New Medical Device and Therapeutic Approvals in Otolaryngology: State of the Art Review of 2022.

Objective: To review new drugs and devices relevant to otolaryngology approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022. Data Sources: Publicly available FDA data on drugs and devices approved in 2022. Review Methods: A preliminary screen was conducted to identify drugs and devices relevant to otolaryngology. A secondary screen by members of the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery's (AAO-HNS) Medical Devices and Drugs Committee differentiated between minor updates and new approvals. The final list of drugs and devices was sent to members of each subspecialty for review and analysis. Conclusion: A total of 1251 devices and 37 drugs were identified on preliminary screening. Of these, 329 devices and 5 drugs were sent to subspecialists for further review, from which 37 devices and 2 novel drugs were selected for further analysis. The newly approved devices spanned all subspecialties within otolaryngology. Many of the newly approved devices aimed to enhance patient experience, including over-the-counter hearing aids, sleep monitoring devices, and refined CPAP devices. Other advances aimed to improve surgical access, convenience, or comfort in the operating room and clinic. Implications for Practice: Many new devices and drugs are approved each year to improve patient care and care delivery. By staying up to date with these advances, otolaryngologists can leverage new innovations to improve the safety and quality of care. Given the recent approval of these devices, further studies are needed to assess long-term impact within the field of otolaryngology.

Biologic Therapies in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis: Overview of Systematic Reviews and Updated Systematic Review.

Objectives: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) is a highly prevalent and challenging disease to manage. Several systematic reviews (SRs) have been carried out to evaluate the efficacy and safety of biologic therapies. We aimed to evaluate the current and available evidence of the biologics in treating CRSwNP. Data Source: Systematic Review of three electronic databases. Review Methods: Following the PRISMA Statement, the authors explored three main databases through February 2020 for pertinent SRs and meta-analyses (MAs) as well as experimental and observational studies. A Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews Version-2 (AMSTAR-2), was employed to evaluate the quality of methodology of SRs and MAs. Results: A Total of five SRs were included in this overview. The AMSTAR-2 final summary was moderate to critically low. Although conflicting findings were reported, anti-immunoglobulin E (Anti-IgE) and anti-interleukin-4 (Anti-IL-4) were superior to placebo for improving total nasal polyp (NP) score, particularly in patients with asthma. Findings of the included reviews revealed that both sinus opacification and the Lund-Mackay (LMK) total scores significantly improved after biologics use. Subjective quality-of-life (QoL) assessment provided by general and specific questionnaires illustrated favorable results of biologics for CRSwNP, whereas no significant adverse events were reported. Conclusion: The current findings support the use of biologics for CRSwNP patients. However, the evidence for their use in such patients should be cautiously adopted because of the questionable evidence. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-022-03144-8.

Value of Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatment for Sleep Apnea: A Closer Look at Health Care Utilization.

OBJECTIVE: To determine how surgery, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), and no treatment impact health care utilization in patients who have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective cohort study of patients between the ages of 18 and 65 that were diagnosed with OSA (9th International Classification of Diseases) from January 2007 to December 2015. Data were collected over 2 years, and prediction models were generated to evaluate trends over time. SETTING: A population-based study using real-world data and insurance databases. METHODS: A total of 4,978,649 participants were identified, all with at least 25 months of continuous enrollment. Patients with previous soft tissue procedures not approved for OSA (nasal surgery), or without continuous insurance coverage were excluded. A total of 18,050 patients underwent surgery, 1,054,578 were untreated, and 799,370 received CPAP. IBM Marketscan Research database was utilized to describe patient-specific clinical utilization, and expenditures, across outpatient, and inpatient services, and medication prescriptions. RESULTS: When the cost of the intervention was eliminated in the 2-year follow-up, the monthly payments of group 1 (surgery) were significantly less than group 3 (CPAP) in overall, inpatient, outpatient, and pharmaceutical payments (p < .001). The surgery group was associated with less cumulative payments compared to the other 2 groups when the cost of the intervention (CPAP or surgery) was eliminated in all comorbidities and age groups. CONCLUSION: Treating OSA with surgery can lessen overall health care utilization compared to no treatment and CPAP.

Oral Losartan After Limited Mandibulectomy for Treatment of Desmoid-Type Fibromatosis.

