costal cartilage graft (EPCCG) placement for posterior glottic stenosis (PGS) and bilateral vocal fold immobility (BVFI). Revision and primary cases were compared with respect to decannulation rates, and it was hypothesized that there would be no difference in outcomes. Twenty-one patients met inclusion criteria (14 primary, 7 revision). Thirteen (62%) had a primary indication of PGS, and 8 (42%) were for BVFI. There were no differences between revision and primary groups with respect to age, gender, or comorbidities (p > .05). There was no difference between groups with respect to decannulation rate (85% primary vs 100% revision, p = .32). Thus, revision EPCCG appears to have comparable results to primary EPCCG with respect to decannulation rate and time to decannulation. EPCCG may be a feasible alternative to open airway reconstruction for PGS and BVFI in selected patients.

The effect of postoperative steroid dosing on readmission rates following radiofrequency ablation tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of postoperative steroid dosage on postoperative telephone calls, emergency department (ED) visits, and hemorrhage rates for two groups receiving different steroid dosing following radiofrequency ablation tonsillectomy. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review between January 1, 2014 and January 1, 2019. SETTING: Tertiary care pediatric hospital. METHODS: Two postoperative steroid dosing protocols studied: 1) three postoperative doses of 0.5 mg/kg dexamethasone, or 2) three postoperative doses of 4 mg dexamethasone. Otherwise, postoperative care and pain control were similar for all patients. We hypothesized that standardized steroid dosing would achieve similar postoperative outcomes when compared to weight-based dosing with regards to patient phone calls, ED visits, readmission rates, and bleeding rates. RESULTS: Overall, 279 patients were included (n = 100 at 4 mg, n = 179 at 0.5 mg/kg). There were no differences between groups in age, gender, race, BMI, or comorbidities (P > 0.05). Readmission and ED visit rates were 2.8% and 12.2% respectively, with no significant difference between groups (P > 0.05)). The overall hemorrhage rate was 6.3%, including those patients presenting to the ED but not requiring intervention for bleeding concerns. There was no difference in hemorrhage rates between groups (P = 0.22); the hemorrhage rate requiring operative intervention was 1.4% with no difference between groups (P = 0.27). Postoperative phone calls to physicians' office occurred in 13.3% of cases with no difference between groups (P = 0.41). CONCLUSION: Comparable rates of readmission, ED visits, hemorrhage, and patient phone calls were seen with a standard dose of 4 mg versus 0.5 mg/kg weight-based dosing of a short course of postoperative dexamethasone following radiofrequency ablation tonsillectomy.

Determining treatment choices after the cochlear implant evaluation process.

OBJECTIVES: Determine the proportion of patients starting the cochlear implant evaluation (CIE) process proceeding to cochlear implantation.Determine which patient factors are associated with undergoing cochlear implantation. METHODS: Retrospective case series of all patients scheduled for a CIE within a tertiary academic neurotology practice between January 1, 2014 and April 30, 2016. Management pathways of patients undergoing CIE were examined. RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-seven adult patients were scheduled for CIE during the study period. Two hundred twenty-six patients started the evaluation process, and 203 patients completed full evaluation. Of patients that completed CIE, 166/203 (82%) met criteria for implantation and 37/203 (18%) did not meet criteria. Fifty-nine patients out of 166 patients (36%) meeting criteria did not receive implants and 107/166 (64%) underwent implantation, yielding an overall implantation rate of 47% (107/226) among patients scheduled for CIE. Common reasons for deferring CI among candidates included failure to show up for preoperative appointment (24%), choosing hearing aids as an alternative (22%), patient refusal (21%) and insurance issues (17%). Overall, CIE led to a new adjunctive hearing device (CI or hearing aid) in 113 (113/203, 56%) cases. CONCLUSION: Fifty-six (113/203) percent of patients who underwent CIE at an academic medical center underwent CI surgery or received an adjunctive hearing device, but 36% (59/166) of candidates did not receive a CI. Patients who forewent CI despite meeting candidacy criteria did so due to cost/insurance issues, or due to preference for auditory amplification rather than CI. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Demographic Characteristics of Children Diagnosed with Bacterial Tracheitis.

