Prospective comparative study of pulsed-electron avalanche knife (PEAK) and bipolar radiofrequency ablation (coblation) pediatric tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.

Purpose: To compare post-operative pain severity, analgesic intake, and complications in children undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy with bipolar radiofrequency ablation (Coblation) vs. pulsed-electron avalanche knife (PEAK) technology.

Materials And Methods: This was a prospective, non-randomized, non-blinded comparative cohort study in a private practice setting with three fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologists.

Risk factors for pediatric post-tonsillectomy hemorrhage.

Objectives: To determine pre-operative risk factors for post-tonsillectomy secondary hemorrhage in children, and quantify the magnitude of their risk.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective case-control study of all pediatric tonsillectomy patients experiencing post-operative bleeding from 2005 to 2010 in a community practice consisting of three fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologists were identified. The 91 cases were matched with 151 controls that underwent tonsillectomy by the same surgeon on the same day as each identified case.

Laryngomalacia and swallowing function in children.

Objectives/hypothesis: 1) To determine the prevalence of dysphagia in children with laryngomalacia, 2) To ascertain whether severity of laryngomalacia influences the presence of swallowing dysfunction, and 3) To examine whether patients with medical comorbidities and laryngomalacia have a higher prevalence of swallowing dysfunction.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Methods: All patients seen in the aerodigestive center at our institution between January 2007 and December 2012 with the diagnosis of laryngomalacia were included.

Pediatric sialendoscopy: initial experience in a pediatric otolaryngology group practice.

Objectives/hypothesis: To describe the initial results of sialendoscopy as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool in pediatric inflammatory salivary gland disease.

Study Design: Retrospective review of patient medical records from a private practice consisting of three fellowship-trained pediatric otolaryngologists.

Methods: Consecutive pediatric patients with either recurrent or chronic sialadenitis underwent diagnostic and therapeutic sialendoscopy as an alternative to continued antibiotic therapy or surgical gland excision.

Impact of stoma maturation on pediatric tracheostomy-related complications.

Objectives: To assess the impact of stoma maturation on pediatric tracheostomy-related complications and to report the incidence of pediatric tracheostomy-related complications.

Design: Retrospective medical chart review and data analysis.

Setting: Tertiary care children's hospital.

Assessment of constipation in children with tracheostomy.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of constipation among children with tracheostomy tubes compared with children without tracheostomy tubes. We theorize that patients with tracheostomy may be unable to achieve adequate subglottic pressure for the Valsalva maneuver, which may contribute to constipation.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Clinical predictors of aspiration on radionuclide salivagrams in children.

Objective: To determine patient characteristics and clinical factors that are predictive of positive radionuclide salivagram results.

Design: Retrospective chart review (spanning 32 months).

Setting: Tertiary care children's hospital.

Fine needle aspiration biopsy: role in diagnosis of pediatric head and neck masses.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and role of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) as a diagnostic tool in children with neck masses.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: Tertiary care children's hospital.

Comparison of Pediatric Voice Outcome Survey, Reflux Symptom Index, Reflux Finding Score, and esophageal biopsy results.

Objective: To examine correlations between the Pediatric Voice Outcome Survey (PVOS) score, the Reflux Symptom Index (RSI) score, the Reflux Finding Score (RFS), and esophageal biopsy findings in children undergoing upper aerodigestive tract endoscopy.

Design: Retrospective review of pediatric voice quality-of-life and laryngopharyngeal reflux surveys. Blinded assessment of endoscopic laryngeal images.

Synchronous airway lesions and esophagitis in young patients undergoing adenoidectomy.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of synchronous airway lesions and esophagitis in children younger than 18 months undergoing adenoidectomy for adenoid hypertrophy and upper airway obstruction.

Design: Retrospective review spanning 4.5 years.

Introduction of visually oriented information handouts in an academic pediatric otolaryngology practice.

Objectives: To characterize after-hours postoperative caregiver telephone calls received by on-call otolaryngology residents and to determine the feasibility of using visually oriented handouts to affect postoperative telephone call volume.

Study Design And Setting: We conducted a prospective, before-after feasibility study at a tertiary-care children's hospital. Visually oriented handouts describing expected postoperative courses were distributed preoperatively to the parents of all adenotonsillectomy and tympanostomy tube patients.

