Improved quality of life in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps associated with expanded types of endoscopic sinus surgery: A 2-year retrospective study.

KEY POINTS: Expanded types of functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) significantly improve quality of life and reduce revision surgeries rates, supporting their early application for moderate-to-severe cases. Minimal clinically important difference may play as a crucial role in defining surgical treatment response (i.e., responder and super-responder conditions). Expanded FESS benefits patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps but more data are required to have a clearer understanding of its uses due to varied approaches and reported outcomes in the literature.

Impact of mobilization of residents in otolaryngology-head-neck surgery in COVID-19 units on mental health status.

BACKGROUND: To investigate mental health, sleep, and addiction features of young otolaryngologists (YO) according to the mobilization in COVID-19 units at the end of the third European wave of infections. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was sent to 220 YO of 6 European University hospitals. The following outcomes were evaluated: postgraduate year; age; management of COVID-19 patients; workload; nights on call; stress; Beck depression inventory; Insomnia severity index; sleep and mental health status evolutions throughout pandemic; consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs before and during pandemic. RESULTS: A total of 128 YO completed the evaluations (58.2%). Twenty responders (15.6%) did not manage COVID-19 patients, while 65 (50.8%), 20 (15.6%), and 23 (18%) managed rarely, frequently or daily COVID-19 patients during the pandemic, respectively. The management of COVID-19 patients was associated with increases of workload (p = 0.023) and number of nights on-call (p < 0.001). At the end of the third wave, the depression rates were 34% (N = 31/68) and 57% (N = 34/60) in YO who worked less and more than 50 h weekly, respectively. Sleep disturbance concerned 39% (N = 26/66) and 55% (N = 27/60) of YO who worked less and more than 50 h weekly, respectively. Mobilized YO reported a significant increase of alcohol consumption compared with control group (p = 0.002). Tobacco and drugs consumptions did not evolve. The consumption of alcohol was positively correlated with the number of nights on-call (p = 0.036) and the total hours of work (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Young otolaryngologists (YO) mobilized in COVID-19 units reported higher hours worked, nights on call, and alcohol consumption compared with others. Future large cohort-studies are needed to confirm our observations.

A new standardized nomenclature in Otorhinolaryngology: Criteria and quantitative and qualitative evaluation indicators of medical procedures. / Nuevo nomenclátor estandarizado en Otorrinolaringología: criterios e indicadores cuantitativos y cualitativos de baremación de actos médicos.

PURPOSE: At the request of the Organización Médica Colegial, we have elaborated a new nomenclature of medical and surgical procedures in Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery (ENT-HNS) based on the International Classification of Diseases ICD-9-MC. We have defined new quantitative and qualitative criteria and indicators that may allow scale and remuneration to be determined in private medical practice. METHODS: Obsolete processes were eliminated from the current list of nomenclature, new ones were added or updated, procedures from other specialties that typically belong to ENT-HNS were imported, descriptions were modified accordingly, and others were transferred from one group to another for reasons of surgical complexity. In addition, it was requested that four quantitative criteria and indicators should be assigned for each procedure: unit cost per group, professional training and complexity, professional responsibility, potential complications, and health value, assigning a final value as a product of the sum of each of the indicators. RESULTS: The new scale presents a total of 395 procedures, compared to 150 in the previous list, an increase of 163%. Surgical procedures increased from 113 to 313 (177%). By subspecialty, Laryngology (213%) has the greatest number of new procedures followed by Rhinology (141%) and Otology (82%). Twenty of 150 procedures were found to be outdated and were therefore removed from the list. Eighty-seven per cent of the procedures remained on the list, 40% as they were and 47% modified, respectively, and, in all cases retaining their original Organización Médica Colegial code. CONCLUSIONS: The new ENT-HNS nomenclature proposed by the SEORL-CCC updates and improves the previous outdated scale, adapting the current procedures to the ICD-9-CM and incorporating the new techniques developed. The updated scale establishes new evaluation criteria with quantitative and qualitative indicators to optimize the calculation of the value of a medical or surgical procedure that, eventually, will allow an assessment of its monetary value in our specialty.