OBJECTIVES: Examine the presentation and clinical course of patients with bacterial tracheitis (BT). Identify if socioeconomic differences exist among children who present with BT. METHODS: This was a retrospective case series from a tertiary care pediatric medical center. The study group included patients less than 18 years old who were diagnosed with BT from January 2011 to March 2019. Patients with a tracheostomy and those who developed BT after prolonged hospitalization were excluded. Patient demographics were compared with the demographics of the counties surrounding the hospital. RESULTS: 33 patients with BT met inclusion criteria. The most common presenting symptoms were difficulty breathing, stridor, and sore throat (81.8% each), followed by cough (78.8%). Median length of stay was 3 days [interquartile range (IQR):2-4]. 19 patients (57.5%) were admitted to the intensive care unit. Intubation was required for 13 patients (39.4%), for a median length of 2 days [IQR:2-2]. Methicillin sensitive staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacterial etiology (33%). Mean presenting age was 8.58 years [95% confidence interval:7.3-9.9] and 14 patients were female (42.4%). 31 patients were white (93.9%), 1 was black (3%), and 1 was Hispanic (3%). BT patients were more likely to have private insurance compared to comparison (81.8% vs 63.4%, P < .001). CONCLUSION: Children who presented with BT were more likely to be privately insured than a comparison population.

Invasive fungal pharyngitis in a pediatric bone marrow transplant patient.

Invasive fungal disease of the head and neck is a potentially fatal infection most commonly seen in immunocompromised patients. Even in the setting of combined surgical and medical treatment, prognosis is generally poor. We report the first pediatric case of invasive fungal pharyngitis and summarize a review of the literature. A 10-year-old female patientwith aplastic anemia status post-bone marrow transplant and accompanying immunosuppression initially presented with a diagnosis of a peritonsillar abscess. Incision and drainage did not show purulence, but culture grew out Rhizopus species. Immediately after diagnosis, the patient was treated successfully with aggressive staged surgical debridement and antifungal medications and had an excellent functional outcome 2 years after initial presentation. Invasive fungal disease is most common in the sinonasal region, but alternative sites of disease must be considered in immunocompromised patients who present with atypical symptoms.

The use of videos in preparation for pediatric otolaryngology cases-a national survey.

OBJECTIVE: 1) Review surgical preparation methods for pediatric otolaryngology fellows and fellowship directors, focusing on surgical video usage. STUDY DESIGN: Cross sectional survey. METHODS: Structured survey querying preparation methods for surgical cases was distributed to current pediatric otolaryngology fellows and fellowship program directors (FD's). RESULTS: 84 surveys were distributed (47 fellows, 37 FD). Overall response rate was 44% (37/84); fellow response rate was 55% (26/47) and FD response rate was 30% (11/37). Most respondents used videos (84%) and textbooks (95%) to prepare for surgery; fellows were more likely than FD's to use videos (96% vs. 55%, p < 0.01). 89% of respondents used YouTube to prepare; C-videos was the next most common platform used (27%). Fellows were more likely to have used YouTube than FD's (100% vs 63%, p < 0.01). 45% of FD's did not know or did not think their fellows use videos to prepare for cases. Mean helpfulness of surgical videos on a 5 point scale was 3.41 (95% CI 3.0-3.8). Videos were considered most helpful for illustrating technical portions of cases (51%), visualizing the case (27%) and reviewing anatomy (24%). Survey respondents mentioned poor quality (59%) and irrelevance to a particular institutions approach (19%) as weaknesses of available surgical videos. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical videos are commonly used by pediatric otolaryngology fellows to prepare for cases, and can assist in building anatomic knowledge and illustrating technical details of complex cases. YouTube is the most commonly utilized platform accessed by fellows, but poor quality and limited generalizability may restrict the usefulness of current video resources. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Moral distress in pediatric otolaryngology: A pilot study.

OBJECTIVES: SUBJECTS/METHODS: Moral distress is defined as "when one knows the right thing to do, but institutional constraints make it nearly impossible to pursue the right course of action". The Moral Distress Survey-Revised (MDS-R) is a validated 21-question survey measuring moral distress in pediatrics. The MDS-R was anonymously distributed to pediatric otolaryngology faculty and fellows at a tertiary institution. Descriptive statistics, bivariate and multivariate analysis were performed. RESULTS: Response rate was 89% (16/18). Overall MDS-R score was 40 (range 14-94), which is lower than that found in the literature for pediatric surgeons (reported mean 72), pediatric intensivists (reported means 57-86), and similar to pediatric oncologists (reported means 42-52). Fellows had a significantly higher level of moral distress than faculty (mean 69 vs. 26, p < 0.05). Factors leading to higher degrees of distress involved communication breakdowns and pressure from administration/insurance companies to reduce costs. CONCLUSION: Pediatric Otolaryngologists at our institution have lower degrees of moral distress compared to other pediatric subspecialists. Fellows had higher levels of distress compared to faculty. Further research is necessary to determine degrees of distress across institutions and to determine its impact on the wellness of pediatric otolaryngologists.