Desmoid-type fibromatosis (DF) is a rare soft tissue lesion with an annual incidence of 2 to 4 per million population and peak incidence occurring at approximately 4.5 years of age. While benign, the tumor has a locally aggressive infiltrative growth pattern and a high rate of recurrence. Given the functional and aesthetic implications of excision and reconstruction in the facial skeleton, novel medical treatment options are highly desirable. We describe the case of a 3-year-old boy who presented with an enlarging, asymptomatic mass involving the left mandible. Biopsy revealed an immunohistochemical profile consistent with DF. Despite the high likelihood of recurrence, conservative, mandible-sparing en bloc resection and limited mandibulectomy were performed. Pathological and immunohistochemical analysis of the resection specimen revealed DF with grossly positive margins and elevated expression of angiotensin II type 1 receptor. Postoperative medical treatment with the angiotensin receptor blocker losartan was initiated. The patient remains medically stable and disease progression-free on repeat imaging at 20 months post-resection. We describe for the first time the successful use of the angiotensin blocker losartan following conservative surgery for management of DF.

Routine evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens: a cross-sectional survey of Canadian Otolaryngology: Head and Neck Surgeons.

BACKGROUND: Tonsillectomy is a commonly performed procedure in Canada. The rate of occult malignancy is rare in adult and pediatric populations. At present, no guidelines exist surrounding the need for routine histopathological evaluation of tonsil specimens when no malignancy is suspected. METHODS: We sent a confidential online survey to active members of the Canadian Society of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery (CSO-HNS) about their current tonsillectomy practice and beliefs surrounding the need for routine histopathological evaluation of tonsillectomy specimens when no malignancy is suspected. We used Opinio survey software for data collection and descriptive statistics. RESULTS: 95 participants completed our survey (response rate 19.3%). Most participants reported performing both adult and pediatric tonsillectomies. When no malignancy is suspected, participant responses were split between whether they send tonsil specimens in pediatrics only (4.2%), in adults only (31.6%), or not sending specimens (29.5%). Half of the participants reported that routinely sending specimens to rule out occult malignancy is an institutional policy. Approximately 75% of participants were in favour of removing this practice in both the pediatric and adult populations. CONCLUSION: Eliminating the practice of automatically sending tonsil specimens for histopathological evaluation when no malignancy is suspected was supported by the majority of study participants. This is in keeping with Choosing Wisely, a campaign designed to facilitate conversations about unnecessary medical tests and procedures. Institutional change is likely required in order to alter this practice.

Multiple Venous Malformations as a Cause of Pulsatile Tinnitus.

INTRODUCTION: Pulsatile tinnitus is a relatively common presentation in otolaryngology clinics, most cases of which have a treatable cause. This presentation warrants a thorough workup to identify treatable, and rule out life-threatening, etiologies. We present a case of a patient with pulsatile tinnitus arising from multiple dilated venous channels in the head and neck. Case Presentation. We present the case of a 65-year-old Caucasian female with a two-year history of progressive, bilateral pulsatile tinnitus, which had become debilitating. Computed-tomographic angiography (CTA) studies ruled out an intracranial vascular cause for her symptoms. However, computed tomography (CT) scanning and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed multiple dilated bilateral, low-flow, venous channels throughout the head and neck. The proximity of such dilated venous channels to the temporal bone provides a route for sound to be transmitted to the inner ear. CONCLUSION: Arterial, venous, and systemic etiologies can cause pulsatile tinnitus. Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the head and neck represent less than 1% of cases. In our patient, dilated low-flow venous malformations are the likely source of her symptoms, which is the first reported case in the literature.

Primary parotid lymphoepithelial carcinoma: A case report and literature review of a rare pathological entity.

BACKGROUND: Lymphoepithelial carcinoma (LEC) of the salivary glands is a rare, but distinct, poorly-differentiated neoplasm that resembles undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinomas (NPC). Among primary salivary gland LECs, they most commonly arise in the parotid gland. These lesions have a noticeable racial predilection, mostly occurring in Asians and Arctic region native populations. They are strongly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and are more common in EBV-endemic areas. The most common presenting symptoms of primary parotid LEC are parotid mass development and cervical lymphadenopathy. We report an unusual case of EBV-negative LEC in a Canadian Caucasian woman. CASE PRESENTATION: A 40-year-old female from Atlantic Canada presented with a rapidly enlarging preauricular mass and cervical lymphadenopathy. Preoperative diagnostics via radiology and fine needle aspiration alluded to an ambiguous primary parotid malignancy. She underwent a total parotidectomy with facial nerve sacrifice and ipsilateral selective neck dissection. The facial nerve was reconstructed with a lateral antecubital nerve graft. Pathology came back positive for LEC, and she began adjuvant radiotherapy. At her 1-year follow up, she was disease-free and obtained a House-Brackmann facial nerve function grade of 3. CONCLUSIONS: The case report highlights the importance of having a high index of suspicion and the need for interdisciplinary collaboration in reaching the diagnosis of primary parotid LEC. LEC can afflict patients of any ethnicity in non-EBV endemic areas and should therefore be considered in all patients with a painless parotid mass regardless of ethnicity. Further studies are required to elucidate the oncogenic role of EBV in these cancers.

