Stability of aspiration status in healthy adults.

OBJECTIVES: In multiple separate studies, we consistently found that approximately 30% of asymptomatic healthy older adults silently aspirated liquids during flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES). We subsequently questioned whether aspiration status remained stable in healthy older adults over time. The purpose of this study was to determine the stability of aspiration status in healthy older adults over time. METHODS: Eighteen healthy older participants, comprising of 9 aspirators and 9 nonaspirators whose aspiration status was identified in a previous study, underwent a second FEES approximately 6 to 21 months later. The participants contributed 36 swallows, comprising 5-, 10-, 15-, and 20-mL boluses of milk (ie, 1 bolus of each volume of skim, 2%, whole, and soy milk) and water via cup and straw delivery, during the original FEES. An abbreviated protocol was administered for the repeat FEES. The Penetration-Aspiration Scale was used to rate all swallows. RESULTS: A McNemar test demonstrated no change in aspiration status among participants between the initial test and the retest (p > 0.999). CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort, the aspiration status was stable over about 12 months. This finding lends credence to the premise that trace aspiration of liquids may be a normal and consistent finding in some healthy older adults.

A Clinical Comparison and Economic Evaluation of Erich Arch Bars, 4-Point Fixation, and Bone-Supported Arch Bars for Maxillomandibular Fixation.

Importance: Erich arch bars, 4-point fixation, and bone-supported arch bars are currently used in maxillomandibular fixation, although to what extent they differ in terms of overall charges and clinical outcomes has yet to be reported. Objective: To determine the association of Erich arch bars, 4-point fixation, and bone-supported arch bars in maxillomandibular fixation with hospital charges and clinical outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants: This historical cohort included 93 patients with mandible fracture who underwent maxillomandibular fixation from January 1, 2005, to June 30, 2015, at a tertiary care center. Statistical analysis was conducted from October 4, 2015, to September 8, 2017. Main Outcomes and Measures: Charge analysis from an institutional perspective, operative time, necessity for a secondary procedure, and postoperative complications. Results: Of the 93 patients in the study (18 women and 75 men; median age, 28.0 years [interquartile range, 23.0-40.0 years]), 27 (29%) received Erich arch bars, 51 (55%) received 4-point fixation, and 15 (16%) received bone-supported arch bars. The mean operative time for Erich arch bars (98.7 minutes; 95% CI, 89.2-108.2 minutes) was significantly longer than for 4-point fixation (48.8 minutes; 95% CI, 41.8-55.7 minutes) and bone-supported arch bars (55.9 minutes; 95% CI, 43.1-68.6 minutes). A total of 17 patients who received Erich arch bars (63%), 37 patients who received 4-point fixation (72%), and 1 patient who received bone-supported arch bars (7%) needed to return to the operating room for hardware removal. Patients who received Erich arch bars and those who received 4-point fixation had significantly higher odds of requiring a secondary procedure than did patients who received bone-supported arch bars (Erich arch bars: odds ratio, 27.1; 95% CI, 2.7-274.6; and 4-point fixation: odds ratio, 42.8; 95% CI, 4.4-420.7). Mean total operative charges for application of the hardware alone were significantly less for 4-point fixation ($5290; 95% CI, $4846-$5733) and bone-supported arch bars ($6751; 95% CI, $5936-$7566) than for Erich arch bars ($7919; 95% CI, $7311-$8527). When secondary procedure charges were included, the mean total charge for Erich arch bars ($9585; 95% CI, $8927-$10 243) remained significantly more expensive than the mean total for 4-point fixation ($7204; 95% CI, $6724-$7684) and bone-supported arch bars ($6924; 95% CI, $6042-$7807). No clinically meaningful difference in complications between groups was found (Erich arch bars, 3 [11%]; 4-point fixation, 5 [10%]; and bone-supported arch bars, 2 [13%]). Conclusions and Relevance: Bone-supported arch bars have comparable complication outcomes, operative time for placement, and overall charges when compared with Erich arch bars and 4-point fixation, and have a lower likelihood of requiring removal in an operative setting.

Malpractice in treatment of sinonasal disease by otolaryngologists: a review of the past 10 years.

OBJECTIVE: Sinonasal disease is a common condition treated by otolaryngologists. Malpractice in this area is the most common litigation faced by otolaryngologists. This study analyzes malpractice in the treatment of sinonasal disease. STUDY DESIGN: Case series, review of legal records. SETTING: Legal databases. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Using 2 different computerized legal databases, the phrase medical malpractice was searched with terms related to sinonasal disease involving court cases in the past 10 years (2004-2013), yielding 26 cases. The cases were analyzed for pertinent data regarding plaintiffs, presenting complaint, practice setting, type of malpractice, resulting injury, result of verdict, and amount of reward or settlement. RESULTS: Chronic sinusitis (42%) was the most common presenting symptom. Many cases included multiple types of alleged malpractice, with the most common being negligent technique (38%) and lack of informed consent (27%). The most common alleged injuries included cerebrospinal fluid leak, meningitis, nasal obstruction, and orbital trauma. Defendants prevailed in 13 of 18 cases in which outcomes were known, with mean award of $225,000 and mean settlement of $212,500. The cases won by plaintiffs were all in a private practice setting. CONCLUSION: Otolaryngologists should be aware of the causes of malpractice litigation as it relates to treatment of sinonasal disease. Lack of informed consent continues to be a common allegation, and surgeons should ensure complete informed consent is obtained and well documented. A unified and complete database of medical malpractice cases is needed to allow for further analysis of specialty-related claims.