Does Surgical Volume and Complexity Affect Cost and Mortality in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery?

OBJECTIVES: (1) To evaluate whether admission volume and case complexity are associated with mortality rates and (2) evaluate whether admission volume and case complexity are associated with cost per admission. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Tertiary academic hospital. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The Vizient database was queried for inpatient admissions between July 2015 and March 2017 to an otolaryngology-head and neck surgery service. Data collected included admission volume, length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) status, complication rates, case mix index (CMI), and cost data. Regression analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between cost, CMI, admission volume, and mortality rate. RESULTS: In total, 338 hospitals provided data for analysis. Mean hospital admission volume was 182 (range, 1-1284), and mean CMI was 1.69 (range, 0.66-6.0). A 1-point increase in hospital average CMI was associated with a 40% increase in odds for high mortality. Admission volume was associated with lower mortality, with 1% lower odds for each additional case. A 1-point increase in CMI produces a $4624 higher total cost per case (95% confidence interval, $4550-$4700), and for each additional case, total cost per case increased by $6. CONCLUSION: For otolaryngology inpatient services at US academic medical centers, increasing admission volume is associated with decreased mortality rates, even after controlling for CMI and complication rates. Increasing CMI levels have an anticipated correlation with higher total costs per case, but admission volume is unexpectedly associated with a significant increase in average cost per case.

Cervical slide tracheoplasty in adults with laryngotracheal stenosis.

OBJECTIVES: 1) Evaluate success rates for adults undergoing cervical slide tracheoplasty. 2) Examine complication rates of slide tracheoplasty in adults. METHODS: A retrospective cohort of adults > 21 years of age undergoing cervical slide tracheoplasty for tracheal stenosis between October 2011 and August 2017 was reviewed. Comorbidities, stenosis grade, etiology of stenosis, primary versus revision surgery, complications, and number of adjunct endoscopic procedures required postoperatively were evaluated. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (63% female) underwent cervical slide tracheoplasty during the study period (median age 30 years, range 21-70). The most common etiology of stenosis was iatrogenic (68%), followed by congenital etiologies (26%). Fifty-eight percent of patients had undergone a previous open airway procedure. Thirty-nine percent were tracheostomy-dependent prior to surgery, and the remainder had severe exercise intolerance. Sixty-three percent were successfully extubated on the operating room table at the end of the procedure. Six (32%) patients experienced surgical complications, including one anastomotic dehiscence, three neck abscesses requiring incision and drainage (I&D), and replacement of adjunctive airway device in two patients. Seventy percent of the patients required ≥ 1 endoscopic dilation in the first 12 months following surgery, with a median of one (range 1-8) procedure. At most recent follow-up (median 8 months, range 4-64 months), 18 of 19 (95%) of patients had minimal airway symptoms without need for tracheostomy. The one patient who was not decannulated expired of a presumed cardiac event prior to decannulation. CONCLUSION: Cervical slide tracheoplasty is an excellent reconstructive option for adult patients with tracheal stenosis, including those with history of previous airway reconstruction. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4 Laryngoscope, 129:818-822, 2019.

To transfuse or not to transfuse? Jehovah's Witnesses and postoperative hemorrhage in pediatric otolaryngology.

OBJECTIVES: Discuss the ethical issues in the management of postoperative hemorrhage in pediatric patients whose parents are Jehovah's Witnesses (JW) and 2) Describe a framework for shared decision making in this population. METHODS: A recall review of pediatric otolaryngology patients with parents of the JW faith and postoperative hemorrhage was performed over a year long period at a single institution. The literature on transfusions for JW minors was reviewed. RESULTS: Two patients were identified. The first patient had a severe post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage requiring multiple emergency operative interventions. The child developed a hemoglobin of 5.2 g/dl and received an emergent transfusion against parents' wishes. The child subsequently did not require further intervention. The second patient hemorrhaged after a supraglottoplasty and was administered erythropoietin and iron infusion but did not require transfusion (hemoglobin nadir 7.9 g/dl). In both cases hematology was consulted, and extensive discussion with the families and the JW Hospital Liaison Committee occurred. CONCLUSIONS: The risks of hemorrhage should be discussed with JW parents of patients undergoing even routine otolaryngologic surgery. In these cases, early shared decision making with family, the JW Hospital Liaison committee, and hematology was pursued regarding mutually acceptable interventions. Aggressive non-transfusion based resuscitation was carried out to minimize the likelihood of transfusion. In the first case, danger to the patient's life eventually necessitated transfusion in accordance with the patient's best interest and previous case law. A defined framework involving all stake-holders, including Pastoral Care, in the event of postoperative hemorrhage is critical.