A pain in the neck: Salmonella spp. as an unusual cause of a thyroid abscess. A case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid gland infections are rare. Their incidence is estimated to be less than 1% in immunocompromised hosts. Most common pathogens isolated are Gram positive aerobic cocci. Infections with Gram negative facultative aerobes such as Salmonella are rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 55-year-old female with type II diabetes mellitus and a history of a colloid right thyroid lobe nodule presented with neck pain and fever. She was found to have a thyroid abscess 2 weeks following a non-specific diarrheal illness. A needle aspiration for symptomatic and diagnostic purposes was performed. Cultures grew Salmonella enterica serotype Heidelberg. She was treated with a 12-week course of oral antibiotics and serial aspiration. CONCLUSION: A thyroid abscess is a rare occurrence; however, a high index of suspicion is required to make the diagnosis. The management is directed at minimizing morbidity. The mainstay treatment is medical, but surgery is sometimes necessary to achieve adequate source control, particularly when complications arise.

Piezosurgery versus conventional osteotomy in rhinoplasty: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Piezosurgery, used in different otolaryngology procedures, was a breakthrough in surgery. We systematically reviewed the differences in outcomes after lateral nasal osteotomy with peizosurgery and conventional osteotome and quantified the differences through a meta-analysis. METHODS: Medline, Embase, and Cochrane library databases were selected to search for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) published before January 2019 that detailed differences between piezosurgery and conventional osteotomy. The key search terms included "rhinoplasty" and "piezosurgery." Only RCTs in English with patients >18 years who underwent lateral osteotomy by percutaneous or internal approaches were included. PRISMA guidelines were followed in data extraction and study inclusion. Two independent reviewers assessed the relevance of the studies. The point of estimate in the meta-analysis was the standardized mean difference and was pooled with the random-effects model. The measured outcomes were ecchymosis, edema, postoperative pain, and duration of surgery. RESULTS: Five RCTs met our criteria and were analyzed in primary subsequent meta-analyses. Piezosurgery demonstrated significantly lower edema (SMD = -0.75; 95% CI, -1.26, -0.24) and ecchymosis scores (SMD = -0.85; 95% CI, -1.49, -0.20) on postoperative days (POD) 2 or 3 than conventional surgery. They were also significantly lower with piezosurgery than conventional surgery on POD 7 (SMD = -0.64; 95% CI, -1.21, -0.06; and SMD = -0.64; 95% CI, -1.14, -0.14, respectively). Two studies that estimated the degree of pain showed that after piezosurgery, patients experienced lesser pain than after conventional surgery. The mean difference was -0.73 (95% CI, -1.06, -0.39). CONCLUSIONS: Piezosurgery causes less ecchymosis, edema, and pain than conventional osteotomy, without extending the duration of surgery. Laryngoscope, 130:1158-1165, 2020.

Acute calcific tendinitis of the longus colli muscle masquerading as a retropharyngeal abscess: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Acute calcific longus colli tendinitis, also known as retropharyngeal or acute calcific prevertebral tendinitis, is a reactive self-limiting inflammatory response to acute or subacute deposition of amorphous calcium hydroxyapatite crystals in the tendons of the longus colli muscle, anterior to the C1-C2 disk space. CASE PRESENTATION: A 53-year-old man presented with a complaint of neck pain and odynophagia over a few days. Blood test findings showed mild leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein level. Computed tomography findings showed mild edematous prevertebral thickening involving the retropharyngeal space, predominantly on the left side, with no appreciable surrounding peripheral enhancement. A small amount of linear calcification/ossification involving the superior fibers of the left longus colli muscle, anterior to the C1 arch were also noted. DISCUSSION: The patient's presentation could be easily misdiagnosed as a retropharyngeal abscess. However, the presence of subtle findings on CT would lead to the correct diagnosis. The management of this condition is mainly with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. CONCLUSION: This study presents the characteristic radiological features of retropharyngeal calcific tendinitis. These features are subtle and could be missed. Once an accurate diagnosis is made, treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is indicated. The purpose of this case report is to highlight this rare condition's diagnosis and management.

Cochlear implants in children: A cross-sectional investigation on the influence of geographic location in Saudi Arabia.

