Autoimmune Thyroid Disease: An Unusual Cause or Confounder of Vertigo.

Over the last decade, the published literature investigating the association between thyroid function and recurrent or persistent vertigo has become more robust. We present an interesting case of persistent vertigo in a healthy 31-year-old active duty Navy pilot who was restricted from operating single-pilot rotary aircraft because of the severity of her symptoms. During her work-up, she was newly diagnosed with autoimmune thyroid disease and started on thyroid hormone supplementation.

Oral isotretinoin: 29 years of medical malpractice cases in the United States.

Background: Reviews of malpractice claims in the United States show trends of increasing payments with statistically higher payouts for more debilitating and permanent injuries.

Objectives: To examine lawsuits involving notable associated adverse reactions of isotretinoin.

Methods: Court records of US legal trials from 1985 to 2014 were obtained from a major computerized database: LexisNexis.

Determining the Prognosis of Bell's Palsy Based on Severity at Presentation and Electroneuronography.

Objective: To examine the demographics of Bell's palsy and determine how House-Brackmann (HB) grade at nadir and electroneuronography (ENoG) results correlate with HB grade after recovery and development of synkinesis.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Setting: Tertiary care military medical center.

COVID-19 Airway Management Isolation Chamber.

Objective: During the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), health care workers are innovating patient care and safety measures. Unfortunately, many of these are not properly tested for efficacy. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of the novel COVID-19 Airway Management Isolation Chamber (CAMIC) to contain and evacuate particulate.

Music Appreciation after Cochlear Implantation in Adult Patients: A Systematic Review.

Objective The cochlear implant (CI) improves quality of life for people who are severely and profoundly deafened, allowing implantees to perceive speech at levels similar to those of individuals with normal hearing. However, patients with CIs generally report a reduced appreciation of music after implantation. We aimed to systematically review the English-language literature for studies evaluating music enjoyment and perception among adult patients with CIs.

Case Report: Facial Nerve Bifurcation Noted During Resection of Vestibular Schwannoma.

Background And Importance: Resection of cerebellopontine angle tumors is challenging because the proximity of the facial nerve puts it at risk of inadvertent injury and subsequent dysfunction. It is critical to consider variations in anatomy and be aware of the potential deviations in the course of the nerve in order to avoid damage.

Clinical Presentation: We present a case of a facial nerve bifurcation identified during resection of a vestibular schwannoma.

Atresiaplasty in Congenital Aural Atresia: What the Facial Plastic Surgeon Needs to Know.

Patients with microtia and congenital aural atresia should have a comprehensive hearing assessment early in life. Options for hearing habilitation should be presented, and children with bilateral aural atresia should be fitted with a bone conducting hearing device to support normal speech and language development. If atresia surgery is pursued, the microtia surgeon must be aware of certain principles.

Medical Malpractice Implications of Clinical Practice Guidelines.

Clinical practice guidelines aim to improve medical care by clarifying and making useful recommendations to providers. Although providers should account for patients' unique characteristics when determining a treatment plan, it is generally perceived as good practice to follow guidelines when applicable. This is of interest in malpractice litigation, where it is essential to establish a standard of care to evaluate the performances of providers.

Use of Positive Airway Pressure Following Middle Ear Surgery: A Practice Survey of Otologists.

Background: Positive airway pressure (PAP) devices are used as treatment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). PAP may increase middle ear pressure which is of interest to otologic surgeons. There is a lack of data to guide management of PAP therapy after middle ear surgery.

Dizziness, malpractice, and the otolaryngologist.

Purpose: To assess malpractice claims related to the management of dizziness in otolaryngology in order to improve care and minimize the risk of litigation.

Materials And Methods: This is a retrospective review of the LexisNexis "Jury Verdicts and Settlements" database. All lawsuits and out of court adjudications related to the management of dizziness by otolaryngologists were collected.

Ceruminous adenocarcinoma: An analysis of the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database.

Objectives: Ceruminous adenocarcinoma is a rare malignancy. However, due to the paucity of cases, this has been difficult to study. Using a population-based national database, patient demographics and survival trends were analyzed to further elucidate the management of this malignancy.

Updates in medical malpractice: an otology perspective.

Purpose Of Review: Most surgeons at some point are involved in a medical malpractice case. There has been an increase in the number of manuscripts that analyse malpractice databases and insurance claims, as well as commentaries on the current medicolegal climate recently. This manuscript broadly reviews articles of interest to all providers and then focuses on malpractice in otology.

Rhinology and medical malpractice: An update of the medicolegal landscape of the last ten years.

Objectives/hypothesis: Malpractice claims pertaining to rhinological procedures are a potentially important source of information that could be used to minimize the risk of future litigation and improve patient care.

Study Design: A retrospective review of a publicly available database containing jury verdicts and settlements.

Methods: The LexisNexis Jury Verdicts and Settlements database was reviewed for all lawsuits and out-of-court adjudications related to the practice of rhinology.

The effect of tonsillectomy alone in adult obstructive sleep apnea.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of tonsillectomy as a single procedure in the treatment of adult obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Study Design: Prospective multi-institutional study evaluating adults with tonsillar hypertrophy scheduled to undergo tonsillectomy as an isolated surgery.

Setting: Tertiary care medical centers within the US Department of Defense.

Endoscopic management of esophageal discontinuity.

Background: The management of esophageal discontinuity remains challenging and often involves complex reconstructive surgeries.

Methods And Results: We describe a unique and successful treatment of esophageal discontinuity using a modification of the natural orifice translumenal surgery (NOTES) approach in a patient presenting with long-standing esophageal discontinuity resulting from an iatrogenic esophageal injury.

Conclusion: This case provided an opportunity to affirm the efficacy of endoscopy for treating esophageal discontinuities to minimize the degree of morbidity and mortality normally associated with the surgical treatment of this type of injury.

Medication associated with hearing loss: 25 years of medical malpractice cases in the United States.

Objectives: Many medications have the potential for ototoxicity. To potentiate management of this risk, this study examines malpractice litigation trends of lawsuits involving hearing loss associated with medication use. As experts in hearing loss, it may benefit otolaryngologists to be familiar with this information.

Emergent treatment of button batteries in the esophagus: evolution of management and need for close second-look esophagoscopy.

Objectives: The evolving epidemiology of pediatric button battery ingestion is alarming. Currently, assessment of the degree of damage relies heavily on the initial esophagoscopy in a manner similar to the management of caustic ingestion. We have noted that use of this classic approach may delay the return to normal oral intake.

Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in a Branchial Cleft Cyst without a Thyroid Primary: Navigating a Diagnostic Dilemma.

We report a rare case of papillary thyroid carcinoma incidentally found within a branchial cleft cyst. Only four other cases have been described in the literature. A total thyroidectomy and selective neck dissection was performed, and no evidence of occult primary disease was found after review of fine sections.

Lessons learned in otologic surgery: 30 years of malpractice cases in the United States.

Objective: To analyze malpractice litigation trends to better understand the causes and outcomes of suits involving otologic surgeries to prevent future litigation and improve physician awareness.

Methods: Court records of legal trials from 1983 to 2012 were obtained from 2 major computerized databases-WESTLAW and LexisNexis. Data were compiled on the demographics of the defendant, plaintiff, use of otolaryngologists/otologists as expert witnesses, nature of injury, type of surgery, legal allegations, verdicts, and judgments.