The effect of postoperative steroids on post-tonsillectomy pain and need for postoperative physician contact.

OBJECTIVES/HYPOTHESIS: Examine the effect of postoperative steroids on postoperative physician contacts and determine the hemorrhage rate for patients taking postoperative steroids. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review of medical records. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed of children undergoing tonsillectomies before and after the institution of a standard postoperative course of three doses of dexamethasone (0.5 mg/kg). Tylenol and ibuprofen were also used for all patients, with oxycodone given as a rescue medication for children ≥6 years of age. Postoperative hemorrhage rate (all visits to the emergency department [ED] with concern for post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage), return to the ED for pain, and phone calls to the office for pain were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 1,200 children were included (300 without and 900 with steroids); there was no difference in age or weight between groups. Overall, the mean age was 6.6 ± 2.1 years and the hemorrhage rate was 7%. Parental phone calls decreased from 23.3% prior to steroid use to 14.7% after (P < .001), and post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage rates decreased from 9.7% to 5.7% (P = .02). There was no difference in ED visit rates (P = 0.70). Regression analysis showed that bleeding increased by 4% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1%-13%) for each increasing year of age (P < .001), whereas postoperative steroids decreased hemorrhage rates by 7% (95% CI: 1%-9% reduction) (P = .013). The risk of a phone call increased by 2% for each year of age; postoperative steroids decreased phone calls by 9% (P < .001). There were no steroid-related complications within 1 month of surgery. CONCLUSIONS: A short course of postoperative steroids decreased the number of postoperative phone calls for pain by 9% after tonsillectomy, and decreased the risk of postoperative tonsillectomy hemorrhage by 7%. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4. Laryngoscope, 128:2187-2192, 2018.

Association of Reduced Delay in Care With a Dedicated Operating Room in Pediatric Otolaryngology.

IMPORTANCE: Obtaining sufficient operating room time for inpatient consults requiring an operative intervention is a persistent challenge for otolaryngologists. OBJECTIVE: To examine the institution of an otolaryngology-specific operating room (OR) for unscheduled (add-on) cases for its association with time from initial consultation to surgery and, secondarily, to determine utilization of a dedicated block of time. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Retrospective review of medical records of a tertiary care pediatric hospital for patients treated between January 1, 2015, and March 31, 2016; analysis was concluded by June 2016. Included were all patients undergoing inpatient otolaryngology consultations who required nonemergency operative procedures. INTERVENTIONS: In August 2015, a once-weekly 5-hour block of OR time dedicated to inpatient otolaryngology consults was instituted. Prior to this, cases were placed on an add-on list shared between all surgical services. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: It was hypothesized that institution of a dedicated block of OR time would decrease the time from initial consultation to operative intervention and would be utilized at a high rate. Operating room utilization was calculated by dividing scheduled OR time by actual OR time utilized. Time from initial consultation to OR intervention was compared before and after the institution of the dedicated OR block. RESULTS: A total of 316 inpatient add-on pediatric cases (including 108 patients from the intensive care unit [ICU]) were scheduled during the study period. The most common cases were microlaryngoscopy/bronchoscopy (79%) and tracheostomy (8%). Mean (SD) time between consultation and OR intervention was 7.8 (1.6) days prior to establishing the add-on OR and 4.4 (1.3) days after it was established (absolute difference of 3.4 days; 95% CI, 3.1-3.7 days). Mean (SD) time between consultation and OR intervention was 7.4 (5.0) days for ICU patients prior to intervention and 5.6 (3.0) days after intervention (absolute difference of 1.8 days; 95% CI, 1.6-2.0 days). Total utilization of the OR block time was 74%, and adjusted utilization was 86%. There was a 15% drop in the number of unscheduled add-on cases after the intervention (from 10 cases/mo to 8.5 cases/mo; absolute difference of 1.5 cases; 95% CI, 1.1-1.9 cases). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Instituting a dedicated otolaryngology add-on OR was associated with significantly reduced time between initial consultation and operative care, by approximately 3 days, decreased the number of unscheduled add-on cases, and was utilized at a high level.

