Patient Perceptions on Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Low-acuity Surgery During COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the postponement of low-acuity surgical procedures in an effort to conserve resources and ensure patient safety. This study aimed to characterize patient-reported concerns about undergoing surgical procedures during the pandemic.

Methods: We administered a cross-sectional survey to patients who had their general and plastic surgical procedures postponed at the onset of the pandemic, asking about barriers to accessing surgical care.

Current Challenges of Plastic Surgical Care in Sub-Saharan Africa (Maputo, Mozambique).

Background: Limited data exist on plastic surgery practices in Sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to characterize the spectrum of disease and operative procedures at a teaching hospital in Maputo, Mozambique to help understand the challenges of providing care for the local providers and to provide contextual relevance for training through partnerships.

Methods: A mixed-methods approach was utilized to perform an ongoing needs assessment.

Evaluation of 4 Outcomes Measures in Microtia Treatment: Exposures, Infections, Aesthetics, and Psychosocial Ramifications.

Background: In craniofacial microsomia, microtia and canal atresia pose formidable reconstructive challenges. We review our institutional experience in treating microtia and atresia to identify variables associated with 4 outcomes measures: complications, surgical revisions, aesthetic outcomes, and psychosocial function.

Methods: Craniofacial microsomia patients treated at the University of California Los Angeles Craniofacial Clinic between 2008 and 2014 greater than 13 years of age (n = 68) were reviewed for microtia and atresia treatment and outcomes.

Global general pediatric surgery partnership: The UCLA-Mozambique experience.

Background/purpose: There has been increasing recognition of the disparities in surgical care throughout the world. Increasingly, efforts are being made to improve local infrastructure and training of surgeons in low-income settings. The purpose of this study was to review the first 5-years of a global academic pediatric general surgery partnership between UCLA and the Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo, Mozambique.

Intraoperative Indocyanine Green Laser Angiography in Pediatric Autologous Ear Reconstruction.

Skin flap vascularity is a critical determinant of aesthetic results in autologous ear reconstruction. In this study, we investigate the use of intraoperative laser-assisted indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) as an adjunctive measure of skin flap vascularity in pediatric autologous ear reconstruction. Twenty-one consecutive pediatric patients undergoing first-stage autologous total ear reconstruction were retrospectively evaluated.

Orthognathic Consequences of Sphincter Pharyngoplasty in Cleft Patients: A 2-Institutional Study.

Background: Understanding long-term sequelae of cleft treatment is paramount in the refinement of treatment algorithms to accomplish optimized immediate and long-term outcomes. In this study, we reviewed sphincter pharyngoplasties as a method of velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) treatment in relationship to orthognathic surgery.

Methods: Cleft lip/palate and cleft palate patients, 15 years of age and older, were reviewed for demographics, VPI surgery, revisions, and subsequent orthognathic surgery at 2 institutions.