Loss of Smell and Taste Can Accurately Predict COVID-19 Infection: A Machine-Learning Approach.

The COVID-19 outbreak has spread extensively around the world. Loss of smell and taste have emerged as main predictors for COVID-19. The objective of our study is to develop a comprehensive machine learning (ML) modelling framework to assess the predictive value of smell and taste disorders, along with other symptoms, in COVID-19 infection. A multicenter case-control study was performed, in which suspected cases for COVID-19, who were tested by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), informed about the presence and severity of their symptoms using visual analog scales (VAS). ML algorithms were applied to the collected data to predict a COVID-19 diagnosis using a 50-fold cross-validation scheme by randomly splitting the patients in training (75%) and testing datasets (25%). A total of 777 patients were included. Loss of smell and taste were found to be the symptoms with higher odds ratios of 6.21 and 2.42 for COVID-19 positivity. The ML algorithms applied reached an average accuracy of 80%, a sensitivity of 82%, and a specificity of 78% when using VAS to predict a COVID-19 diagnosis. This study concludes that smell and taste disorders are accurate predictors, with ML algorithms constituting helpful tools for COVID-19 diagnostic prediction.

Radioanatomical study of the extended free nasal floor mucosal graft and its clinical applications.

OBJECTIVES: To perform a radio-anatomical evaluation of the nasal cavity floor free mucosal graft (endonasal extended mucoplasty, EEM) to repair mucosal defects after an extended ethmoid-sphenoidotomy. METHODS: A human cadaveric study (radiological and anatomical dissection) and an in vivo study in surgical patients with CRSwNP were performed. The EEM areas were compared between 3D reconstruction from CT scans and anatomical/surgical dissections, both in cadaver specimens and in patients. Feasibility was assessed by correlation between the EEM area on CT scans and when harvested in cadavers and when grafted in patients. Usefulness was assessed by the degree of coverage of the EEM in the surface exposed after an extended ethmoid-sphenoidotomy. Both feasibility and usefulness were assessed in cadaveric specimens (n = 15) and patients (n = 4). RESULTS: Fifteen cadaveric specimens and 4 patients with bilateral CRSwNP were included. The mean (SD) areas obtained in the cadaveric radiological and anatomical studies were 9.44 (2.07) cm2 and 8.03 (1.36) cm2, respectively (intraclass correlation coefficient 0.59, moderate correlation), and in 3D reconstruction for operated patients were 10.32 (0.98) cm2 and 11.27 (2.44) cm2, respectively. The coverage of the ethmoidal roof in the cadaveric dissection study was 100%, from the anterior ethmoidal artery to the posterior ethmoidal artery, covering the planun sphenoidale up to 75% in the case series. In 87.5% of the cases, up to 50% of the papiracea lamina was covered. CONCLUSION: The EEM have shown to be a feasible and useful grafting technique to repair skull base defects after performing an extended ethmoid-sphenoidotomy during surgery for CRSwNP. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: NA.

Clasificación pronóstica de los tumores malignos de glándula parótida / Forecast clasification for malignant tumors of the parotid