The impact of a resident-run review curriculum and USMLE scores on the Otolaryngology in-service exam.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the association of USMLE Step 1 scores and the institution of a dedicated board review curriculum with resident performance on the Otolaryngology training examination. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cross sectional study. METHODS: We reviewed American Board of Otolaryngology Training Examination (OTE) scores for an otolaryngology residency program between 2005 and 2016. USMLE Step 1 scores were collected. In 2011 a resident-run OTE review curriculum was instituted with the goal of improving test preparation. Scores were compared before and after curriculum institution. Linear regression was performed to identify predictors of OTE scores. RESULTS: 47 residents were evaluated, 24 before and 23 after instituting the curriculum. There was a moderate correlation between USMLE step 1 scores and OTE scores for all years. For PGY-2 residents, mean OTE scores improved from 25th percentile to 41st percentile after institution of the review curriculum (p = 0.05). PGY 3-5 residents demonstrated no significant improvement. On multivariate linear regression, after controlling for USMLE step 1 scores, a dedicated board review curriculum predicted a 23-point percentile improvement in OTE scores for PGY-2 residents (p = 0.003). For other post-graduate years, the review curriculum did not predict score improvement. CONCLUSION: USMLE step 1 scores are moderately correlated with OTE performance. A dedicated OTE review curriculum may improve OTE scores for PGY-2 residents, but such a curriculum may have less benefit for intermediate- and senior-level residents. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Airway inflammation and symptoms in children following liver and heart transplantation.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the upper airway endoscopic findings of children with upper airway symptoms after liver transplantation (LT) or heart transplantation (HT). METHODS: Review of children undergoing airway endoscopy after LT or HT from 2011 to 2015 at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. Airway findings, biopsy results, immunosuppression, and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) levels were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty-three of 158 LT (111) and HT (47) recipients underwent endoscopy. Median time from LT to endoscopy was 9 months (range 4-25) and 31 months (range 1-108) for HT. Thirteen of 23 patients presented with upper airway symptoms, and 10/23 presented with respiratory failure or for surveillance. Thirteen patients with upper airway symptoms had abnormal findings (7 LT; 6 HT), most commonly arytenoid edema (13 patients). There were five EBV-positive biopsies (four with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder), and six EBV-negative biopsies with lymphocytic inflammation. One biopsy demonstrated fungal infection. Immunosuppression was decreased in seven patients, and three received steroids. There were no episodes of allograft rejection. No patients had airway symptoms at last follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In pediatric solid organ transplant recipients, symptoms of airway obstruction are not uncommon and should be evaluated with endoscopy. Endoscopy without symptoms is low-yield. Treatment with decreased immunosuppression improved airway symptoms.

The use of the FLACC pain scale in pediatric patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVES: 1) Determine the usage rate of opioid pain medication after adenotonsillectomy (T&A). 2) Review the use of the Face, Legs, Activity, Cry, Consolability (FLACC) pain scale for T&A patients 3) Determine the rate of postoperative physician contacts for pain related complaints. METHODS: A retrospective case series review was performed on 125 pediatric patients undergoing T&A and subsequent 23-hour postoperative observation at an academic tertiary care center from June-August of 2015. Postoperative pain scores using the FLACC pain scale, the utilization of opioid pain medications, and the number of postoperative contacts for pain were recorded. RESULTS: Average age of patients was 5.7 years and 50% were female. 90% of T&A's were performed for adenotonsillar hypertrophy. The post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage rate was 4%. 70 (56%) patients required postoperative opioid pain medication, with (30) 43% of these patients requiring more than one dose. The mean number of opioid doses was 1.64 ± 0.9 and was not related to age, weight or gender. FLACC scores were highly associated (spearman correlation 0.77) with the amount of opioid medication given. Mean FLACC scores decreased over time after T&A. 20% of patients contacted a physician for unsatisfactory pain control postoperatively with 6% requiring emergency department visits and 14% contacting the office via phone call. CONCLUSIONS: A significant portion of pediatric patients undergoing T&A require postoperative opioids for pain control. The FLACC scale is a valuable way of quantifying post-operative T&A pain in pediatric patients. Despite routine pain management postoperatively, a significant proportion of patients require contact with a physician postoperatively for pain management.

Asystole From Direct Laryngoscopy: A Case Report and Literature Review.

The rare and potentially fatal complication of asystole during direct laryngoscopy is linked to direct vagal stimulation. This case describes asystole in an 85-year-old female who underwent suspension microlaryngoscopy with tracheal dilation for subglottic stenosis. Quick recognition of this rare event with immediate cessation of laryngoscopy resulted in the return of normal sinus rhythm. This incident emphasizes the implications of continued vigilance during laryngoscopy and the importance of communication between the anesthesia and surgical staff to identify and treat this rare complication. The case was successfully concluded by premedication with an anticholinergic and by increasing the depth of anesthesia.