Bilateral peritonsillar abscesses: case report and literature review.

Although unilateral peritonsillar abscesses (PTA) are a common complication of acute bacterial tonsillitis, bilateral PTA are quite rare. We present the case of a 14-year-old female teenager with a 1-week history of acute tonsillitis. Physical examination revealed significant trismus, symmetrically inflamed tonsils and soft palate, and a midline uvula.

Evaluation and management of pediatric oropharyngeal trauma.

Objective: To examine the clinical factors that influence medical decision making in children with oropharyngeal trauma.

Design: Retrospective chart review (spanning 6 years).

Setting: Tertiary care children's hospital.

Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in pediatric unilateral and asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss.

Objective: To compare temporal bone computed tomography (CT) with temporal bone and central nervous system magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in children with unilateral or asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL).

Design: Retrospective chart study.

Setting: Tertiary-care children's hospital.

Superstitions among perioperative nurses.

A descriptive study was conducted using a mailed questionnaire to determine the prevalence of work-related superstitions among perioperative nurses. Data analysis included the two-sample t test for continuous data and the two-sided Fisher's exact test for binary data. Study results indicate that although only 23% of respondents view themselves as "generally superstitious," specific work-related superstitions are widespread.

Intralesional cidofovir for pediatric recurrent respiratory papillomatosis.

Objective: To compare disease response among children with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP) who underwent combined surgical debulking and intralesional cidofovir injections vs repeated surgical debulking only.

Design: Retrospective medical record review; follow-up range: 16 to 56 months.

Setting: Tertiary care children's hospital.

Lack of association between esophageal biopsy, bronchoalveolar lavage, and endoscopy findings in hoarse children.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of esophagitis (based on esophageal biopsy results) and aspiration (based on bronchoalveolar lavage [BAL]) in children with hoarseness.

Design: Retrospective medical chart review spanning 24 months of 127 consecutive children (mean age, 6.9 years; range, 1.

Endoscopic KTP laser excision of severe tracheotomy-associated suprastomal collapse.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility, safety, and clinical utility of potassium-titanium-phosphate (KTP) laser bronchoscopy for excision of severe, obstructing tracheotomy-associated suprastomal collapse.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of six children at a tertiary care children's hospital with severe tracheotomy-associated collapse of the suprastomal anterior tracheal wall cartilage, precluding decannulation. All subjects had undergone KTP laser endoscopic excision of the collapsed segment of suprastomal tracheal cartilage.

Electron microscopic analysis of biofilm on endotracheal tubes removed from intubated neonates.

Objectives: To determine if the phenomenon of biofilm accumulation and associated microbial colonization occurs on the surface of endotracheal tubes in the region of the subglottis in neonates.

Methods: Endotracheal tubes removed from 9 consecutive neonatal patients intubated for more than 12 hours were processed (range, 13 hours to 8 days). A sterile control tube was also processed.

Mandibular distraction for micrognathia and severe upper airway obstruction.

Objective: To determine whether the use of mandibular distraction osteogenesis (DOG) can help to avoid tracheotomy or achieve decannulation in patients with mandibular hypoplasia and severe upper airway obstruction.

Design: Retrospective medical record review (spanning a 27-month period).

Setting: Tertiary care children's hospital.

The role of intraoperative rapid parathyroid hormone monitoring for predicting thyroidectomy-related hypocalcemia.

Objective: To determine if the intraoperative rapid parathyroid hormone (PTH) assay can be used to accurately predict postoperative calcium levels following total or completion thyroidectomy.

Design: A prospective study.

Setting: Tertiary care referral center.

Laryngomalacia induced by exercise in a pediatric patient.

Exercise-induced laryngomalacia (EIL) is characterized by inspiratory stridor that is brought on by exercise (i.e. competitive sports) and fails to respond to treatment with bronchodilators (Smith et al.

Correction of upper airway obstruction in the newborn with internal mandibular distraction osteogenesis.

Tracheostomy for management of neonatal airway obstruction may be life saving but is associated with complications and developmental problems. As an alternative, the effectiveness of internal mandibular distraction osteogenesis was investigated in select neonatal patients with micrognathia and upper airway obstruction. Preoperative tests (sleep study, direct laryngobronchoscopy, and "milk scan" for GI reflux) were used to select appropriate candidates for the procedure.