Objetivo. La clasificación histológica de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) junto con mejores estudios de imagen aportan información relevante para el manejo de los cánceres de parótida. Sin embargo, su pronóstico depende de otros factores diferentes de la histología y la extensión tumoral. El presente trabajo valora la utilidad de la clasificación pronóstica de Vander Poorten creada en 1999 de los cánceres parotídeos que incluye todos estos factores en los pacientes de nuestro medio. Métodos. Seguimiento de 19 pacientes con carcinomas de parótida distintos de tumores linfoideos o metástasis intraparotídeas entre los años 1998 y 2012. Se obtuvo su índice pronóstico a partir de las fórmulas propuestas por Vander Poorten, que incluyen los factores de edad, tamaño tumoral, afectación ganglionar, invasión cutánea, afectación del nervio facial, crecimiento perineural y márgenes de resección, antes de la cirugía (PS1) y después (PS2). Se relacionó la supervivencia global a los 5 años de cada paciente a partir de su inclusión en alguno de los 4 grupos de riesgo definidos. Resultados. La estratificación de riesgo de Vander Poorten según los resultados PS2 se distribuyó en grupos de riesgo (GR) 1 (3 pacientes, 15,7%), 2 (5 pacientes, 26,3%), 3 (un paciente, 5,8%) y 4 (10 pacientes, 52,2%). Los 6 pacientes que fallecieron durante el seguimiento pertenecían al GR4. De los 4 supervivientes del GR4 solo uno ha superado el seguimiento de 5 años. La comparación de las medias que relacionan las variables de resultado pretratamiento (PS1) y postratamiento (PS2) mostró una mejor supervivencia global en los pacientes con valores de PS1 < 4,5 y PS2 < 4,9, mientras que la mortalidad fue mayor a partir de los índices de PS1 > 6,5 y PS2 > 7,7. Conclusiones. El índice de Vander Poorten es aplicable en áreas hospitalarias con escaso número de carcinomas de parótida. Permite establecer un pronóstico de supervivencia más certero sobre pacientes individuales (AU)

Objective. The histological classification of the World Health Organization (WHO), along with improved imaging studies, provide relevant information for the management of parotid carcinomas. However, the prognosis depends on factors other than histology and tumor extension. This article evaluates the usefulness of a prognostic classification of parotid cancers, including these factors in patients in a hospital area. Methods. A follow-up was conducted on 19 patients with parotid carcinomas, excluding lymphoid tumors or intra-parotid metastases, between 1998 and 2012. The prognostic index was obtained from the formulas proposed by Vander Poorten, with factors including age, tumor size, lymph node involvement, skin invasion, facial nerve involvement, perineural growth and margins of resection, before surgery (PS1) and after (PS2). Overall survival was related to 5 years for each patient based on their inclusion in any of the 4 risk groups defined. Results. Risk stratification based on the results Vander Poorten PS2 was distributed into Risk Groups (GR) 1 (3 patients, 15.7%), 2 (5 patients, 26.3%), 3 (1 patient, 5.8%) and 4 (10 patients, 52.2%). The 6 patients who died during follow-up belonged to GR4. Only one of the 4 patients belonging to GR4 has exceeded the 5-year survival up to the current time. The comparison of the values that relate the pretreatment (PS1) and after treatment (PS2) results showed overall survival in patients with PS1 < 4.5 and PS2 < 4.9, whereas mortality was greater with indices of PS1 > 6.5 and PS2 > 7.7. Conclusions. Vander Poorten index can be applied in hospital areas with small numbers of parotid carcinomas. It enables a more accurate prognosis for individual patients (AU)

Mejora de la planificación de las cirugías endoscópicas nasosinusales a partir de imágenes en 3 dimensiones con Osirix (R) y estereolitografía / Improved planning of endoscopic sinonasal surgery from 3-dimensional images with Osirix(R) and stereolithography

