Alternative Sources of Cautery in Thyroid Surgery and the Risk of Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve Injury: A Retrospective, Risk-Adjusted Analysis From the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program.

Objectives: A risk-adjusted analysis was completed using data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) to compare the rates of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury in thyroid surgery using traditional versus alternative sources of cautery (defined as Harmonic Scalpel and LigaSure).

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was completed using the NSQIP database on adult patients who underwent total thyroidectomy, subtotal thyroidectomy, or completion thyroidectomy between 2016 and 2018. The primary outcome measure was recurrent laryngeal nerve injury.

Alternative sources of cautery may improve post-operative hematoma rates but increase operative time in thyroid surgery.

A retrospective risk-adjusted analysis was completed using data from the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) to (1) compare the risks of post-operative hematoma for thyroid surgery using conventional cautery compared alternative energy devices (defined as LigaSure and Harmonic Scalpel), and (2) compare operative times for the same. The primary outcome variable was post-operative hematoma occurrence. The secondary outcome variable was operative time.

LearnENT: The Development of a Free Open Access Medical Education App in Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.

Objective: To describe the successes and challenges associated with developing an otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) medical education app and website.

Design: From 2010 to 2018, OHNS faculty across Canada contributed to the development of a smartphone app, LearnENT. LearnENT 1.

A national strategy to engage medical students in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery medical education: the LearnENT ambassador program.

Background: In the realm of medical education, student-led ambassador programs represent an innovative approach to increase awareness about medical education resources. LearnENT is an internationally recognized otolaryngology-head and neck surgery (OHNS) smartphone app and website designed for medical trainees to learn about OHNS. However, upon the initial launch of the app, there was a lack of medical student awareness and engagement.

Correction to: Evaluating the effectiveness of adjuvant radiotherapy in addition to surgery versus surgery alone at improving oncologic outcomes for early stage buccal carcinoma: a systematic review.

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported that one of the authors' names was spelled incorrectly. In this Correction the incorrect and correct author name are shown. The original publication of this article has been corrected.

Evaluating the effectiveness of adjuvant radiotherapy in addition to surgery versus surgery alone at improving oncologic outcomes for early stage buccal carcinoma: a systematic review.

Objective: To systematically review the evidence to evaluate oncologic outcomes for patients with early stage buccal squamous cell carcinoma treated with surgery versus surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy.

Data Sources: Ovid MedLine, EMBASE, Google Scholar, PubMed.

Review Methods: The primary purpose was to perform a systematic review to determine the published literature comparing oncologic outcomes of patients with early stage (Stages I&II) buccal mucosal squamous cell carcinoma, treated with surgical resection alone versus surgery plus adjuvant radiation therapy.

Impact of marginalization on tobacco use in individuals diagnosed with head and neck Cancer.

Background: Considerable evidence now indicates that individuals living in underprivileged neighbourhoods have higher rates of mortality and morbidity independent of individual-level characteristics. This study explored the impact of geographical marginalization on smoking cessation in a population of individuals with a diagnosis of head and neck cancer. The aims of this study were twofold: (1) assess the prevalence of smoking cessation in those with a previous diagnosis of head and neck cancer, (2) analyze the determinants of smoking alongside area-based measures of socioeconomic status.

Surgical peripheral nerve decompression for the treatment of painful diabetic neuropathy of the foot - A level 1 pragmatic randomized controlled trial.

Aims: To assess the efficacy of surgical decompression of lower extremity nerves for the treatment of painful diabetic peripheral sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DPN).

Methods: People with painful diabetic neuropathy were randomized single-blind to a lower extremity decompression surgery (n = 12) or observation (n = 10) for 1 year.

Results: Pain was the primary outcome assessed with 2 measures.

Echocardiogram changes following parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The aim of the study is to systematically review the evidence on post parathyroidectomy (PTX) changes as measured by echocardiogram (ECHO) in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT).PHPT may increase risk of cardiovascular morbidity/mortality. Conclusions of studies assessing ECHO changes, pre versus post PTX, are inconsistent.

Otolaryngology exposure in a longitudinal integrated clerkship setting.

Background: Although 20-40% of primary care complaints are Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (OtoHNS) related, little emphasis is placed on OtoHNS instruction at the undergraduate medical education level. An OtoHNS clerkship rotation is not required at most Canadian medical schools. Furthermore, at institutions offering an OtoHNS rotation, less than 20% of students are able to complete a placement.

Spontaneous intrathyroidal hematoma causing airway obstruction: A case report.

Introduction: Spontaneous thyroid hemorrhage is a rare occurrence that results in pain, discomfort, and occasionally compressive symptoms. Infrequently, extensive thyroid hemorrhage can result in a rapidly expanding hematoma resulting in airway compromise. This is a case of an otherwise healthy young woman, 3 months postpartum, with a slowly expanding spontaneous thyroid hemorrhage that measured at 7 × 5.

Buffered lidocaine and bupivacaine mixture - the ideal local anesthetic solution?

The use of injectable local anesthetic solutions to facilitate pain-free surgery is an integral component of many procedures performed by the plastic surgeon. In many instances, a solution that has both rapid onset and prolonged duration of analgesia is optimal. A combination of lidocaine and bupivacaine, plain or with epinephrine, is readily available in most Canadian health care settings where such procedures are performed, and fulfills these criteria.

Mycobacterium smegmatis infection of the hand.

We report a case of Mycobacterium smegmatis granuloma in the soft tissues of the first web space of the left hand in a 67-year-old Caucasian woman. She was in good systematic health; there was no recollection of trauma to the hand. A combined regime of prolonged antibiotic therapy and surgical debridement was necessary to ultimately eradicate the infection.