Patient outcomes, satisfaction, and improvement in headaches after endoscopic brow-lift.

IMPORTANCE: To improve preoperative counseling for patients considering endoscopic brow-lift (EBL). OBJECTIVES: To understand patient-reported outcomes, satisfaction, and recovery after EBL surgery to improve preoperative counseling. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: A retrospective telephone survey of 57 patients who had EBL or EBL with concurrent rhytidectomy to assess cosmetic and functional outcomes using 47 questions. MAIN OUTCOME AND MEASURE: Questions evaluated outcomes, satisfaction, and recovery. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients (93%) reported the procedure was successful, and 55 patients (96%) would recommend undergoing this procedure. Forty-two (74%) were incidentally told they looked younger; 37 patients (65%) were told they looked less tired. Forty-two patients (74%) reported increased confidence. Fifty-one patients (89%) required analgesics for less than 1 week, 44 patients (77%) reported scars as unnoticeable, 54 patients (95%) reported postoperative edema lasting less than 2 weeks, 16 patients (28%) reported alopecia at an incision site, and 36 patients (63%) had some numbness. In the 16 patients who reported headaches before surgery, 8 patients (50%) reported an improvement in either frequency or intensity. Patients who underwent rhytidectomy were significantly more likely to take 2 weeks or longer to return to normal activities. No differences were noted between rhytidectomy with EBL compared with EBL alone in analgesic use, edema, numbness, alopecia, and satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Endoscopic brow-lift is well tolerated and most patients are happy with the outcome. Relying on patient-reported information helps us to better understand the surgical experience and to improve preoperative counseling. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Sinonasal carcinoma after irradiation for medulloblastoma in nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is associated with multiple basal cell carcinomas, odontogenic cysts, craniofacial anomalies, and childhood medulloblastomas. In addition, it has been associated with irradiation-induced neoplasms including, meningiomas, sarcomas, and gliomas. METHODS: We present a 19-year-old man with NBCCS who presented with a sinonasal carcinoma 17 years after receiving craniospinal irradiation for treatment of medulloblastoma. RESULTS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of a sinonasal tumor after irradiation in a patient with NBCCS. CONCLUSIONS: With this case, the authors examine the genotype of NBCCS patients and their propensity for radiation-induced tumors. In addition, the management of neoplasms in these tumor-sensitive patients is reviewed.

Association of intrapartum antibiotic exposure and late-onset serious bacterial infections in infants.

OBJECTIVE: Recommendations to prevent vertical transmission of group B Streptococcus (GBS) infections have resulted in many women's receiving antibiotics during labor with an associated reduction in early-onset GBS infections in their newborn infants. However, a potential relationship of intrapartum antibiotics (IPA) to the occurrence of late-onset (7-90 days) serious bacterial infections (SBIs) in term infants has not been reported. The objectives of this study were to determine whether infants with late-onset SBI were more likely than healthy control infants to have been exposed to IPA and whether there was a greater likelihood of antibiotic resistance in bacteria that were isolated from infants who had an SBI and had been exposed to IPA compared with those who had not. METHODS: We used a case-control design to study the first objective. Cases were previously healthy full-term infants who were hospitalized for late-onset SBI between the ages of 7 and 90 days. Control subjects were healthy full-term infants who were known not to have an SBI in their first 90 days. Cases and control subjects were matched for hospital of delivery. In the second part of the study, rates of antibiotic resistance of bacteria that were isolated from infected infants were compared for those who had and had not been exposed to IPA. RESULTS: Ninety case infants and 92 control subjects were studied. Considering all types of IPA, more case (41%) than control infants (27%) had been exposed to IPA (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.05-3.66), after controlling for hospital of delivery. The association was stronger when IPA was with broad-spectrum antibiotics (adjusted OR: 4.95; 95% CI: 2.04-11.98), after controlling for hospital of delivery, penicillin IPA, maternal chorioamnionitis, and breastfeeding. Bacteria that were isolated from infected infants who had been exposed to IPA were more likely to exhibit ampicillin resistance (adjusted OR: 5.7; 95% CI: 2.3-14.3), after controlling for hospital of delivery, but not to other antibiotics that are commonly used to treat SBI in infants. CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for potential confounders, infants with late-onset SBI were more likely to have been exposed to IPA than noninfected control infants. Pathogens that cause late-onset SBI were more likely to be resistant to ampicillin when the infant had been exposed to intrapartum antibiotics.