Introducción y objetivos: La elevada variabilidad anatómica de los senos paranasales requiere disponer del mejor conocimiento de su conformación tridimensional para afrontar la cirugía con mayor seguridad y eficiencia. El objetivo del estudio fue validar la utilidad de Osirix® y la estereolitografía en la mejora de la planificación de las cirugías endoscópicas nasosinusales. Métodos: Se utilizó Osirix® como visor y gestor de imágenes DICOM en 3 dimensiones (3D) en la planificación de 114 cirugías endoscópicas nasosinusales por poliposis (86) y rinosinusitis crónica (28) junto con prototipos rápidos estereolitográficos en 7 mucoceles frontoetmoidales. Resultados: Se identificaron mayor número de estructuras anatómicas, más rápidamente y con una correlación clínico-radiológica estadísticamente significativa (p < 0,01) a favor de Osirix y estereolitografía, que con placas en 2D de la TAC. Con una participación de los residentes superior al 75% de la cirugía, se redujo el tiempo quirúrgico en 38 ± 12,3 min en sinusitis crónicas y en 42 ± 27,9 en poliposis nasosinusales, alcanzando los residentes de cuarto año una competencia quirúrgica del 100% en los hitos quirúrgicos cruciales con 16 cirugías (IC: 12-19). Conclusiones: La utilización sistemática de Osirix® para visualización y tratamiento autónomo de imágenes nasosinusales en 3D desde archivos DICOM permite a los cirujanos efectuar las cirugías endoscópicas nasosinusales con mayor confianza y seguridad y en menos tiempo que utilizando imágenes en 2D. Los residentes también alcanzan la competencia quirúrgica más rápidamente, con mayor seguridad y con menos complicaciones. La mejora en la planificación se incrementa cuando el equipo quirúrgico dispone de prototipos rápidos estereolitográficos en los casos de mayor complejidad (AU)

Introduction and objectives: The high variability of sinonasal anatomy requires the best knowledge of its three-dimensional (3D) conformation to perform surgery more safely and efficiently. The aim of the study was to validate the utility of Osirix® and stereolithography in improving endoscopic sinonasal surgery planning. Methods: Osirix® was used as a viewer and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) 3D imaging manager to improve planning for 114 sinonasal endoscopic operations with polyposis (86) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) (28). Stereolithography rapid prototyping was used for 7 frontoethmoidal mucoceles. Results: Using Osirix® and stereolithography, a greater number of anatomical structures were identified and this was done faster, with a statistically-significant clinical-radiological correlation (P<.01) compared with 2D CT plates. With a share of more than 75% of surgery performed by residents, surgical time was reduced by 38 ± 12.3 min in CRS and 42 ± 27.9 in sinonasal polyposis. The fourth-year residents reached 100% surgical competence in critical surgical milestones with 16 surgeries (CI 12-19). Conclusions: The systematic use of Osirix® for visualisation and treatment of 3D sinonasal images from DICOM data files, along with the surgical team's ability to manipulate them as virtual reality, allows surgeons to perform endoscopic sinonasal surgery with greater confidence and in less time than using 2D images. Residents also achieve surgical competence faster, more safely and with fewer complications. This beneficial impact is increased when the surgical team has stereolithography rapid prototyping in more complex cases (AU)

Improved planning of endoscopic sinonasal surgery from 3-dimensional images with Osirix® and stereolithography.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The high variability of sinonasal anatomy requires the best knowledge of its three-dimensional (3D) conformation to perform surgery more safely and efficiently. The aim of the study was to validate the utility of Osirix® and stereolithography in improving endoscopic sinonasal surgery planning. METHODS: Osirix® was used as a viewer and Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) 3D imaging manager to improve planning for 114 sinonasal endoscopic operations with polyposis (86) and chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) (28). Stereolithography rapid prototyping was used for 7 frontoethmoidal mucoceles. RESULTS: Using Osirix® and stereolithography, a greater number of anatomical structures were identified and this was done faster, with a statistically-significant clinical-radiological correlation (P<.01) compared with 2D CT plates. With a share of more than 75% of surgery performed by residents, surgical time was reduced by 38±12.3min in CRS and 42±27.9 in sinonasal polyposis. The fourth-year residents reached 100% surgical competence in critical surgical milestones with 16 surgeries (CI 12-19). CONCLUSIONS: The systematic use of Osirix® for visualisation and treatment of 3D sinonasal images from DICOM data files, along with the surgical team's ability to manipulate them as virtual reality, allows surgeons to perform endoscopic sinonasal surgery with greater confidence and in less time than using 2D images. Residents also achieve surgical competence faster, more safely and with fewer complications. This beneficial impact is increased when the surgical team has stereolithography rapid prototyping in more complex cases.