Parotidectomy Trends Toward Outpatient for Benign Disease.

Objective: We evaluate the safety of outpatient parotidectomy. We evaluate factors that lead to planned admission and compare costs. We evaluate trends toward outpatient, and the outcomes of switching admission status, total versus superficial approach, and ambulatory versus hospital site.

Hypothyroidism Predicts Fistula Development Following Salvage Oropharyngectomy.

Importance: Previous work demonstrated postoperative hypothyroidism adversely affects wound healing in salvage laryngectomy. Currently, no studies have evaluated the association between wound healing and hypothyroidism in patients undergoing salvage oropharyngectomy.

Objective: The primary objective was studying hypothyroidism and other factors associated with oropharyngocutaneous fistula development and fistula requiring reoperation within 30 days after salvage oropharyngectomy.

Patient-Initiated Communication After Parotidectomy.

Objectives: We sought to study the incidence of patient-initiated communication after parotidectomy, identify patient and surgical factors associated with patient-initiated communication, and evaluate trends and possible areas for improvement.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent parotidectomy without combined procedures from 2018 to 2022 in a single tertiary-care institution was performed. We reviewed all patient communications documented within the electronic medical record within 30 days of discharge.

Pharyngeal Mucosal Margin Vessel Counts Predict Pharyngocutaneous Fistula in Salvage Laryngectomy.

Objective: We evaluated vessel counts in the pharyngeal mucosal margins of patients who underwent salvage laryngectomy to establish whether mucosal vascularity might predict fistula risk.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Tertiary Medical Center.

Role of the otologist/neurotologist in managing auricular and periauricular cutaneous malignancies: A 10-year otologic oncology experience.

Objective: Auricular/periauricular cutaneous malignancies can be challenging to manage surgically due to the complex anatomy of the region. Otologists/neurotologists have unique skillsets that are well-suited to surgically treat these patients. We aim to highlight the role of otologists and neurotologists in providing surgical care of patients with auricular and periauricular malignancies by describing the experience of a single fellowship-trained neurotologist over a 10-year period.

Readiness of Medical Students to Care for Diverse Patients: A Validated Assessment of Cross-Cultural Preparedness, Skills, and Curriculum.

Introduction: Effective cross-cultural care is foundational for mitigating health inequities and providing high-quality care to diverse populations. However, medical school teaching practices vary widely, and learners have limited opportunities to develop these critical skills. To understand the current state of cross-cultural education and to identify potential opportunities for improvement, we disseminated a validated survey instrument among medical students at a single institution.

Verrucous Carcinoma of the Foot: A Retrospective Study of 19 Cases and Analysis of Prognostic Factors Influencing Recurrence.

This study sought to evaluate a cohort of patients with verrucous carcinoma of the foot with special focus on 5 cases of locally recurrent tumors despite negative margins. Nineteen cases of verrucous carcinoma of the foot were identified through the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan) pathology database from 1995 to 2019 and were included in demographic and clinical presentation analyses. Sixteen cases were treated at the University of Michigan and are included in the treatment analyses.

Effects of Moringa Extract on Aminoglycoside-Induced Hair Cell Death and Organ of Corti Damage.

Hypothesis: Moringa extract, a naturally occurring anti-oxidant, protects against aminoglycoside-induced hair cell death and hearing loss within the organ of Corti.

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) arise primarily in the mitochondria and have been implicated in aminoglycoside-induced ototoxicity. Mitochondrial dysfunction results in loss of membrane potential, release of caspases, and cell apoptosis.

The Clarion Call of the COVID-19 Pandemic: How Medical Education Can Mitigate Racial and Ethnic Disparities.

Public health crises palpably demonstrate how social determinants of health have led to disparate health outcomes. The staggering mortality rates among African Americans, Native Americans, and Latinx Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic have revealed how recalcitrant structural inequities can exacerbate disparities and render not just individuals but whole communities acutely vulnerable. While medical curricula that educate students about disparities are vital in rousing awareness, it is experience that is most likely to instill passion for change.

Sudden Sensorineural Hearing Loss: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Emergency.

The family physician's role in recognizing and managing sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL) is crucial. A recently updated otolaryngologic clinical practice guideline has been released for this emergency syndrome, but dissemination is limited to a specialty journal. As a result, the guidelines may not be widely available in the primary care setting where patients often present.

Head and Neck Reconstruction in the Vessel Depleted Neck.

Microvascular free tissue transfer has revolutionized reconstruction and subsequently functional outcomes in the head and neck, but requires suitable recipient vessels for successful results. Recipient vessels can be significantly compromised by prior surgery, radiation therapy, or existing and/or underlying vascular disease in the neck. When further microvascular reconstruction is required in the vessel-depleted neck, identification of appropriate vessels for anastomosis can be difficult and can present complex decisions for the surgeon as well as the patient.

Airway Management for Endoscopic Laryngotracheal Stenosis Surgery During COVID-19.

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic presents unique challenges for surgical management of laryngotracheal stenosis. High viral concentrations in the upper aerodigestive tract, the ability of the virus to be transmitted by asymptomatic carriers and through aerosols, and the need for open airway access during laryngotracheal surgery create a high-risk situation for airway surgeons, anesthesiologists, and operating room personnel. While some surgical cases of laryngotracheal stenosis may be deferred, patients with significant airway obstruction or progressing symptoms often require urgent surgical intervention.