INTRODUCTION: The role of the family in detecting a child's hearing difficulty and the age at which an implantation is done have been identified as strong predictors of the outcomes of pediatric cochlear implantation. In the absence of screening programs for hearing loss in Saudi neonates, the family's role is of paramount importance. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of geographic location on the course of identification, examination, and cochlear implantation in children in Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pediatric patients who had received either unilateral or bilateral cochlear implantation at King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2014, were surveyed. RESULTS: A total of 156 pediatric patients have had a cochlear implant between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2014. The one-way analysis of variance test to compare the means of the independent sample groups in various geographic zones showed that with a hundred percent access to primary health care, the geographic location of the population had an influence on the detection of hearing loss but not on the cochlear implantation. CONCLUSION: This study found that the geographic location of the population has an influence on the time of detection of hearing loss in children but not on the time of cochlear implantation. Raising parental awareness of the importance of early detection of hearing loss is necessary. Further research is also required to define the role of factors such as the income and the educational level of parents on the early detection of neonatal hearing loss.

Models for the study of nasal and sinus physiology in health and disease: A review of the literature.

Objective: Chronic sinusitis is a very common yet poorly understood medical condition with significant morbidity. Hence, it remains an entity that is difficult to treat with unsatisfactory outcomes of current management options. This necessitates research into the etiology and pathophysiology of the condition to enhance our knowledge and the therapeutic options. Unfortunately, this kind of research is not always feasible on human subjects due to practical and ethical limitations. Therefore, an alternative model that simulates the disease had to be found in order to overcome these limitations. These models could either be in vivo or in vitro. The aim of our review is to summarize the research findings and key discoveries of both in vivo and in vitro models of chronic sinusitis that have enhanced our understanding of the condition today and have paved the way for the future research of tomorrow. Data Sources: PubMed literature review. Methods: A review of the literature was conducted to identify the main successful in vivo and in vitro models for chronic sinusitis. Results: Creating a successful model for chronic sinusitis is no easy task. Over the years, both in vivo animal models and in vitro tissue culture models were proposed, with each model having its accolades and pitfalls, with the ideal model remaining elusive to this day. However, advancing three-dimensional cell culturing techniques seems to be a promising new way to find a more accurate model. Conclusion: None of the current models is perfect for a thorough study of chronic sinusitis. However, three-dimensional cell cultures have the potential to bridge the gap between in vivo and in vitro studies. Level of Evidence: NA.

A sporadic case of unilateral acrokeratoelastoidosis in Saudi Arabia: a case report.

INTRODUCTION: Acrokeratoelastoidosis is a rare condition characterized by bilateral multiple hyperkeratotic papules on the palms, soles, and dorsum of the hands and feet. To the best of our knowledge, only around 40 cases of acrokeratoelastoidosis have been reported worldwide, which are mostly familial. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the first case from Saudi Arabia in a 5-year-old Saudi girl of Arabian origin, who presented symptoms of acrokeratoelastoidosis with unilateral sporadic keratosis on her left hand and left foot. We also review the clinical and histopathologic features, etiology, differential diagnosis and its treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Given the rarity of acrokeratoelastoidosis, little is known about the disease. Further studies are required to understand the pathogenesis of the disease for better treatment options. Additional case reports of acrokeratoelastoidosis will help in recognizing risk factors, patient characteristics, environmental influences and possibly new etiological factors.

Sedative Drug Use among King Saud University Medical Students: A Cross-Sectional Sampling Study.

Introduction. Medical students experience significant psychological stress and are therefore at higher risk of using sedatives. There are currently no studies describing the prevalence of sedative drug use among medical students in Saudi Arabia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and factors associated with sedative drug use among medical students in Saudi Arabia. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional convenience sampling study gathered data by anonymous questionnaire from students enrolled at the King Saud University College of Medicine in 2011. The questionnaires collected data regarding social and demographic variables, sleep patterns, and the use of stimulant and sedative drugs since enrollment. Sedatives were defined as any pharmaceutical preparations that induce sleep. Results and Discussion. Of the 729 students who returned questionnaires, 17.0% reported sedative drug use at some time since enrollment. Higher academic year, lower grade point average, regular exercise, fewer hours of sleep per day, poorer quality of sleep, and the presence of sleeping disorders were found to be significantly associated with sedative drug use. Conclusions. Further study is required to increase our understanding of sedative drug use patterns in this relatively high-risk group, as such understanding will help in the development of early intervention programs.

Update and review on the basics of pain management.

This article reviews the major findings of research related to pharmacological pain therapies used in treating acute and chronic pain, it compares advantages and disadvantages of certain drugs used mainly in pain management (for example, opioids and non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), and others that have a secondary use in pain management (for example, skeletal muscle relaxants, antidepressants, and anticonvulsants) and their intended indications. Our goal is to present accurate up-to-date applicable data on these pharmacological choices.